Trains from Birmingham to London
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Birmingham to London by train
It takes an average of 2h 7m to travel from Birmingham to London by train, over a distance of around 101 miles (163 km). There are normally 124 trains per day travelling from Birmingham to London and tickets for this journey start from £6.40 when you book in advance.
| First train | 04:15 | |
|---|---|---|
| Last train | 23:11 | |
| Departure station | Birmingham | |
| Arrival station | London | |
| Journey time | From 1h 19m | |
| Distance | 101 miles (163 km) | |
| Frequency | 124 trains per day | |
| Changes | Direct trains available | |
| Price | From £6.40 | |
| Train operators |
Travelling from Birmingham to London in under 1 hour and 20 minutes
Looking for a comprehensive guide to taking the train from Birmingham to London? Here it is!
Trains from Birmingham to London take on average 2 hours and 8 minutes, but certain direct trains will get you to London Euston station in just under 1 hour and 20 minutes. There are around 142 trains running this route per day.
The just over 100-mile route from Birmingham to London is one of the busiest stretches of railway in the UK. There are three operators across two separate railway lines that run direct trains on this route:
On the West Coast Main Line (Birmingham New Street to London Euston):
- Avanti West Coast
- London Northwestern Railway (operated by West Midlands Trains)
On the Chiltern Main Line (Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone):
The fastest way to get from Birmingham to London is to take a high-speed Avanti West Coast train. These trains come with a choice of three different classes (Standard, Standard Premium and First Class). There is also an onboard shop where you can purchase snacks and drinks, while First Class ticket holders receive at-table service and complimentary food and drink.
If you’re looking for cheaper tickets, London Northwestern Railway and Chiltern Railways also offer direct trains to London, but with longer journey times and more stops along the way. There is no First Class on these services.
We’ve laid out the differences between the different operators in more detail below.
If you’re ready to book, head to the top of the page and start a search with us. Enter the dates you’d like to travel, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Read on for more information about the journey from Birmingham to London by train:
- Today’s train times
- Train operators from Birmingham to London
- Avanti West Coast train classes
- London Northwestern Railway train classes
- Chiltern Railways train classes
- Onboard services on trains from Birmingham to London
- Birmingham New Street station guide
- Birmingham Moor Street station guide
- Arriving in London
- Using public transport in London
- Discover London
- Where to travel next after London
Journey details
Want to know more about your journey from Birmingham to London? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.
How long does the train from Birmingham to London take?
The average journey time by train between Birmingham and London is 2 hours and 7 minutes, with around 124 trains per day. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.
What's the fastest journey time between Birmingham and London by train?
The fastest journey time by train from Birmingham to London is 1 hour and 19 minutes.
How much does the train from Birmingham to London cost?
Train ticket prices from Birmingham to London can start from as little as £6.40 when you book in advance. The cost of tickets can vary depending on the time of day, route and class you book and are usually more expensive if you book on the day.
Is there a direct train from Birmingham to London?
Yes, it is possible to travel from Birmingham to London without having to change trains. There are 124 direct trains from Birmingham to London each day. Though there may be fewer direct services available depending on your exact departure date.
What time does the first train from Birmingham to London leave?
The first train from Birmingham to London leaves at 04:15. Times and services may vary during weekends and holidays.
What time does the last train from Birmingham to London leave?
The last train from Birmingham to London leaves at 23:11. Trains that depart in the early morning hours or very late evening may be sleeper services, time and services may also vary during weekends and holidays.
What's the distance between Birmingham and London by train?
Trains travelling from Birmingham to London cover a distance of around 101 miles (163 km) during the journey.
Looking for more information?
If you’re looking for the return train journey, check out trains from London to Birmingham. If you’re looking for other options, you can also catch the bus from Birmingham to London.
Cheap train tickets from Birmingham to London
Book in advance
Look out for Advance tickets – they usually come out up to 12 weeks before the departure date and can be cheaper than buying on the day. If you’re here a tad early, sign up for our Advance ticket alert today to get notified when your tickets are released.
Consider a Season Ticket
If you catch this train more than 3 times per week, you could save money with a Season Ticket. With annual, monthly and weekly options available, find out if a season ticket for Birmingham to London is right for you.
