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.
This is the last train of the day.
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Fastest Journey
23 m
Average
29 m
Trains per day
6
Distance
59 km
Of the 6 trains that leave London for Reading every day 6 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
Distance | 36 miles | |
Average train duration | 27 min | |
Average train ticket price | £26 (€29) | |
Train frequency | 208 a day | |
Direct train | Yes, there are 208 direct trains a day | |
Train providers | TfL Rail, Great Western Railway, South Western Railway or First Great Western Service |
Trains from London to Reading cover the 36 miles long trip taking on average 27 min with our travel partners like TfL Rail, Great Western Railway, South Western Railway or First Great Western Service. Normally, there are 208 trains operating per day, including direct services available. While the average ticket price for this journey costs around £26, you can find the cheapest train ticket for as low as £19. Travellers depart most frequently from London Victoria and arrive in Reading.
For as little as £19 you can travel by train from London to Reading with Great Western Rail and South Western Railway. Omio will show you the best deals, timetables and tickets available for this journey.
Great Western Rail tickets from London to Reading are available online on Omio. We help you compare and book your perfect route with Great Western Rail to Reading from London all in one place. If you’re specifically looking for the cheapest, fastest or earliest train, you can find all the current Great Western Rail train timetables and train tickets available on Omio for the 36 miles (58 km) journey. You can also see relevant travel information for the Great Western Rail 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 Reading routes as well as the cheapest ticket prices available, and buy the best Great Western Rail London to Reading train ticket that fits your needs. If you purchase tickets in the Omio app, you can quickly see if the Great Western Rail 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 Reading with Great Western Rail!
Train information from London to Reading with Great Western Rail:
Omio helps you compare and book the perfect train with South Western Railway to Reading from London for a smooth and relaxing journey. Check the latest South Western Railway train timetables for the ideal departure and arrival times, take a look at the travel information for the London to Reading train with South Western Railway (such as baggage allowance and amenities offered onboard), compare the best connections for your London - Reading trip and then book a cheap train ticket with ease. The distance from London to Reading by train is 36 miles (58 km). You can book tickets for this South Western Railway train for as low as £19 one-way if you book in advance. When you search for South Western Railway tickets to Reading from London in the Omio app, you can also check whether they are mobile tickets quickly and easily. If they are mobile tickets, then you can go paperless when taking a train. Book that perfect South Western Railway London - Reading train ticket online and enjoy your trip!
If you are travelling from London to Reading, the train is a fast and affordable option. Trains from London to Reading run every day, as often as every few minutes. Trains depart from early morning until late at night, so you can be flexible to suit your travel plans. Three rail companies operate trains from London to Reading. Great Western Railway offer the most frequent and fastest routes from London to Reading, while TfL Rail and South Western Railway lines usually take longer but can be cheaper if you have more time. We recommend comparing tickets from London to Reading before your journey to make sure you find the best deal.
You can find a highly frequent timetable of trains from London to Reading every day of the week. Trains travel directly from London Paddington or Waterloo Station to Reading Station. Trains depart around the clock, from as early as around 5:04 a.m. until as late as around 3:34 a.m. The earliest trains on Sunday depart at around 6:59 a.m. and run until around 11:54 p.m. The fastest trains from London to Reading take around 23min, while slower trains can take up to around 1h 25min.
There is a frequent schedule of high-speed direct trains from London Paddington to Reading every day. These trains are operated by Great Western Railway and have a journey time of around 23min. High-speed trains depart from Paddington around every 10min. Providers like South Western Railway and TfL Rail also offer daily train services from London to Reading, with a longer journey time of around 1h. Compare ticket prices before your journey to find out whether slower trains could offer you a much cheaper ticket.
Departure train station: London Paddington. Great Western Railway trains from London to Reading depart from Paddington Station in West London. Paddington is around 20min by public transport from the city centre. Aside from local and regional bus and train services, you can also take the underground train within the city. Paddington Underground Station connects to four lines and is right beside the main train station. The station itself is open 24/7 and has many amenities such as a ticket office and help desk, coffee shops and eateries, free of charge toilet and baby changing facilities, showers and seating areas.
Arrival train station: Reading Station. Located right in the centre of Reading, the train station is a short walk from sights like Reading Abbey Ruins, Reading Museum and Christchurch Meadows across the River Thames. You can find a taxi rank at the station entrance, and also take local bus and train services to get around the town and surrounding area. Passengers going to Heathrow Airport can travel from Reading Station directly to the airport with the RailAir coach service. The station is open 24h every day, and the ticket office is open from around 5:15 a.m. until 10:45 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 7:15 a.m. to 10:45 p.m on Sundays. You can find several facilities at the station such as an ATM, pay phone, toilets and baby changing facilities, 24h waiting rooms and shops and cafes.
