Travel to and around Wales

Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) are being introduced worldwide for visitors to the UK who do not currently need a visa for short stays, or who do not already have a UK immigration status prior to travelling.

The changes are being made to introduce a more streamlined, digital immigration system wich will be quicker and more secure for the millions of people who pass through the UK border each year.

The ETA grants travel to the UK for up to 6 months for business, tourism, visiting family and friends or short-term study and for transiting through the UK.

An ETA costs £10 (GBP), permits multiple journeys and is valid for two years or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever date is sooner. 

It is currently open to countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). 

Over the next six months, the ETA scheme will be rolled out to cover the remaining 83 non-visa nationalities. 

The rollout is planned to commence as follows:

• Eligible non-European visitors can apply for an ETA in advance from 27 November 2024 and will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 8 January 2025
• Eligible European visitors can apply for an ETA from 5 March 2025 and will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 2 April 2025

Visitors can apply in advance, see the full list of countries of who will need to apply for an ETA on GOV.UK

Therefore, by 2 April 2025, all visitors who do not need a visa, except British and Irish citizens, will need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) – a digital permission to travel to the UK.

Visit the Government's website for more information and how to apply for an ETA. 

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,  and Bristol airport just 45 minutes from South Wales. For North Wales  Manchester and Liverpool airport are just over one hour travel time into Wales, whilst Birmingham Airport is just under two hours and services Mid Wales. London airports are also  two hours with good links by road and rail for visitors wishing to travel to 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.

Chartered flights and other welcome services for delegates can be arranged at Cardiff Airport. 

Wales has excellent ferry crossings from Ireland to Wales each day:
 
Irish Ferries

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)   

Stena Line

Dublin Port to Holyhead
Journey time: 3 hours 15 minutes (Superferry)

Rosslare to Fishguard (Abergwaun)
Journey time: 3.5 hours (Superferry)

There are a number of ferry crossings from mainland Europe to Great Britain with easy onward journeys to Wales by road or rail these are;

• Brittany Ferries;
• Condor Ferries;
• DFDS Seaways;
• LD Lines;
• P&O Ferries;
• Stena Line.

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. 

Trainline provides rail information, timetables and ticket sales. 

Great Western Railway (GWR) and Transport for Wales both offer special rates for group travel.

Train Services from London: 

Avanti West Coast offer services from London Euston to Llandudno Junction (Cyffordd Llandudno) and Holyhead.

Great Western Railway operate 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 Coast offer services from Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool to Crewe where interconnecting services are available for onward journeys to Llandudno Junction and Holyhead.

Cross Country and Merseyrail offer routes to major connecting train stations in to Wales. 

Great Western Railway run services from destinations such as Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, The Cotswolds, Bath, Plymouth and Exeter to the South of Wales.

National Rail Enquiries is a one stop website for train journeys in the UK. 

Transport for Wales operate 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. 

Aberystwyth Train Station
Alexandra Road
SY23 1LH
Tel: +44 (0)333 005 0501

Bangor Train Station
Holyhead Road
LL57 1LZ
Tel: +44 (0)333 005 0501

Cardiff Central Train Station
Central Square
CF10 1EP
First Class Lounge Available
Tel: +44 (0)333 005 0501

Llandudno Train Station
Augusta Street
LL30 2AF
Tel: +44 (0)333 005 0501

Newport (South Wales) Train Station
High Street
NP20 4AX
Tel: +44 (0)333 005 0501

Pembroke Train Station
Station Road
SA71 4AH
Tel: +44 (0)333 005 0501

Swansea Train Station
High Street
SA1 1NU
Tel: +44 (0)333 005 0501

Wrexham (Wrecsam) General Train Station
Station Approach, Regent Street
LL11 1EL
Tel: +44 (0)333 005 0501

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 Eryri (Snowdonia), the Cambrian Mountains and the Brecon Beacons. Wales does have some of the most scenic drives in Great Britain. 

Hire cars are available in the main towns and cities of Wales and a number of companies offer chauffeur drive limousines for hire and private coaches. 

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.