Cheltenham Spa is about 48 miles from Rugby in a straight line. Every train we found changed once, at Birmingham New Street, and the whole trip took between 1 hour 33 and 1 hour 50 minutes. The departures at 40 minutes past the hour were the most consistent.
Cheltenham Spa to Rugby, briefly
- Change
- Once, at Birmingham New Street.
- Quickest
- 1 hour 33 minutes, on the 09:12, 18:12 and 19:12.
- Leaving at 40 minutes past
- 1 hour 35 minutes every time we checked.
- Last train
- 21:53, arriving 23:43.
- Straight line
- About 48 miles; the road routes differ too much to quote.
Picking a departure from Cheltenham Spa
On the timetable for Tuesday 15 September 2026 there were Birmingham trains with a Rugby connection at 12 and 40 minutes past most hours, plus a few at 55 or 59 past. The 12-past trains took either 1 hour 33 or 1 hour 43 minutes, depending on the hour; the 40-past ones took 1 hour 35; and the later ones took 1 hour 46 to 1 hour 50.
| Leaves Cheltenham Spa | Arrives Rugby | Journey |
|---|---|---|
| 07:55 | 09:45 | 1 h 50 min |
| 08:12 | 09:55 | 1 h 43 min |
| 08:40 | 10:15 | 1 h 35 min |
| 09:12 | 10:45 | 1 h 33 min |
| 09:59 | 11:45 | 1 h 46 min |
| 17:40 | 19:15 | 1 h 35 min |
| 18:12 | 19:45 | 1 h 33 min |
| 19:12 | 20:45 | 1 h 33 min |
| 21:07 | 22:45 | 1 h 38 min |
| 21:53 | 23:43 | 1 h 50 min |
At 40 minutes past, the journey time never changed. Every departure we checked at that minute, from 08:40 to 18:40, took 1 hour 35 minutes. The 12-past trains were sometimes two minutes quicker and sometimes eight minutes slower.
All of these change at Birmingham New Street. After the 21:53 we found nothing reaching Rugby before the next morning; check National Rail Enquiries on the day.
By road from Cheltenham
The planners split early. OSRM went cross-country on the A435, A46 and A45, entering Rugby on the A4071; Valhalla headed for the M5 and went round by the M42 and M6. Their totals were about 22 miles apart, too far to quote either, so we give the straight line: about 48 miles.
Parking here costs nothing. There are six on-site spaces monitored by CCTV and handed out as guests arrive, and Railway Terrace is free for cars overnight, 18:00 to 08:00.
A short trip that still suits a stay
At around an hour and a half by train, Rugby is within day-trip range of Cheltenham. A room earns its place when the visit spans several days, such as locum shifts at hospitals in Coventry and Rugby or a longer stay while you work in the area.
Inside your room
14 of our 16 rooms have their own kitchenette. The laundry on the first floor is free for guests. Staying seven nights or more? Then housekeeping visits each week. Before booking from Cheltenham, see what each room looks like and how check-in, pets and cancellations work.
Cheltenham to Rugby: FAQs
How long is the train from Cheltenham Spa to Rugby?
Between 1 hour 33 and 1 hour 50 minutes on the timetable we checked, always with one change at Birmingham New Street.
Which trains from Cheltenham to Rugby are fastest?
The 09:12, 18:12 and 19:12 took 1 hour 33 minutes. Departures at 40 minutes past took 1 hour 35.
What is the last train from Cheltenham Spa to Rugby?
The 21:53, arriving at 23:43.
Planning a few days in Rugby from Cheltenham?
Check dates on our website and use the booking code DIRECT.
Verified 10 September 2026: Cheltenham Spa train times and Birmingham New Street connections from traintimes.org.uk, for a journey on Tuesday 15 September 2026. OSRM and Valhalla routes were around 22 miles apart, so 48 miles is given as a straight-line distance.
Leave A Comment