Travelling to Cheltenham & the Cotswolds
Cheltenham
Being located at the heart of the UK, Cheltenham is a gateway connecting the South East, the Midlands and the North, to Wales and the South West. With two motorway junctions, an airport and a mainline station with direct trains to London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff and beyond, few other towns or cities can match Cheltenham for connectivity.
By Rail
Being so centrally located, Cheltenham enjoys superb mainline rail connections to and from locations throughout the UK.
Our central Cheltenham Spa station is one of the busiest in the South West and provides regular connections to London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff together with other UK-wide connections via a frequent CrossCountry Trains service.
By Air
Just two miles out of town is Gloucestershire Airport – one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country, offering private charter flights from locations around the UK and Europe.
The international airports at Bristol and Birmingham are both little more than an hour away, while London Heathrow is only 2 hours away, with excellent connections via road, rail and coach services.
By Road
Cheltenham is served by two junctions on the M5 motorway, each within a mile of the town, making it easily accessible from all areas of the country and less than 2 hours from London and under an hour from Bristol and Birmingham.
The A40 provides direct access to Oxford in under an hour, while the dualled A417 connects Cheltenham to the M4 and the South/South East.
By Bus
Cheltenham is also well-served by national coach and bus connections, with several daily services to London, and frequent services to Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Cardiff, Manchester, Sheffield and Edinburgh.
Locally, the town has an excellent public transport network with regular buses across the town – including two Park & Ride services – along with routes into the neighbouring Cotswolds.
The Cotswolds
The Cotswolds' central location in the heart of England and its beautiful setting make it an ideal destination for business travellers, offering a blend of accessibility and quintessential English countryside charm.
By Air
Travelling via air to the Cotswolds couldn't be easier: Birmingham and Bristol are 1 to 1.5 hour drive away; of the two London airports, the region is best accessed from Heathrow - the 65 mile drive should not take more than 90 minutes - while Gatwick airport is 2 hours’ drive away. Cardiff airport in Wales also offers good access to the west Cotswolds at just 90 minutes driving distance.
By Road
The Cotswolds is well-connected by major roads, including excellent links to the M4, M5 and M40 motorways, and the A40, providing easy access to and from London, Birmingham and the national motorway network.
By Rail
The Cotswolds are at the heart of the British Rail network with main line trains to the Cotswolds from London, the Midlands and the North and the South West of England. There are main line railway stations at Cam and Dursley, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Kemble (serving Cirencester), Moreton-in-Marsh, Stroud and Ashchurch (for Tewkesbury).
There are regular rail services through the area:
- Between London Paddington and Cheltenham via Swindon, Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse and Gloucester
- Between London Paddington and Moreton in Marsh via Oxford
- Between Cardiff and Cheltenham via Gloucester
- Between Birmingham and Bristol via Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Dursley
For detailed rail information and prices for rail travel please look at the following sites: National Rail, Great Western Railway or The Trainline.
By Bus
The National Express network runs bus travel throughout England. It offers a range of discount fares and travel passes. The main route to the Cotswolds from London starts at Victoria Coach Station. The main bus stations in the Cotswolds are at Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud.
For further information:
- download the Explore the Cotswolds by Public Transport Guide
- visit www.traveline.com
- visit www.nationalexpress.co.uk
Public Transport
As with many rural areas, getting around the Cotswolds by public transport is not always easy - larger towns tend to have regular bus services but many smaller villages are not served by public transport. The best source of information is probably www.traveline.com
