- 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 Bristol to Porthcawl is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Bristol to Porthcawl will cost around £24 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £15.
On Sat 07 Nov, we found 3 trains from Bristol to Porthcawl, including 3 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 77 km distance in an average of 1 h 36 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 1 h 19 m .
The slowest trains will take 2 h 2 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 Bristol to Porthcawl run on average 11 times per day, taking around 1h 16m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £9 but you can travel from only £6 by coach.
The earliest train runs at 05:20, the last at 22:09. The fastest train covers the 77 km distance in 1h 2m.
Distance 77 km |
Average train duration 1h 16m |
Cheapest ticket price £9 |
Trains per day 11 |
Fastest train 1h 2m |
First train 5:20 |
Last train 22:09 |
Cheapest Month Jun |
Cheapest Day Sun |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Use these quick route answers to check fares, travel time, departure options, and direct services before booking from Bristol to Porthcawl.
The table below shows live departures for Bristol 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 6:04 Bristol | 1h19 | 7:23 Porthcawl | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 8:33 Bristol | 1h28 | 10:01 Porthcawl | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 13:23 Bristol | 2h02 | 15:25 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 Bristol 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 Bristol to Porthcawl trains use the Bristol Temple Meads to station pair. Use this guide to compare Bristol and Porthcawl train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Bristol Temple Meads has practical services for this route, including Wifi, 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: The Pasty Shop, Starbucks, Upper Crust, Pumpkin Café, Hart's Bakery
Free Wi-Fi in the station. ATMs are located near Platform 3.
The ticket office is open Mon - Sat: 05:30 - 21:30, Sun: 06:45 - 21:30. Information desks are located near the main entrance.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Bristol Temple Meads: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Bristol Temple Meads: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Bristol Temple Meads: Wheelchair access, elevators, escalators. .
Nearby hotels include Holiday Inn Express Bristol City Center, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bristol City Center, Hilton Garden Inn Bristol City Center.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need