How to travel from Reading to Chelmsford, United Kingdom

The distance between Reading and Chelmsford is around 112km (70 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 1h 15m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Reading to Chelmsford 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 ChelmsfordReading if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
💰 Cheapest
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Train

Take the train to London Paddington and then to Chelmsford.

  • Duration1h 15m
  • Departsevery 15 mins
  • Typical cost
    £34($40)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

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bus
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Train and Bus

Take the train to London Waterloo then take the bus to Liverpool Street Station then take the train to Chelmsford.

  • Duration2h 30m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £38($45)
Operated by

Multiple operators

3
car
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Drive

Drive to Chelmsford.

  • Duration1h 30m
  • Distance142km (88 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Reading and Chelmsford

There are several options for getting from Reading to Chelmsford by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the train which costs around £34 ($40) and will take around 1h 15m.

The distance between Reading and Chelmsford is around 112km (70 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 104km (65 miles)

It takes around 1h 15m to get from Reading and Chelmsford by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 1h 30m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Reading to Chelmsford is to take the train which takes around 1h 15m and will set you back approx £34 ($40).

The cheapest way to travel between Reading and Chelmsford, if you exclude driving, is to take the train which will typically cost around £34 ($40) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Reading and Chelmsford. It typically takes around 1h 15m and departs every 15 mins.

There are no direct train services that runs from Reading to Chelmsford. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Paddington, Liverpool Street Station and London Liverpool Street. These services run every 15 mins and will take a minimum of 1h 15m.

Great Western Railway, Elizabeth Line and Greater Anglia run train services between Reading and Chelmsford. Trains depart every 15 mins and will take around 1h 15m, 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 Reading and Chelmsford. We recommend that you take the train to London Paddington and then to Chelmsford. instead which will take 1h 15m.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Reading to Chelmsford. We recommend that you take the train to London Paddington and then to Chelmsford. instead which will take 1h 15m.

The closest major airport to Chelmsford is London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) which is approximately 22km (14 miles) from Chelmsford. London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) and Cambridge Airport (CBG) (CBG) 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 Chelmsford. The distance is around 142km (88 miles) by road and it will take around 1h 30m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Reading to Chelmsford is to take the train which takes, on average, 1h 15m and will usually cost around £34 ($40).

How do I get from Reading to Chelmsford

Compare travel optionsbetween Reading and Chelmsford

Transport options from Reading to Chelmsford
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
1h 15m
£34($40)
every 15 mins112km (70 miles)
Train and Bus
2h 30m
£38($45)
hourly121km (75 miles)
Drive
1h 30m
£25($30)
on demand142km (88 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Reading and Chelmsford

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Chelmsford

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

STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
22km (14 miles) from Chelmsford
LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
39km (24 miles) from Chelmsford
CBG
Cambridge Airport (CBG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
56km (35 miles) from Chelmsford