London to Oslo train

Trains from London to Oslo

London is not close to Oslo, and is furthermore separated from Europe by the English Channel. So as you might expect, there are no direct trains from London to Oslo. You will first have to travel from London to Brussels on the Eurostar, which takes around 2h. From Brussels you will travel to Cologne and to Hamburg with a journey time of around 7h. From Hamburg you will go to Copenhagen and then Gothenburg which takes around 10h. Finally the train from Gothenburg to Oslo will take around 3h 40min.

London to Oslo Train Time: Daily Departures

At the time of writing- the Eurostar from London to Brussels leaves once per day, everyday of the week at 11:04 a.m. The train connections from Brussels to Hamburg are available 8 to 12 times a day, everyday of the week, with more trains on weekends. The first train departs at 06:24 a.m. everyday, while the last train departs at 04:22 p.m. on weekdays, 06:25 p.m. on Saturdays, and 08:25 p.m. on Sundays.

From Hamburg to Gothenburg, there are around 13 to 17 connections a day, every day of the week, with the first train departing at 04:36 a.m., and the last departing at 11:56 p.m. Finally, the direct train from Gothenburg to Oslo is available 2 to 3 times a day. The first train departs at 02:10 a.m. from Monday to Saturday; the last train departs at 07:00 p.m. on weekdays, 04:40 p.m. on Saturdays, and 06:25 p.m. on Sundays.

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

The journey will take at least 3 days with two overnight city stops- once in Brussels, then another in Copenhagen or Gothenburg. The combined journey time on trains is approximately 22h while the overall journey time is at least 48h.

Oslo View. Source: Shutterstock

What is/are the departure and arrival stations for trains from London to Oslo?

Departure train station: The departure station from London is the London St Pancras International, which is right in middle London in the borough of Camden. Sharing a London Underground station with King's Cross St Pancras, you can conveniently catch the tube from anywhere in London to arrive at the station. Facilities include high street and boutique shops, cash machines, free Wi-Fi, currency exchange, and toilets.

Arrival train station: Trains to Oslo from London terminate at Oslo Sentral Station. The station is right in the centre of Oslo, and the bus terminal and underground train station are both less than 200 metres away. Oslo Sentral Station has cash machines, cafes and restaurants, hotels, waiting rooms, luggage storage, and toilets.

Which train companies travel from London to Oslo?

As the journey from London to Oslo involves multiple train changes between different countries, you will get to experience the services of multiple train companies. Trains from London to Brussels going through the Channel Tunnel are operated by Eurostar. The high speed Intercity Express trains from Brussels to Hamburg, and IC3 trains from Hamburg to Gothenburg are operated by Deutsche Bahn. Finally, the Norwegian trains from Gothenburg to Oslo are operated by the local Norwegian State Railways, also known as Vy.

Eurostar trains from London to Brussels

Eurostar trains link London and Brussels in under 2h. The trains all include free Wi-Fi and power outlets at every seat and are served by 2 bar cars. Standard Premier and Business Premier travellers receive a breakfast or light meal with wine, depending on the time of the day.

Deutsche Bahn trains from Brussels to Gothenburg

In addition to power outlets at all seats and free Wi-Fi, the Intercity Express trains have an excellent bistro restaurant car, which lets you take orders from your seat in first class. From Brussels to Hamburg the journey can be as quick as 6h 36min with a single 54min stop in Cologne. Or you can go from Brussels to Copenhagen in 14h and 13min with a 2h stop in Cologne and 4 other short changes. The journey from Hamburg to Copenhagen takes around 10h to 12h.

Vy trains from Gothenburg to Oslo

The Vy trains will take around 3h 40min to arrive at Oslo from Gothenburg. Trains will normally have power outlets at every seat and free Wi-Fi, but older trains may be used during rush hour that lack power outlets. Vending machines offering hot beverages, soft drinks, snacks, and light meals are available.

Trains from London to Oslo: Services on Board

Eurostar trains have three travel classes to choose from: Standard, Standard Premier, and Business Premier. Standard Premier includes a light meal and drinks, and extra spacious seats over a Standard ticket. Business Premier includes exclusive lounges; a taxi booking service; hot meals designed by Raymond Blanc, with champagne; in addition to extra spacious seats. Standard class and standard premier allow 2 pieces of luggage and a hand luggage, while Business Premier allows 3 pieces of luggage and a hand luggage. In addition to luggage, you are permitted to bring along: wheelchairs, strollers, folding bicycles, scooters, and sports equipment such as skis.

Coaches 3, 9, 10 or 14 have a ramp for wheelchair access. First class on a Deutsche Bahn train gets you: more legroom, wider aisles and more spacious seats, seat reservation, lounge access, free daily newspapers, and food and beverage service at your seat. You may bring onboard all your luggage without any fees as long as they are all able to be carried by a single person. The trains have a dedicated storage area for all the luggage in each car, as well as racks above the seats for smaller bags.

In addition to luggage, you are permitted to bring along: wheelchairs, strollers, folding bicycles, scooters, and sports equipment such as skis. A Plus seat on Vy trains features more comfortable seats and a pull-out tabletop for working, in addition to a self-service refreshments area with complimentary coffee and tea. Newer Vy trains have lifts; handicap-accessible bathrooms; and tie-down strapping to secure wheelchairs, while older trains have access ramps and tracks where some assistance might be required.

You may bring onboard all your luggage without any fees as long as they are all able to be carried by a single person. The trains have a dedicated storage area for all the luggage in each car, as well as racks above the seats for smaller bags. In addition to luggage, you are permitted to bring along: wheelchairs, strollers, scooters, and sports equipment such as skis. Carrying a bicycle will cost an extra fee.

Oslo Boats. Source: Shutterstock

How to find cheap train tickets from London to Oslo?

There are some ways to find cheaper deals on train tickets from London to Oslo. First of all, book in advance- the earlier you book, the better your chances are of finding the best deals. Bookings for Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn trains open up to 6 months ahead, and the Norwegian trains for Gothenburg to Oslo up to 90 days ahead. Eurostar allows you to change your booking as many times as you want with no exchange fee for up to 14 days. Since you need to book your tickets in at least 3 stages, get all the bookings ready and make sure the dates are right for every stage before confirming. Less popular journeys- ie. ones that are slower or have many changes are usually cheaper.

To Oslo by train—travel tips

As a destination which combines city life with easy access to nature, Oslo has something for everyone, whether you’re a solo traveller, a couple, or a family. Being the capital of Norway, there are plenty of museums on Norway’s rich viking history, like the Akershus Fortress, the Viking Ship Museum and the Fram Museum.

The city also celebrates art, with Edvard Munch's famous 'The Scream' in the National Gallery or the Munch Museum, the Astrup Fearnley Museum, and the Ekeberg Sculpture Park, which features sculptures by Salvador Dali and Damian Hirst.

If you’re a nature lover, not only is the town surrounded by mountains that are perfect for hiking in summer, and skiing in winter, but the Oslofjord at the end of the city is perfect for kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and sailing. For Scandanavian food, there’s the Mathallen food hall with 33 shops and restaurants by the best of Norway, and Norway’s first 3 Michelin-starred restaurant, Maaemo.

For the family, the biggest amusement park in Norway is just 20 minutes south of Oslo. Oslo is also a great destination to relax in, with beaches, traditional saunas, cafes everywhere (Norway ranks 2nd place in consuming the most coffee per capita in the world), and parks like the Vigelandsparken and Frognerparken.