Leicester to London train with East Midlands Trains

Sat, 19 Jul
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The cheapest and fastest trains from Leicester to London

Showing times and prices for 19 Jul

Cheapest price

£52

Average price

£78

Fastest journey

1 h 43 m

Average duration

1 h 47 m

Trains per day

6

Distance

143 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Leicester to London is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Leicester to London will cost around £78 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £52.

Fast trains

Of the 6 trains that leave Leicester for London every day 5 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.

These direct trains cover the 143 km distance in an average of 1 h 47 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 1 h 43 m .

The slowest trains will take 1 h 53 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.

East Midlands TrainsY06949
08:061h57
Leicester station (LEI)
10:03London St Pancras International (STP)
£521One-way
0 changes
East Midlands TrainsY07041
08:241h43
Leicester station (LEI)
10:07London St Pancras International (STP)
£611One-way
0 changes
East Midlands TrainsEM859200 · Y06949
08:101h53
Leicester station (LEI)
10:03London St Pancras International (STP)
£861One-way
1 change
East Midlands TrainsY06960
10:041h50
Leicester station (LEI)
11:54London St Pancras International (STP)
£901One-way
0 changes
East Midlands TrainsY06954
09:061h48
Leicester station (LEI)
10:54London St Pancras International (STP)
£901One-way
0 changes

Travel Information

Compare train and coach for Leicester to London

Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Leicester to London among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £5. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 1h 41m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.1kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £5, and a train costs an average of £30.

Distance: 143 km

Compare train with

Train
Most popular
Coach

£70

Average Price

£15

Average Price

Cheapest

2h 11m

Average total duration

Fastest

1h 41m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

3h 2m

Average total duration

2h 32m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

0.0 - 0.1kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.1 - 0.4kg

CO2 emissions

East Midlands Trains

Most popular train company

National Express

Most popular bus company

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

Live departures

Leicester to London train times

Showing trains for today, Friday 18 July
Last updated at 13:07
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesChanges
Tickets
east_midlands_railwayY06980
On time
13:13 Leicester station (LEI)
1h13
14:26 London St Pancras International (STP)
0 changesdirect
east_midlands_railwayY07072
On time
13:32 Leicester station (LEI)
1h07
14:39 London St Pancras International (STP)
0 changesdirect
east_midlands_railwayY06983
On time
13:43 Leicester station (LEI)
1h11
14:54 London St Pancras International (STP)
0 changesdirect
east_midlands_railwayY07075
On time
14:04 Leicester station (LEI)
1h05
15:09 London St Pancras International (STP)
0 changesdirect
Saturday 19 July
east_midlands_railwayY06949
On time
07:06 Leicester station (LEI)
1h57
09:03 London St Pancras International (STP)
0 changesdirect
east_midlands_railwayEM859200 · Y06949
On time
07:10 Leicester station (LEI)
1h53
09:03 London St Pancras International (STP)
1 change
east_midlands_railwayY07041
On time
07:24 Leicester station (LEI)
1h43
09:07 London St Pancras International (STP)
0 changesdirect
east_midlands_railwayY06954
On time
08:06 Leicester station (LEI)
1h48
09:54 London St Pancras International (STP)
0 changesdirect
east_midlands_railwayY07047
On time
08:26 Leicester station (LEI)
1h43
10:09 London St Pancras International (STP)
0 changesdirect
east_midlands_railwayY06960
On time
09:04 Leicester station (LEI)
1h50
10:54 London St Pancras International (STP)
0 changesdirect

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Leicester to London by train or coach

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How far in advance should I book train tickets from Leicester to London?

The best time to book your train from Leicester to London is 35 days before departure. See how prices for trains change on the Leicester to London route.
Prices are for one-way tickets for one passenger from Leicester to London per month. Insights are sourced from fares found by Omio users in the last 12 months. Current prices may differ as prices vary depending on the time of day, class or how far in advance you book your train from Leicester to London.

