Travelling by train is one of the quickest and easiest ways to get to the Cotswolds. It is also a good way to get around once you arrive!
If you’re on a budget – coaches are the chepest option to get to the Cotswolds!
Check out this list of 50 things to do on your next visit to the Cotswolds!
Jump to:
- Where to catch trains from in London
- Trains to the south Cotswolds – Bath, Chippenham
- Trains to the central Cotswolds – Stroud, Kemble, Gloucester, Cheltenham
- Trains to the north Cotswolds – Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham
- Table of trains from London to the Cotswolds
- Heading to the Cotswolds from London Heathrow?
- Getting around by train inside the Cotswolds
Where to catch trains from in London
London Paddington is the station in London which trains depart from heading to the Cotswolds and the west of England. The train company operating these services is Great Western Railways.
It is best to visit their website directly to book tickets, if you use a broker site, such as Trainline, you will be charged an extra fee when you book.
Trains to the south Cotswolds – Bath, Chippenham
Bath – Trains from London Paddington to Bath Spa depart every 30-minutes, and the journey will take 1.30 hours. A one-way ticket will be around £30, or if you book your ticket more than a week in advance it will be £20.
Chippenham – Services from London depart every 30-minutes and take around 1.15-hours. Tickets cost £32, or around £17 if booked at least a week before travelling.
Trains to the central Cotswolds – Stroud, Kemble, Gloucester, Cheltenham
For the central Cotswolds, you’ll want to head for stations in Stroud, Kemble, Gloucester, and Cheltenham.
Stroud – A direct train costs around £30, or £20 if booked more than a week in advance. Trains depart London Paddington every 2-hours and the journey time is 1.30 hours.
Kemble – Direct trains depart London Paddington for Kemble every 2-hours, journey time is 1.15-hours. Cost is £30, or £20 if booked over a week before you travel.
Gloucester and Cheltenham are technically just outside of the Cotswolds, but are good options to use as a base to access smaller villages and towns inside the Cotswolds.
Gloucester – Again, price will be £30, or £20 if booked in advance. Trains depart London every 2-hours and the journey time is 2-hours.
Cheltenham – There limited direct trains running from London Paddington to Cheltenham each day. The majority of journeys taking this route will stop in either Bristol or Swindon where you will have to switch trains.
Trains depart London on average every 30-minutes, and the journey time can be up to 2.30-hours. Cost is around £33 regardless of when you book your ticket.
Trains to the north Cotswolds – Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham
Moreton-in-Marsh – Direct trains here cost around £30, or £25 if booked more than a week before you travel. Trains on this route depart London Paddington every hour and the journey time is 1.40-hours.
Kingham – Direct trains to Kingham depart London every hour and take 1.30-hours. Trains are £30, or around £20 if booked over a week before you travel.
Table of trains from London to the Cotswolds
| Route | Depart | Journey time | Cost | Cost (Advance booking) |
| Bath Spa | 30-minutes | 1.30-hours | £30 | £20 |
| Chippenham | 30-minutes | 1.15-hours | £32 | £17 |
| Stroud | 2-hours | 1.30-hours | £30 | £20 |
| Kemble | 2-hours | 1.15-hours | £30 | £20 |
| Gloucester | 2-hours | 2-hours | £30 | £30 |
| Cheltenham Spa | 30-minutes | 2.20-hours | £33 | £33 |
| Moreton-in-Marsh | 1-hour | 1.40-hours | £30 | £25 |
| Kingham | 1-hour | 1.30-hours | £30 | £20 |
Heading to the Cotswolds from London Heathrow?
Trains departing London Heathrow towards the west can be complicated and expensive. The vast majority of services making this trip will require you to get a coach from Heathrow to Reading and then transfer to Reading train station to catch an onward train.
Coaches, in particular National Express services which operate from Heathrow, are the best option. Often they are significantly cheaper and take the same amount of time but using a direct route.
Getting around by train inside the Cotswolds
If you want to really explore the Cotswolds, you probably want to visit some of the more remote villages and towns. Most of these picturesque villages do not have train stations.
While trains are a great long distance option for actually getting in to the Cotswolds from London, there are better ways to get around once you’re in the area, such as local buses or taxis.
Links to live departures for the stations above:
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