How to travel from Swindon to Colchester, United Kingdom

The distance between Swindon and Colchester is around 213km (133 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 2h 15m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Swindon to Colchester 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 ColchesterSwindon if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Paddington and then to Colchester.

  • Duration2h 15m
  • Departsevery 20 mins
  • Typical cost
    £57($67)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

💰 Cheapest
2
bus
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bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Heathrow Airport London T23 and then to Colchester East Hill/High Street.

  • Duration3h 50m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £13($15)
3
car
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Drive

Drive to Colchester.

  • Duration2h 35m
  • Distance248km (154 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Swindon and Colchester

There are several options for getting from Swindon to Colchester by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £13 ($15) and will take around 3h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 15m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £57 ($67).

The distance between Swindon and Colchester is around 213km (133 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 189km (117 miles)

It takes around 2h 15m to get from Swindon and Colchester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 2h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Swindon to Colchester is to take the train which takes around 2h 15m and will set you back approx £57 ($67).

The cheapest way to travel between Swindon and Colchester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £13 ($15) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Swindon and Colchester. It typically takes around 2h 15m and departs every 20 mins.

There are no direct train services that runs from Swindon to Colchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Paddington, Liverpool Street Station and London Liverpool Street. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 2h 15m.

Great Western Railway and Greater Anglia run train services between Swindon and Colchester. Trains depart every 20 mins and will take around 2h 15m, 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 Colchester. It typically takes around 3h 50m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Swindon to Colchester. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Heathrow Airport London T23. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 3h 50m.

National Express run regular bus services between Swindon and Colchester. Buses run once daily and take around 3h 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 Colchester. We recommend that you take the train to London Paddington and then to Colchester. instead which will take 2h 15m.

The closest major airport to Colchester is London Stansted Airport (STN) (STN) which is approximately 44km (27 miles) from Colchester. Cambridge Airport (CBG) (CBG) and London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) 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 Colchester. The distance is around 248km (154 miles) by road and it will take around 2h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Swindon to Colchester is to take the train which takes, on average, 2h 15m and will usually cost around £57 ($67).

How do I get from Swindon to Colchester

Compare travel optionsbetween Swindon and Colchester

Transport options from Swindon to Colchester
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
2h 15m
£57($67)
every 20 mins213km (133 miles)
Bus
3h 50m
£13($15)
once daily268km (166 miles)
Drive
2h 35m
£43($51)
on demand248km (154 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Swindon and Colchester

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near Colchester

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

STN
London Stansted Airport (STN)
International Airport
Distance
44km (27 miles) from Colchester
CBG
Cambridge Airport (CBG)
Domestic Airport
Distance
61km (38 miles) from Colchester
LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
73km (45 miles) from Colchester