Travelling to Wales: How to get there

Wales is a small nation that forms part of the UK. It is a historical country that borders England to the east and the Irish Sea to the north and west. The Celtic Sea and the Bristol Channel, meanwhile, surround the southern coastline.

Thanks to its position, Wales is not a difficult place to reach from the rest of the UK. By car, plane, train or boat, there are plenty of ways to reach the beautiful and diverse nation.

By Car

The quickest way to Wales for most of the UK is by car. The main motorways that enter Wales are the M4 in the south and M56 in the north, and whilst the Severn Bridge on the M4 used to include a toll, it is now free to cross. Unfortunately, there are no motorways entering Wales from the Midlands, but the M54 will take you pretty close before you reach the A5.

The time it takes to get to Wales will depend on which direction you’re coming from and where your final destination is. If you’re from Leeds, for example, it’s as simple as finding a used audi leeds or similar car if you’re in the used car market, and driving down the M62 until you reach Wrexham.

By Train

In a similar way to the road network, Wales has good train connections running from east to west. From the south, the South Wales Main Line is the quickest and easiest option. It connects London to Milford Haven, passing through Cardiff and Swansea.

Meanwhile, the Cambrian Line serves Mid-Wales, running from Birmingham to Aberystwyth, passing through Shrewsbury and Machynlleth.

Additionally, the North Wales Main Line connects Chester to Holyhead, passing through Llandudno and Bangor. This makes it easy to reach from northern cities like Manchester and Liverpool.

Finally, the Heart of Wales is the only line that traverses north to south. Due to the local geography, however, north-to-south travel is often long and arduous, with the Cambrian Mountains and South Wales Valleys getting in the way.

By Air

Wales has some really great international connections that are all connected to Cardiff Airport. There are regular flights to and from world-class destinations like Milan, Dusseldorf, Faro, Amsterdam and many big airports in Spain, making it easy to get to and from South Wales.

Unfortunately, Mid-Wales and North Wales lack their own airports, so the best options are to use Liverpool, Manchester or Birmingham.

By Sea

As a nation surrounded by the sea on three sides, it’s luckily very easy to reach Wales using the various ferry services available. The main ports are in Holyhead, Fishguard and Milford Haven, making it very easy to travel from neighbouring Dublin. In fact, Dublin is only around 75 miles from Holyhead, making the ferry incredibly direct!

Of course, one of the most important things to think about when you’re planning on getting to Wales is where you’re going to stay when you arrive! As a wonderful mix of historic and metropolitan, there are options for everyone and every taste.

Why not look at some of the holiday cottage options in rural Wales, or book into a luxurious hotel in the centre of one of the thriving towns or cities. Wherever you choose to stay, make sure you plan ahead for your trip and don’t miss out on having an unforgettable holiday in Wales. Check out this page to begin your journey to Wales!