Avanti West Coast to London
Avanti West Coast succeeded Virgin Trains operating service on the West Coast Main Line route in 2019 and provides
direct train services to London from several UK cities including Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester. There is daily
service from each of these locations Monday through Friday, with reduced service on weekends and holidays. The
average journey time for your trip will vary according to location, for example, service from Liverpool Lime
Street Station to London takes about 2h 20min. While you can travel to London by train from Birmingham Moor Street
Station in just under two hours. All Avanti West Coast trains regardless of point of origin will terminate at London
Euston Station, one of the city’s major railway terminals. Ready to book your London train? You can do it easily with Omio!
Eurostar to London
Eurostar is the primary operator of intercity commuter trains from France, Belgium and the Netherlands and operates
frequent services to London from Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam which are among its most popular train routes. You can
get daily service from these European cities to London on a daily basis but you should expect reduced service to
occur on weekends and holidays. The average duration of train times will depend on the station of origin, for example,
service from Paris Gare du Nord takes about 2h 20min while trains to London travelling from Amsterdam Centraal
Station require about 4h 20min for direct trips. All Eurostar trains regardless of station or country of origin will
terminate at London St. Pancras International, London's main rail terminal for international railway traffic.
London Big Ben. Source: Shutterstock
Main train stations in London
London St. Pancras International is the only terminus for international travel by train to London and by this
measure can be considered the most important railway station in London. As the international transit point for
Eurostar train traffic remains open 24h daily. Considering its status you can expect it to offer a full
complement of facilities and services such as ticket office and vending machines, WC with baby changing
facilities, ATMs and currency exchange offices, free Wi-Fi throughout the station, numerous shops and
restaurants, chemists (pharmacy), luggage storage, lost property office and Information Point among them.
London
St. Pancras International is also fully accessible to disabled passengers and is located in Central London.
London Kings Cross Station is managed by Network Rail, the largest operator of railway networks in the UK and is
located within one mile of London St. Pancras International in the heart of the capital.
Another one of the
city’s major railway stations, London Kings Cross offers you a range of facilities and services including ticket
office and vending machines, WC with baby changing facilities, ATMs and currency exchange offices, free Wi-Fi
throughout the station, several shops and restaurants, luggage storage facilities, lost property office, showers
and Information Point to name a few. Station hours of operation: Monday-Friday from 5:00 a.m. to 1:40 a.m.,
Saturday from 5:00 a.m. to 1:11 a.m. and Sunday from 5:30 a.m. to 1:36 a.m.
London Euston Station is another
major railway station located in Central London and the terminus for Avanti West Coast train traffic from cities
across the UK to the capital.Among the facilities and services you can find here are ticket office and vending
machines, WC with baby changing facilities, ATMs and currency exchange offices, free Wi-Fi throughout the
station, a variety of shops and restaurants, luggage storage facilities, lost property office, showers and photo
booth among them. Station hours of operation: Monday to Friday: 4:30 a.m. to 1:34 a.m., Saturday: 4:30 a.m. to
2:00 a.m. and Sunday 5:15 a.m. to 1:34 a.m.
Onboard facilities
On Avanti West Coast trains you are allowed two pieces of luggage and one handpiece which must fit into the
overhead racks or luggage compartment. Pets are allowed onboard provided the animals are properly
leashed/muzzled and stored in a pet carrier while assistance animals can travel free of restrictions. Folding
bikes can be stored in overhead racks but full bicycles must be reserved at the time of booking due to limited
space. When you are hungry you can take advantage of the at-seat food and drink ordering service so you never
have to leave your seat in order to find refreshment.
All by Avanti West Coast trains are accessible to disabled
passengers and Wi-Fi service is free to all passengers. You are allowed two pieces of luggage and a handpiece
when travelling on Eurostar trains as long as they fit into the overhead racks or luggage compartments provided.
Up to two pets are allowed per passenger provided they are properly leashed, muzzled and stored in a pet carrier
but this does not apply to service animals.
Folding bikes are allowed onboard but you must register them at the
time of purchase. Eurostar provides a food and beverage car - Café Metropole - where you can purchase
refreshments and toilets with baby changing facilities installed on each carriage. All Eurostar trains are
accessible to disabled passengers and Wi-Fi service is free but you should expect interruptions when they travel
through tunnels.
