Getting to Cheltenham
Airport transfers
A private taxi from the airport straight to your accommodation in Cheltenham. Transfers cost from £175 one way or £350 return from Bristol and Birmingham, rising to £260 one way from Gatwick or Stansted. Book any time up to a week before you travel, and split the cost if you are arriving with friends. Cheltenham is well connected, so if you would rather travel independently there are direct trains and coaches from every major UK airport.
- From
- £175One way, Bristol or Birmingham
- Airports
- 6Plus others on request
- Book by
- 1 weekBefore you travel
- Nearest
- 1 hr 15Bristol and Birmingham
Where Cheltenham is
Cheltenham sits in Gloucestershire, in the south-west of England, on the edge of the Cotswolds. Bristol and Birmingham airports are the closest, and London Heathrow is a comfortable two hours away.
Cheltenham is 15 minutes from the Cotswolds and Gloucester, 45 minutes from Stratford-upon-Avon, an hour from Bristol, Cardiff and Oxford, 1 hour 15 from Bath, and 2 hours from central London.
Transfer prices
Prices are per vehicle, not per person, so a small group arriving on the same flight can share one transfer and split the cost between them.
| Airport | Distance | Average time | One way | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol BRS | 55 mi | 1 hr 15 min | £175 | £350 |
| Birmingham BHX | 55 mi | 1 hr 15 min | £175 | £350 |
| London Heathrow LHR | 95 mi | 2 hr | £225 | £450 |
| London Luton LTN | 100 mi | 2 hr 45 min | £225 | £450 |
| London Gatwick LGW | 130 mi | 2 hr 30 min | £260 | £500 |
| Stansted STN | 130 mi | 3 hr | £260 | £500 |
| Add-on | Cost |
|---|---|
| Unaccompanied minorStudents under 16 travelling alone | £100 each way |
Travelling from an airport not listed here, or by ferry or Eurostar? Ask us and we will quote it.
A typical arrival and departure
| Return transfer, London Heathrow Airport to your accommodation and back | £450 |
|---|---|
| Unaccompanied minor supervision £100 each way, for students under 16 travelling alone | £200 |
| Total | £650 |
An adult student flying into Bristol and back pays £350 for the same return journey. Add transfers to your total with the fee calculator, or see every price on the fees page.
Booking your transfer
You can book a transfer at any time up to a week before your arrival or departure. Tell us your flight number, airline, and arrival and departure times as soon as they are confirmed — even if you have decided not to book a transfer through us, we still like to know when you are landing.
Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you directly to your accommodation. On departure they collect you from the same address.
Arriving with friends? Share the cost
Transfer prices are per vehicle. If two or three of you are arriving on the same flight, book one transfer between you and split it — three students sharing a return from Heathrow pay £150 each rather than £450.
Three things to know before you book flights
Students under 16 travelling alone
Most students under 16 must be met by an adult at the airport. If your child is travelling as an unaccompanied minor, there is an additional fee of £100 each way. This covers the driver staying with them at the airport until the aircraft departs, rather than dropping them at the door — which is the part that matters. Tell us the flight details as early as you can.
Please think about your host when choosing flights
If you arrive in Cheltenham after 22:00 or before 07:00, please book a hotel room for that first or last night. If your flight times leave you no choice, talk to us and we will help you work something out.
Delays and cancellations
If your flight is delayed or cancelled and the taxi company charges us extra as a result, that cost is passed on to you. Drivers wait where they reasonably can, but a four-hour delay costs the company real money. Keep us informed if anything changes and we will do what we can.
Making your own way
A private transfer is the simplest option, particularly on a first arrival with luggage in a country you do not know. But Cheltenham is genuinely well connected, and plenty of students travel independently — often for a good deal less.
By coach
National Express runs coach services from all major UK airports, including a direct coach from London Heathrow to Cheltenham with no changes. Usually the cheapest way to arrive.
nationalexpress.com →By train
Regular trains run between Cheltenham Spa station and every major UK airport and city. Faster than the coach, usually more expensive, and you will need a taxi or bus for the last stretch into town.
thetrainline.com →Book train tickets in advance where you can — walk-up fares in the UK are considerably more expensive than tickets bought ahead.
Getting around once you arrive
inlingua Cheltenham is at Rodney Lodge, 9 Rodney Road, right in the town centre, so the shops, cafés and parks are on your doorstep after class. Every local bus route passes close to the school.
Most hosts are within thirty minutes of the school on foot or by bus, and some students walk the whole way. If you take the bus, a weekly pass is the cheapest option and you can buy one on any Stagecoach bus. Your host will show you the route on your first morning.
Homestay accommodation
Where you will live, what it costs, how we check every home, and a map of the school. From £225 per week including breakfast, dinner and laundry.
See accommodation →Common questions
How much is an airport transfer to Cheltenham?
In 2027, a one-way transfer costs £175 from Bristol or Birmingham, £225 from London Heathrow or Luton, and £260 from Gatwick or Stansted. Return journeys are £350, £450 and £500 respectively. Prices are per vehicle, so a small group arriving together can share one transfer.
Which airport should I fly into?
Bristol and Birmingham are closest at about an hour and a quarter, and cheapest to transfer from. London Heathrow is two hours away and usually has the widest choice of flights, with a direct National Express coach if you would rather not book a transfer. Gatwick and Stansted work but take longer and cost more.
How late can I book a transfer?
Up to one week before you arrive or depart. Later than that we may still be able to help, but we cannot promise it — ask us.
My child is under 16 and travelling alone. What happens?
Most students under 16 must be met by an adult at the airport. We arrange this, and for unaccompanied minors the driver stays with them at the airport until the aircraft departs on the return journey. There is an additional £100 each way for this. Send us the flight details as soon as they are booked.
What if my flight is delayed?
Tell us as soon as you know. Drivers wait where they reasonably can, but if the taxi company charges us extra because of a long delay or a cancellation, that cost is passed on to you.
Can I get to Cheltenham without booking a transfer?
Yes, easily. National Express runs coaches from all major UK airports, including a direct service from Heathrow, and there are regular trains to Cheltenham Spa station from airports and cities across the country. Book ahead for the best fares.
Are transfers included in any course?
Yes, in two. The Boarding School Exploration programme includes the airport transfer in its price, and group bookings include transfers from Bristol, Birmingham and Heathrow. Summer Camp includes free transfers for groups of 15 or more. For everything else, transfers are booked separately at the prices above.
Send us your flight details
Once your flights are booked, email us the flight number, airline and times — whether or not you want a transfer. We would rather know when you are landing.
Prices valid for courses starting in 2027. Last updated August 2026.