Journey information

Overview: Train from Leicester to London

United KingdomUnited Kingdom
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Icon of train
Trains from Leicester to London run on average 8 times per day, taking around 1h 41m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £30 but you can travel from only £5 by coach.
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Coach from £5
Distance
143 km
Average train duration
1h 41m
Cheapest ticket price
£30
Trains per day
8
Direct trains
7
Fastest train
1h 3m
First train
00:12
Last train
23:46
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Coach from £5

Train providers: East Midlands Trains, West Midlands Trains and Thameslink trains Leicester to London

For as little as £29 you can travel by train from Leicester to London with East Midlands Trains, West Midlands Trains and Thameslink. Omio will show you the best deals, timetables and tickets available for this journey.

East Midlands Trains is a train company based in the United Kingdom. It operates services from London to the East Midlands, Yorkshire, and the North West. East Midlands Trains operates a fleet of Class 158, Class 156, Class 170, Class 222 and Class 180 diesel multiple units, as well as Class 222 Meridian electric multiple units. East Midlands Trains also offers a range of ticket types, including Advance, Anytime, and Off-Peak tickets. Onboard facilities include free Wi-Fi, power sockets, and a range of food and drink options. The most popular routes for East Midlands Trains are London to Nottingham, Sheffield, and Leeds.

Train information from Leicester to London with East Midlands Trains:

  • Average Duration: 1 h 3 min
  • Cheapest Price: £29

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

FAQs: Leicester to London train

FAQs: Travel by train from Leicester to London easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Leicester to London.
FAQs

