Travelling to Wales and Swansea University (Bay Campus)
If you are living outside of the UK you may need a UK visa to visit Wales. Wales is part of the United Kingdom and the UK wide visa and immigration system. To find out more visit the UK Government Visas and Immigration website, where you can find specific guidance on visiting the UK after Brexit.
Swansea University (Bay Campus, Fabian Way, Crymlyn Burrows, Skewen, Swansea, Wales, SA1 8EN) is easily accessible by road and public transport. Bay Campus is just 5 minutes from Junction 42 of the M4, 3 hours from London or the Midlands, a short taxi ride from Swansea’s High Street Station and an hour from Cardiff Airport.
The following information has been sourced from Meet in Wales (https://www.meetinwales.com/support-and-resource/travel-to-and-around-wales)
Air travel
Wales is well connected by air and it is easy to get here from the UK or overseas. Travel directly into Cardiff Airport, just 20 minutes outside the capital city in South Wales, or through a major UK hub such as Manchester and Liverpool, just over one hour from Wales, which service North Wales. Birmingham Airport is just under two hours, which services Mid Wales and Bristol 45 minutes from Wales. Whilst London airports are just over two hours with good links by road and rail for visitors wishing to travel further to other parts of Wales.
Cardiff Airport has over 25 direct routes and is connected to hundreds of other destinations through major hubs including Amsterdam Schiphol via KLM. Cardiff Airport has a number of direct and indirect flights to both UK and European destinations.
Rail travel
Wales is serviced by frequent direct train services from the whole of the UK.
The Eurostar links Paris, Lille and Brussels with London St Pancras International. The station has connecting services to London Paddington and London Euston where there are direct trains to North and South Wales and Mid Wales via connecting travel.
Wales is serviced by frequent direct train services from the whole of the UK. National Rail Enquiries is a source of information for all passenger rail services and fares in the UK.
Great Western Railway (GWR) and Transport for Wales both offer special rates for group travel.
Train Services from London:
- Avanti West Coastoffer services from London Euston to Llandudno Junction (Cyffordd Llandudno) and Holyhead.
- Great Western Railwayoperate direct services from London Paddington to Cardiff (Caerdydd), Swansea (Abertawe) and Newport (Casnewydd). Transport for Wales operate a service onwards along the South Wales coast calling at major stops to Pembrokeshire.
- Mid Wales is serviced by Transport for Wales via Birmingham with stops in Newtown (Y Drenewydd), Machynlleth and Aberystwyth.
Train services from other areas:
- Avanti West Coastoffer services from Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool to Crewe where interconnecting services are available for onward journeys to Llandudno Junction and Holyhead.
- Cross Countryand Merseyrail offer routes to major connecting train stations in to Wales.
- Great Western Railwayrun services from destinations such as Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, The Cotswolds, Bath, Plymouth and Exeter to the South of Wales.
- National Rail Enquiriesis a one stop website for train journeys in the UK.
- Transport for Walesoperate services throughout Wales and its major cities and the border countries of England providing local and long distance services in to Wales from Chester, Birmingham and Manchester.
Road travel
By car
The three fastest roads in to Wales are;
- M56 – which enters in to North Wales;
- M54 – which enters in to Mid Wales;
- M4 – which enters in to South Wales.
The M4 is the main motorway which connects South Wales. The A55 is the main dual carriageway through North Wales. The A470 is the backbone road of Wales which connects the South and North. It is a picturesque route that includes Snowdonia, the Cambrian Mountains and the Brecon Beacons. Wales does have some of the most scenic drives in Great Britain.
By coach
The National Express coach network links major towns and cities in the UK. Direct routes to Wales include;
- London Victoria Coach Station > Cardiff, Swansea, Pembrokeshire;
- London Victoria Coach Station and Birmingham > Wrexham, Llangollen, Newtown, Aberystwyth;
- London Gatwick Airport, London Heathrow Airport and Bristol > Cardiff, Swansea;
- Hull, Nottingham, Leicester and Birmingham > Cardiff, Swansea, Pembrokeshire;
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne, York, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool and Chester > North Wales.
Sea travel
There are several ferry crossings from mainland Europe to Great Britain with easy onward journeys to Wales by road or rail these are.
Wales has excellent ferry crossings from Ireland to Wales each day:
- Dublin Port to Holyhead (Caergybi)
Journey time: 1 hour 49 minutes (Fast ferry)
Journey time: 3 hours 15 minutes (Cruise ferry) - Rosslare to Pembroke (Penfro)
Journey time: 4 hours (Cruise ferry)
- Dublin Port to Holyhead
Journey time: 3 hours 15 minutes (Superferry) - Rosslare to Fishguard (Abergwaun)
Journey time: 3.5 hours (Superferry)