Journey information from London to Birmingham
- Train Fares from: £6.40
- Fastest route:
- Slowest route:
- Average journey time:
- Changes: Direct
- Trains per day: Around 277
- Distance: 101 miles (163 km)
- Train operators: Avanti West Coast (formerly Virgin Trains), Chiltern Railways
- Origin: London
- Destination: Birmingham
London to Birmingham train times information
Trains to Birmingham depart from London Euston or London Marylebone every ten minutes on average. The journey takes one and a half to two hours, although some indirect routes do take longer. Trains terminate at either Snow Hill or New Street station in Birmingham. Services are run by Avanti West Coast (formerly Virgin Trains), Chiltern Railways and West Midlands Railway.
Avanti West Coast (formerly Virgin Trains) offers frequent direct services between London and Birmingham. While on board, travellers can access the internet through Avanti West Coast (formerly Virgin Trains)'s wireless connection; this service is free for first class ticket holders and available for a nominal fee to standard fare passengers.
Chiltern Railways offers quiet zones and provides catering services on most trips between Banbury and Birmingham Moor Street.
*Information correct at time of writing (September 2019). May be subject to changeFind out more information about how to buy cheap train tickets to Birmingham.
London to Birmingham by train
I arrived at Euston via the underground station. At the time of writing (August 2019) you needed to exit the underground into the piazza and enter back into the train station. The piazza is undergoing redevelopment work and they’re looking to turn it into a hub of restaurants and shops.
Entering Euston, you’re faced with a gigantic departures board suspended from the ceiling. People tend to gather underneath – it gets rather crowded at peak times – but it wasn’t too busy at mid-morning on a Friday. The platform entrances line the wall behind the board, numbering 1-16 from right to left as you face it. There are various fast food outlets nestled between the platform entrances; the first floor of the station houses sit-down restaurants.
Unlike most of my train journeys, I’d left myself plenty of time before the scheduled departure. I headed to the ticket machines (located at the back left of the station as you face the departures board) to print off my ticket. There are plenty of machines so I wasn’t left queuing for my ticket. I grabbed a bottle of water from WHSmiths and a coffee from a small doughnut shop tucked away opposite platform 1 - Dum Dum Donutterie. I was dismayed to later find out that ‘donutterie’ is not a real word.
Boarding the train
Having entered my seating preferences while booking through Trainline, I had reserved a window seat in coach B. This was right at the front of the train so it took a couple of minutes to walk to my carriage. The famous "Pendolino" logo adorned the side of the train, set among the red and white characteristic of Avanti West Coast (formerly Virgin Trains).
The service on board
Being in Standard Class, I didn’t benefit from the service available to First Class passengers. However, I did have a peek into the First Class carriage for the purposes of this review and looked rather nice! Seats are arranged in a 2x1 format (as opposed to 2x2 in Standard), every seat has a reading light and hot drinks are served in proper china.
Standard Class was perfectly comfortable, however. My seat had a fold-out table and plug socket, and I had the option of using "The Shop" in carriage C to buy a drink or snack. A meal deal is £5.50, or a piece of cake with a hot drink is £3.50. The free-on-board WiFi was serviceable – cutting out in places but otherwise reliable. Streaming services are blocked on the WiFi but Avanti West Coast (formerly Virgin Trains) do offer their own free-on-board streaming portal, "Avanti Media". You’ll have to download the Avanti Media App to use it.
The journey
But for a handful of pleasant stretches of countryside, the journey isn’t particularly scenic. But it is super quick. I arrived into Birmingham New Street in just under an hour and a half, a few minutes after the scheduled arrival time. The Avanti West Coast (formerly Virgin Trains) service is significantly faster than the London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street route, which usually takes over two hours. While Avanti West Coast (formerly Virgin Trains) tickets are more expensive, my Super Off-Peak ticket combined with a 16-25 Railcard got me a very good deal indeed!
Freddie's Top Tip:
Make sure you secure a table seat on the window side if you want to guarantee yourself a plug socket.
How long does it take to travel from London to Birmingham by train?
The average journey time between London and Birmingham is . On an average weekday, there are 277 trains travelling from London to Birmingham. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays.
Avg. DurationWhat is the fastest journey from London to Birmingham by train?
The fastest journey time by train is .
How much does the train from London to Birmingham cost?
Train tickets from London to Birmingham can start from as little as £6.40 when you book in advance and are usually more expensive when purchased on the day. Prices can also vary depending the time of day, route and class you book.
Are there direct trains from London to Birmingham?
Yes, it is possible to travel from London to Birmingham without having to change trains. Use our journey planner above to get direct train times from London to Birmingham.
DirectWhat is the distance between London and Birmingham?
The distance between London and Birmingham is 101 miles.
Distance: 101 milesWhat time is the first train from London to Birmingham?
The first train from London to Birmingham departs at .
What time is the last train from London to Birmingham?
The last train from London to Birmingham departs at .
First trainLast trainNo sleeper services are available. There may also be fewer services on weekends and public holidays; use the Journey Planner above to search for a specific train on your chosen travel date.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?!'' Well, luckily we've put together a handy guide to all the variations of train ticket you may encounter on your travels.
Our guide to ticket types:*Please note that not all types of train tickets are available for every journey. Factors such as the time, date and train company you'll be using can affect the availability of each one.
If you’re looking for the return train journey, check out trains from Birmingham to London.
Looking for other travel options? We also sell National Express coach tickets across the UK. Check out times and tickets for London to Birmingham by bus.