popular train stations

Important Stations and Airports in Leicester and London

Leicester
London
The major train station for departures in Leicester is Leicester. Find all the information you need to know about services, amenities and connections at Leicester for your trip from Leicester to London.
Amenities at train station
WifiWifi
ShoppingShopping
ParkingParking
DiningDining
ATMATM
AccessibilityAccessibility
WCWC
HotelHotel
Ticket OfficeTicket Office
Bike ParkingBike Parking
Bike RentalBike Rental
Information DeskInformation Desk
information
phone
Phone Number
ticketOfficeHours
Ticket Office Hours
  • Opening hours: Monday - Friday 05:20 - 22:30 Saturday 05:20 - 22:30 Sunday 07:15 - 22:30
Parking
Parking
  • Car Park: Short stay car park
Accessibility
Accessibility
  • Staff help available: Yes
  • Step free access coverage: Yes
  • Step free access note: This is a Category A access station. There is step free access to the main entrance and lifts to all platforms. Customers with wheelchairs who require assistance on graduated slopes should press the ticket gate 'assistance' button located at the bottom of the stairs near the self service ticket machines. To ensure availability of staff to assist, it is imperative that customers book assistance in advance. This station has tactile paving at the edge of all platforms and at the bottom of all staircases.
  • Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station
  • Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station
  • Accessible toilets: Yes
  • Ramp for train access: Yes
  • Wheelchairs available: Yes
  • Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes
WC
WC
  • Toilets Location: The toilets are located on the Main Concourse, Platform 1/2 and Platform 3/4. The National key toilets are located on Platform 1/2 and Platform 3/4; these toilets are operated by a radar key. The radar key is available from the Duty Manager located on the end of Platform 3/4.
  • National key toilets: Yes
  • Baby changing facilities: Yes
Bike Parking
Bike Parking
  • Storage sheltered: Yes
  • Storage location: Cycle hub situated on the lower floor (old Red Star parcels area) which can be accessed via the lift located to the left of the Customer Information desk. Stands also available in main car park and station front near short stay car park.
  • Storage CCTV: Yes
Information Desk
Information Desk
  • Information available from staff: Yes - from information point,Yes - from ticket office
  • Helpline Contact: 08000 11 33 23
  • Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens
Public transport options for Leicester
  • Location for Rail Replacement Services: Coaches leave from the Station front
The major train station for arrivals in London is London St Pancras International. Find all the information you need to know about services, amenities and connections at London St Pancras International for your journey to London from Leicester.
Amenities at train station
WifiWifi
LockersLockers
ShoppingShopping
ParkingParking
DiningDining
ATMATM
TaxisTaxis
AccessibilityAccessibility
WCWC
HotelHotel
Lost and Found OfficeLost and Found Office
Ticket OfficeTicket Office
Bike ParkingBike Parking
Bike RentalBike Rental
Car RentalCar Rental
Information DeskInformation Desk
information
ticketOfficeHours
Ticket Office Hours
  • Mon - Fri: 05:45 - 22:00
  • Sat: 06:00 - 21:00
  • Sun: 08:00 - 22:15
Wifi
Wifi
  • Free, unlimited WiFi is available throughout the station.
Lockers
Lockers
  • Luggage lockers are located on the lower concourse close to the Eurostar line.
Parking
Parking
  • Car Park: Station Car Park
Dining
Dining
  • The Betjeman Arms
  • AMT Coffee
  • The Booking Office
  • Carluccio’s
  • Chop’d
  • Greggs
Taxis
Taxis
  • Taxi: Midland Road: Currently the taxi pick up is located next to Thameslink station entrance. Soon a large covered queuing area will be available halfway along the lower concourse where passengers can wait for marshalled taxis. Pancras Road: There are two taxi drop off areas in Pancras Road. One is situated halfway along the old Victorian brick built Barlow shed and is convenient for Eurostar passengers. The second is situated close to the main entrance in the new part of the station and is suitable for passengers travelling within the UK.
  • Accessible taxis: Accessible taxis can be located on Midland Road and Pancras Road
Accessibility
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair access, elevators, escalators, complimentary assistance for passengers with reduced mobility and other needs.
WC
WC
  • National key toilets: Yes
  • National key toilets location: There are two accessible toilets in this station that are operated by a radar key. One is next to Eurostar arrivals. Toilet attendants are available too.
  • Baby changing facilities: Yes
Hotel
Hotel
  • The Standard
  • Kimpton Fitzroy London
  • Alhambra Hotel
Ticket Office
Ticket Office
  • Mon - Fri: 05:45 - 22:00
  • Sat: 06:00 - 21:00
  • Sun: 08:00 - 22:15
Bike Parking
Bike Parking
  • Storage sheltered: Yes
  • Storage location: Within car park
  • Storage CCTV: Yes
Information Desk
Information Desk
  • Located on the lower level in the main hall.
Public transport options for London St Pancras International
  • Subway lines: Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line, Metropolitan Line, Northern Line, Piccadilly Line, Victoria Line
  • Train lines: Overground line, High Speed 1, Eurostar
  • Bus lines: 326, 139
Amenities at train station
WifiWifi
ShoppingShopping
ParkingParking
DiningDining
ATMATM
TaxisTaxis
AccessibilityAccessibility
WCWC
HotelHotel
LoungeLounge
Lost and Found OfficeLost and Found Office
Ticket OfficeTicket Office
Bike ParkingBike Parking
Car RentalCar Rental
information
phone
Phone Number
ticketOfficeHours
Ticket Office Hours
  • Mon - Sun: 06:30 - 19:00
Wifi
Wifi
  • Free Wi-Fi in the station.
Shopping
Shopping
  • Type of shops available: Newsagent/Sweets Passport Photo Booth
Dining
Dining
  • Burger King
  • The Windmill
Taxis
Taxis
  • Accessible taxis: Details of nearest taxis are shown on station information poster
Accessibility
Accessibility
  • Ramp, wheelchair train access available on request, escalators, wheelchair access to platforms.
WC
WC
  • Toilets Location: The toilets are located on the Concourse. An accessible toilet (non-RADAR) is located on the Concourse. The baby change facilities are available in the accessible toilet.
  • National key toilets: Yes
  • Baby changing facilities: Yes
Hotel
Hotel
  • Holiday Inn Express London - Stansted Airport
  • Premier Inn London Stansted Airport Hotel
  • Hampton by Hilton London Stansted Airport
Lounge
Lounge
  • Waiting rooms location: The waiting room is on platform 1. There are also seats throughout the station.
Ticket Office
Ticket Office
  • Mon - Sun: 06:30 - 19:00
Car Rental
Car Rental
  • Car hire: In Airport terminal
Public transport options for Stansted Airport
  • Bus lines: IC buses, National Express, X10 Airlink, X30 Airlink, 42A, 133 Sapphire, 5, 6, 7, 7A
  • Train lines: Stansted Express, West Anglia Main Line, CrossCountry
  • Onward travel information: Local buses and National Coach routes stop in bus station located at airport
  • Location for Rail Replacement Services: Rail Replacement services operate from the main coach station as directed by Station Staff.
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