Traveling from the US to rural Wales is something of an Arthurian Odyssey—which is fitting, as King Arthur is originally from Wales! We are so grateful many of you are making the journey across the pond to celebrate with us.

Step 1 (for US Citizens): Apply for an ETA, or Electronic Travel Authorization. Please do this at least 3 business days before you travel, but it often arrives pretty much instantly! It costs £16 and will last for 2 years, or until your passport expires. Use it again to visit us in the UK next year :)

Step 2: Heathrow to London Paddington (Llundain Paddington)

To get to Wales by train, you first need to get from Heathrow Airport to London Paddington (or as we say in Welsh: Llundain Paddington). You have two main options:

The Elizabeth Line: The easiest and cheapest way to get into Central London. It is a modern, smooth ride, but be aware it can be quite busy. Managing multiple large suitcases on the crowded tube after a long flight can be a bit of a workout!

The Heathrow Express: A more "chill," premium experience with dedicated luggage racks. These trains run every 15 minutes and will not sell out. You can buy tickets on the day or pre-book online for a discount. It takes just 15 minutes to reach Paddington.

Step 2: The Train to Swansea (Abertawe)

From Paddington, you will take a Great Western Railway (GWR) train to Swansea.

Why Swansea? It is our closest regional hub and, most importantly, it’s the end of the line. You won't have to worry about missing your stop; you can take your time getting your bags together while the train terminates.

Booking: We highly recommend booking a Seat Reservation in advance via GWR.com or trainline.com. These trains can sell out closer to the date, and the journey is roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes—you definitely do not want to be standing in the aisles for that long!

Croeso i Gymru! (Welcome to Wales!) Once you arrive in the coastal city of Swansea, you are just one short hop away from the lush Dyffryn Tywi (Towy Valley) and the village of Llandeilo.

Taxis & Transfers

Llandeilo is about a 45-minute drive from Swansea Station. While there is a taxi rank outside the station, for a journey of this distance, pre-booking is essential to ensure your hwyl (fun) isn't interrupted by a long wait!

Recommended Swansea Taxi Companies:

Yellow Cabs Swansea: 01792 644446 (Large fleet, very reliable)

Oyster Cabs: 01792 367777

Data Cabs: 01792 474747

Pro Tip: If you are looking to share a ride with other guests, reach out to Tom. He is happy to support in the creation of "Taxi Groups" to help everyone coordinate arrivals and split the cost (usually £55–£75 per car).

To Rent a Car or Not? (Rhentu Car?)

Tom is a firm believer in personal freedom, and while we would love for you to experience the thrill of the Welsh open road, we want to provide a realistic "heads up" for our American drivers:

The Roads: Once you leave the main motorway (the M4), Welsh roads become very "cozy." They are often narrow, winding lanes with high hedges and stone walls. Squeezing past a tractor on a blind bend is a true Welsh rite of passage!

The Timing: While GPS might say the drive from Heathrow is 3.5 hours, that assumes perfect traffic. Tom and Elaine have personally spent over 5 hours making this trip. If you value your sanity after a long-haul flight, the train is the much more relaxing path to freedom.

Once you’ve made it to Llandeilo, the hard part is over, other than sitting through the best mens speeches! We want you to relax and enjoy the celebration without worrying about navigating narrow country lanes or driving in the dark.

Guest Shuttles

We have arranged for two buses to transport everyone from Llandeilo to the ceremony at Golden Grove.

12:00 PM – The Cawdor Pick-up: The first bus will depart from outside St. Teilo's Church, just down the road from the Cawdor in the center of the village. If you are staying in Llandeilo, this is your primary meeting point.

12:15 PM – The Plough Pick-up: A second stop will be made at The Plough for guests staying at that end of town.

Note: Llandeilo's streets are famously "cozy." If the pick-up point needs to shift slightly for the coach to park safely, we will post an update here 48 hours before the wedding.

Heading Home

A return shuttle will run from the venue back to Llandeilo starting at 10:30 PM, with the final "last call" trip at Midnight.

Taxis

If you are staying in a remote cottage or a B&B outside the main village of Llandeilo, we’ve made sure you won't be stranded.

Venue Standby: We will have a few taxis on standby at the venue specifically to help guests staying in more isolated locations get home safely after the party.

A Friendly Warning: In this part of the world, Uber and Lyft do not exist. It is impossible to "hail" a ride here, and it will be even more impossible on our wedding day since we have already pre-booked all of the local taxis! Please stick to the shuttles or stand-bye taxis.

Final Tips for Your Trip

Footwear: The grounds at Golden Grove are stunning but involve grass, gravel, and old stone paths. We recommend choosing footwear that won't sink into the lawn!

Offline Maps: Cell service in the Towy Valley can be spotty. We recommend taking a screenshot of this page and your taxi confirmations before you head out.

Iechyd Da!

(Pronounced: Yeh-chid Dah)

This means "Good Health" or "Cheers!" You are now officially ready for a Welsh wedding.