How to travel from Reading to Cardiff, United Kingdom

The distance between Reading and Cardiff is around 175km (109 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 30m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Reading to Cardiff by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Cardiff Central.

  • Duration1h 30m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £46($55)
💰 Cheapest
2
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Cardiff University.

  • Duration2h 20m
  • Departs3 times a week
  • Typical cost
    £16($19)
3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Cardiff.

  • Duration1h 55m
  • Distance178km (110 miles)
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Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Reading and Cardiff

There are several options for getting from Reading to Cardiff by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £16 ($19) and will take around 2h 20m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 1h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £46 ($55).

The distance between Reading and Cardiff is around 175km (109 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 153km (95 miles)

It takes around 1h 30m to get from Reading and Cardiff by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 55m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Reading to Cardiff is to take the train which takes around 1h 30m and will set you back approx £46 ($55).

The cheapest way to travel between Reading and Cardiff, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £16 ($19) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Reading and Cardiff. It typically takes around 1h 30m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Reading and Cardiff with no changeovers required. The train runs hourly and takes 1h 30m.

Great Western Railway run train services between Reading and Cardiff. Trains depart hourly and will take around 1h 30m, 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 Reading and Cardiff. It typically takes around 2h 20m and departs once a week.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Reading and Cardiff with no changeovers required. The bus runs once a week and takes 2h 20m.

Megabus UK run regular bus services between Reading and Cardiff. Buses run once a week and take around 2h 20m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Reading to Cardiff. We recommend that you take the train to Cardiff Central. instead which will take 1h 30m.

The closest major airport to Cardiff is Cardiff Airport (CWL) (CWL) which is approximately 14km (9 miles) from Cardiff. Bristol Airport (BRS) (BRS) and Exeter Airport (EXT) (EXT) 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 Reading and Cardiff. The distance is around 178km (110 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 55m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Reading to Cardiff is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 30m and will usually cost around £46 ($55).

How do I get from Reading to Cardiff

Compare travel optionsbetween Reading and Cardiff

Transport options from Reading to Cardiff
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
1h 30m
£46($55)
hourly175km (109 miles)
Bus
2h 20m
£16($19)
3 times a week176km (110 miles)
Drive
1h 55m
£20($24)
on demand178km (110 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Reading and Cardiff

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Cardiff

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

CWL
Cardiff Airport (CWL)
Domestic Airport
Distance
14km (9 miles) from Cardiff
BRS
Bristol Airport (BRS)
International Airport
Distance
34km (21 miles) from Cardiff
EXT
Exeter Airport (EXT)
International Airport
Distance
85km (53 miles) from Cardiff