By train. Swansea is the western terminus of the Great Western main line. Direct trains run from London Paddington (about 3 hours), Cardiff (1 hour) and Bristol Parkway. Most long-distance services are operated by Great Western Railway.
By bus. National Express and Megabus run direct coaches from London, Birmingham, Manchester and other UK cities to the central bus station on Plymouth Street, in the heart of the city centre.
By car. From the east, the M4 motorway runs directly past Swansea, with junctions giving easy access to the centre, the seafront and the Gower. Coming from London the drive is about 3.5 hours.
By air. The nearest international airport is Cardiff (CWL), about an hour by road, with limited European flights. Bristol Airport (around 90 minutes) has many more routes. London Heathrow is about 3 hours by car or train via Reading.
By sea. Swansea no longer has a regular ferry service. The nearest crossings are Fishguard or Holyhead for Ireland, both a couple of hours away by car.