How to travel from Southampton to Chester, United Kingdom

The distance between Southampton and Chester is around 348km (216 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 40m.

8 routes found

We've found 8 different ways to get from Southampton 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 ChesterSouthampton if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+
train
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Plane and Train

Fly from Southampton (SOU) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Chester.

  • Duration2h 40m
  • Flight time1h 10m
  • Typical cost
    £250($295)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2 similiar routes

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

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Waterloo and then to Chester.

  • Duration3h 25m
  • Departsevery 4 hours
  • Typical cost
    £125($150)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

1 similiar route

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

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+
bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth and then to Chester Bus Interchange.

  • Duration5h 35m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £18($21)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

1 similiar route

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

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Chester.

  • Duration3h 45m
  • Distance350km (217 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Southampton and Chester

There are several options for getting from Southampton to Chester by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £18 ($21) and will take around 5h 35m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £250 ($295).

The distance between Southampton and Chester is around 348km (216 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 274km (170 miles)

It takes around 3h 25m to get from Southampton and Chester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 3h 45m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Southampton to Chester is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx £250 ($295).

The cheapest way to travel between Southampton and Chester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £18 ($21) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Southampton and Chester. It typically takes around 3h 25m and departs every 4 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Southampton to Chester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Waterloo and Euston station. These services run every 4 hours and will take a minimum of 3h 25m.

South Western Railway, Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry and Transport for Wales run train services between Southampton and Chester. Trains depart every 4 hours and will take around 3h 25m, 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 Southampton and Chester. It typically takes around 5h 35m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Southampton to Chester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Birmingham Coach Station Digbeth and Birmingham New Street Station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 5h 35m.

National Express, FlixBus and Megabus UK run regular bus services between Southampton and Chester. Buses run once daily and take around 5h 35m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Southampton to Chester. We recommend that you fly from Southampton (SOU) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Chester. instead which will take 2h 40m.

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 Southampton and Chester. The distance is around 350km (217 miles) by road and it will take around 3h 45m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Southampton to Chester is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 25m and will usually cost around £125 ($150).

How do I get from Southampton to Chester

Compare travel optionsbetween Southampton and Chester

Transport options from Southampton to Chester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Plane and Train + 2 similar
2h 40m
£250($295)
hourly363km (225 miles)
Train and Plane3h 50m
£220($260)
every 3 hours480km (298 miles)
Train to Clapham Junction, plane4h 5m
£210($245)
hourly524km (326 miles)
Train + 1 similar
3h 25m
£125($150)
every 4 hours417km (259 miles)
Train via Birmingham New Street4h 30m
£135($160)
every 4 hours369km (229 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
5h 35m
£18($21)
once daily348km (216 miles)
Bus to Newcastle-under-Lyme Bus Station7h 55m
£26($31)
twice daily379km (235 miles)
Drive
3h 45m
£40($47)
on demand350km (217 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Southampton and Chester

Train operators

Airlines

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