Join millions of travelers who love Trainline: Europe’s Nº 1 destination for train and bus tickets*
Easily compare prices and book your European train and bus travel
Book your tickets in US Dollars, and pay securely with Apple Pay, PayPal, and more
is Europe’s Nº 1 destination for train and bus tickets*
London to Canterbury by train
| Departure station | London | |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival station | Canterbury | |
| Distance | 54 miles (87 km) | |
| Price | From $17.16 |
Traveling from London to Canterbury by train
Planning a trip to a historic place of pilgrimage and need more information on how to take the train from London to Canterbury? We’ve got you covered!
On average, the train journey from London to Canterbury takes around 1 hour and 39 minutes, but the fastest services will take you there in just 50 minutes. Each day, there are around 128 direct trains running on this popular route, so you can sit back and relax as you don’t need to worry about making any changes along the way.
When traveling on this route, you’ll board a Southeastern train at either London Victoria or London St Pancras station. Once you’ve found your seat, you can begin to enjoy the onboard amenities, including comfortable seating, luggage storage and free WiFi on most services. Depending on which service you are on, your train will arrive at either Canterbury East or Canterbury West station.
From both stations, you’re a short walk from Canterbury city centre. Here, you’ll find some of the city’s most popular landmarks, including Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine’s Abbey. If you’d like to explore more of the local area, check out our guide to the best things to do in Kent. Fans of crime dramas might also be interested in visiting nearby Whitstable for the filming locations of Whitstable Pearl.
If you’d like to purchase cheap train tickets, try traveling during Off-Peak hours, as tickets tend to be cheaper outside of morning/evening rush hours on weekdays. Hoping to save even more? Book an Advance ticket – they are usually released 12 weeks prior to the departure date and are generally cheaper than booking on the day of travel.
Keen to start? There’s no need to wait, begin a search for cheap train tickets from London to Canterbury in our Journey Planner at the top of the page! If you’d like to find out more about the journey first, keep reading for train timetables, FAQs and tips on booking cheaper train fares.
FAQs about the train journey from London to Canterbury
Want to know more about your journey from London to Canterbury? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.
Cheap train tickets from London to Canterbury
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 London to Canterbury 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.
* Based on European average monthly visitors to Trainline’s app and website from 1.1.2023 to 10.31.2023 vs other independent retailers.