How to travel from Reading to Chester, United Kingdom

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.

9 routes found

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 ChesterReading if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+

Train

Take the train to Stafford.

  • Duration2h 55m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £100($115)

1 similiar route

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

2
train
+
plane
+
train
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Hayes & Harlington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Chester.

  • Duration3hrs
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £160($190)
Operated by

Multiple operators

3 similiar routes

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

3
bus
+
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Navigation Street and then to Chester Bus Interchange.

  • Duration4h 5m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £25($29)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

1 similiar route

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

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Chester.

  • Duration3h 15m
  • Distance286km (178 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Reading and Chester

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.

Train travel

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.

Bus travel

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.

Flights and Airlines

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.

Drive yourself

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).

How do I get from Reading to Chester

Compare travel optionsbetween Reading and Chester

Transport options from Reading to Chester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train + 1 similar
2h 55m
£100($115)
hourly275km (171 miles)
Train via Birmingham New Street3h 30m
£115($135)
every 4 hours293km (182 miles)
Train and Plane + 3 similar
3hrs
£160($190)
hourly370km (230 miles)
Train to Southampton Airport Parkway, plane3h 10m
£280($330)
every 3 hours424km (264 miles)
Train to Hayes & Harlington, Fly3h 30m
£290($345)
hourly633km (393 miles)
Train to Gatwick Airport, plane3h 55m
£185($215)
hourly448km (278 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
4h 5m
£25($29)
once daily282km (175 miles)
Bus via Oxford City Centre, Westgate5h 50m
£17($20)
once daily309km (192 miles)
Drive
3h 15m
£33($39)
on demand286km (178 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Reading and Chester

Airlines

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Chester

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

LPL
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
International Airport
Distance
16km (10 miles) from Chester
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
45km (28 miles) from Chester
LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
111km (69 miles) from Chester