Cheapest
Average
The best way to find a cheap fare is to book your ticket as far in advance as you can and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from London to Exeter will cost around £ 79 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only £ 28.
This is the last train of the day.
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Fastest Journey
2 h 14 m
Average
2 h 49 m
Trains per day
24
Distance
253 km
Of the 24 trains that leave London for Exeter every day 4 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 253 km distance in an average of 2 h 49 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h 14 m .
The slowest trains will take 4 h 1 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.
Distance | 156 miles (252 km) | |
Average train duration | 3 h 17 min | |
Average train ticket price | £29 (€32) | |
Train frequency | 25 a day | |
Direct train | Yes, there are 25 direct trains a day | |
Train providers | South Western Railway, Cross Country or Great Western Railway |
Trains from London to Exeter cover the 156 miles (252 km) long route taking on average 3 h 17 min with our travel partners like South Western Railway, Cross Country or Great Western Railway. Normally, there are 25 trains operating per day, including direct services available. While the average ticket price for this route costs around £29, you can find the cheapest train ticket for as low as £28. Travellers depart most frequently from London Victoria and arrive in Exeter St Davids.
CrossCountry trains will get you between London and Exeter from £28. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
CrossCountry is a fast speed train company in the United Kingdom and for your next train between London and Exeter you can choose between Standard Class and First Class tickets on Omio.
CrossCountry tickets from London to Exeter are available online on Omio. We help you compare and book your perfect route with CrossCountry to Exeter from London all in one place. If you’re specifically looking for the cheapest, fastest or earliest train, you can find all the current CrossCountry train timetables and train tickets available on Omio for the 156 miles (252 km) journey. You can also see relevant travel information for the CrossCountry train, such as luggage policy and amenities onboard depending on the class fare. Search for your ideal departure and arrival times for this train, compare the fastest London to Exeter routes as well as the cheapest ticket prices available, and buy the best CrossCountry London to Exeter train ticket that fits your needs. If you purchase tickets in the Omio app, you can quickly see if the CrossCountry train ticket is available as a mobile ticket, which makes it easy for you to travel paperless. You’ll then be ready to embark on your smooth and relaxing journey to Exeter with CrossCountry!
CrossCountry has updated its ticket policies due to the coronavirus. Keep these in mind when booking your CrossCountry tickets between London and Exeter and when travelling by train:
There are plenty of options for trains to Exeter from London, which is great if you are interested in finding cheap tickets from London to Exeter. There are direct trains and there are also routes that require a change, with little difference in price. The average train journey on this route takes about 3 hours, with the fastest taking about 2 hours and the slowest about 4 hours. The trains leave regularly throughout the day, every half hour or hour, with multiple trains leaving from a few different stations in London and arriving at various stations in Exeter, meaning you can be more flexible with your travel plans.
Between the two train stations in London, you can find trains leaving throughout the day (and there’s even a couple of night trains available). The trains from London to Exeter run every day of the week but may not run during holidays.
On average, the train journey from London to Exeter takes about 3 hours in total, and there are some trains available that take about 2 hours, such as Great Western Railway train that departs from London Paddington and arrives at Exeter Central Station. There are also some slower trains that take about 4 hours in total, like South Western Railway train that departs from London Waterloo and arrives at Polsloe Station, giving you plenty of time to check out our magazine.
Trains from London to Exeter: smiling people on a train from London. Source: Shutterstock
Departure train station: There are two departure stations to choose from when planning your route to Exeter from London. London Paddington is a good option because it is within walking distance of the city centre and it has a ticket office, toilets, baby-changing facilities, showers and free wifi. There are waiting rooms, payphones and you will also find it has step-free access for wheelchair users and passengers with reduced mobility. London Waterloo is very similar, as it is also within walking distance or a short taxi ride from the city centre; it also has toilets, baby-changing rooms, showers and a ticket office. You can find waiting rooms and step-free access throughout the station.
