There are 6 ways to get from Shaftesbury to Preston by train, bus, car, or plane
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Train via Stafford
best- Take the train from Gillingham (Dorset) to Basingstoketrain
- Take the train from Basingstoke to Staffordtrain
- Take the train from Stafford to Prestontrain
7h 43m£108–184Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Gillingham Station to Strode Collegebus 647
- Take the bus from Glaston Road to Bus Stationbus 376
- Take the bus from Bristol Bus Station to Manchester, Shudehill Interchangebus
- Take the bus from Shudehill Interchange to Bus Stationbus
11h 26m£29–47Drive 223.6 mi
- Drive from Shaftesbury to Prestoncar 223.6 mi
4h 5m£57–82Train, fly
- Take the train from Gillingham (Dorset) to London Waterlootrain
- Fly from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Manchester Airport (MAN)plane LHR - MAN
- Take the train from Manchester Airport to Prestontrain
7h 9m£118–396Train
- Take the train from Gillingham (Dorset) to Basingstoketrain
- Take the train from Basingstoke to Manchester Piccadillytrain
- Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Prestontrain
7h 47m£117–198Bus, train
- Take the bus from The Town Hall to New Canalbus 29
- Take the train from Salisbury to Newport (S Wales)train
- Take the train from Newport (S Wales) to Manchester Piccadillytrain
- Take the train from Manchester Piccadilly to Prestontrain
9h 7m£94–170
Shaftesbury to Preston by bus and train
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Shaftesbury to Preston is to bus which costs £29 - £50 and takes 11h 26m.
The fastest way to get from Shaftesbury to Preston is to drive which takes 4h 5m and costs £55 - £85.
No, there is no direct bus from Shaftesbury to Preston station. However, there are services departing from Bell Street Car Park and arriving at Bus Station via Gillingham Station, Glaston Road, Bristol Bus Station and Shudehill Interchange. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 11h 26m.
No, there is no direct train from Shaftesbury to Preston. However, there are services departing from Gillingham (Dorset) and arriving at Preston via Basingstoke and Stafford. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 7h 43m.
The distance between Shaftesbury and Preston is 280 miles. The road distance is 224.9 miles.
The best way to get from Shaftesbury to Preston without a car is to train via Stafford which takes 7h 43m and costs £100 - £190.
It takes approximately 7h 43m to get from Shaftesbury to Preston, including transfers.
Shaftesbury to Preston bus services, operated by South West Coaches, depart from Gillingham Station.
Shaftesbury to Preston train services, operated by South Western Railway, depart from Gillingham (Dorset) station.
The best way to get from Shaftesbury to Preston is to train via Stafford which takes 7h 43m and costs £100 - £190. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs £29 - £50 and takes 11h 26m.
What companies run services between Shaftesbury, Dorset, England and Preston, England?
You can take a bus from Bell Street Car Park to Preston via Gillingham Station, Gillingham (Dorset), Basingstoke, and Stafford in around 7h 43m. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Bell Street Car Park to Bus Station via Gillingham Station, Strode College, Glaston Road, Bus Station, Bristol Bus Station, and Shudehill Interchange in around 11h 26m.
- Website
- britishairways.com
Flights from London Heathrow Airport to Manchester Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- £50–220
- Phone
- 0345 6000 650
- Website
- South Western Railway
Train from Gillingham (Dorset) to Basingstoke
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 4m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £20–45
- Website
- South Western Railway
Train from Gillingham (Dorset) to London Waterloo
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 58m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £35–80
- Website
- South Western Railway
Train from Gillingham (Dorset) to Basingstoke
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 4m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £20–45
- Website
- South Western Railway
- Phone
- +44 3447 369 123
- [email protected]
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Basingstoke to Stafford
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 41m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £60–95
- Website
- Cross Country
Train from Basingstoke to Manchester Piccadilly
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 39m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £85–130
- Website
- Cross Country
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 528 0253
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
Train from Stafford to Preston
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 21m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £25–40
- Website
- Avanti West Coast
- Phone
- +44 800 200 6060
- [email protected]
- Website
- Northern Trains Limited
Train from Manchester Airport to Preston
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £13–25
- Website
- Northern Trains Limited
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Preston
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £10–19
- Website
- Northern Trains Limited
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Preston
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £10–19
- Website
- Northern Trains Limited
- Phone
- +44 345 600 1671
- [email protected]
- Website
- TransPennine Express
Train from Manchester Airport to Preston
- Ave. Duration
- 53 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £12–20
- Website
- TransPennine Express
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Preston
- Ave. Duration
- 36 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £9–15
- Website
- TransPennine Express
Train from Manchester Piccadilly to Preston
- Ave. Duration
- 36 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £9–15
- Website
- TransPennine Express
- Phone
- +44 (0)345 7000 125
- [email protected]
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
Train from Salisbury to Newport (S Wales)
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 49m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £30–60
- Website
- Great Western Railway (GWR)
- Phone
- 03333 211 202
- Website
- Transport for Wales
Train from Newport (S Wales) to Manchester Piccadilly
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 4m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- £50–85
- Website
- Transport for Wales
- Phone
- 01935 475 872
- [email protected]
- Website
- South West Coaches
Bus from Gillingham Station to Strode College
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- £1–3
- Website
- South West Coaches
- Phone
- +44 345 646 0707
- Website
- First Bristol, Bath & the West
Bus from Glaston Road to Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 43m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- £2–4
- Website
- First Bristol, Bath & the West
Rome2Rio's guide to FlixBus
Contact Details
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Bristol Bus Station to Manchester, Shudehill Interchange
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £20–30
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from Shudehill Interchange to Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- £3–6
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +44 1202 338420
- Website
- Salisbury Reds
Bus from The Town Hall to New Canal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Estimated price
- £2–4
- Website
- Salisbury Reds
Want to know more about travelling around United Kingdom
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Travelling to the UK: What do I need to know?
Read the travel guide
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
Which London airport should I choose?
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Shaftesbury to Preston bus services, operated by South West Coaches, arrive at Strode College station.
Shaftesbury to Preston train services, operated by South Western Railway, arrive at Basingstoke station.
Yes, the driving distance between Shaftesbury to Preston is 225 miles. It takes approximately 4h 5m to drive from Shaftesbury to Preston.
There are 2258+ hotels available in Preston.








































