London to Birmingham train with West Midlands Trains

Trains from London to Birmingham

This is a very busy commuter route, so trains from London to Birmingham are plentiful. They run throughout the day from before dawn until late at night, pretty much seven days a week. There are around 80 trains per day on weekdays and about 70 at weekends. Departures are very close to each other during peak hours and every 10-20min for the rest of the day.

London to Birmingham Train Time: Daily Departures

There’s a London to Birmingham train available pretty much any time of day – you won’t have to wait more than about 20min for one. With over 450 trains per week, there’s certainly no shortage. The first train leaves just before 05:00, with the last one heading for Birmingham just after 23:00.

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

Trains to Birmingham from London take about 2h 15min on average to get there. The fastest ones arrive in Birmingham about 1h 45min after departure, and the longest trip only takes about 2h 45min. Roughly a third of them make a single stop on the way, in different towns depending on the train company servicing the route.

Trains from London to Birmingham: Carnaby Street in London. Source: Shutterstock

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

Departure train station: The train route from London to Birmingham begins at one of two London stations, Euston or Marylebone, with roughly an equal number of trains departing from each. Both have standard UK Passenger Assist Facilities for travellers with limited mobility or hidden disabilities, and there are newsagents, small convenience shops, cafés, restaurants and coffee shops. To get from Central London to Euston Station, take the underground’s Northern Line to get there in about 14min. Marylebone Station is about 12min away on the Bakerloo Line.

Arrival train station: London to Birmingham trains arrive either at Birmingham Moor Street Station or Birmingham New Street Station. They both have Passenger Assist points where trained staff can provide limited mobility support. To get to Moor Street Station from the city centre, take the No. 25 bus, which takes roughly 50min. The station has baby changing facilities, a small café and a coffee kiosk. New Street Station is about 7min from the city centre on the No 23 bus. It’s much larger, with a shopping mall, coffee shops, pubs and restaurants.

Which train companies travel from London to Birmingham?

Three train companies operate the trains from London to Birmingham. The first is Avanti West Coast, which offers the quickest trips. They take an average of about 2h for the journey, give or take 10min. Trains run all the way from early morning until late evening. Most of these trips are direct, with a few making one change on the way. If you book on West Midlands, you’ll be able to travel at any time of the day, too; the carrier also offers the very first trains on the route every day. The total travel time is around 2h to 2h 45min. Chiltern Railways is the third company offering trains on this route. Its trains also take about 2h to make the journey and are typically heading for Moor Street rather than New Street, where most of the other trains go. Chiltern also offers the last trains of the day.

Night trains London

There are two night trains from London to Birmingham, operated by Chiltern Railways. They’re direct trips, leaving at around 22:30 and again at about 23:10. They leave from London Marylebone Station and arrive at Birmingham Moor Street Station about 2h later, so you won’t be making an overnight trip on either of these trains.

Avanti West Coast trains from London to Birmingham

All Avanti West Coast London to Birmingham trains are high-speed trains. They travel at between 125 mph (200 km/h) and 140mph (225 km/h), depending on the level of urbanisation on any particular part of the journey. They’re some of the fastest trains on this route, taking between 1h 45min and 2h. Trains run from very early in the morning until mid-evening, leaving from Euston Station bound for Birmingham New Street. Most are direct trains, except for a few that make a change in Nuneaton.

West Midlands Railway trains from London to Birmingham

West Midlands Railway’s London to Birmingham trains take just a little longer, making the journey in around 2h 15min on average. These trains mostly travel directly between the two cities, except for a few that make an intermediate stop for a change in Northampton. This stopover takes roughly 30min. There are departures from the very early hours of the morning until the mid- to late-evening, departing from Euston Station bound for New Street Station.

Chiltern Railways trains from London to Birmingham

Chiltern Railways operates several London to Birmingham trains per day, heading from London Marylebone Station to Birmingham Moor Street Station. They’re pretty fast trains, too, making the journey in good time: between 1h 45min and 2h. Chiltern’s trains do not run as frequently as the other two operators’, but they are available throughout the day, from about 07:00. The last three trains of the day are also Chiltern Railways trips, all of which are direct.

Trains from London to Birmingham: Sustainability travel

Taking a train to Birmingham from London is currently one of the most sustainable ways to travel, especially with so many train companies switching to electrically-powered engines and phasing out diesel engines. These engines are not only more efficient; some train models are fitted with KERS systems that convert braking heat energy into electrical energy. It’s also far more carbon-efficient to transport a large number of passengers on one trip, as opposed to each person driving to their destination individually.

Train London to Birmingham: Services on Board

Both West Midlands Railway and Avanti West Coast offer First-Class tickets on London to Birmingham trains. Chiltern Railways offers a single class, but this isn’t to the detriment of facilities. As with almost all UK rail companies, trained staff are on board to provide support for passengers with limited mobility, as per the UK Passenger Assist policy. Avanti allows you to travel with two small pets, either on a leash or in a travel container, and you’re also welcome to bring a bicycle – each train has a cycle carriage. You can bring a couple of luggage items to either go in the overhead compartments or under your seat. The same applies to the other two operators. On West Midlands Railway, you can also book a wheelchair or mobility scooter space. The carrier has the same pet policy as Avanti, and you can book either one of the limited rigid frame bicycle spaces or bring a foldable one with you on board. Chiltern Railways has very similar facilities, except that you can only bring a folding bicycle on weekends.

How to find cheap train tickets from London to Birmingham?

A great way to find cheap tickets on trains from London to Birmingham is to plan your trip well in advance and book your tickets as soon as you can. This will allow you to snap up any early-bird discounts offered by train companies as incentives to fill their trains as far ahead as possible. Alternatively, you can wait for last-minute cancellations when carriers often resell tickets at discount prices. You’ll just need to stay really flexible about the day on which you travel, and sometimes the time too. You can also choose longer trips to save on the cost of the ticket, as these can be cheaper due to the extra time spent travelling.

Trains from London to Birmingham: typical architechture of Birmingham. Source: Shutterstock

To Birmingham by train—travel tips

A train to Birmingham from London will put you in the West Midlands area of the UK, which offers various types of attractions. A good place to start is Birmingham’s Victoria Square, where you’ll find a number of the city’s most illustrious landmarks. The grand old Town Hall, with its Corinthian-style columns made from local Anglesey marble, is rather splendid. Alongside you’ll see the Symphony Hall, a world-renowned concert hall, and the home of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Then take yourself to Chamberlain Square and go to the central library there, where you’ll discover the single-largest collection of authentic Shakespearian memorabilia in the UK. To get some fresh air, you can walk through one of the city’s many parks, prime among which is the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Or visit the Spitfire Gallery and see an original of this classic fighter plane. Thinktank at the Birmingham Science Museum is an interactive experience well worth having. For more ideas, have a look at our online travel magazine, The Window Seat.

• Barber Institute of Fine Arts
• The National SEA LIFE Centre
• The Jewellery Quarter
• St. Philip’s Cathedral/li>
• Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
• 19th-century houses at Back To Backs