How to travel from London to Snowdonia

Snowdonia is a stunning destination largely due to its extraordinary natural features and mountain ranges so it's little wonder that outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike travel to the region to explore its charming villages and national parks. While Snowdonia may seem a little out of the way on the coast in northwestern Wales, travelling to the scenic spot is surprisingly easy with people coming from all over the United Kingdom, and specifically from London, to experience the great outdoors and welcoming Welsh hospitality via a number of transportation options. There are a few ways you can travel from London to Snowdonia including flying, self-driving, and catching public transportation in the form of train services.

Travel by plane

You might not be able to fly directly into Snowdonia but there are a few international airports that are only a couple of hours away from the region, allowing you to drive the rest of the way there. These airports include Manchester Airport (MAN), Birmingham Airport (BHX), and Liverpool Airport (LPL). See below flight times from London to the above airports and the total drive time to Snowdonia from those airports:

Flying from London to Manchester will take you around 1 hour and 5 minutes. Once at the airport, the drive will be roughly 2 hours to Snowdonia, making the full journey just over 3 hours.
Flying from London to Birmingham will take you around 45 minutes. Once at the airport, the drive will be roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes to Snowdonia, making the full journey around 3 hours.
Flying from London to Liverpool will take you around 52 minutes. Once at the airport, the drive you be roughly 1 hour and 50 minutes to Snowdonia, making the full journey around 2 hours and 40 minutes.

The cost of tickets differs from destination to destination but you can expect to pay GBP£120+ for a one-way ticket. This price can also depend on the season you're travelling in and how far in advance you book your tickets.

Regardless of which airport you fly into, you'll be able to easily hire a car to complete the remainder of your journey to Snowdonia. Most airports have several car rental companies for you to choose from including Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Europcar, Avis, Budget, Thrifty, and Hertz. The cost of hiring a car will also differ depending on what type of car you choose and how long you need it for but most prices start at GBP£30 per day.

While this might not be the simplest option to get from London to Snowdonia, it is the quickest one.

Travel by car

Self-driving from London to Snowdonia is one of the best ways to travel to the region thanks to the breathtaking scenery you'll see along the way. It's also handy to have a car when you arrive in Snowdonia as the relatively infrequent bus services shouldn't be relied upon to get you around.

The total travel time by car will take you around 4 hours and 20 minutes but this could take longer if you're driving during peak times of the day or decide to stop off for food or sightseeing as you go. It's estimated to cost around GBP£40 - £60 (one way) in fuel so keep that in mind when budgeting for your holiday.

All highways leading out of England and into Wales are well maintained and easy to navigate due to clear signage and bold lettering. Be aware of weather conditions when you're driving, especially in winter, and allow for potential delays in your journey. Also, take care when driving at night and at other times when visibility is low.

Travel by public transport

While it's not the most recommended form of travel between London and Snowdonia as the mountainous parts make it hard to be serviced by train, it is still possible to reach the region this way. A train from London Euston Sation to Bangor in Gwynedd will take you between 3-4 hours but there is no connecting service from Bangor into Snowdonia itself so you will have to organise other transportation arrangements with the whole journey expected to take around 6 or so hours.

Alternatively, you can catch a train from London into Betws-y-Coed but again, this isn't a direct service so you will have to make a couple of changeovers along the way. If you want to go for this route, it will take around 5 and a half hours and set you back between GBP£90 - £200.

Both routes operate a few trains per day but you should always book in advance to secure your tickets and avoid potential travel delays.

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