A Road Trip from Wales to Cheltenham – What Routes Could You Take?
The Cheltenham Festival is taking place between the 12th and 15th March, and if you’re living in Wales, this is as good a reason as any to take a trip to one of the most quaint and beloved towns in England.
For the avid traveller, this location boasts everything from the fantastic Cheltenham races to the grandest of spa buildings.
With gorgeous countryside views, bustling market towns and mouth-watering restaurants, there is so much to see and do in Cheltenham – helping you to let go and find that spark of joy for life again.
That being said, the way to get to Cheltenham is not always so joyful. Despite being close to Wales, there are a number of routes to choose from, so it’s a good idea to narrow them down and choose a transport method that suits you.
With this in mind, we’re going to walk you through the most common routes below.
A40, 116 Miles – 2 Hours, 45 Minutes
The most popular route from Wales to Cheltenham is taking the A40 from Tywi Ave. From here, you will stay on the A40 for around 15 miles before turning right onto New Road on the A4077. This takes you through to the A465 – along the Heads of the Valleys Road – then back onto the A40, and onwards to the M5. Overall, the journey takes around 2 hours and 45 minutes if the traffic is good.
A40 and A466, 104 Miles – 2 Hours, 50 Minutes
Another common route takes you onto the A466. After taking the 4th exit at Dixton Roundabout, all you have to do is turn left onto Wye Bridge and follow the A466 to the A4136. You continue to follow this route along Gloucester Road, Barton Hill, and then you turn back onto the A40 before the Highnam Roundabout. This can cut out some of the traffic, but will ultimately take around 5 minutes longer than the 116-mile A40 route.
A40 and M5, 129 Miles – 2 Hours, 53 minutes
The direct approach to Cheltenham is accessed through Junction 11 of the M5, which takes you all the way to the town centre. To take this route, you’ll take the 2nd exit at Coldra Roundabout, which takes you onto the M4 ramp to London. After around 16 miles, you can take the M5 exit, follow signs for Gloucester, and then take the A40 exit at Junction 11 to Cheltenham.
Newport to Cheltenham – 1 Hour, 7 Minutes
We know this article is supposed to help you organise a road trip, but if you’re planning to get down to the Cheltenham Festival, you’ve got to be prepared for traffic. The M5, specifically, can be laden with Festival-related delays, with the busiest times generally falling between 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM.
For this reason, you might find it easier to simply jump on the train and use the railway route to bypass congestion. One of the most popular routes is from Newport Station to Cheltenham Spa. This generally takes around 1 hour, and with the trains being fairly regular, this gives you plenty of flexibility to plan out your trip.
Planning for Success
Any one of these routes will be good for your journey into Cheltenham, but as ever, you need to plan out the one that works best for you. Make sure you keep an eye on the traffic and – if you’re travelling for the Cheltenham Festival – try to get into Cheltenham before the actual event begins to avoid traffic. Or at least set off in good time to ensure you don’t miss any of the action!