Reading Thames Bridge. Source: Shutterstock
The quickest lines from London to Reading are operated by Great Western Railway. Great Western Railway offer a schedule of daily services from London to Reading, departing around every 10min. You can also buy tickets from London to Reading with South Western Railway and TfL trains. Both providers also operate a regular daily schedule, though journey time may be considerably longer as these routes involve more stops along the way.
Great Western Railway operate a highly frequent timetable of trains from London to Reading every day. On weekdays, trains depart from as early as around 5:04 a.m. until as late as around 3:34 a.m. Sunday services run from around 8 a.m. until around 11:54 p.m. The fastest Great Western Railway services take around 23min, with slower night trains taking up to around 58min.
South Western Railway services from London to Reading depart from London Waterloo Station. South Western Railway run a frequent schedule of trains every day, around every 30min. The average journey time of South Western Railway trains from London to Reading is around 1h 26min.
TfL Rail usually run around one train per hour from London Paddington to Reading Station, every day of the week. TfL Rail trains travel directly from London to Reading with a journey time of around 1h. The earliest TfL trains from London to Reading depart at around 5:13 a.m. and the latest trains depart at around 10:43 p.m. On Sundays, the earliest departure is usually at around 6:59 a.m. and the latest service is at around 10:33 p.m.
Reading Thames Gate. Source: Shutterstock
Great Western Railway, South Western Railway and TfL Rail all provide assistance for passengers with special mobility needs. If you need extra assistance during your journey, you can book mobility assistance before you travel. Both London Paddington Station and Reading Station have step-free access into and throughout the station, as well as low ticket counters and induction loops at booking desks.
Pets are not permitted onboard except assistance guide dogs. Great Western Railway passengers can take up to three items of baggage with them. Bikes can also be taken onboard if a space is booked in advance. Bikes are not permitted on South Western Railway services from London Waterloo departing between 7:15-10:00 a.m. and 4:45-7:00 p.m. TfL Rail similarly only permit bikes outwith peak travelling times, i.e. not between 7:30-9:30 a.m. and 4:00-7:00 p.m. on weekdays.
We recommend comparing ticket prices and departure times across different train providers in order to find cheap train tickets from London to Reading. Try to book your ticket as early as possible, and be flexible with your departure time to find the best deals for you. Tickets from London to Reading tend to be cheaper during off-peak hours to avoid the commuting rush.
Railcard holders can also take advantage of discounted tickets on all railway services. Railcards are available for young people up to the age of 30, senior citizens and disabled passengers, and can save you up to 1/3 off every ticket you purchase. For more travel advice, read our online magazine Window Seat.
Reading is known for its historic sites, quaint gardens and popular music festival. If you want to find out more about the town's history, visit the Museum of English Rural Life or the Reading Museum, where you can see a replica of the Bayeux tapestry. Explore ancient ruins like the Silchester Roman City Walls and Amphitheatre, Reading Abbey and the grand 18th century manor at Basildon Park. Relax and wander through one of the town's many parks and gardens such as Beale Park, Wellington Country Park, Christchurch Meadows and Caversham Court Gardens. Those visiting the town in summer can visit Reading Festival, which takes place over the last weekend in August and hosts internationally acclaimed pop and rock artists.
Paddington station is in the central West of London with convenient, quick connections to the West End and City via the tube network. It is also served by 16 London bus routes which stop outside on Praed Street and a dedicated black cab rank. Those travelling from Waterloo will find it located to the south of the river Thames, which is convenient for people returning from the London Eye or the National Theatre.
Reading is a modern town with all the amenities one would expect. It is very much considered part of the "commuter belt", so rush hour trains do get very, VERY busy. Leisure travellers should do their best to avoid these trains from London to Reading; not only are they horribly cramped, fares are also higher if not booked in advance. Reading station itself is located on the northern outskirts of town. The elderly, those with children or heavy luggage can take local bus services into the centre of town but it can be a pleasant walk through the park, just turn left out of the concourse and follow the signposts).
Some of the London train stations to Reading you can start your journey from include London Victoria, London Euston and London Kings Cross. Similarly, some of the arrival train stations in Reading include Reading, Reading West and Reading.
When travelling this route, Omio customers are departing most frequently from London Victoria and arriving in Reading.
The most popular departure train station with passengers for this trip, called London Victoria, is located 1.8 miles (2.9 km) from the city centre of London.
The most popular arrival train station, Reading, is located 0.2 miles (420 m) away from the city centre of Reading.
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