- Must visit
Museum in the Park
Stroud’s main museum explores local history, textiles and social life. Its galleries give a strong introduction to the town and surrounding valleys.
Cheapest price on 18 Sept
£40
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£40
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
1 h 52 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
1 h 58 m
Trains on 18 Sept
2
Distance
74 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Cardiff to Stroud is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Cardiff to Stroud will cost around £40 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £40.
To travel from Cardiff to Stroud you need to make at least one change.
W35160 · W35060
W35431 · W35059
W35431 · W35059
W35160 · W35060Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cardiff to Stroud among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of £21 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 47m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £21, while a coach costs an average of £26.
Distance: 74 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£21 Average Price Cheapest | £26 Average Price | £16 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 47m Average total duration Fastest 1h 17m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 7h 20m Average total duration 6h 50m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 17m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Cardiff to Stroud:
A train is £5 less than a coach for this route with tickets for a coach from Cardiff to Stroud costing on average £26.
Other travel options to Stroud take longer:
Coach takes on average 6h 50m.
Tickets start at around £21 compared to roughly £16 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about £-4.99. The journey takes 1h 17m versus 1h 17m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.
Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.
The table below shows live departures for Cardiff to Stroud trains for today, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 8:45 Cardiff | 1h48 | 10:33 Stroud | 0 changesdirect | |
| Friday 18 September | |||||
W35431 · W35059 | 5:07 Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1h52 | 6:59 Stroud station (STD) | 1 change | |
W35160 · W35060 | 5:53 Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2h04 | 7:57 Stroud station (STD) | 1 change | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare coach and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Cardiff to Stroud run on average 8 times per day, taking around 1h 17m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £21 if you book in advance.
The earliest train runs at 05:07, the last at 22:45. The fastest train covers the 74 km distance in 1h 48m.
Distance 74 km |
Average train duration 1h 17m |
Cheapest ticket price £21 |
Trains per day 8 |
Fastest train 1h 48m |
First train 5:07 |
Last train 22:45 |
Cheapest Month Apr |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Wed |
Best time to book 2 days |
Discover the best of Stroud — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Stroud trip today.
Stroud’s main museum explores local history, textiles and social life. Its galleries give a strong introduction to the town and surrounding valleys.
A respected gallery showing modern and contemporary art in a former chapel. It is known for thoughtful exhibitions and a calm setting in Stroud town centre.
An artist-led contemporary art space with changing exhibitions and events. It is a good choice for visitors seeking Stroud’s current creative scene.
A large park with formal gardens, woodland and a museum. It is one of the best places in Stroud for a relaxed walk and broad valley views.
A wooded common with open grassland above Stroud. It is popular for walking, picnics and wide views across the Five Valleys.
A broad common beside Rodborough with excellent views and easy walking routes. It is a favourite local spot for sunsets and open scenery.
A soft, crumbly blue cow’s milk cheese from nearby Woodchester Valley, long associated with the Stroud area and valued for its rich, creamy flavour.
A traditional Gloucestershire cow’s milk cheese with a mellow, buttery taste, historically made on local farms and central to the county’s food heritage.
A rich fruit cake from Gloucestershire made with dried fruit, spice and suet, traditionally baked for harvest celebrations and local gatherings.
Independent brewery taproom and kitchen focused on organic beer, pizzas and casual meals with an easy-going local feel.
Stylish modern restaurant in Stroud known for seasonal British cooking, small plates and a relaxed but polished atmosphere.
Popular canalside pub serving hearty British dishes, local drinks and Sunday roasts in a relaxed historic setting.
Stroud is moderate for UK market towns: pubs and cafés are reasonable, but hotels can be pricey in peak periods. Local buses and trains are manageable for most visitors.
Tipping is modest. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is appreciated if not already added. Round up taxi fares. Café tipping is optional, often just small change.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Cardiff to Stroud 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 Stroud, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Cardiff to Stroud trains use the Cardiff Central to Stroud station pair. Use this guide to compare Cardiff and Stroud train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Cardiff Central 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 and Car Rental.
Food options include: Gourmet Coffee Bar & Kitchen, Pret a Manger, Tesco Express
Free Wi-Fi in the station. ATMs are located outside of the main entrance.
The ticket office is open Mon - Fri: 05:40 - 21:30, Sat: 05:40 - 21:30, Sun: 07:30 - 21:30.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Cardiff Central: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Cardiff Central: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Cardiff Central: There is step-free access in the whole station. There are also ramps for train access and elevators in the station.
Nearby hotels include Clayton Hotel Cardiff, Cardiff Marriott Hotel, Travelodge Cardiff Central.
Stroud is 1 km from Stroud city centre. Public transport options include:
Stroud has practical services for this route, including Shopping, Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office and Bike Parking.
Food and drink options are available at Stroud.
Ticket office support is available at Stroud.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Stroud: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Stroud: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Stroud: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access note: Step Free Category B2 - This station has a degree of step free access to each platform via drop off points however step free access between the ticket office and Platform 2 can only be achieved via a stepbridge on the station. Safety warning - Please be aware that this station has no tactile paving on the platform edge. Please take extra care when using this station, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users can use car park equipment at this station unaided, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need