London is the hub of the UK’s rail network, with frequent services to all corners of the country from the city’s nine centrally-located mainline railway stations. 

Rail services in the UK are run by a set of private train operating companies. Your point of departure will determine the best service to take and your station of arrival in London.

The fastest city-centre-to-city-centre journeys from London are:

Bristol 1 hour 45 mins (via First Great Western)
Cardiff 2 hours (via First Great Western)
Birmingham 1 hour 30 mins (via Virgin Trains)
Manchester 2 hours 45 mins (via Virgin Trains)
York 2 hours (via GNER)
Newcastle 3 hours (via GNER)
Edinburgh 4 hours 30 mins (via GNER)
Glasgow 6 hours (via GNER or Virgin Trains)

Facilities and Tips

Most rail services offer First and Standard Class accommodation. Many long-distance and inter-city services have a buffet car or at-seat trolley service for drinks and snacks. Always be sure to be on board your train at least a couple of minutes before the scheduled departure time as many trains have automatic doors that shut 40 or so seconds before departure.

The nine mainline stations are:

London Waterloo
Waterloo is the UK's largest station, covering an area of 24.5 acres. For trains to and from the south coast and south-west of England and Eurostar. Left luggage office located between Platforms 11 and 12
Tel: +44 (0)20 7401 8444

London Paddington
First opened in 1854 and has recently benefited from a major re-development. For trains to and from the west and south-west of England and South Wales, including Bath, Bristol, Penzance and Cardiff. Left luggage office on Platform 12
Tel: +44 (0)20 7262 0344

London Charing Cross
Charing Cross was opened in 1864 and is used by 37 million people every year. Situated on the forecourt of the station stands the Eleanor Cross, which is the point from which Britain measures its road distances. The station services commuter routes to and from the South-East of London and beyond into Kent. There’s a left luggage office on the main concourse
Tel: +44 (0)20 7401 8444

London Victoria
Victoria originally began as two stations until in 1924, with a 'Kent' side, providing services to the Medway towns and the coast, and the remainder constituting the 'Central' side, providing services to Gatwick, Brighton and rest of Sussex. Over 110 million people pass through Victoria every year. A left luggage office is located on Platform 8
Tel: +44 (0)20 7963 0957

London Bridge
London Bridge is the oldest station in London, first opened in 1836. Today it serves over 42 million people every year. The through platforms lie on the Kent and South East London routes into Charing Cross and Cannon Street. The remainder of the station is the terminus for routes from Sussex and South London.

London Fenchurch Street
Fenchurch St was built in 1854 - the first station to be built in the City. It was built to accommodate the trains of the London Tilbury & Southend Railway as well as those of the London and Blackwall and serves East London, Essex and its coast.

London Liverpool Street
Originally completed in 1874, Liverpool Street Station benefited from a major redevelopment in the late 1980's. It is the London terminus of the former Great Eastern Railway originally providing routes to Norwich via Ipswich and King's Lynn via Cambridge. Today the station has 123 million visitors each year. Left luggage office on Platform 8 
Tel: +44 (0)20 7247 4297

Kings Cross/St Pancras
Kings Cross is the London terminus of the East Coast main line for services to Leeds, York, Newcastle, Edinburgh and beyond into Scotland. The station was opened in 1852 and the station roof, the largest at the time, was supposedly modelled on the Russian Czar’s riding school. Teenage wizard Harry Potter also famously departs on the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9¾. St Pancras is one of London’s most stunning pieces of architecture. It provides Midland Mainline services to the East Midlands including Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. Left luggage office located on Platform 8
Tel: +44 (0)20 7837 4334

London Euston
The original Euston station opened in 1837 and was completely re-built in the 1960s. The station serves over 51 million people each year and is the main gateway to the west Midlands and West Coast, serving Birmingham, Manchester and stations to Glasgow. London Euston. Left luggage facilities can be found on the concourse between Platforms 16 and 18
Tel: +44 (0)20 7387 1499

Tickets

Booking in advance secures a seat and can also save you money. There are discount schemes available for young people, family groups and over 60s. The BritRail Pass gives you the freedom to travel on all National Rail services for a set period of time. Book online or telephone National Rail enquiries on +44 (0)8457 48 49 50.

Using Trains with a Disability

There is variation in wheelchair accessibility for trains and stations. It’s a good idea to check before travelling to ensure a hassle-free journey. Telephone National Rail enquiries on +44 (0)8457 48 49 50.