By train
The main direct rail route to Wales is the fast and frequent service from London Paddington, Reading, Bath and Bristol to Newport and Cardiff, with easy connections to Swansea, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
There are also direct trains from London Euston and Manchester to Llandudno, Bangor and Holyhead; from Birmingham, Shrewsbury and Crewe to the North Wales coast and the Llŷn Peninsula; from Manchester and Shrewsbury to Newport; and from Portsmouth, Southampton and Salisbury to Cardiff.
The train journey from London to Cardiff takes only two hours. From Manchester to Llandudno Junction, it’s about the same.
From London Heathrow Airport, there’s a fast, direct rail service to Paddington, where you can change onto a direct train to Wales. From London Gatwick Airport, you can travel direct to London Victoria, then hop on the tube to Paddington or Euston to continue your journey.
Timetables and tickets
By coach
The National Express coach network links major towns and cities in the UK. Direct routes to Wales include:
London Victoria Coach Station > Cardiff, Swansea, Pembrokeshire
London Victoria Coach Station, Birmingham > Newtown, Aberystwyth
London Gatwick Airport, London Heathrow Airport, Bristol > Cardiff, Swansea
Hull, Nottingham, Leicester, Birmingham > Cardiff, Swansea, Pembrokeshire
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, York, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Chester > North Wales
Megabus provides low cost intercity travel in the UK, with a coach service running from London and Bristol to Newport, Cardiff, Swansea, Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.
By car
Driving to Wales gives you maximum flexibility. The fastest routes are via the M4, M5, M6 and M56.
Mileage and journey times by car
Birmingham > Aberystwyth - 123m 2hrs 41mins
Canterbury > Cardiff - 215m 3hrs 46mins
Coventry > Barmouth - 130m 2hrs 47mins
Exeter > Swansea - 157m 2hrs 43mins
Leeds > Llandudno - 127m 2hrs 19mins
London > Cardiff - 153m 2hrs 52mins
London > Tenby - 239m 4hrs 19mins
Manchester > Caernarfon - 104m 2hrs 04mins
Nottingham > Swansea - 196m 3hrs 37mins
Peterborough > Aberystwyth - 207m 4hrs 11mins
Newcastle > Llandudno - 227m 4hrs 08mins
Reading > Carmarthen - 173m 2hrs 56mins
York to Welshpool - 152m 2hrs 53mins
(Mileage and times supplied by www.theaa.com)
By air
There are direct flights to Cardiff Airport from Aberdeen, Newcastle, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Jersey.
