Chiltern Railways is a British train provider, operated by the Arriva Group, and connects central London to destinations west and north-west of the capital. Chiltern Railways tracks through a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), passing through the Chiltern Hills towards Birmingham, Bicester Village, Banbury, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and Leamington Spa. The company services 60 stations, and Chiltern Railways operates 32 of these stations, many of which are popular for day trippers going to and from London. Read on for a full guide on how to buy cheap Chiltern Railways tickets, Chiltern Railways timetables, facilities onboard the trains, and popular routes and destinations.
Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Credit: Unsplash
The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is formed of approximately 324 square miles of rolling hills, ancient woodlands and chalk grasslands stretching across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Its proximity to London and the regular timetable of trains with Chiltern Railways means getting into the heart of one of Britain’s AONB destinations is easy and affordable, with a number of discounts and railcards that can be applied to your journey.
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Omio offer the latest deals for cheap Chiltern Railways train tickets, provide up-to-date information on Chiltern Railways routes and timetables, offers easy booking and sends live updates and notifications if there are any changes to your journey. If you need any help along the way, there’s a dedicated helpline to answer questions to make your journey enjoyable and hassle-free. With the Omio app, you can search in the language of your choice, book tickets on the go and keep all your ticket information digitally in one place. Download the free Omio app today.
Whether you want to visit Stratford-Upon-Avon to see the birthplace of William Shakespeare, visit the Hellfire caves of High Wycombe or visit the Roald Dahl museum at Great Missenden, Omio finds the best and cheapest bus tickets for your journey.
The Gothic architecture of Oxford City. Credit: Unsplash
Not sure where to begin your Chiltern Railways adventure? Check out these popular Chiltern Railways destinations for travel details and nearby attractions:
Anytime Ticket: This ticket type is generally fixed at one price and more expensive than the other types because it allows travellers to travel at any time of day – including peak time. This is a good ticket type to have when passengers want the flexibility to travel at any time.
Advance Ticket: Normally valid for a precise time, you can select an advance ticket for a specific single or return journey. It is non-refundable - as the best possible price is usually charged. However, if you change your mind, it can be amended for up to 28 days before travel for a £10 fee.
Off Peak Ticket: Off Peak tickets are valid when the rush hour has subsided. This ticket type is less expensive than the Anytime ticket and is for travel after approximately 9:30 until 15:30, then again at 18:34. If you want to learn more, see our Train Ticket Guide for more information. The type of train does not affect the ticket, only the time of day. Travellers should check that they have the right ticket by asking either staff or contacting Chiltern Railways before starting their journey.
Super Off-Peak Ticket: These tickets hold the most restrictions, with a smaller window of time when travellers can travel during the day. These tickets cannot normally be used to travel during general rush-hour times, but are the cheapest ticket to purchase.
Chiltern Railways offers affordable ticketing whether you’re a student, travelling with the family or going on a business trip from London to Birmingham. Standard Class has the option to pre-book seats at tables and buy food and drinks on-board. Free WiFi is available for all passengers.
Journey | Price |
---|---|
Warwick to London | From £36 |
Leamington Spa to High Wycombe | From £22 |
Oxford to London | From £12 |
Oxford to Bicester | From £36 |
Oxford to Stratford-upon-Avon | From £9 |
London to B'Ham
90 minutes
Stations called at
62
Stations
32
Route KM
336.4
The best way to secure the cheapest tickets is to book your train journey as far in advance as possible. Advanced tickets generally go on sale 12 weeks in advance with cheap Chiltern Railways tickets still available around 3 to 4 weeks before the departure journey. It’s also worth looking at the different travel card options which can help reduce the price of train journeys with great discounts and offers. When booking your Chiltern Railways ticket through Omio, all you have to do is add the railcard when selecting your journey. Omio applies the full gamut of options, including 16 to 25 Railcard, Two-Together Railcard, Family and Friends Railcard, and Seniors Railcard among others.
The Canal House in Birmingham, trains from London to Birmingham take around 2 hours with Chiltern Railways. Credit: Unsplash
Route | Duration | Prices | |
---|---|---|---|
London to Stratford-Upon-Avon | 2h01 | ||
Oxford to London | 1h33 | ||
Birmingham to London | 1h29 | ||
Stratford-Upon-Avon to London | 1h59 | ||
Leamington Spa to London | 1h28 | ||
Aylesbury to London | 0h58 | ||
London to High Wycombe | 0h33 | ||
London to Kidderminster | 2h33 |
Passengers who require special assistance whilst travelling or those who simply would appreciate assistance on the day, can reserve it in advance with Chiltern Railways. Call 03456 005 165 to pre-book your assistance before 10 pm the day before you travel. You can get help onboard if you are in a wheel-chair or if you have visibility or hearing difficulties. Car Parking for drivers with Blue Badges is free at Chiltern Railways' station car parks.
The trains have storage spaces in overhead racks for soft luggage and at the end of carriages there is space for larger suitcases.
The Chiltern Railways trains offer free Wi-fi on most of their trains and also at stations such as London, Bicester, Warwick and Birmingham Moor Street. Register and connect to the network in just a few clicks. It is mostly reliable but streaming is not permitted due to fair data use policies. Check emails, reply to messages and read the news whilst travelling on the train to your destination.
Two dogs or small animals may be carried onboard free of charge. Make sure to keep dogs on the lead and ensure that they do not sit on the train seats. Other animals must be carried in an enclosed basket or cage no bigger than 85 x 60 x 60 cm. Pets should not cause nuisance to other passengers; ensure to keep the walkways and aisles clear for staff and other passengers to pass through.
Should you lose any luggage or personal belongings, report where and when you think you lost the item on the Chiltern Railways website. There is a charge to retrieve your item depending on its value. Their customer service will contact you if they retrieve it, or if it has been handed in. Similarly, if you find anything on a train or at the station then hand it in to train station staff. Remember to keep clear of unattended luggage and inform a member of staff right away.
Fold-up bicycles can be taken onboard trains as long as they are stored and fully folded away. Regular bicycles can be taken on trains if there is space available aboard the train. It is the staff's decision on the day as to whether bikes may or may not be taken onboard. No bicycle reservations are possible; it is first come, first served. On peak weekday services it is unlikely that there will be space to take your bike.
Should your train be delayed or cancelled for any reason, you have the right to claim for compensation. The delay repay scheme is based on how long the delay is. For example, if the train is delayed 30-59 minutes you can get 50% of the cost of our one-way ticket or 25% of the cost of the return ticket refunded. If the delay is longer than this, expect more to be refunded (100% of a one-way ticket and 50% of a return, or 100% refund for 120-minute delay or longer).
Although there is no minimum age a minor can travel, it's essential that children are aware of the risks of train travel. It is up to the parents to decide if the child is fit to travel. If a member of staff is worried about a child travelling on their own, they may inform the British Transport Police to ensure their safety.
Yes. If the train is heavily delayed and cancelled, you may be allowed to apply for a refund. Please note that due to their low price, Advance tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable, unless there are delays or cancellations. For all other tickets, apply for a refund online at Omio using our cancellations page. For your claim to be considered, be sure to apply for a refund within 28 days of the ticket's expiry date. There is also a £10 administration charge when you make a claim, whether or not it is successful. Make sure you check the terms and conditions of the ticket before you buy.