London to Margate train

Trains from London to Margate

Trains from London to Margate run roughly once every hour until about 07:00 in the morning. From then on, they travel quite frequently, with around four services departing per hour. The earliest train generally begins running just before 06:00, and its travel time is most commonly under 2h. Sunday services usually begin running just after 09:00, with less frequent departures, one train leaving London St. Pancras International Station heading for Margate roughly every hour.

London to Margate Train Time: Daily Departures

During weekdays, you will find 74 services from London to Margate, on average. These trains run once an hour or so up until about 07:00 in the morning, and from there on, about four times every hour until the final service, which usually runs just after 00:00. During rush hour, that is between the hours of 16:00 and 18:00, you may find around five services per hour connecting the two cities. On Sundays, you can find 16 services departing London for Margate, roughly once every hour from about 09:00 onwards.

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

The train journey between London and Margate can take anywhere between 1h 20min and 2h 45min. Most trains travel directly, but at least one train per hour does require a changeover. Changeovers are necessary when travelling from London Victoria Station and occur at Faversham Station. The fastest journeys depart from London St. Pancras International Station and travel directly to Margate, with an average travel time of 1h 24min.

couple at the station in London. Source: Shutterstock

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

Departure train station: Your departure station may be London Bridge Station, London St. Pancras International Station or London Victoria Station. Approximately six trains depart for Margate from London Bridge Station; however, most departures will be leaving from either St. Pancras International or London Victoria. All three stations have access to public toilets, baby-changing facilities, cash machines and ticket machines.

Arrival train station: You will arrive at Margate Station, located an average 18min walk away from the centre. You can also reach the centre by way of bus or taxi. Inside the station, you will find cash machines, public payphones, toilets and a number of shops. The station is small, with only four platforms, and is easy to navigate.

Which train companies travel from London to Margate?

Southeastern services all trains between London and Margate. Their trains most often travel the connection directly; however, some services will require a changeover. This is most common when travelling from London Victoria Station but also with a number of services that depart from St. Pancras and London Bridge as well. For more information on Southeastern services, check out this page.

Night trains London

The latest service departing London for Margate leaves London Victoria Station at approximately 00:10. This is a direct service to Margate and travel time is generally just over 2h. After that, you won’t find any more trains departing for Margate until about 06:00. There are around four services running in the morning that will reach Margate before or around 09:00, which is perfect for commuting. In the evening, you can catch four trains that depart London within the hour of 23:00.

Southeastern trains from London to Margate

Southeastern, as the only train company servicing the connection from London to Margate, offers a great deal of train services between the two cities. Their direct trains take an average of 1h 26min to 1h 43min to cover the 66 miles (106 km) distance between the two cities.

Trains from London to Margate: Sustainability travel

Travelling by rail is a more sustainable form of travel than car transport. This is due to the fact that public transport has a lower carbon emission than that of driving individually. Southeastern is also constantly working towards further lowering their impact on the environment, by looking for new and more sustainable ways to power their trains. If you are looking for more ways to live and travel more eco consciously, take a look at the article on sustainability and travel in our travel magazine The Window Seat for more tips.

Train London to Margate: Services on Board

Southeastern offers a number of fare options for the journey from London to Margate. On board their trains, you can find access to free WiFi and overhead storage facilities as well as luggage racks for your luggage. Bikes can also be brought on board; however, unless they are foldable, you can only travel with your regular bike during off-peak hours. If you can fold your bike, it is allowed on board at all hours, as long as it remains folded throughout the journey. You are permitted to travel with a maximum of two small pets on board your train, for no additional cost. The only requirement is that they are kept on a leash or in a carrier for the duration of the journey. Southeastern are part of the Passenger Assist system, which allows for arrangements to be made for your journey if you are elderly or travelling with a disability. Booking assisted travel in advance of your journey ensures there is staff available to aid you at any point during your travels. There are a number of levels of assistance on offer, in order to make your journey as easy and pleasant as possible. If you cannot book assisted travel in advance, a member of staff may be present to aid you on and off the train, should you request their assistance.

How to find cheap train tickets from London to Margate

Cheap tickets from London to Margate can be found online; our website can help you find the best deals for your journey, by laying out which service is the cheapest as well as the fastest. When booking your journey, it helps to be flexible with your date and time of travel. Travelling during off-peak hours can ensure you cheaper fares, as Southeastern offers discounted prices for travel during off-peak times. Booking in advance rather than on the day of travel will also assist in saving money for your trip; likewise, choosing slower services that don’t travel directly may show cheaper prices than the faster, more convenient services.

Bay of Margate. Source: Shutterstock

To Margate by train—travel tips

Once you’ve landed in Margate, you’ll soon be greeted by the coastline of Margate Beach. Walk alongside it in the direction of town for about 13min and you’ll find yourself at the Turner Contemporary, housing many different exhibits of contemporary art, all throughout the year. Or pay a visit to the Margate Caves, former chalk mines that have since been used for a number of purposes, such as an air raid shelter and a venue for silent discos. Walpole Bay Tidal Pool is one of the UK’s largest saltwater swimming pools, found in the north of the peninsula. Take a dip and brave the chilly waters with the regular Margate swimming community before grabbing a fresh seafood lunch at Buoy and Oyster.

• Visit Dreamland, a retro theme park
• Take a look at Shell Grotto, a mosaic wall made up of millions of seashells
• Explore the art on display at Lovelys
• Enjoy lunch on a bus at the Bus Cafe
• Listen to some experimental music live at the Tom Thumb Theatre