London to Madrid by train

Q: Is there a direct train from London to Madrid?

The journey between London and Madrid usually involves 13 changes of train.We usually find around 33 departures on this route every weekday, counting only those that leave enough time to change trains without waiting around for longer than necessary.There are typically fewer trains leaving at weekends, when we found around 29 departures.

Q: How long does it take to travel from London to Madrid?

The London to Madrid train travel takes about 13 hours and 38 minutes, no matter when you leave.

Cheapest Price AU$98.55
30 days in advance AU$550.42
7 days in advance AU$708.10

First train

05:40
Last train

20:31

Avg changes

2
Fastest journey

13hr 38m

Distance

1,266 kilometres
Trains per day

31

Avg. journey time

22hr 31m
Train operators

Prices updated on May 07, 2026

London to Madrid train travel explained

Want to know how to get from London to Madrid by train? We have gathered for you all the useful information about this trip!

The fastest trains from London to Madrid take around 13 hours and 38 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 1,266 kilometres.

On weekdays, the first train leaving London is scheduled to depart at around 05:40. The last departure is usually at around 20:04 . On Saturdays and Sundays, trains leave London at around 06:18, with the last train leaving at around 20:31. There are frequent services on this particular rail route. On average, there are about 31 trains per day travelling between the two cities. They leave approximately every 29 minutes.

Prices for a single ticket between the two cities start from AU$98.55.

We think any time is a great time to visit Madrid, as each season has its own unique charm. Nevertheless, please make sure you check the local weather and average seasonal temperatures at destination before deciding on your holiday.

For more tips to help you plan your journey, check out our help articles, or read our guide to Madrid.

Is there a direct train from London to Madrid?

The journey between London and Madrid usually involves changes of train.

We usually find around departures on this route every weekday, counting only those that leave enough time to change trains without waiting around for longer than necessary.

There are typically fewer trains leaving at weekends, when we found around departures.

How long does it take to travel from London to Madrid?

The London to Madrid train travel takes about 13 hours and 38 minutes, no matter when you leave.

What are the London to Madrid train times and schedule?

If you're travelling on a weekday, you'll find the earliest train to Madrid leaving London at around 05:40 and the last train leaving at around 20:04 . At weekends, the first train of the day leaves London at around 06:18, with the final departure at 20:31.

Madrid to London by train

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Eurostar, TGV & AVE

Taking the train from London to Madrid is straightforward, especially since the opening in 2013 of a high-speed rail route from France to Spain. While London to Madrid can easily be managed in a single day, many travellers opt to stop off for a night along the way.

Take a morning Eurostar train from London to Paris, where you connect with an afternoon TGV to Barcelona. This is usually a double-decker train, so book a seat on the upper level for the best views. Your train through France speeds through Burgundy and the Rhône Valley towards Avignon, then west along the Mediterranean coast, before diving under the Pyrenees in a tunnel to reach Spain. It's an easy change of train in Barcelona to join the AVE service for the final leg to Madrid.

This itinerary relies on the last fast train of the day from Barcelona to Madrid. Our advice is to go ahead and book London to Barcelona as soon as it becomes available, for that's a route on which prices hike up quickly after bookings have opened. Later you can book the ticket for the final leg.

London to Paris

The first part of the journey from London sweeps through Thameside landscapes and rural Kent to reach the Channel Tunnel. Little more than an hour after leaving London you'll already be in northern France, tracking south through Flanders fields towards Paris.

Remember to factor in at least half an hour for Eurostar's airline-style baggage check prior to boarding your train. There is a luggage and body scan and you'll be asked to show your passport. There are no restrictions on taking liquids on board Eurostar trains.

Eurostar train guide

Paris interchange: Paris Nord to Paris Lyon

When you alight from the train at Gare du Nord look for signs to the Metro and RER. Once you've bought a ticket follow the signs to 'RER D', direction 'Melun' or 'Malesherbes'. So long as you're heading in the right direction, all the trains on this line stop at Gare de Lyon. The actual train journey takes around 10 mins with just one stop on the way at Châtelet-les-Halles. Upon alighting from the RER train at Gare de Lyon, follow the signs to the mainline station. The signs read 'Accès aux trains Grandes Lignes'. The whole journey from the concourse at Gare du Nord to the mainline departure platforms at Gare de Lyon will normally take about 40 mins but we recommend leaving at least 50 mins.

If you are arriving at Gare du Nord from London, bear in mind that you can buy Paris Métro tickets at the Eurostar terminal at St. Pancras and on board the Eurostar train. Similarly, passengers arriving at the Gare du Nord on Thalys trains from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands can buy Metro tickets on the train (at the Thalys Bar). Although universally referred to as Métro tickets, they are in fact valid on RER trains too.

Paris to Barcelona

Direct TGV trains to Barcelona leave Paris two to four times per day. The frequency is higher in summer than winter. The TGVs to Barcelona leave from the Gare de Lyon in Paris. In Barcelona they terminate at Sants station. This journey is focused on speed, so there are not a lot of stops along the way - from six to ten depending on which train you take. All trains stop at the historic cities of Montpellier, Perpignan and Girona. There is some very fine scenery along the way too. Early on in the journey, you sweep through Burgundy vineyards, and later on there are engaging views of the coastal landscapes of Languedoc. After the stop at Perpignan, the train speeds south towards the Pyrenees, before diving under the mountains in the Perthus Tunnel.

If you worry that six and half hours if a long time to spend on one train, fear not! This rates as one of favourite high-speed routes. You can relax and gaze out of the window and, from to time, wander along to the bistro for a coffee or a snack. The direct services from Paris to Barcelona are all operated by French TGV trains. But it's a joint venture with Spanish rail operator Renfe, so you find a dash of Spanish style combining with French flair on this international route.

TGV INOUI train guide

Barcelona to Madrid

Take a high-speed AVE or Ouigo train directly from Barcelona Sants station to Madrid Atocha. Trains that stop up to four times along the way may take 30 to 40 minutes longer. This journey along Spain's premier high-speed rail route reveals a variety of passing landscapes as you speed from Catalonia through Aragon to the Spanish heartland.