Cheapest price
£85
Average price
£110
Fastest journey
3 h
Average duration
3 h 38 m
Trains per day
6
Distance
309 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from London to Plymouth is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from London to Plymouth will cost around £110 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £85.
Of the 6 trains that leave London for Plymouth every day 3 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 309 km distance in an average of 3 h 38 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 3 h .
The slowest trains will take 4 h 27 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.
Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from London to Plymouth among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £12. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 23m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.3kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £12, and a flight costs an average of £18.
Distance: 309 km
Train | Most popular Coach | Flight |
---|---|---|
£81 Average Price | £26 Average Price Cheapest | £147 Average Price |
4h 18m Average total duration 3h 48m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 6h 34m Average total duration 6h 4m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 23m Average total duration Fastest 1h 23m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.3 - 0.8kg CO2 emissions | 0.9 - 1.8kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() ![]() | On time 07:20 London Waterloo (WAT) | 4h43 | 12:03 Plymouth station (PLY) | 1 change | |
![]() | On time 08:03 London Paddington (PAD) | 3h11 | 11:14 Plymouth station (PLY) | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() ![]() | On time 08:20 London Waterloo (WAT) | 4h27 | 12:47 Plymouth station (PLY) | 1 change | |
![]() | On time 09:03 London Paddington (PAD) | 3h00 | 12:03 Plymouth station (PLY) | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() ![]() | On time 09:20 London Waterloo (WAT) | 4h27 | 13:47 Plymouth station (PLY) | 1 change | |
![]() | On time 07:03 London Paddington (PAD) | 3h07 | 10:10 Plymouth station (PLY) | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Distance 309 km |
Average train duration 3h 48m |
Cheapest ticket price £52 |
Trains per day 7 |
Direct trains 5 |
Fastest train 3h 7m |
First train 00:07 |
Last train 23:55 |
You can travel by train from London to Plymouth with Great Western Rail, South Western Railway and CrossCountry for as low as £37. When you search for timetables and tickets, Omio will show you the best journey.
Great Western Railway is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates services from London Paddington to the West of England, South Wales and the Cotswolds. It also operates services from London Paddington to Oxford, Reading and Bristol. It offers a range of ticket types, including Advance, Anytime, Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets. Onboard facilities include free Wi-Fi, power sockets, air conditioning and catering services. The most popular routes for Great Western Railway are London Paddington to Bristol, Reading and Oxford.
Train information from London to Plymouth with Great Western Rail:
The journey from London to Plymouth by train takes about 3h 15min on average. The distance covered by trains from London to Plymouth is 191 miles (308 km). Most trains run directly to Plymouth from London except for one or two trains per day with one transfer. During the week, there is mostly one train per hour, increasing to two trains per hour in the middle of the day. The weekend schedule is slightly different, but the service is not drastically reduced. To plan your trip, you can also visit Omio, the online magazine for checking different train schedules on this route The Window Seat.
There are 20 trains per day from London to Plymouth during the week and 16 per day on the weekend. On average, there is one train per hour every day, but the frequency decreases in the early hours or late hours and increases in the middle of the day. The earliest train to Plymouth from London on weekdays is between 06:00 and 07:00, and the last train is between 23:00 and midnight. The last train on Saturdays is right after 20:00, and the first train on Sunday is a little before 08:00.
The fastest direct train from London will get you to Plymouth in 2h and 59min. Generally, it could take anywhere between 3h to 3h 45min to reach Plymouth from London by train. The night trains usually take much longer to cover this journey, ranging from 4h to 5h 30min. If there is a transfer in between, it might take longer.
Departure train station: Trains departing from London to Plymouth depart from the London Paddington train station. For more information about London Paddington train station, click here London Paddington.This train station is approximately 2 miles (3.6 km) from the city centre. You could either take the subway, a bus, or a cab to get to the city centre from the train station. Depending on traffic, it will take you somewhere between 8 to 20min to cover this distance. The London Paddington train station has showers, baby changing rooms, easy access for travellers with mobility issues, including tactile strips along platform edges for the visually impaired. You’ll find plenty of eating and shopping options besides many more facilities.
