How to travel from Southampton to Swansea, United Kingdom

The distance between Southampton and Swansea is around 257km (160 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 55m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Southampton to Swansea 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 SwanseaSouthampton if you're planning a return trip.

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Train

Take the train to Cardiff Central and then to Swansea.

  • Duration3h 35m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £68($80)
💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to POOLE Dorset and then to Swansea Quadrant Bus Station.

  • Duration4hrs
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £25($29)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

🚀 Fastest
3
car
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Drive

Drive to Swansea.

  • Duration2h 55m
  • Distance272km (169 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Southampton and Swansea

There are several options for getting from Southampton to Swansea by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £25 ($29) and will take around 4hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £31 ($37).

The distance between Southampton and Swansea is around 257km (160 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 194km (121 miles)

It takes around 3h 35m to get from Southampton and Swansea by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 55m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Southampton to Swansea is to drive which takes around 2h 55m and will set you back approx £31 ($37).

The cheapest way to travel between Southampton and Swansea, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £25 ($29) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Southampton and Swansea. It typically takes around 3h 35m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Southampton to Swansea. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Cardiff Central. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 3h 35m.

Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales run train services between Southampton and Swansea. Trains depart hourly and will take around 3h 35m, 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 Swansea. It typically takes around 4hrs and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Southampton to Swansea. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in POOLE Dorset. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 4hrs.

National Express and Megabus UK run regular bus services between Southampton and Swansea. Buses run once daily and take around 4hrs 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 Swansea. We recommend that you take the train to Cardiff Central and then to Swansea. instead which will take 3h 35m.

The closest major airport to Swansea is Cardiff Airport (CWL) (CWL) which is approximately 49km (30 miles) from Swansea. 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 Southampton and Swansea. The distance is around 272km (169 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 55m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Southampton to Swansea is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 35m and will usually cost around £68 ($80).

How do I get from Southampton to Swansea

Compare travel optionsbetween Southampton and Swansea

Transport options from Southampton to Swansea
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
3h 35m
£68($80)
hourly257km (160 miles)
Bus
4hrs
£25($29)
once daily310km (193 miles)
Drive
2h 55m
£31($37)
on demand272km (169 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Southampton and Swansea

Train operators

Airports near Swansea

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

CWL
Cardiff Airport (CWL)
Domestic Airport
Distance
49km (30 miles) from Swansea
BRS
Bristol Airport (BRS)
International Airport
Distance
89km (56 miles) from Swansea
EXT
Exeter Airport (EXT)
International Airport
Distance
106km (66 miles) from Swansea