How to travel from Swanage to Preston, United Kingdom

The distance between Swanage and Preston is around 420km (261 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus, then take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 55m.

5 routes found

We've found 5 different ways to get from Swanage to Preston 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 PrestonSwanage if you're planning a return trip.

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train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Woking then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Preston.

  • Duration5h 15m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £255($300)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

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train
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Train

Take the train to Birmingham New Street and then to Preston.

  • Duration5h 25m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £190($225)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Manchester Shudehill Interchange.

  • Duration13h 30m
  • Departs4 times a week
  • Typical cost
    £35($42)
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car
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Drive

Drive to Preston.

  • Duration4h 50m
  • Distance420km (261 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Swanage and Preston

There are several options for getting from Swanage to Preston by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £35 ($42) and will take around 13h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the bus, then take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 55m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £225 ($265).

The distance between Swanage and Preston is around 420km (261 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 354km (220 miles)

It takes around 5h 25m to get from Swanage and Preston by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 4h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Swanage to Preston is to take the bus, then take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 55m and will set you back approx £225 ($265).

The cheapest way to travel between Swanage and Preston, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £35 ($42) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Swanage and Preston. It typically takes around 5h 25m and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Swanage to Preston. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Bournemouth and Birmingham New Street. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 5h 25m.

CrossCountry and Avanti West Coast run train services between Swanage and Preston. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 5h 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 Swanage and Preston. It typically takes around 13h 30m and departs 4 times a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Swanage to Preston. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Poole Bus Station, Manchester Shudehill Interchange and Shiffnall Street. These services run 4 times a week and will take a minimum of 13h 30m.

Megabus UK run regular bus services between Swanage and Preston. Buses run 4 times a week and take around 13h 30m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Swanage to Preston. We recommend that you take the bus to Bournemouth Station then take the train to Southampton Airport Parkway then fly from Southampton (SOU) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Preston. instead which will take 3h 55m.

The closest major airport to Preston is Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) (LPL) which is approximately 48km (30 miles) from Preston. 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 Swanage and Preston. The distance is around 420km (261 miles) by road and it will take around 4h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Swanage to Preston is to take the train which takes, on average, 5h 25m and will usually cost around £190 ($225).

How do I get from Swanage to Preston

Compare travel optionsbetween Swanage and Preston

Transport options from Swanage to Preston
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 1 similar
5h 15m
£255($300)
hourly497km (309 miles)
Bus, Train and Plane3h 55m
£225($265)
hourly420km (261 miles)
Train
5h 25m
£190($225)
every 3 hours486km (302 miles)
Bus
13h 30m
£35($42)
4 times a week636km (395 miles)
Drive
4h 50m
£73($86)
on demand420km (261 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Swanage and Preston

Train operators

Airlines

Bus companies

Airports near Preston

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

LPL
Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL)
International Airport
Distance
48km (30 miles) from Preston
MAN
Manchester Airport (MAN)
International Airport
Distance
52km (32 miles) from Preston
LBA
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)
International Airport
Distance
69km (43 miles) from Preston