Arrival train station: When you leave London for Plymouth by train, you arrive at the Plymouth train station. It is 0.5 miles (754 m) from the city centre. The fastest way to get to the city centre from the Plymouth train station is a cab, which takes about 2min. You could also take the bus, which is cheaper and will get you there in 4min. This station has cash machines, vending machines, coffee shops, a supermarket, payphones, trolleys, wheelchairs, and car and bicycle parking.
The Great Western Railway manages the Plymouth train station and is the main service provider for trains from London to Plymouth. Most of the trains on this route are direct except for two trains per day. The transfer stops are Bristol Temple Meads or Newton Abbot on the early morning train, where you board the train operated by the Cross Country service provider to Plymouth. The early morning train from London to Plymouth operated by the Great Western Railway is one of the fastest trains of the day. The fares remain constant throughout the day, fluctuating only in the early morning or late evening when the journey may cost a bit more.
There are three night trains from London to Plymouth during the week, after 21:00, with the frequency being one train per hour. On Saturdays, there is no night train whereas on Sundays there is one night train after 23:00. Most of the time, night trains are direct, but you might need to make a transfer at the 22:00 schedule on some days. The night trains are slower and take between 3h 30min to 5h 45min to reach Plymouth from London. The last train, which is after 23:30, takes the longest to complete this journey.
The main provider company of trains from London to Plymouth is the Great Western Railway. The trains operated by this provider run once every hour between 06:00 and midnight from London to Plymouth. But in the middle of the day, the service increases to two trains per hour. The fastest trains are usually at the beginning of the day, and the slowest are at the end of the day, varying between 2h 59min to 5h 45min to arrive in Plymouth. The average time that the Great Western Railway trains take to reach Plymouth from London is 3h 30min.
Traveling by train is one of the most environment-friendly ways to travel, after walking and cycling. Trains cause less noise pollution, less air pollution, and fewer accidents than travelling by car. One of the most sustainable ways to travel is by taking the train when you want to travel from London to Plymouth. It is a well-connected and well-served railway system, making it easier for commuters. It also enables us to move a step forward in our endeavour to co-exist with our ecosystem.
On the train from London to Plymouth operated by the Great Western Railway, you can reserve a ticket for the standard class or the first-class seating area. Both classes have free Wi-Fi and power plugs for the passenger’s convenience. In addition, food and magazines are also available in the first-class besides having extra legroom. Bicycles are allowed on trains but only with prior reservations. Each passenger can carry a large suitcase, a medium-sized bag, and a small handbag on board. A limited number of pets are allowed on board for free. If you are elderly or have a disability, you can book passenger assist, to receive assistance throughout your journey. Wheelchair spaces are also available on the trains from London to Plymouth. All trains on this route have restrooms.
If you plan ahead, there are more chances of finding a cheap ticket when taking the train from London to Plymouth. Travel plans left to the last minute usually cost a bit more. Making a reservation about three to four weeks in advance will help you find the cheapest train tickets. The fare remains the same throughout the day, except for one or two rush-hour schedules when the tickets can get expensive. Making a reservation way in advance and being flexible with your dates are the factors that will help you to find cheaper train tickets from London to Plymouth.
When you are in Plymouth, a coastal city in England, a visit to the Royal Citadel, built in the 17th century, will give you an insight into the city’s historical and military importance. The kids will enjoy visiting the National Marine Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the UK. It houses sharks from 10 different species and displays marine fauna from around the world. When you take the train to Plymouth, do explore its city centre. Besides walking past the 15th century Prysten House and Merchant’s House from the 16th century, the Drake Circus Center close by presents an array of restaurants and shops. For more outdoor activities, go for a hike on the Devonport Heritage Trail to traverse the area.
Passengers board the train most frequently from London Paddington, which is located around 3 miles (4.8 km) away from the city centre, and they get off the train at Plymouth, located 1 mile (1.6 km) away from the city centre.
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