- Must visit
St Fagans National Museum of History
Open-air museum and historic house in St Fagans showcasing Welsh buildings, crafts and galleries; a longer day trip but one of South Wales’ best museum visits.
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Birmingham to Porthcawl is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Birmingham to Porthcawl will cost around £39 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £36.
On Sat 07 Nov, we found 2 trains from Birmingham to Porthcawl, including 2 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 166 km distance in an average of 3 h 23 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h 56 m .
The slowest trains will take 3 h 50 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.

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Trains from Birmingham to Porthcawl run on average 15 times per day, taking around 2h 21m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £30 but you can travel from only £12 by coach.
The earliest train runs at 05:00, the last at 20:30. The fastest train covers the 166 km distance in 2h 1m.
Distance 166 km |
Average train duration 2h 21m |
Cheapest ticket price £30 |
Trains per day 15 |
Fastest train 2h 1m |
First train 5:00 |
Last train 20:30 |
Cheapest Month Aug |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Best time to book 1 day |
Use these quick route answers to check fares, travel time, departure options, and direct services before booking from Birmingham to Porthcawl.
The table below shows live departures for Birmingham to Porthcawl trains for tomorrow, Saturday 7 November. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 7:42 Birmingham | 2h56 | 10:38 Porthcawl | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 12:30 Birmingham | 3h50 | 16:20 Porthcawl | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Review the details behind your booking, from operators and ticket rules to luggage, onboard amenities, accessibility, and route-specific travel policies.
Discover the best of Porthcawl — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Porthcawl trip today.
Open-air museum and historic house in St Fagans showcasing Welsh buildings, crafts and galleries; a longer day trip but one of South Wales’ best museum visits.
Compact local museum on the seafront with displays on Porthcawl’s maritime past, seaside holidays and community life, useful for understanding the town.
Regional museum and art gallery in Bridgend with local history, archaeology and changing art displays, suitable as an easy cultural trip from Porthcawl.
Wide sandy beach and promenade popular for walks, paddling and sea views, with easy access to the harbour, pavilion and central seafront.
Dramatic seafront walk from the town centre to the lighthouse, ideal for coastal views, storm watching and an easy introduction to Porthcawl.
Harbour area with fishing heritage, sea air and views across the Bristol Channel, best visited with the adjoining breakwater and lighthouse.
Traditional Welsh cakes griddled with currants and spice. A beloved teatime staple across South Wales, often eaten warm with butter or sugar.
Laverbread is seaweed cooked to a soft paste, often served at Welsh breakfast with cockles or bacon. It reflects the local coastal food tradition.
Fresh cockles from the South Wales coast, commonly eaten plain with vinegar or as part of breakfast. They are a classic local seaside shellfish.
Popular waterfront fish and chip shop and restaurant known for fresh seafood and relaxed seaside dining near the harbour.
Stylish café-bar by Rest Bay serving brunch, coffee and modern casual plates. A popular stop before or after the beach.
Established pub and restaurant overlooking the sea, serving British favourites, grills and drinks in a comfortable traditional setting.
Moderate for a UK seaside town. Accommodation can rise in summer, but dining and local transport are usually manageable for most visitors.
Tipping is optional. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is polite if service is not included. Round up taxi fares. Cafés do not require tips, but small change is appreciated.
Get destination-focused answers for the end of your trip, including what to do, when to go, practical entry details, and tips for making the most of your time in Porthcawl.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Birmingham to Porthcawl by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Porthcawl, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Birmingham to Porthcawl trains use the Birmingham New Street to station pair. Use this guide to compare Birmingham and Porthcawl train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Birmingham New Street has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food options include: All Bar One, Leon, Caffè Nero, Five Guys, Krispy Kreme, The Pasty Shop, Upper Crust, Wasabi, Starbucks, Hotel Chocolat
Pay as you go Wi-Fi is available from Sky Wi-Fi The Cloud. ATMs are aTM machines are located on the paid concourse.
The ticket office is open Mon - Sat: 05:15 - 23:00, Sun: 07:30 - 23:00. Information desks are in the middle of the station.
Luggage storage is you can leave bags with Excess Baggage Co inside the entrance off Hill Street. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Birmingham New Street: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Birmingham New Street: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Birmingham New Street: Step-free access in the whole station and ramps available for train access. All platforms have elevators and escalators.
Nearby hotels include Holiday Inn Birmingham City Center, Premier Inn Birmingham City Center (New St Station), Radisson Blue Hotel, Birmingham.
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