Where is Keele?
Keele University is situated in the Staffordshire countryside, right by the bustling town of Newcastle-under-Lyme, and close to Stoke-on-Trent. Manchester and Birmingham are under an hour away. Our postcode is ST5 5BG.
The nearest railway stations to Keele are:
- Stoke-on-Trent (5 miles / 8 km away)
- Crewe (12 miles / 19 km away)
For national train times and enquiries visit nationalrail.co.uk or thetrainline.com.
From the train stations you can get to Keele Campus via bus, taxi or cycling.
Taxi: There is a taxi rank outside Stoke-on-Trent and Crewe railway stations. The journey takes 15-20 minutes from Stoke-on-Trent railway station and 20-25 minutes from Crewe railway station.
Bus and Cycle: For information about reaching Keele from the above railway stations by bus or cycling, see getting here by bus or getting here by bike.
Please note that roadworks are currently in effect outside Stoke-on-Trent train station and are expected to last until March 2025.
Although journeys to campus are unaffected, journeys from Keele will be impacted as Service 25 will be unable to access Station Road. Service 21 and Service 23 will also be affected.
Please use the bus stops at Leek Road (near the Royal Mail Sorting Office) or by the Sixth Form College instead.
From Stoke-on-Trent train station, 'First' buses operate No. 25 service. The bus stop is on your left when exiting the station, on the opposite side of the road (opposite the taxi rank). More details can be found on the First Group website.
From Crewe bus station, 'D&G' buses (No. 85 service) to Newcastle-under-Lyme leaves from the stop to the right of the station entrance towards the roundabout. The service leaves at 5 minutes past the hour (Monday to Saturday), taking about 50 minutes, and stops in Keele village or Barnes Hall.
Local bus information
First Bus
Tel: 0870 608 2 608
D&G Buses
Tel: 01270 252970
Bus information for staff and students
Keele is between Junctions 15 and 16 on the M6 motorway, and is just west of Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme. We are halfway between Manchester and Birmingham.
Sat Nav users please use the University postcode ST5 5BJ for main visitor car parks. Visitor parking (pay and display) is available on car park E2.
Chancellor's Building: Latitude = 53.0034, Longitude = -2.2733
Ordnance Survey Map reference for Keele: SJ817451
From the north
Leave the M6 motorway at Junction 16. At the motorway roundabout turn right onto the A500 for Crewe and Nantwich. Continue for about two miles, go left at the roundabout, continue for a further mile and go left at the next roundabout onto the A531 towards Betley. Continue on this road for approximately eight miles until you reach the Keele University entrance. From the motorway junction to Keele the journey time is about 20-25 minutes.
From the south
Leave the M6 at Junction 15 and follow the signs for the A519 into Newcastle-under-Lyme. The University is signed from the first roundabout. From the motorway junction to Keele the journey time is about 15-20 minutes.
From the east
If you are travelling on the A53 follow signs to Newcastle-under-Lyme. If you are using the A50, join the A500 (south) and then turn right at the roundabout at M6 Junction 15 and follow directions from the south (above). Travel from the M1 is easiest using Junction 23A onto the Derby bypass and following signs for the A50.
From the west
Follow signs for the A525 towards Newcastle and turn right at the roundabout at the main University entrance (signposted).
Coaches from many parts of the country call at Hanley (Stoke-on-Trent) and Newcastle-under-Lyme bus stations. You can then get a local bus to the campus, 'First' buses (Service No. 3/X3) and 'D&G' buses (service no. 85) which run from both stations.
Coach Information
Keele positively supports cycling as a vital aspect of sustainable transport and cycling facilities have been increased and upgraded in recent years.
You can hire a Brompton bike from Stoke-on-trent train station for just £2.50 per day and cycle to Keele campus.
There are plenty of places to park your bike at Keele. Our cycle map shows the location of all the cycle stores and facilities.
To plan your cycle journey to Keele from the train station or other areas you may wish to use these cycle maps of Stoke-on-Trent. Or visit the following websites:
Keele Cyclists
Keele Cyclists is the bicycle users group (BUG) for Keele University. We aim to allow cyclists to give collective feedback to the University on how cycling can be supported and encouraged and to allow cyclists to meet and support one another.
Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport is nearest to Keele and is about 35 miles (56km) away.
There are frequent trains from the airport to Manchester Piccadilly station where there is a regular service to Stoke-on-Trent railway station. Alternatively, National Express operates a direct service to Stoke-on-Trent (Hanley bus station) eight times a day.
Birmingham Airport
There is a SkyTrain service from Birmingham Airport to Birmingham New Street railway station. From here, trains to Stoke-on-Trent run regularly, about twice an hour.National Express run a direct coach service from the airport terminal building to Stoke-on-Trent (Hanley bus station) three times a day.
Gatwick Airport
If travelling by train go from Gatwick Airport to Victoria Station in London and then to Euston via the Underground. From here catch a train to Stoke-on-Trent.
If travelling by coach, there is a National Express coach service from Gatwick to Stoke-on-Trent (Hanley bus station). There are numerous services daily but all require a change of coach. The journey takes approximately 6-7 hours.
Heathrow Airport
The easiest journey is to use the Airbus service from Heathrow Airport to Euston railway station. From here take a train for Manchester Piccadilly that will stop at Stoke-on-Trent.
There is also a National Express coach service from the Central bus station at Heathrow directly to Stoke-on-Trent (Hanley bus station).