Use your Railcard
National Railcards offer a 1/3 off eligible train tickets in the UK and can be a great investment if you travel a few times or more in a year. Find out how you can save with a National Railcard here.
Split your tickets
Download our app to find split tickets — courtesy of SplitSave, our handy feature which 'splits' your train tickets where possible to find you a better deal. Learn more about the clever tech behind split tickets, and how to spot SplitSave discounts in our app.
For more money-saving tips on UK and European train travel, read our cheap train tickets guide.
Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern Railway and Chiltern Railways trains from Birmingham to London
Compare the different train operators which serve the Birmingham–London route.
Avanti West Coast
Avanti West Coast is one of the best-known high-speed rail companies in the UK, having operated on Britain’s West Coast Main Line since 2019.
Avanti’s fleet of recently refurbished Pendolino trains operate on the route between Birmingham and London. These trains famously lean into the curves on the tracks, allowing a higher top speed of 125mph.
Avanti offers a range of onboard services, including an onboard shop serving drinks and snacks, as well as three different ticket classes. First Class ticket holders enjoy at-table food and drink service.
Avanti trains from Birmingham to London depart from Birmingham New Street station and arrive at London Euston station.
Learn more about Avanti West Coast trains.
London Northwestern Railway
Operated by West Midlands Trains, London Northwestern Railway operates on the West Coast Main Line between Birmingham and London. Certain services also stretch further north to Crewe and Liverpool.
If you’re looking for cheap tickets between Birmingham and London, book in advance and at off-peak times and you can even find tickets below £10.
London Northwestern Railway trains from Birmingham to London depart from Birmingham New Street and arrive at London Euston station.
Learn more about London Northwestern Railway trains.
Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways operates on the Chiltern Main Line between Birmingham and London. It also serves popular routes between London and Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and Aylesbury.
A great option for cheap train tickets between Birmingham and London, Chiltern Railways offers train tickets under £10 if you book in advance and travel at off-peak times.
Chiltern Railways trains from Birmingham to London depart from Birmingham Moor Street station (a 10-minute walk from New Street station) and arrive at London Marylebone station.
Learn more about Chiltern Railways trains.
Avanti West Coast train classes
If you opt for an Avanti West Coast train, you’ll have the option of upgrading your ticket from Standard to Standard Premium or First Class.
Standard Class
Enjoy these onboard services in Avanti West Coast’s Standard class:
- Free WiFi
- Access to onboard shop for food and drink purchases
- Refurbished seats and tables
- Plug sockets at selected table and window seats
Standard Premium Class
If you choose to upgrade to Standard Premium, you’ll enjoy these additional amenities:
- Roomier seats
- A guaranteed table at your seat
- Plug sockets at every window seat
First Class
In addition to all the above, First Class offers:
- At-seat service
- Complimentary food and drink on board
- Access to First Class lounges at stations
London Northwestern Railway train classes
There are only Standard class tickets available on London Northwestern Railway services.
Standard Class
When you travel on London Northwestern Railway, you can make use of the following onboard amenities:
| Free WiFi | ✔ |
|---|---|
| Comfortable seating | ✔ |
| Seat-back table at every seat | ✔ |
Chiltern Railways train classes
Chiltern Railways trains offer only Standard class seating across the network.
Standard Class
When travelling on Chiltern Railways, you can enjoy the following onboard services:
| Free WiFi | ✔ |
|---|---|
| Comfortable seating | ✔ |
| Seat-back table at every seat | ✔ |
Onboard services from Birmingham to London
Compare here the onboard services and policies for each train company operating from Birmingham to London.
Luggage
WiFi
Food and Drink
Pets
Bikes
Birmingham New Street station guide
Birmingham New Street is the busiest train station in the UK outside London. Here’s how to get there and what you’ll find inside:
How to get to Birmingham New Street
You’ll find Birmingham New Street right in the centre of Birmingham. It’s easily accessible on foot and by public transport.
- Walk: From Cathedral Square walk south for 5 mins.
