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London to Birmingham by train
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First train05:34
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Last train23:30
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Avg changes0
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Fastest journey1hr 21m
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Distance162 kilometres
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Trains per day75
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Avg. journey time1hr 57m
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Train operators
Travelling from London to Birmingham by train
Fast trains from London to Birmingham take around 1 hour and 21 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 162 kilometres. There are frequent services on the rail route between London and Birmingham.
1. Are there direct trains from London to Birmingham?
Direct trains from London to Birmingham have been found.
We usually find around 79 direct trains on the route from London to Birmingham every weekday.
There are typically fewer departures at weekends, when we found around 65 departures.
2. How long is the train journey from London to Birmingham?
The London to Birmingham train travel time is normally about 1 hour and 21 minutes, whatever time you make the journey.
3. What are the London to Birmingham train times and schedule?
On weekdays the earliest direct train to Birmingham is usually scheduled to depart London around 05:34 and the last train is around 23:30. At weekends the first train of the day leaves London around 06:23, and the last at 23:25.

What's the London to Birmingham train price?
The earlier you book the better, and the cheapest tickets we've found for trains from London to Birmingham are $9.57.
Trains departing 30 days in advance will cost around $9 while booking 7 days in advance the price is around $35. 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 Birmingham train tickets?
Trains in the UK usually open for booking around 3 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 Birmingham by train.
Which train companies operate between London and Birmingham?
More than one train company operates on the route from London to Birmingham, so you’ll be travelling with one or more of the following rail operators:
- Avanti West Coast
- London Midland
- Virgin Trains
- West Midlands Trains
You can check which train you’ll be travelling on by looking for the train name in search results.
Other journeys to Birmingham View all journeys to Birmingham
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From Glasgow From $25.29
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From Wolverhampton From $5.47
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From Leicester From $13.53
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From Crewe From $10.25
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From Coventry From $5.33
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From Nottingham From $8.48
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From Sheffield From $13.40
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From Gloucester From $10.94
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From Doncaster From $45.52
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From Reading From $23.79
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From Plymouth From $41.01
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From Carlisle From $35.54
Virgin Trains
The fastest way to travel by train from London to Birmingham is on Virgin Trains services (about 85 mins of journey time). London Midland also run directly from Euston to Birmingham New Street, but that company's trains are very much slower; they always take over two hours for the journey.
There is also an alternative route to Birmingham Moor Street which leaves from Marylebone station in London. Trains on this line take just under two hours, so the service is slower, but the journey takes in much better scenery and there are often cheaper fares available on this second route, which is run by Chiltern Railways.
London to Birmingham

The Virgin Trains services to Birmingham all leave from London Euston station. Euston wins no marks for architectural charm, but Virgin Trains will soon have you on your way to England’s second city. The Virgin services to Birmingham New Street generally make three intermediate stops on the way. The much slower London Midland trains on the same route all make over a dozen stops along the way.
The journey cuts through the Chiltern Hills, then runs north through tame agricultural country to reach the West Midlands. Almost all trains on this route stop at Coventry and Birmingham International (for the airport) before reaching New Street station in the very heart of Birmingham.
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