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Trains from London to Leicester

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East Midlands Railway
Avanti West Coast

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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.
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  3. London to Leicester

Trains to Leicester from London

It takes an average of 1h 37m to travel from London to Leicester by train, over a distance of around 88 miles (142 km). There are normally 87 trains per day travelling from London to Leicester and tickets for this journey start from £15 when you book in advance.

First train

04:27

Last train

23:35

Departure stationLondon
Arrival stationLeicester
Journey time

From 1h 3m

Distance

88 miles (142 km)

Frequency

87 trains per day

Changes

Direct trains available

Price

From £15

Train operators

East Midlands Railway

Travelling from London to Leicester by train

Planning a day out and looking to travel from London to Leicester by train? You've come to the right place!

The train from London to Leicester usually takes around 1h 35m but can take just 1h 2m on the fastest services, with around 81 trains running on this popular route every day. You won’t need to worry about making any changes along the way either as direct trains are available.

Train services on this route are run by East Midlands Railway (EMR). Their Intercity services are kitted out with free WiFi and a spacious First Class carriage if you feel like treating yourself.

Use our Journey Planner at the top of the page to search for cheap ticket prices – we’ll show you how much you can save on your train tickets to Leicester from London if you travel Off-Peak or get a Railcard.

If you’re feeling ready to book, start a search for cheap train tickets with us today. Want to check if trains are running? Use our timetable to view live train times from London to Leicester.

What do people frequently ask about the train journey from London to Leicester?

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

How do you travel to Leicester from London?

To get to Leicester from London, why not take the train? With 87 trains per day and an average journey time of 1 hour and 37 minutes, taking the train is a great way to travel. You can also catch the bus from London to Leicester. See our Journey Planner for up-to-date times and prices.

How long does it take to get from London to Leicester by train?

On average, it takes around 1 hour and 37 minutes to travel from London to Leicester by train, although you can get there in 1 hour and 3 minutes on the fastest services. With 87 trains per day running on this route, journey times may vary, so check our Journey Planner for more information.

How much is the train ticket from London to Leicester?

The price of a train ticket from London to Leicester can start from as little as £15, depending on the time of day, route and class you book. Train tickets may also be cheaper when you book in advance compared to buying them on the day.

How fast can trains travel from London to Leicester?

The fastest time a train can travel the 88 miles (142 km) from London to Leicester is 1 hour and 3 minutes.

How do I find cheap train tickets from London to Leicester?

As most UK train companies increase their prices as the departure date approaches, our Trainline team of experts have put together these tips to help you find the cheapest tickets.

1. Book in advance

Train tickets from London to Leicester start at £15§ one way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance. UK train companies usually release Advance tickets up to 12 weeks ahead of time, and these can be cheaper than tickets bought on the day of travel.

2. Sign up to Ticket Alert

If you're planning a trip more than 12 weeks ahead, sign up to our Ticket Alert to get notified when Advance tickets are released for your travel date.

3. Use a Railcard

National Railcards offer a 1/3 off eligible train tickets in the UK and can be a great investment if you travel throughout the year. Buy one with us and you'll be able to store it digitally in our app, so you'll always have it on your travels.

4. Book split tickets

Our handy feature SplitSave will 'split' your train journey into multiple tickets, which can be much cheaper than buying a single ticket. Find out more about split tickets.

5. Travel Off-Peak

If you can be flexible with your travel times, Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets are usually cheaper in the UK. Generally, Off-Peak times are any time at weekends and outside of Monday to Friday morning and evening rush hours.

6. Consider a Season Ticket

Best for commuters, if you catch a train on the same route more than 3 times per week, you could save money with a Season Ticket. With annual, monthly, weekly and flexi options available, find out if a Season Ticket for London to Leicester is right for you.

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.

An evening journey from London to Leicester

After a busy day of eating, drinking and seeing the sites in London, we arrive back at St Pancras station to take the train back up to Leicester.

We’re here about 30 minutes before our train is due to leave, and the station has quite a buzzy atmosphere as people are heading on nights out. As we entered the station from the main Underground entrance, we wander in and out of the many shops along the lower level, to background music of someone playing one of the pianos that are spotted around the station. We grab some chips from Prime Burger to take on the train back and head up the escalators (only the set furthest away from the platform go up FYI) towards the platform that East Midlands Railway trains depart from.

The train is already on the platform so we board straight away, unlike earlier, we don’t have a table seat this time, but there are individual fold-down tables we can use instead. My seat is facing backwards, so as the train departs and pulls out of St Pancras I get an amazing view of all the nearby buildings (including the BT Tower) lit up in the night. The journey takes slightly longer from London to Leicester, around an hour and a half instead of the hour it took on the way down, as it stops at several stations along the way like Luton Airport Parkway, Wellingborough, and Kettering.

Once the train arrives into Leicester station, we hop off and head up the stairs to the exit and taxi rank. All in all, it was a comfortable relaxing journey after a great day out in London.

About Jorja

Jorja, a Trainline employee, chose to share her experience of the journey between London and Leicester.

† 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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