Arrival train station: There are a couple of train stations to choose from when you are arriving into Exeter. Exeter Central Station has shops, payphones, baby-changing facilities and payphones should you need to call someone. You will find that it has ramps and there are wheelchairs available too. While this station has a waiting area with seats, Polsloe Bridge Station does not, nor does it have toilets for the public. It has free WiFi and an induction loop for passengers with hearing aids, but it does not have step-free access.
Currently, there are two train companies that offer trains from London to Exeter: Great Western Railway and South Eastern Railway. The two companies offer a similar number of trains throughout the day and tend to take around 3h, on average. Great Western Railway operates the faster train line, and it has some trains that require a stop and some that are direct. South Western Railway has the slower train, and it also has direct and non-direct trains.
There are a couple of night trains available from London to Exeter, and they are both operated by Great Western Railway. They both depart from London Paddington, but while one goes to Exeter City Station, the other one stops at Polsloe Bridge Station. The Exeter City Station train arrives at about 04:30, while the other one arrives at about 06:15. Both trains stop at Exeter St David Station and are similarly priced.
South Western Railway company offers trains throughout the day, with more trains available through the morning and the late afternoon. They offer trains to Exeter from London every day of the week but not always on holidays, so if you plan to travel on days like Christmas or New Year’s, then you should book in advance. There are trains roughly every half an hour in the mornings and late afternoon; some run direct, while others require a change, depending on whether the destination is London Central Station or Polsloe Bridge.
Great Western Railway operates trains from London to Exeter, which tend to run every half an hour or so. They run throughout the day and depart from both London Waterloo and London Paddington. They tend to have faster trains than South Western Railway, and the prices are roughly the same. Their trains operate every day of the week except holidays, and they have both direct and indirect trains.
Great Western Railway trains have food trolleys, where you can buy snacks and drinks, and they also offer free WiFi. You can bring up to three items on board, and if you reserve your ticket in advance, that can include a bicycle. The largest an item can be is 9 x 15 x 27 in (25 x 40 x 70 cm), and you can bring up to two domesticated pets with you. If you require travel assistance due to disability or reduced mobility, both Great Western and South Western Railway recommend that you contact them in advance. South Western also allows bikes on board for most routes, but some intercity lines may not. They do not have a limit for carry-on luggage except that it fits in the storage spaces and does not block the emergency exits or passageways. You can also bring two domesticated pets on board. Both railways have first-class tickets available, including quiet zones.
Travelling by train is better for the environment than travelling in cars, as not only do they contaminate less but they reduce traffic in urban environments. Trains are also known to be better for sound and use less space than other conventional means of transport. Both Great Western Railway and South Western Railway are dedicated to reducing their pollution and are striving to create more sustainable trains for the future.
If you are interested in finding cheap train tickets from London to Exeter, then you should consider booking your tickets in advance, as this tends to make them cheaper. Also, if possible, try to be flexible with your travel times and dates, as this will give you greater choice. Finally, you may be able to find some better deals if you take trains that make a few more changes or if they take longer, as the price may be cheaper.
Trains from London to Exeter: cathedral in Exeter. Source: Shutterstock
Exeter is well worth a visit, and it has plenty to offer if you have a few hours free. If you like sport, then you may want to check out the Exeter rugby club, which is one of the best teams in Europe and the English league. There is also horseracing and the Exeter City Football Club to go and see for live sport. If you would like to go shopping, we recommend stopping by the Princesshay area, where you can find a bunch of shops, bars and places to eat. The Cathedral Quarter also offers plenty of shops to visit, and it is good for people who would like to learn a bit about history. You can always check out the cathedral or the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery for a day of learning and culture.
When taking the train to Exeter from London, you can choose to depart from train stations like London Victoria, London Euston and London Kings Cross. Your trip can end in train stations such as Exeter St Davids, Exeter Central and Exeter St Thomas.
Omio customers who travel this route most frequently depart from London Victoria and arrive in Exeter St Davids.
Passengers board the train most frequently from London Victoria, which is located around 1.8 miles (2.9 km) away from the city centre, and they get off the train at Exeter St Davids, located 1.9 miles (3 km) away from the city centre.
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