How to travel from Swindon to Chester, United Kingdom

The distance between Swindon and Chester is around 250km (156 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to drive which takes around 2h 50m.

6 routes found

We've found 6 different ways to get from Swindon 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 ChesterSwindon if you're planning a return trip.

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Train

Take the train to Newport (S Wales) and then to Chester.

  • Duration3h 30m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    £95($110)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

2
train
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plane
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Train and Plane

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

  • Duration3h 40m
  • Flight time1hr
  • Typical cost
    £280($330)
Operated by

Multiple operators

1 similiar route

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

3
bus
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bus
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Bus

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

  • Duration4h 50m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £24($28)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

1 similiar route

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

🚀 Fastest
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car
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Drive

Drive to Chester.

  • Duration2h 50m
  • Distance250km (156 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Swindon and Chester

There are several options for getting from Swindon to Chester by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £15 ($18) and will take around 5h 30m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can drive and arrive in approximately 2h 50m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £44 ($52).

The distance between Swindon and Chester is around 250km (156 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 196km (122 miles)

It takes around 3h 30m to get from Swindon and Chester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Swindon to Chester is to drive which takes around 2h 50m and will set you back approx £44 ($52).

The cheapest way to travel between Swindon and Chester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £15 ($18) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Swindon and Chester. It typically takes around 3h 30m and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Swindon to Chester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Newport (S Wales). These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 3h 30m.

Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales run train services between Swindon and Chester. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 3h 30m, 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 Swindon and Chester. It typically takes around 4h 50m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Swindon to Chester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Stratton Park Sainsburys, Birmingham Brunel Street and Birmingham Summer Row- Great Charles Street. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 4h 50m.

Megabus UK, FlixBus and National Express run regular bus services between Swindon and Chester. Buses run once daily and take around 4h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Swindon to Chester. We recommend that you take the train to London Paddington then fly from London Heathrow (LHR) to Manchester (MAN) then take the train to Chester. instead which will take 3h 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 Swindon and Chester. The distance is around 250km (156 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Swindon to Chester is to take the train which takes, on average, 3h 30m and will usually cost around £95 ($110).

How do I get from Swindon to Chester

Compare travel optionsbetween Swindon and Chester

Transport options from Swindon to Chester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
3h 30m
£95($110)
every 3 hours309km (192 miles)
Train and Plane + 1 similar
3h 40m
£280($330)
hourly471km (293 miles)
Train to Reading, plane3h 45m
£285($340)
every 3 hours491km (305 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
4h 50m
£24($28)
once daily286km (177 miles)
Bus to Chester5h 30m
£15($18)
once daily309km (192 miles)
Drive
2h 50m
£44($52)
on demand250km (156 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Swindon 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