Leicester to London train with East Midlands Railway

Trains from Leicester to London

Passengers who choose to travel by train depart most frequently from Leicester to a destination in London, Victoria. Trains that run from Leicester to London cover the 89 miles (143 km) long route in approximately 1h 3min. Journey times may be slightly longer on weekends and on bank holidays. The train frequency is roughly 25 per day, and the train tickets are cost effective for most travellers.

Leicester to London Train Time: Daily Departures

When planning your journey, understand that about 25 trains run every 24 hours on this route. The first train from Leicester to London leaves shortly before 05:00, whereas the last train leaves at around 22:52. Leicester to London trains depart every 10-20min throughout the day, with more constant departures at peak times during dawn and dusk.

How long is the journey by train from Leicester to London?

The average journey time to travel from Leicester to London is 1h-1h 30min. Leicester to London trains take off every 10-20min or so throughout the day, with more departures at peak hours during dawn and dusk. To be more exact, you should check out the journey times on your travel dates with the online journey planner or access a timetable from their website.

Trains from Leicester to London: Leicester Town Hall at sunset. Source: Shutterstock

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Leicester to London?

Departure train station: All trains heading to London leave from Leicester train station, which is roughly 1 mile (1.6 km) from the city centre. There is a taxi rank and several bus stops at the front of the train station for arrivals from all destinations within the city. Facilities available at this station are subject to change but typically include shops, a seated area, first-class lounge, waiting room, trolleys, station buffet, toilets, baby-changing facilities, showers, cashpoints and a post box, amongst others.

Arrival train station: All arrivals from Leicester stop at London St Pancras station, which is approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) north of central London. Buses, taxis and the King's Cross St. Pancras Underground station are all just outside, for onward travel. Facilities available at this station are subject to change but may include free Wi-Fi, public phones, cashpoints, a chemist, a lost property station, Changing Places facilities, toilets and baby-changing rooms.

Which train companies travel from Leicester to London?

When travelling by train from Leicester to London, you can count on the train companies East Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, South Western Railway, CrossCountry and Northern Rail. You can check all possible train companies who offer service between Leicester and London and compare the amenities they offer before you decide to buy a train ticket. The fastest rail service on the 93-mile (150-km) course from Leicester to London is a direct service by East Midlands Trains, typically taking 1h 15min to reach London St Pancras. Most direct trains on this route take 15-20min longer to get to the capital. Indirect train connections to London Euston, through Nuneaton, take around 2h 18min to complete the trip.

Night trains Leicester

The Leicester connection only offers some night trains; unfortunately, you won’t be able to find a train service from Leicester later than around 22:59 on most nights. These trains will have you arriving in London between 00:00 and 01:00.

East Midlands Railway trains from Leicester to London

There are direct trains from Leicester to London which let you travel between these two cities without changing trains. East Midlands Railway runs about five fast, high-speed trains per hour to and from London St Pancras. According to the BBC, East Midlands Railway trains were upgraded to a top speed of 125 mph (200 km/h), contributing to the reduction of the journey duration from Leicester to London.

South Western Railway trains from Leicester to London

Typically, the first train departs from Leicester at around 04:59 and arrives in London at around 06:31. This provider has different types of trains and is in the process of launching high-speed trains for suburban areas like Leicester.

CrossCountry trains from Leicester to London

With this provider, the first trains depart at around 04:59 and arrive at roughly 06:31. CrossCountry has direct trains from Leicester to London, which are all high speed.

Avanti West Coast trains from Leicester to London

Avanti West Coast offers high-speed, long-distance services from Leicester to London. The first train departs at about 04:59 from Leicester and arrives at around 06:58 in London. Currently, Avanti West Coast doesn’t provide direct trains from Leicester to London.

Northern Rail trains from Leicester to London

The average travel time for trains departing from Leicester to London is usually 1h 49min, with the fastest taking about 1h 42min. The first train leaves Leicester at around 04:59, while the last train leaves at roughly 22:45. Northern Rail offers direct trains from Leicester to London and plans to operate state-of-the-art trains with a top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).

Trains from Leicester to London: Sustainability travel

Indeed, taking the train is a sustainable way of travelling. According to two transport and environmental studies published by the European Environment Agency (EEA), travel by train remains the most environmentally friendly form of motorised passenger transport in Europe, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions compared to travelling by car or plane today. For more ideas, check out our online travel magazine, The Window Seat.

Trains from Leicester to London: Services on Board

With East Midlands Trains, you can travel first or second class, and both are simply fabulous. The East Midlands Trains luggage quota is three pieces of luggage, including one small hand luggage item plus two larger-sized items. All luggage must be safely stowed in luggage racks. If you possess additional belongings, you may need to pay a fee for them. Oversized items such as surfboards aren’t allowed. Dogs, cats, birds and other small domestic creatures are accepted on board East Midlands Trains. You can travel with your bike, but you must first check the bike policy on the travel company website. For persons living with disabilities, East Midlands Trains provides you with discounted train tickets.

Also, wheelchairs and powered wheelchairs can be carried on all train services, so long as they aren’t wider than 27 in (70 cm), not longer than 47 in (120 cm) and not heavier than 500 lb (230 kg), including the passenger. With Northern Rail trains, you can travel first or second class, and feel free to take a maximum of three luggage items. All your luggage should be suitably packed, and you should ensure that it won’t obstruct doorways. Pets are allowed on board, so long as they won’t interrupt you or other passengers. Bikes are accepted on all trains, but you must exercise precaution as indicated in the cycle policy on the company website. South Western Railway has first class and second class train services. A maximum of two small dogs or other domestic pets are allowed on a lead or in a carrier at no cost. You can read about all of these rules on the company website. South Western Railway has a “10 minutes' notice assistance scheme”, where disabled or elderly passengers who require assistance to board trains can turn up and travel instead of requiring to book 6 hours ahead. Anyone can request Assisted Travel during the journey from Leicester to London.

All CrossCountry train services can be accessed by people living with disabilities as well, offering Assisted Travel service if you require help at the available train stations. Avanti West Coast offers first- and second-class services. You can take a maximum of two domestic pets without paying; however, additional pets will incur a fee. Domestic birds are allowed on board. Browse more information on the Avanti Coast pet policy to discover what's new. Bikes are also allowed on trains, and a reservation for your bike is free with Avanti West Coast. When booking your ticket, choose to reserve your bike space under “travel extras”. If you need to print your bike reservation, you must visit the ticket office for further help before boarding a train.

How to find cheaper train tickets from Leicester to London

To save money, you should book early; check for advance tickets, which are released well before the departure date and can be cheaper than buying on the day. You should also be flexible with travel dates and times, so you can select the cheaper fare, while choosing connecting trains or slower journeys is another good idea to find cheap tickets.

Trains from Leicester to London: man relaxing on a train to London. Source: Shutterstock

To London by train—travel tips

London is one of the world's most attraction-filled cities. State-of-the-art architectural sensations, world-class shopping centres and top-notch theatres. Some recommended things to do in London are:

• Visit Buckingham Palace and witness the Changing of the Guard
• See the Royal Jewels at The Tower of London and Walk Across Tower Bridge
• Get cultured at the British Museum
• Get captivated by Big Ben
• Visit Houses of Parliament