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London to Barcelona by train
Prices explained
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Cheapest Price $96.35
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30 day advance $317.55
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First train05:40
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Last train20:31
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Avg changes1
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Fastest journey10hr 10m
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Distance1,141 kilometres
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Trains per day15
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Avg. journey time19hr 12m
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Train operators
Travelling from London to Barcelona by train
Fast trains from London to Barcelona take around 10 hours and 10 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 1,141 kilometres. There are frequent services on the rail route between London and Barcelona.
1. Are there direct trains from London to Barcelona?
Journeys between London and Barcelona usually involve one change of train.
We usually find around 28 departures on the route from London to Barcelona every weekday that leave enough time to change trains without waiting around for longer than necessary.
There are typically fewer departures at weekends, when we found around 22 departures.
2. How long is the train journey from London to Barcelona?
The London to Barcelona train travel time is normally about 10 hours and 10 minutes, whatever time you make the journey.
3. What are the London to Barcelona train times and schedule?
On weekdays the earliest train to Barcelona is usually scheduled to depart London around 05:40 and the last train is around 20:31. At weekends the first train of the day leaves London around 06:18, and the last at 20:31.
What's the London to Barcelona train price?
The earlier you book the better, and the cheapest tickets we've found for trains from London to Barcelona are $96.35.
Trains departing 30 days in advance will cost around $317 while booking 7 days in advance the price is around $297. Booking on the day of travel is likely to be more expensive, so it is worth booking in advance if you can to save money.
When to book London to Barcelona train tickets?
Trains for this journey usually open for booking around 12 months in advance. If booking is not yet open for your dates then you can set a booking alert to receive an email on the day that the cheapest tickets are released for your journey from London to Barcelona by train.
Which train companies operate between London and Barcelona?
More than one train company operates on the route from London to Barcelona, so you’ll be travelling with one or more of the following rail operators:
- AVE
- Eurostar
- FS100
- RENFE-SNCF
- TGV
You can check which train you’ll be travelling on by looking for the train name in search results.
Other journeys to Barcelona View all journeys to Barcelona
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From Madrid From $38.00
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From Montpellier From $29.86
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From Paris From $33.93
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From Avignon TGV From $33.93
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From Toulouse From $23.75
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From Narbonne From $42.07
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From Lyon From $45.46
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From Perpignan From $45.46
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From Bilbao-Abando From $23.07
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From Brighton From $471.04
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From Bath Spa From $671.89
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From Marseille From $60.39
Eurostar & TGV
Travelling by train from London to Barcelona became so much easier with the launch of the new high-speed rail service from Paris to Barcelona. During the peak summer season in 2018, there will be a later departure too, also routing via Paris and reaching Barcelona late evening. On certain days - but not in winter - there is a good alternative route from London to Barcelona with one easy change of train in Lyon. It's no quicker than the Paris route, but it saves the hassle of having to change stations in Paris.
The most frequently booked route starts by taking a Eurostar from London to Paris, where you’ll need to change stations from the Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon. There you’ll board the TGV for Barcelona. There's quite some drama in a journey which tracks south through France, skirts the Mediterranean coast and then tunnels under the Pyrenees to reach Catalonia.
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.
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.
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