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Each fare is the lowest adult economy ticket fare found by our customers on Trainline. Fares booked further in advance than the dates displayed may be cheaper. Prices are updated daily, subject to change and indicative of price last update. Limited availability. Discount cards and coach journeys excluded, prices exclusive of booking fee.

Cardiff Central to London by train

It takes an average of 2h 16m to travel from Cardiff Central to London by train, over a distance of around 131 miles (211 km). There are normally 61 trains per day travelling from Cardiff Central to London and tickets for this journey start from £29.90 when you book in advance.

First train

04:07

Last train

21:45

Departure station

Cardiff Central

Arrival station

London

Journey time

From 1h 47m

Distance

131 miles (211 km)

Frequency

61 trains per day

Changes

Direct trains available

Price

From £29.90

Train operators

Great Western Railway

Travel by train from Cardiff Central to London in just 1h 47m

Want to travel from the Welsh capital to the English capital and need more information on how to take the train from Cardiff Central to London? Start your journey with us! 

Usually, the train journey from Cardiff Central to London takes around 2h 19m, but can take just 1h 47m on the fastest services, with around 53 trains running on this route each day. As there are direct services available, you can sit back and relax as you don’t need to make any changes along the way.  

When travelling on this route, you’ll board a Great Western Railway (GWR) train at Cardiff Central station. Once you’ve found a seat, you can enjoy the onboard amenities, including family-sized tables, power sockets and generous luggage allowances. If you like to travel in style, upgrade to First Class and take advantage of quieter coaches, free WiFi and complimentary snacks and refreshments. Before you know it, you’ll arrive promptly at London Paddington station. 

Once you’ve arrived, you’re a short walk from some of London’s most iconic landmarks. Need some inspiration? Check out our guide to the 14 best things to do in London, including a walk through Hyde Park and a trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum.  

Want to snap up the cheapest fares? Book an Off-Peak time, as tickets tend to be cheaper when you travel Off-Peak compared to taking the train at Peak times. If you’d like to save even more money, get a Railcard and you’ll save up to 1/3 on eligible journeys for a whole year.  

Feeling ready to book? Start your search for cheap train tickets from Cardiff Central to London with us today. Want to check if trains are running? Use our timetable to view first and last train times. For more information, keep reading for FAQs and tips on how to book cheap train fares.

FAQs about the train journey from Cardiff Central to London

Want to know more about your journey from Cardiff Central to London? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.

How do I get from Cardiff Central to London?

You can travel from Cardiff Central to London by train in about 2 hours and 16 minutes. With around 61 trains running each day, taking the train is easy. Find out more in our Journey Planner.

How long is the train journey from Cardiff Central to London?

On average, the train journey from Cardiff Central to London takes around 2 hours and 16 minutes, with 61 trains per day. The duration may vary slightly depending on the specific train and any potential delays. Use our Journey Planner to check out more information.

How much is the train from Cardiff Central to London?

Train tickets from Cardiff Central to London start from as little as £29.90, depending on the time of booking, class of service and type of train. Booking in advance often results in cheaper prices.

What is the fastest train from Cardiff Central to London?

The fastest trains from Cardiff Central to London can cover the distance of 131 miles (211 km) in as little as 1 hour and 47 minutes.

Cheap train tickets from Cardiff Central to London

Train tickets from Cardiff Central to London start at £29.90 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 Cardiff Central 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.

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.

Getting from Cardiff to London by train

After spending a great weekend in the Welsh capital, we walked back to Cardiff Central station from the city centre for about five minutes. Cardiff Central is the largest and busiest station in Wales, and serves as an interchange between the south and west of Wales, but also offers services to major rail hubs throughout England, including Manchester Piccadilly and London Paddington.

As we had already booked our digital train tickets online, we simply showed them to the railway staff to get through the ticket gates and hopped on our train, which was already at platform 2.

We boarded a Great Western Railway (GWR) train and sat in two window seats with a table in the middle, so we had plenty of space to stretch out and enjoy a few snacks and drinks we bought on board.

We got from Cardiff to London in less than two hours, stopping only at Newport, Bristol Parkway, Swindon and Reading before reaching London Paddington station. Once we arrived, we climbed down the stairs towards the underground station entrance and hopped on the first Circle Line service we found to get to Farringdon.

Overall, our journey was pretty smooth and comfortable. I highly recommend taking the train from Cardiff to London – you’ll get from one city centre to another in no time, plus you won’t have to worry about parking.

About Paola

Paola, a Trainline employee, chose to share their experience of the journey between Cardiff and London.

† Average savings on advance fares booked at least one week before day of travel vs Anytime fares purchased on day of travel. Subject to availability. Excludes coach.

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