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London to Cologne by train
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Cheapest Price €71.12
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30 days in advance €149.53
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7 days in advance €231.36
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First train06:04
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Last train20:03
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Avg changes1
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Fastest journey3hr 59m
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Distance497 kilometres
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Trains per day20
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Avg. journey time5hr 25m
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Train operators
London to Cologne train travel explained
Want to know how to get from London to Cologne by train? We have gathered for you all the useful information about this trip!
The fastest trains from London to Cologne take around 3 hours and 59 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 497 kilometres.
On weekdays, the first train leaving London is scheduled to depart at around 06:04. The last departure is usually at around 20:01 . On Saturdays and Sundays, trains leave London at around 06:57, with the last train leaving at around 20:03. There are frequent services on this particular rail route. On average, there are about 20 trains per day travelling between the two cities. They leave approximately every 26 minutes.
Prices for a single ticket between the two cities start from €71.12.
We think any time is a great time to visit Cologne, 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 Cologne.
Is there a direct train from London to Cologne?
The journey between London and Cologne usually involves one change of train.
We usually find at least one departure on the route from London to Cologne every weekday 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 at least one departure.
How long does it take to travel from London to Cologne?
The London to Cologne train travel takes about 3 hours and 59 minutes, no matter when you leave.
What are the London to Cologne train times and schedule?
If you're travelling on a weekday, you'll find the earliest train to Cologne leaving London at around 06:04 and the last train leaving at around 20:01 . At weekends, the first train of the day leaves London at around 06:57, with the final departure at 20:03.
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Eurostar & ICE/Thalys
The train journey from London to Cologne is very easy. Eurostar trains from London connect very efficiently at Brussels Midi station with onward high-speed services to Cologne. These latter trains are either Thalys services or ICE trains operated by Deutsche Bahn. Both offer equally high levels of comfort and service. The cheaper fares sold by Loco2 tend to be for the Eurostar and ICE combination rather than for the Eurostar and Thalys option.
On your journey from London to Cologne by train, you’ll speed across the territory of four countries: England, France, Belgium and Germany. As the latter three countries are all members of Schengen, there is little by way of border formalities.
London to Brussels
Board a Eurostar service from London St Pancras to Brussels. Little more than an hour after leaving London you’ll already be in northern France, speeding through Flanders fields towards Lille Europe, where many but not all Brussels-bound Eurostar trains make an intermediate stop. Some trains make up to three additional stops – at Ebbsfleet, Ashford and Calais.
Eurostar trains from London terminate at Brussels Midi station. Trains run every five minutes from Brussels Midi to Brussels Central (for the city centre). Your Eurostar ticket is valid for this short onward hop within Brussels. At Brussels Midi, there are good onward connections with a choice of Thalys or German ICE trains for direct links to Germany, as well as Belgian (or sometimes Dutch) Intercity trains to cities across the wider BeNeLux region.
Remember to factor in at least half an hour for Eurostar’s airline-style baggage check prior to boarding your train. This is a light-touch security scan, and there are no restrictions on taking liquids on board Eurostar trains.
Brussels to Cologne
From Brussels-Midi there are up to nine high-speed trains to Cologne each day – a mix of Thalys and ICE services. The journey takes just under two hours and most trains make just a couple of stops along the way.
The first part of the journey from Brussels traverses the flat lands of Brabant to reach Liège-Guillemins station. East from Liège, the train joins a new high-speed line which cuts in tunnels through hilly country to reach the German border just before Aachen. Beyond Aachen, the train traverses flat terrain to reach the Rhineland city of Cologne, where you arrive at the city’s main station (the Hauptbahnhof), located on the west bank of the Rhine right by Cologne Cathedral.