London to Liverpool train

Trains from London to Liverpool

Trains from London to Liverpool run every day, and you have several to choose from. There are just over 35 trains each day of the week, and about 20 a day at the weekend. Travel times vary from around 2-3h on the quicker and direct trains, going up to just over 4h 50min on those involving stops or a change of trains on the way.

London to Liverpool Train Time: Daily Departures

A London to Liverpool train leaves every 20-30min on average. More trains operate in the early morning peak hour, running only a few minutes apart, tailing off during the day when you’ll find a train every 30min to an hour. The first train leaves at around 05:30, with the last one departing at just after 21:00. There is a mixture of direct and one-stop trips, with the odd train making two connections on the way. You can expect about three trains an hour on average, with roughly 35 a day in total.

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

The direct trains to Liverpool from London take about 2-3h to reach Liverpool, with the quickest ones getting there in about 2h 08min. These trips don’t require you to make any changes. Non-direct trains take about 2h 32min to about 4h 52min, usually with one stop in-between, sometimes two. This doesn’t always impact total travel time, though, depending on how long the stops take.

Trains from London to Liverpool: bridge in London in a sunny day. Source: Shutterstock

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

Departure train station: All London to Liverpool trains leave from London Euston Station, regardless of the time of day or the train operator. You can reach Euston from central London in about 11 minutes from Charing Cross Station on the Northern Underground line, or in roughly 13 minutes if you take London Buses. Look for the No 168 bus. Euston Station has many modern facilities, including induction loops, tactile directions, and limited mobility and hidden disability assistance. You’ll find plenty of places to eat and drink, as well as convenience stores and retail outlets.

Arrival train station: The London to Liverpool route ends at Liverpool Lime Street Station – all operators use this as their destination stop. It’s located smack-dab in the city centre itself, so you won’t need any public transport to get there. Getting to the main Islington Junction from the station takes about 3 min by car, or you can walk there in about 6 min. This station has a Passenger Assist service for those with limited mobility and baby changing rooms, along with a few stores and coffee shops.

Which train companies travel from London to Liverpool?

Two train companies operate trains from London to Liverpool throughout the day. Avanti West Coast provides most of the direct routes, although some trains make one or two stops. These high-speed trains usually take between 2h and 2h 30min to get you to Liverpool, regardless of whether they make stops along the way. They start running in the very early morning, continuing at regular intervals until the mid-evening. West Midlands Railway operates the remainder of the London to Liverpool trains. These also leave throughout the day and take around 3h to 3h 30min to reach Lime Street Station. The first train departs just before 09:00, and the last close to 20:00. They all make a single connection en route.

Night trains London

You can catch a night train from London to Liverpool every day, leaving in the mid-evening. It leaves at around 21:00 and takes roughly 3h 35min to make the trip. You’ll arrive just before 01:00 at Lime Street Station. Travelling with Avanti West Coast, you make a single stop on the way to Liverpool in Warrington Bank Quay, where you’ll switch trains at Warrington Central Station.

Avanti West Coast trains from London to Liverpool

On an Avanti West Coast train to Liverpool from London, you’ll travel at roughly between 125 mph (200 km/h) and 140mph (225 km/h), depending on the type of train, making this the quickest way to travel from the capital to Merseyside. You can get there in as little as 2h 08min on Avanti West Coast’s direct journeys, and in about 3h 15min on the shortest one-stop routes via Crewe. The two-stop trips take less time due to faster train connections at the intermediate stations. You’ll go via Warrington Bank Quay and Newton-le-Willows, with the journey taking about 2h 30min.

West Midlands Railway trains from London to Liverpool

West Midlands Railway runs the remainder of the London to Liverpool train route. The fastest of these takes about 2h 15min to make the trip, with a single stop and train change in Crewe, which will take about 20min. The first train leaves at around 06:30, and the last at around 19:45. This final West Midlands train of the day takes about 3h 35min, getting you to Lime Street Station at about 23:20.

Trains from London to Liverpool: Sustainability travel

Travelling by train to Liverpool from London is not only a more relaxing way to journey cross-country; it also creates far fewer carbon emissions than the same trip would by car. Train companies have committed to sustainability programmes designed to save on energy usage and carbon emissions by building carriages with more recycled materials and converting from diesel to electric trains. Others use advanced technologies like kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) to recycle heat generated by braking into electrical energy to help power the train.

Train London to Liverpool: Services on Board

You can travel First or Second Class on either Avanti West Coast or West Midlands Railway. A standard ticket is more than sufficient for a London to Liverpool train trip. You’re welcome to bring up to two small pets along with Avanti, either in a travel container or on a lead. Support animals are not subject to any restrictions. Trained staff travel on board to provide limited mobility assistance, and you can bring a wheelchair on board, subject to availability – so make sure to book early. All trains have a cycle carriage for bicycles. If you’re travelling with West Midlands, you can bring two domestic pets, and there is space for two bicycles. Alternatively, you can put a folded bicycle in a container in the hold. There is space on board for a limited number of wheelchairs or mobility scooters, and on-board personnel are trained to assist.

How to find cheap train tickets from London to Liverpool?

To find cheap tickets for trains from London to Liverpool, keep your options open for as long as you can. This will allow you to take advantage of last-minute tickets that appear at discounted prices due to other passengers cancelling. Or you can do it completely the opposite way, by booking your ticket a few months in advance. You’ll often find that tickets are cheaper when the trains are less busy, as train companies offer discounts as incentives for early-bird bookings. You could also choose a trip with one or more stops in-between – these won’t necessarily add any significant amount of time to a direct trip.

Trains from London to Liverpool: rooftop of historic building in Liverpool. Source: Shutterstock

To Liverpool by train—travel tips

After your train to Liverpool from London has arrived and you’ve settled in, it’s time to explore the city. There are dozens of Beatles-related tourist attractions, such as the Cavern Club, Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields. Then get acquainted with the city’s maritime history at the Royal Albert Dock or the Merseyside Maritime Museum. Art enthusiasts can visit the Tate Liverpool, which often borrows displays from its larger London sibling. The Victoria Gallery and Museum is another city landmark, with impressive collections of ceramics and sculptures, plus paintings by artists like Turner and Lucien Freud. There’s also the Walker Art Gallery. The imposing Liverpool Cathedral is another drawcard, or you can take a stroll through the historic buildings in Birkenhead Park. For more information on what to see and do in Merseyside, read our travel magazine, The Window Seat.

• The Three Graces harbour buildings at Pier Head
• St. George’s Hall
• The unusual-looking Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
• The Museum of Liverpool
• Croxteth Hall and working farm