London to Darlington train with LNER

Trains from London to Darlington

Trains from London to Darlington depart multiple times a day, and there’s two train providers that have routes from London to Darlington: London North Eastern Railway and Grand Central Trains. All trains from London to Darlington depart from London Kings Cross train station and arrive in Darlington at Darlington train station. The quicker trains to Darlington from London take around 2h 20min.

London to Darlington Train Time: Daily Departures

London to Darlington trains depart on average between two and four times an hour, and there are more trains during the day than in the early morning and late evening. The first train departs from London Kings Cross train station at approximately 07:00 and arrives in Darlington at Darlington train station at around 09:22. The last train departs at around 19:30 and arrives in Darlington at approximately 22:06.

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

The journey from London to Darlington can take between 2h 20min and 3h 10min. Your travel time depends on whether you have a change in your route and which train provider you choose. The fastest train of the day departs from London Kings Cross train station at about 18:00 and arrives in Darlington at roughly 20:20 at Darlington train station. Trains run by London North Eastern Railways are faster than those run by Grand Central Trains, and all trains run by Grand Central Trains have one change during their journey.

Trains from London to Darlington: St Pancras church in London. Source: Shutterstock

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

Departure train station: London Kings Cross train station is your departure train station for London to Darlington trains. London Kings Cross train station is located approximately 2.7 miles (4.3 km) from the city centre of London. One of the best ways to get to the train station from the city centre is taking the train. If you get on the London Underground from Waterloo station, you can take the Northern line to Leicester Square. From Leicester Square, you will need to get on the Piccadilly line to Kings Cross. This route will take you around 23min to reach the train station. At Kings Cross train station, you will find many amenities, including cafes, bathrooms, waiting areas, restaurants, convenience shops, a chemist and disability assistance.

Arrival train station:Darlington train station is the arrival train station for all trains travelling the London to Darlington train route. Darlington train station is approximately 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from the city centre of Darlington. One of the best ways to get to the city centre from this train station is by taking the bus. You can catch the bus from the Park Street bus stop and disembark at Tubwell Row bus stop. Some of the facilities you will find at this train station include cafes, convenience shops, cash machines, bathrooms, waiting areas and a first-class lounge.

Which train companies travel from London to Darlington?

Two train companies operate routes to Darlington from London. These companies are London North Eastern Railway (LNER) and Grand Central Trains. LNER operates most of the trains from London to Darlington, and Grand Central Trains operates between three and four trains a day on this route. All Grand Central Trains routes require a change, while all LNER trains to Darlington from London are direct. LNER are generally faster, as they are direct.

Night trains Darlington

There are no current night trains from London to Darlington. The latest train departs at roughly 19:30 and arrives in Darlington at approximately 22:06. Another later train departs at around 18:00 and arrives at approximately 20:20 in Darlington.

London North Eastern Railway trains from London to Darlington

London North Eastern Railway offers multiple trains an hour from London to Darlington. Their earliest train departs from London Kings Cross train station at approximately 07:00 and arrives in Darlington at Darlington train station at around 09:22, while the last train departs at around 19:30 and arrives in Darlington at approximately 22:06. This train company only operates direct routes for London to Darlington trains. Your travel time will range between 2h 20min and 2h 39min.

Grand Central Trains trains from London to Darlington

Grand Central Trains offers around two to three trains a day from London to Darlington. Their earliest train departs at roughly 08:00 from London Kings Cross train station and arrives in Darlington at about 10:22 at Darlington train station. The latest train in the day departs at around 11:27 and arrives at around 14:02 in Darlington. Your full travel duration for trains from this provider range between 2h 31min and 3h 10min. All trains with Grand Central Trains from London to Darlington include one change, generally when you reach York or Northallerton.

Trains from London to Darlington: Sustainability travel

If you want to choose a train provider that cares for the environment, you should get a ticket with London North Eastern Railway. This rail provider replaced all of its trains with high-speed diesel trains in 2019. These trains use less fuel than previous models and have an electric mode where they don’t use diesel. Taking a train also helps reduce your carbon emissions, as with any public transport.

Train London to Darlington: Services on Board

There are many services onboard trains from London to Darlington. If you are travelling on a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train, some of the facilities you can use include at-seat ordering, bathrooms, table-seating options and disability assistance. On LNER trains, you can choose between first-class and economy class. If you book a first-class ticket, you will enjoy extra benefits, including special meals, a lounge, bigger seats, more table areas and reclining seats. When travelling with a bike, you can reserve a space when you book your ticket. Up to two pets can travel with you for free; they need to be properly secured for the whole journey.

If you choose to travel with Grand Central Railway, you will have access to bathrooms, onboard food, table-seating areas and luggage storage, and it is possible to get first-class or business-class tickets with this rail company. Grand Central Railway only has space for three bikes on board their trains; these spots can be reserved when you book your ticket. Luggage allowance for both train providers lets you bring three luggage items. This can include one small bag, one large bag and one personal item. If you require any assistance, there are staff who will help you to and from the train. There are also dedicated spots on the trains for people in wheelchairs. While on board, you should check out our Omio magazine here.

How to find cheap train tickets from London to Darlington?

There are many easy ways to get cheap train tickets to Darlington from London if you know what to look for. One of the best ways to get an affordable ticket is by choosing a route that has a changeover or a longer duration. Faster and direct train routes are almost always more expensive. Another great way to save some cash is by booking your train ticket well in advance, and if you can, try to be flexible with your travel dates. By doing this, you can choose the day of the week that has the cheaper tickets. Travelling at off-peak times is also recommended, as tickets cost more during rush hour.

Trains from London to Darlington: group on a train to Darlington. Source: Shutterstock

To Darlington by train—travel tips

Darlington is a great holiday destination for the historically minded traveller who wants to learn about this medieval market town. One of the most popular attractions in the area is Raby Castle. This castle, built in the 14th century, has much to see, from its Victorian interiors to its deer park. Darlington also has a great collection of museums, including the Head of Steam museum, where you can learn all about railway history. Another popular day-trip destination in the area is South Park, where you can enjoy a picnic next to the River Skerne. If you want to get some proper Darlington food, we recommend trying out SALT – Street Food Kitchen & Bar, Tomahawk Steakhouse Darlington and Raby Hunt Restaurant.

• Go shopping at the historic Market Hall.
• View one of the most significant churches, St Cuthbert’s.
• Enjoy your evening entertainment at the Darlington Hippodrome.
• Check out Thornton Hall Gardens for some bright flowers.
• Get up close and personal with birds of prey at Walworth Castle Birds of Prey.