4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare train and bus for Reading to Bath
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Reading to Bath among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of $25 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 24m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of $25, while a train costs an average of $55.
Distance: 60 miles (97 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$55 Average price | $25 Average price Cheapest | $27 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 24m Average total duration Fastest 54m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 42m Average total duration 4h 12m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 41m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.1 - 0.2kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Compare ways to travel from Reading to Bath
Compare the available ways to get from Reading to Bath, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Reading to Bath:
A bus is $31 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Reading to Bath costing on average $55.
Other travel options to Bath take longer:
Bus takes on average 4h 42m.
You'll arrive about 47m sooner (54m by train vs 1h 41m by car). Tickets start at around $55 compared to roughly $27 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
Travel optionsfrom Reading to Bath
How to get from Reading to Bath by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Reading to Bath is by taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
- G14956
9:55 AM 0h50 Reading station (RDG) 10:45 AM Bath Spa (BTH) $61 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
- G14956
9:55 AM 0h50 Reading station (RDG) 10:45 AM Bath Spa (BTH) $61 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
- G14956
9:55 AM 0h50 Reading station (RDG) 10:45 AM Bath Spa (BTH) $61 1 One-way 0 transfers
Other options
- W34680
10:25 AM 0h53 Reading station (RDG) 11:18 AM Bath Spa (BTH) $61 1 One-way 0 transfers - G14954
8:55 AM 0h54 Reading station (RDG) 9:49 AM Bath Spa (BTH) $70 1 One-way 0 transfers - G14955
9:25 AM 0h57 Reading station (RDG) 10:22 AM Bath Spa (BTH) $70 1 One-way 0 transfers
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
Compare train and bus prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
How to travel from Reading to Bath
Travelers planning a trip to the elegant spa town of Bath from Berkshire can opt for train or bus connections from Reading, with services on rail and road networks operating seven days a week. Train journeys from Reading on the main line west to Bath are much quicker than the bus, taking just under 1 hour for frequent direct services available from early morning to late evening. Bus connections depart four times a day and involve an indirect route from Reading, requiring a change at Heathrow Airport, with total journey times to Bath of around four hours.
What is the cheapest way to get from Reading to Bath?
With frequent daily direct trains taking around 55 minutes, the Great Western Railway rail service offers the cheapest way to travel from Reading to Bath, with advance booking often securing very economical fares. Trains leave from the main station on the north side of central Reading, arriving at Bath Spa station south of the city center. National Express buses depart from the interchange next to the rail station in Reading but connections are indirect, via Heathrow Airport bus station, with journeys taking just over four hours in total to complete the trip to Bath, including transit time at the airport. Buses arrive at the terminus adjacent to Bath Spa rail station.
What is the fastest way to travel from Reading to Bath?
Great Western Railway's fastest train service offers the quickest way to travel from Reading to Bath, taking just 53 minutes to complete the 60 mile journey to the historic spa town, with other trains taking up to six minutes longer. Trains depart roughly every half hour throughout the day, seven days a week, so passengers never have to wait long for a direct service. National Express bus services from Reading take an indirect route via Heathrow Airport, connecting with express motorway connections to Bath via Chippenham. These journeys take a total of four hours and ten minutes to reach Bath, including the change of buses at Heathrow. Bus connections from Reading operate four times daily, seven days a week with a choice of morning and afternoon departures.
Find and book the best tickets from Reading to Bath with Omio
Whether passengers opt to travel from Reading to Bath by train or bus, the Omio booking platform offers a quick and easy comparison of costs, departure times and journey durations. Fares on rail and bus services can fluctuate according to availability so booking well in advance will secure the lowest prices. With train journeys, traveling on off peak departures usually offers the best chance of finding a cheap fare.
Travel from Reading to Bath by train
Train services from Reading to Bath are operated by Great Western Railway, the main rail company in the west of England. The Great Western Railway weekday and Saturday timetables provide direct Intercity Express trains from Reading to Bath Spa station roughly twice an hour, with departures from very early in the morning until late in the evening. There are also some additional late night services from Reading on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday trains to Bath are slightly less frequent, with the first departure leaving Reading later in the morning, and a reduced schedule throughout the day. Journey times to Bath range from 53 to 59 minutes. All trains arrive at Bath Spa station, located about 20 minutes' walk south of the main historic sites, with local buses from stops next to the station making the trip downtown in around ten minutes.
Travel from Reading to Bath by bus
National Express, the UK's main national bus operator, provides four daily bus connections from Reading to Bath seven days a week. Journeys involve taking a Reading RailAir bus service departing from Reading station, connecting at Heathrow Airport Terminals 2 and 3 bus terminus with National Express direct services to Bath. There are four daily departures, with services beginning in early morning and departing every 3 hours until mid afternoon. Most connections involve around 1 hour spent in transit at Heathrow. All National Express buses arrive at the Bath bus station. located next to Bath Spa station on the south side of the city. Numerous city buses provide connections to the center in around ten minutes.
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FAQs: Travel from Reading to Bath
Travel to Bath easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Reading to Bath.
This is compared to other travel options from Reading to Bath:
A bus is $31 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Reading to Bath costing on average $55.
Other travel options to Bath take longer:
Bus takes on average 4h 42m.
- Around 7 trains per day.
- Around 3 buses per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Reading and Bath as scheduled services by train and bus can vary by season or day of the week.
- Trains mostly depart from Reading station (RDG) and arrive in Bath Spa (BTH).
- Buses mostly depart from Three Mile Cross, Mereoak Lane - Park & Ride and arrive in Bath, Bus Station.
- Travel with FlixBus to go to Bath by bus.
- Travel with Great Western Railway to go to Bath by train.
- 6 direct trains per day with Great Western Railway.
Travelling from Reading to Bath: related information
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