The distance between Reading and Chester is around 275km (171 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 55m.
We've found 9 different ways to get from Reading to Chester 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 Chester → Reading if you're planning a return trip.
Take the train to Stafford.
1 similiar route
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Take the train to Hayes & Harlington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Chester.
Multiple operators
3 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Take the bus to Birmingham Navigation Street and then to Chester Bus Interchange.
Multiple bus operators
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
There are several options for getting from Reading to Chester by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £17 ($20) and will take around 5h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £100 ($115).
The distance between Reading and Chester is around 275km (171 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 233km (145 miles)
It takes around 2h 55m to get from Reading and Chester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 15m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Reading to Chester is to take the train which takes around 2h 55m and will set you back approx £100 ($115).
The cheapest way to travel between Reading and Chester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £17 ($20) for a standard one-way ticket.
Yes there is a train service that runs between Reading and Chester. It typically takes around 2h 55m and departs hourly.
There are no direct train services that runs from Reading to Chester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Stafford and Crewe. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 2h 55m.
CrossCountry, Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast run train services between Reading and Chester. Trains depart hourly and will take around 2h 55m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Reading and Chester. It typically takes around 4h 5m and departs once daily.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Reading to Chester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Birmingham Navigation Street and Birmingham New Street Station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 4h 5m.
Megabus UK, FlixBus, Oxford Bus Company and National Express run regular bus services between Reading and Chester. Buses run once daily and take around 4h 5m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Reading to Chester. We recommend that you take the train to Hayes & Harlington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Chester. instead which will take 3hrs.
The closest major airport to Chester is Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) (LPL) which is approximately 16km (10 miles) from Chester. Manchester Airport (MAN) (MAN) and Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) (LBA) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Yes it is possible to drive from Reading and Chester. The distance is around 286km (178 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 15m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Reading to Chester is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 55m and will usually cost around £100 ($115).
Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Train + 1 similar | 2h 55m | £100($115) | hourly | 275km (171 miles) |
Train via Birmingham New Street | 3h 30m | £115($135) | every 4 hours | 293km (182 miles) |
Train and Plane + 3 similar | 3hrs | £160($190) | hourly | 370km (230 miles) |
Train to Southampton Airport Parkway, plane | 3h 10m | £280($330) | every 3 hours | 424km (264 miles) |
Train to Hayes & Harlington, Fly | 3h 30m | £290($345) | hourly | 633km (393 miles) |
Train to Gatwick Airport, plane | 3h 55m | £185($215) | hourly | 448km (278 miles) |
Bus + 1 similar | 4h 5m | £25($29) | once daily | 282km (175 miles) |
Bus via Oxford City Centre, Westgate | 5h 50m | £17($20) | once daily | 309km (192 miles) |
Drive | 3h 15m | £33($39) | on demand | 286km (178 miles) |
Eastern Airways
Blue Islands Limited
Aurigny
Oxford Bus Company
Elizabeth Line
The following major airports near Chester offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.