London Rail Travel

In common with a number of other European capitals, several major railway termini lie at the heart of London. These transport hubs, which also connect to bus and Tube services, serve the majority of commuters in the capital each day, offering frequent (if not always fast) services to other main cities and towns in the United Kingdom. For travel within London, a comprehensive network of slower commuter services operate between the sprawling suburbs.

Since the privatisation of British Rail, services have been franchised out to a number of private operators who own and maintain both the rolling stock and station facilities on lines which they operate. However, most London stations (and track infrastructure) is owned by Network Rail.

As the rail industry has long been blighted by under investment, the UK's train network is poor in comparison to the sleek and efficient rail services in much of Western Europe. The hope was that private sector discipline and investment would transform the situation for long suffering commuters, but so far, many of the expected improvements have failed to materialize. However, there is currently a major infrastructure upgrade taking place and modern new trains have replaced forty year old slam-door units. The Government has also begun a massive injection of public investment into improving current services, adding new lines and stations.

You'll find a list of London's main railway termini below, along with details of the train companies that operate services from each location (and a breakdown of the destinations they serve). All stations offer a number of standard services and these are shown too. Additionally, we've also included some useful contact addresses/telephone numbers to assist you in planning your journey, or in dealing with any problems that may arise. More general information on rail services (including motor rail) in the UK can be found at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Travel by Train to London from Europe

Unless you're a student, under 26 or a senior citizen, travelling by rail to London can actually work out more expensive than flying (depending of course, on where you're journeying from). For those under 26 however, an InterRail pass offers unlimited travel on most European railways.

For the purposes of the pass, Europe is divided into eight zones, with prices varying according to how many days you choose and the countries you visit en-route (Great Britain is zone A).

Holders of an InterRail pass can also qualify for reduced priced ferry crossings and Eurostar services. For more information on the various options available visit RailEurope or the www.interrail.com website. More general information on rail services around Europe can be found at: www.railfaneurope.net.

American and Canadian Travellers

If you're planning to explore other European cities before travelling by train to London, then a good option to consider is the Eurail pass. Essentially it's much the same as an InterRail pass (which is available only to European citizens), allowing visitors who reside in countries outside of Europe, including the US and Canada, to travel within the continent (17 western European countries including France, Belgium, Holland and Germany are covered). The Eurail pass is available in several forms:

For travellers over 26, the Global Eurail Pass (1st Class) covers travel for 15 days and costs $745. This rises to $965 for 21 days, $1199 for a month, $1695 for two months, or $2089 for three months. Children aged between 4 and 11 travel for half the adult fare, while those under 4 travel free.

Those under 26 should buy the Eurail 2nd Class Youth Pass. A 15 day pass costs $485, 21 days $625, 1 month $779, 2 months $1105 and 3 months $1359.

As there are a number of other passes available, visiting Eurail's own website www.eurail.com is a hassle free way to work out exactly what you need.

The big drawback is that it does not cover travel within Great Britain. So, if you plan to tour Great Britain extensively by train, you'll need a BritRail pass. To purchase one online (or to simply check prices) visit the Rail Europe website. Not only do they offer a number of BritRail passes, including the Flexipass and England Consecutive Pass, they also have options for exploring other parts of Great Britain including Scotland.

For visitors who plan to make only the odd trip by train (for example on day-trips to/from London) then One-day Travelcards and/or Cheap Day returns should be considered. To find out about the various options available, enquire at your nearest railway station (including any of the London termini listed below) or use the National Rail Enquiry Line (also listed below).

Useful London Rail Telephone Numbers:

National Rail Travel Enquiry Line - Tel: 0845 748 4950 (24 hour service) - A national enquiry service covering train services across the complete rail network.

British Transport Police - Tel: 0800 40 50 40 (24 hour service) - The BTP, who are responsible for policing the rail network, should be contacted if you are a victim of theft or a violent incident.

Bus and Underground Travel Information - Tel: 020 7222 1234 (24 hour service) - provides information about the capital's bus and Tube services.

Useful UK Rail Websites:

Transport Direct (www.transportdirect.info) - transport journey planner for Great Britain.

National Rail (www.nationalrail.co.uk) - gateway site for the UK rail network, including train company information, journey planners, special offers, disabled assistance and links.

Network Rail (www.networkrail.com) - the controlling company responsible for rail safety, tracks, signalling, bridges, tunnels, level crossings, viaducts and stations (replaced Railtrack).

Transport for London (www.tfl.gov.uk) - covers Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Underground, buses, trams, coaches and river crossings.

London Main Terminal Information

Please choose the link to the station you are interested in: - Blackfriars, Euston, King's Cross, Liverpool Street, London Bridge, Paddington, St. Pancras, Victoria and Waterloo

Details for other stations, including Cannon Street, Fenchurch Street and Marylebone are available from the National Rail website (see above).

Blackfriars

Although the smallest of the central London stations that we've listed, Blackfriars' handy central location makes it a useful stopping off point for a number of popular attractions (St Paul's, Tate Modern, Globe Theatre). In addition, it serves as a good connecting station for King's Cross and London Bridge, which are less than 5 minutes away by rail. The station offers suburban services to towns in Kent such as Orpington and Sidcup, while through services are provided by Thameslink from Brighton (via Gatwick Airport and East Croydon) to King's Cross and Luton (for connection to Luton Airport).

Euston

Intercity services to the Midlands (Birmingham), the North of England and Scotland.

King's Cross

Provides Intercity services to Eastern England, North East England and Scotland as well as suburban services. First Capital Connect services also operate to Gatwick Airport, while connections to London Luton Airport are served via a separate station on Pentonville Road (just a short walk from the main terminus). Please note that, as the area around King's Cross has a seedy reputation (and is a known crime hotspot) you are advised to take extra care with your belongings.

Liverpool Street

Express rail link to London Stansted Airport. Suburban and longer distance services to Southend and East Anglia.

London Bridge

Suburban services to South London including Greenwich, Kent and Surrey. Services to Tonbridge, the South coast, Dover, Ramsgate and Gatwick Airport and north to Luton (for Luton Airport).

Paddington

Intercity services to Wales (Cardiff and Swansea) and the South West of England (Bristol). The Heathrow Express offers a high speed connection to London's main airport. Suburban services including Slough, Reading and Aylesbury.

St. Pancras International

Victoria

Offers express services to cities and towns in the South of England, Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire including Dover, Ashford, Brighton, Chichester, Southampton, Portsmouth and Gatwick Airport. Suburban services include Croydon, Bromley and Epsom.

Waterloo

Though Waterloo's Eurostar services have now been transferred to the renovated St. Pancras International, it continues to offers express services to cities and towns in the south of England such as Southampton, Basingstoke, Reading and Portsmouth. Suburban services including Windsor, Wimbledon, Hampton Court and Richmond.

Take the escalator or lift to Waterloo East Station from where trains to Charing Cross arrive/depart.

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Last Updated: 30th June 2008.