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Birmingham to London by train

It takes an average of 2h 6m to travel from Birmingham to London by train, over a distance of around 101 miles (163 km). There are normally 141 trains per day traveling from Birmingham to London and tickets for this journey start from $8.49 when you book in advance.

First train

4:15 am

Last train

11:19 pm

Departure station

Birmingham

Arrival station

London

Journey time

From 1h 19m

Distance

101 miles (163 km)

Frequency

141 trains per day

Changes

Direct trains available

Price

From $8.49

Train operators

Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways

Traveling from Birmingham to London by train

Planning a trip to the capital and looking for more information on how to take the train from Birmingham to London? We’ve got you covered! 

On average, it takes around 2 hours and 2 minutes to travel from Birmingham to London by train, but if you want to get there quickly, the fastest services will get you there in just 1 hour and 21 minutes. As there are around 139 direct services available, you can sit back and enjoy the journey as you don’t need to worry about changing along the way.  

If you are traveling on this route, you will jump on a train at either Birmingham Moor Street or Birmingham New Street station. Depending on which station you depart from, you will travel on a service provided by either Avanti West Coast or Chiltern Railways. Whoever you end up traveling with, you’ll enjoy onboard amenities such as comfortable seating and free WiFi. Before you know it, you’ll arrive at either London Marylebone or London Euston station. 

Once you're in London, it's easy to get around on foot, by bus or using the London Underground. Why not take a tour around the city trying to find some of London's most interesting historic blue plaques?

Enjoyed your day trip to Birmingham and now need to know how to get from London to Luton Airport? Check out our guide to trains to and from Luton Airport for more details.

If you’d like to buy the cheapest train tickets, try traveling at Off-Peak times, when tickets tend to be cheaper. Also, try booking an Advance ticket – they are usually released 12 weeks before departure date and are generally cheaper than buying on the day of travel.  

Eager to book? There’s no need to wait, start a search for cheap train tickets from Birmingham to London in our Journey Planner at the top of the page. Want to find out a bit more about the journey? Keep reading for our train timetable, tips on booking cheap fares and FAQs.

FAQs about the train journey from Birmingham to London

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 do I travel from Birmingham to London?

You can get from Birmingham to London in 2 hours and 6 minutes on average, with the fastest trains taking just 1 hour and 19 minutes. Check out our Journey Planner for more details on times, tickets and prices.

How long does the train from Birmingham to London take?

The average journey time by train between Birmingham and London is 2 hours and 6 minutes, with around 141 trains per day running on this route. 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.

How much does the train from Birmingham to London cost?

Train tickets from Birmingham to London can start from as little as $8.49 when you book in advance and are usually more expensive when purchased on the day. Prices can also vary depending on the time of day, route and class you book.

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.

Cheap train tickets from Birmingham to London

Train tickets from Birmingham to London start at $8.49 one way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance. As most UK train companies increase their prices as the departure date approaches, we’ll help you find the cheapest tickets.

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.

Advance adult single fare. Excludes booking fee. Prices seen by Trainline customers in the last 30 days. Availability limited.

What are my ticket options for this journey?

If you're like us, you've probably seen the sheer number of ticket types available in the UK and wondered "Why are there so many?!" To help, we've put together a handy guide to the main UK ticket types, simply tap the one you’re interested in to find out more.

Tips and tricks from our Trainline team

We love helping our customers find inspiration for their next train journey. Discover some travel stories written based on our employees' experiences.

Birmingham to London on the speedy Avanti West Coast service

I took the 16:50 train from Birmingham New Street to London Euston on Saturday 19 October 2019. The service called at Birmingham International, Coventry, Rugby and London Euston.

Departing from Birmingham New Street

Since the completion of its redevelopment in 2015, Birmingham New Street has become one of the most modern and impressive train stations in the country. As you approach the entrance, the station’s undulating metal roof is striking. There is a huge range of food outlets inside the station – I grabbed some food from LEON before departing. The upper concourse of the station is a buzzing hive of over 60 outlets and restaurants, and even connects to the Bullring shopping centre connects via the LinkStreet tunnel. The Bullring is a must-visit attraction in Birmingham, if not for the dizzying number of shops, then just to get a glimpse of the striking building design (it’s another excellent piece of modern architecture) and its famous bronze bull sculpture.

Boarding the Pendolino train

The train I took was the “Blackpool Belle” Pendolino train. The city’s crest was emblazoned on the side of the train. The Blackpool Belle Pendolinos were commissioned as part of Avanti West Coast's introduction of direct services to Blackpool. Its name is a homage to the service that took Lancashire workers to Blackpool for Saturday night dances from the 1930s to 1960s - immortalised in the 1993 song “Blackpool Belle” by the Houghton Weavers.

I had a seat right at the back of the train in Carriage A, the quiet carriage. This made for a pleasant and relaxing journey.

The on-board service

As I was in Standard Class, I didn’t benefit from the services afforded to First Class passengers. However, I did have access to the free on-board WiFi connection and Avanti West Coast’s own entertainment platform, Avanti Media. The WiFi connection was a bit slow but otherwise serviceable.

The onboard food carriage was located in Carriage C. There were loads of food options on offer, including hot eats, cold eats, snacks, chocolates, hot drinks and alcohol. Prices are higher than what you’d find in a high-street store, but not astronomical. A meal deal is £5.50 (sandwich, drink and a snack). Hot eats prices range from £2.60 for porridge to £4.20 for a chicken ciabatta; cold eats from £3.30 to £4.00; and hot drinks from £2.00 to £2.60. There are also some interesting alcohol choices, including craft beers, Pimm’s and prosecco.

The train journey itself

In terms of scenery, the journey isn’t particularly inspiring. There are a few interesting bits, though. As you leave New Street you get a good view of the Birmingham city skyline. There is also some pleasant countryside between Rugby and London, and as you approach Euston – about five minutes from the station – you'll see Wembley Football Stadium in the distance. I arrived at Euston slightly late due to some delays from bad weather.

Freddie’s top tip

Reserve a seat in advance. I reserved a forward-facing window seat in the quiet carriage which made for a very pleasant journey. All the information on my seat reservation was on my mobile ticket, which told me my carriage and seat number.

Find out more information about how to buy cheap train tickets to London.

Freddie, a former Trainline employee, chose to share their experience of the journey between Birmingham and London.


* Based on European average monthly visitors to Trainline’s app and website from 1.1.2023 to 10.31.2023 vs other independent retailers.

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