Skip to contentTrainline homepage
RailcardsBusiness

No tickets in your basket.

Why not plan a trip?

My Bookings
Loading...
Loading...

Trains from Portsmouth to Watford

Booking.com

ExternalLinkExternalLink

Open Booking.com in a new tab with places to stay on your trip

Gatwick Express
Great Western Railway

Compare prices from over 270 rail and coach companies in Europe

Icon of trainline-phone-tickets.svg

Buy your tickets with us and easily find them on your phone

Icon of trainline-safe-payments.svg

Safely pay with PayPal, Visa and all international payment cards

  1. Home
  2. Train times
  3. Portsmouth to Watford

Trains to Watford from Portsmouth

First train

02:58

Last train

23:28

Departure stationPortsmouth
Arrival stationWatford
Journey time

From 2h 32m

Distance

65 miles (105 km)

Frequency

240 trains per day

Changes

1 change

Train operators

Gatwick Express, Great Western Railway, London Overground, South Western Railway, Southern, Thameslink

What are the train times from Portsmouth to Watford?

Check out the next trains departing from Portsmouth to Watford for Tuesday 27th October 2026 using our handy timetable below, including platform and live travel information. You can view the full day timetable or search for a different date here.
DepartsArrivesDuration
12:0015:253h 25m, 2 changes
12:2316:193h 56m, 2 changes
12:2715:423h 15m, 5 changes
12:2715:483h 21m, 4 changes
12:2715:593h 32m, 3 changes
13:0016:123h 12m, 2 changes
13:2317:203h 57m, 2 changes
13:2716:443h 17m, 4 changes
13:2716:593h 32m, 3 changes
14:0017:143h 14m, 2 changes

What are the train times from Portsmouth to Watford?

Get from Portsmouth to Watford in as little as 2 hours 32 minutes on the fastest trains, so you can make the most of your time.

The average train journey from Portsmouth to Watford takes around 3 hours 47 minutes. There are around 240 trains that operate on this route daily.

As there are no direct trains between Portsmouth and Watford, you'll need to make 1 change.

Trains on this route are operated by Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, Thameslink and Gatwick Express.

Booking in advance often results in cheaper ticket prices.

With our Journey Planner, you can check live train times, compare prices and check routes.

What do people frequently ask about the train journey from Portsmouth to Watford?

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

How do I travel from Portsmouth to Watford?

You can get from Portsmouth to Watford by train in 3 hours and 47 minutes on average, with the fastest journeys taking just 2 hours and 32 minutes. Check out our Journey Planner for more details.

How long does the train from Portsmouth to Watford take?

The average journey time by train between Portsmouth and Watford is 3 hours and 47 minutes, with around 240 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.

What's the fastest journey time between Portsmouth and Watford by train?

The fastest journey time by train from Portsmouth to Watford is 2 hours and 32 minutes.

Can you take a train directly from Portsmouth to Watford?

No, there are no direct train services from Portsmouth to Watford. Travelling from Portsmouth to Watford by train will require a minimum of 1 change.

How do I find cheap train tickets from Portsmouth to Watford?

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. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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 Portsmouth to Watford 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.
† 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.

Looking for more ideas?

Europe’s leading train and coach app

We help customers across Europe make more than 172,000 smarter journeys every day.

Get a link