- Tram: West Midlands Metro runs a regular tram service linking Edgbaston and Wolverhampton, which runs through the centre of Birmingham. For Birmingham New Street station, get off at Grand Central tram stop.
- Bus: There are 12 bus stops close to New Street station served by buses coming from across the West Midlands. These buses are operated by Transport for West Midlands. From any of these bus stops, it’s less than a 5-minute walk to the southern or eastern entrances to the station.
Station facilities at Birmingham New Street
Birmingham New Street station is located just underneath the Grand Central shopping centre. You won’t run out of options for shopping, food and drink. In the station itself, you’ll also find:
- Avanti West Coast First Class lounge
- Taxi rank (on Station Street)
- Bike storage
- Public WiFi
- Accessible toilets (with baby-changing facilities)
- Step-free access to all platforms
- ATM
- Food and drink
- Shops
- Waiting rooms
Birmingham Moor Street station guide
Birmingham Moor Street is the second busiest train station in Birmingham. It was first opened in 1909 and has a Grade II listed exterior.
How to get to Birmingham Moor Street
Birmingham Moor Street is located in the city centre, just next to the Bullring shopping centre and a 5-minute walk from Birmingham New Street station.
- Walk: From Cathedral Square walk 10 minutes south-west.
- Tram: Both Grand Central and Corporation Street tram stops are within a 5-minute walk of Moor Street station.
- Bus: There are 20 bus stops within a 5-minute walk of Moor Street station serving roughly 20 bus routes arriving from across the West Midlands. These buses are operated by Transport for West Midlands.
Station facilities at Birmingham Moor Street
Birmingham Moor Street is just across the street from the Bullring shopping centre, which is full of shopping and food and drinks options. In the station itself you’ll find:
- Taxi rank
- Bike storage
- Public WiFi
- Accessible toilets (with baby-changing facilities)
- Step-free access to all platforms
- ATM
- Food and drink
- Shops
- Waiting rooms
Arriving in London
Find out how to get around London after you arrive in London Euston or London Marylebone.
Connections from London Euston
Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway trains from Birmingham arrive at London Euston station. Euston is on the northern edge of Central London and is well served by public transport options:
- Underground: Head downstairs from the mainline train station to catch the Northern or Victoria lines from Euston Underground station. Euston Square Underground station is 5 minutes away on foot—here you can catch the Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City or Circle lines.
- Bus: The bus station in front of the station serves 10 bus routes departing in all directions.
- Taxi: You can catch a black cab from the taxi rank in front of the station.
Connections from London Marylebone
Chiltern Railways trains from Birmingham arrive at London Marylebone station. Marylebone is on the northwest edge of Central London and a 5-minute walk from Baker Street.
- Underground: You’ll find the entrance to Marylebone’s Underground station on your immediate right as you exit the ticket barriers. From here you can catch Bakerloo line trains. Take the Bakerloo line one stop to Baker Street (or walk) and you can catch Jubilee, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and Circle line trains.
- Bus: You can catch the 2 and N2 buses at bus stops directly in front of the station entrance, or the 453 on nearby Great Central Street. There are also a further 6 routes available on Marylebone Road.
- Taxi: There is a taxi rank directly in front of the station.
Using public transport in London
Public transport in London is managed by Transport for London (TfL). Find out how to pay for your journeys in London:
Paying for your TfL journey
While you can buy single and return tickets and paper travelcards from ticket machines in stations, it is more convenient—and often cheaper—to pay for your journey using an Oyster card or using a contactless card.
- Oyster Cards can be bought from tube stations and in Oyster Ticket Stops (commonly found in newsagents or kiosks). They cost £7 each and can be topped up with credit at ticket machines at tube stations or Oyster Ticket Stops.
- You can use your contactless bank card or device to pay for journeys.
Touching in and out
On buses and trams in London, you only need to touch in. For all other journey types (Tube, rail, DLR, Overground, Elizabeth Line etc.), you need to touch in with your card at the beginning of your journey and out at the end. If you don’t touch in/out, you’ll be charged a maximum fare.
Discover London
Our guides can help you make the most of your time in London:
Where to travel next after London
London is an excellent jumping-off point to explore cities around the South of England... Here are the top destinations:
