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London to Cardiff by train
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First train05:18
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Last train23:30
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Avg changes0
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Fastest journey1hr 49m
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Distance212 kilometres
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Trains per day51
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Avg. journey time2hr 16m
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Train operators
Travelling from London to Cardiff by train
Fast trains from London to Cardiff take around 1 hour and 49 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 212 kilometres. There are frequent services on the rail route between London and Cardiff.
1. Are there direct trains from London to Cardiff?
Direct trains from London to Cardiff have been found.
We usually find around 44 direct trains on the route from London to Cardiff every weekday.
Trains are typically more frequent on weekends, when we found around 67 departures.
2. How long is the train journey from London to Cardiff?
The London to Cardiff train travel time is normally about 1 hour and 49 minutes, whatever time you make the journey.
3. What are the London to Cardiff train times and schedule?
On weekdays the earliest direct train to Cardiff is usually scheduled to depart London around 05:18 and the last train is around 23:32. At weekends the first train of the day leaves London around 07:12, and the last at 22:00.

What's the London to Cardiff train price?
The earlier you book the better, and the cheapest tickets we've found for trains from London to Cardiff are $26.66.
Trains departing 30 days in advance will cost around $26 while booking 7 days in advance the price is around $49. 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 Cardiff 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 Cardiff by train.
Which train companies operate between London and Cardiff?
More than one train company operates on the route from London to Cardiff, so you’ll be travelling with one or more of the following rail operators:
- First Great Western
- GWR
- Great Western Railway
You can check which train you’ll be travelling on by looking for the train name in search results.
Other journeys to Cardiff View all journeys to Cardiff
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From Bristol From $6.42
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From Manchester From $39.64
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From Birmingham From $16.95
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From Port Talbot Parkway From $55.36
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From Brussels From $103.89
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From Cheltenham Spa From $10.25
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From Leicester From $25.97
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From Hereford From $17.09
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From Neath From $31.37
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From Leeds From $39.64
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From Swansea From $6.83
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From Bath Spa From $6.83
Great Western Railway
It is easy to travel by train from London to Cardiff. The best option is to use the Great Western Railway (GWR) services.
The journey from London to the Welsh capital includes some fine countryside as the train speeds west via the Thames Valley and Wiltshire to reach the River Severn. It dives under the river in a long tunnel, emerging in Wales.
London Paddington to Cardiff Central

The direct Great Western trains to Cardiff leave from London Paddington station and arrive at Cardiff Central. Most trains make four or five stops. The main towns on the route are Reading and Swindon. Later in the journey, the train skirts the northern edge of Bristol, stopping at the out-of-town Bristol Parkway station. Shortly after leaving that station, the train uses the Severn Tunnel to reach Wales.
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