How to travel from Preston to Ely, United Kingdom

The distance between Preston and Ely is around 306km (190 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 45m.

8 routes found

We've found 8 different ways to get from Preston to Ely by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
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Train to Manchester Airport, Fly

Take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to Cambridge (CBG).

  • Duration2h 45m
  • Flight time45min
  • Typical cost
    £195($230)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

2
3 x train
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Train

Take the train to Leeds then Peterborough and then to Ely.

  • Duration3h 35m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £72($85)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
3
3 x bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Navigation Street then Cambridge Fair Street and then to Ely Market Street.

  • Duration7h 15m
  • Departs5 times a week
  • Typical cost
    £31($37)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Ely.

  • Duration3h 30m
  • Distance342km (212 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Preston and Ely

There are several options for getting from Preston to Ely by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £31 ($37) and will take around 7h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 45m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £195 ($230).

The distance between Preston and Ely is around 306km (190 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 249km (155 miles)

It takes around 3h 35m to get from Preston and Ely by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 30m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Preston to Ely is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 45m and will set you back approx £195 ($230).

The cheapest way to travel between Preston and Ely, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £31 ($37) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Preston and Ely. It typically takes around 3h 35m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Preston to Ely. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Leeds and Peterborough. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 35m.

Northern Rail, LNER, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railways, Greater Anglia, Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express Service run train services between Preston and Ely. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 35m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Preston and Ely. It typically takes around 7h 15m and departs 5 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Preston to Ely. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Birmingham Navigation Street and Cambridge Fair Street. These services run 5 times a week and will take a minimum of 7h 15m.

Megabus UK and Stagecoach East run regular bus services between Preston and Ely. Buses run 5 times a week and take around 7h 15m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Preston to Ely. We recommend that you take the train to Manchester Airport then fly from Manchester (MAN) to London Heathrow (LHR) then take the train to Ely. instead which will take 4h 30m.

The closest major airport to Ely is Cambridge Airport (CBG) (CBG) which is approximately 22km (14 miles) from Ely. London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) and London Luton Airport (LTN) (LTN) 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 Ely. The distance is around 342km (212 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 30m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Preston to Ely is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 35m and will usually cost around £72 ($85).

How do I get from Preston to Ely

Compare travel optionsbetween Preston and Ely

Transport options from Preston to Ely
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train to Manchester Airport, Fly + 2 similar
2h 45m
£195($230)
hourly306km (190 miles)
Train to Warrington Bank Quay, plane4h 10m
£125($150)
every 2 hours828km (515 miles)
Train and Plane4h 30m
£245($290)
hourly455km (283 miles)
Train + 2 similar
3h 35m
£72($85)
hourly322km (200 miles)
Train via Birmingham New Street4h 15m
£110($130)
hourly362km (225 miles)
Train via Manchester Piccadilly4h 30m
£60($71)
every 3 hours315km (195 miles)
Bus
7h 15m
£31($37)
5 times a week409km (254 miles)
Drive
3h 30m
£59($70)
on demand342km (212 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Preston and Ely

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Ely

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

CBG
Cambridge Airport (CBG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
22km (14 miles) from Ely
STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
57km (35 miles) from Ely
LTN
London Luton Airport (LTN)
International Airport
Distance
72km (45 miles) from Ely