Getting to Cardiff
Cardiff is situated on the south-east coast of Wales and has excellent road and rail connections to London and other major British cities.
BY PLANE
Cardiff has an international airport with scheduled and charter flights to and from many European cities and has world-wide connections via Amsterdam and Paris. The airport is only 12 miles (19 km) outside Cardiff city centre, and can be reached by bus or taxi.
The London airports of Heathrow and Gatwick are linked to Cardiff by rail and coach, with departures approx. every hour during the daytime. Bristol airport is also within easy reach, being only an hour's drive away from Cardiff. Further details are available from the individual airport websites below:
Cardiff: http://www.tbicardiffairport.com
Bristol: www.bristolairport.co.uk
London Heathrow: www.heathrowairport.com
London Gatwick: www.gatwickairport.com
London Stansted: http://www.stanstedairport.com/
Birmingham: http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/
BY COACH
Coach operator National Express provides a vast network of express coach links. Direct services to Cardiff operate from London's Victoria Coach Station and from both Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Travel time from Heathrow is approximately 3 hours, and 4 hours from Gatwick. From Heathrow coaches leave approximately every hour up until 7pm at night. After this, there is only a limited service during the evening.
Tickets can be bought at the airport or online from National Express Coach Company. Please click here for further details: www.nationalexpress.com
It is also possible to travel from central London to Cardiff using another coach company called Megabus. Please click here for further details: www.megabus.com
BY TRAIN
Cardiff is approximately two hours from London on the direct InterCity service. Trains to Cardiff leave from London Paddington Station which can be reached via the Heathrow Express or by tube on the Piccadilly Line. Once at Paddington the frequency of journeys by train to Cardiff is every 30 minutes (weekdays).
If you are coming from Gatwick, you can catch a train to London Victoria Station and then transfer by underground or taxi to Paddington Station.
For timetables and ticket information please check www.nationalrail.co.uk. If you wish to make an online booking then please go to one of the following websites:
First Great Western: http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/
The Train Line: http://www.thetrainline.com/buytickets/
For information about travelling within London, please see the London for Transport website below:
London for Travel Website: www.tfl.gov.uk
BY CAR
Cardiff is linked directly to the national motorway system. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to reach Cardiff from central London (depending on the traffic conditions) on the M4 motorway.
Cardiff is connected to the North of England via the M5 and M50 link with the M4 and to the South and the West Country via the M5.
For driving directions please see our Location Map
TRANSFERS
For large groups of students (15+), CELT is able to provide free transfers by coach to and from Cardiff, Bristol and Heathrow airports. For individuals and small groups, airport transfers can be arranged by taxi. This service must be booked at the time of enrolment. Prices on application.
