How to travel from Preston to Colchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Preston and Colchester is around 414km (257 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 3h 25m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Preston to Colchester by train, car, plane and bus. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out ColchesterPreston if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
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Train

Take the train to London Euston and then to Colchester.

  • Duration3h 25m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £110($130)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to London Heathrow (LHR) then take the train to Colchester.

  • Duration3h 60m
  • Flight time1h 10m
  • Typical cost
    £260($305)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Colchester.

  • Duration4h 15m
  • Distance414km (257 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Preston and Colchester

There are several options for getting from Preston to Colchester by train, car, plane and bus. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around £95 ($110) and will take around 5h 45m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 3h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £110 ($130).

The distance between Preston and Colchester is around 414km (257 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 319km (198 miles)

It takes around 3h 25m to get from Preston and Colchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 15m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Preston to Colchester is to take the train which takes around 3h 25m and will set you back approx £110 ($130).

The cheapest way to travel between Preston and Colchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around £95 ($110) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Preston and Colchester. It typically takes around 3h 25m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Preston to Colchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Euston, Moorgate station and London Liverpool Street. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 25m.

Avanti West Coast, Greater Anglia, Northern Rail, TransPennine Express Service and East Midlands Railways run train services between Preston and Colchester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 25m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Sorry, looks like there is no bus service that runs between Preston and Colchester. We recommend that you take the train to London Euston and then to Colchester. instead which will take 3h 25m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Preston to Colchester. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to London Heathrow (LHR) then take the train to Colchester. instead which will take 3h 60m.

The closest major airport to Colchester is London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) which is approximately 44km (27 miles) from Colchester. Cambridge Airport (CBG) (CBG) and London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Preston and Colchester. The distance is around 414km (257 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 15m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Preston to Colchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 25m and will usually cost around £110 ($130).

How do I get from Preston to Colchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Preston and Colchester

Transport options from Preston to Colchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
3h 25m
£110($130)
hourly422km (262 miles)
Train via Manchester Piccadilly5h 45m
£95($110)
twice daily423km (263 miles)
Train and Plane + 2 similar
3h 60m
£260($305)
hourly424km (263 miles)
Train to Manchester Airport, plane4h 45m
£280($330)
hourly552km (343 miles)
Train, Plane and Bus4h 10m
£175($210)
4 times a day919km (571 miles)
Drive
4h 15m
£72($85)
on demand414km (257 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Preston and Colchester

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Colchester

The following major airports near Colchester offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
44km (27 miles) from Colchester
CBG
Cambridge Airport (CBG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
61km (38 miles) from Colchester
LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
73km (45 miles) from Colchester