Train tickets to London: useful to know
Avanti West Coast offers you two types of classes: Standard and First Class where Standard includes any time,
Advance and Off-peak ticket types while First Class is a premium ticket with upgraded benefits. When purchased
online you can take advantage of any available discounts for students and seniors or programs such as the Family
and Friends special which is great for groups travelling together. Be advised that terms and conditions
regarding cancellations, changes and refunds apply to most ticket types so review them before making your final
purchase. It is also recommended that you travel with a hardcopy of your ticket and be able to produce a valid
ID if necessary.
On Omio buying train tickets to London is fast and easy and can be stored in your Omio account.
If you’re travelling on Eurostar trains to London you have the choice of three ticket classes: Standard,
Standard Premiere and Business Premiere with escalating benefits accordingly and it is recommended you should
familiarise yourself with the terms and conditions attached to each with regards to refunds, changes and
cancellations. Discounts or special offers for students, seniors and groups may apply if you buy your tickets
online as long as you can provide a valid ID if/when necessary.
E-tickets are allowed on Eurostar trains if you
can produce them on your mobile device but a valid ID and passport are required for international travel. On Omio
buying train tickets to London is fast and easy and can be stored in your Omio account.
London Bridge Sunset. Source: Shutterstock
Getting the train to London: travel tips
There are many unique reasons to visit the UK capital, many of which are cherished structures such as The
Tower of London and Westminster Abbey have played their part in the illustrious history of this
metropolis in the south of England. However, there are few spectacles which can compare with the daily
changing of the royal guard at Buckingham Palace. Granted you’ll have to rise early to obtain a choice
vantage point but once the action starts it is as thrilling a sight as anything else the city has to offer.
If you can’t get a tour of that royal residence you can head over to the Tower which is actually considered a
royal palace and a World Heritage Site as well as one of history’s most famous prisons. Helping you to
navigate the square mile and its plethora of historical attractions is a vibrant and extensive public
transport network anchored by the London Underground metro network connecting Central London with the
Greater London Metropolitan area. This is augmented by a secondary rail system (Docklands Light Rail,
Thameslink), a comprehensive bus network and a bike-sharing system, Santander Cycles.
London is a city filled with monuments, parks, squares and gardens so you can spend a great deal of time
outdoors visiting as many as you can fit into the day as long as the weather cooperates. Perhaps the best
known of these is Trafalgar Square, a memorial to the historic battle with its immense fountains at the base
of Nelson’s Column which serves as a cool spot to hang out and enjoy a light lunch. If you prefer a bit of
flora and fauna beforehand, check out Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew or Kew Gardens which sits on 330 acres of
natural splendour and is an ideal place for a picnic for two or the entire family.
St. James’s Park and
Crystal Palace Park with its historic exhibition building are excellent alternatives, or you can take to the
sky and enjoy the view from the London Eye or the Emirate Air Line cable car from Greenwich to the Royal
Docks. No London Experience is quite complete without taking in a show in the West End, a visit to the Tate
Modern Museum or enjoying some tasty Chinese and Indian cuisine down Brick Lane way.
Train Manchester to London
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Using Omio to search for tickets to London gives you the option to choose from
two different types of ticket: Standard and 1st Class. If you’ve chosen a Standard
ticket, you’ll have the option to upgrade to a Standard Premium coach once on board.
Extra facilities with Standard Premium include roomier seats, a guaranteed tabletop,
at-seat order (so you can order food and drink from the comfort of your seat), free
Wi-Fi and access to Avanti’s on-board entertainment system.
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This service is offered on Pendolino trains only and not on Voyager routes. Avanti has
Passenger Assist for disabled travellers, allowing them to get in touch at least six
hours before departure to discuss their requirements. This can be booked using this
online form: Passenger
assist Wheelchair users are advised to get in touch with Avanti at least 24h in
advance to arrange space for their wheelchair.
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There are lots of ways to keep costs down when booking cheap train tickets to London.
Generally, the further in advance you book the higher your chances are of bagging a good
deal. Tickets are available for sale on Omio about three months before the journey
departure date. If you know the exact date you want to travel, book your tickets as far in
advance as possible means you’ll get them much cheaper. Another way to save money is to
travel off-peak (i.e. outside the hours of 6 a.m.-10 a.m. and 3 p.m.-7 p.m.). Travelling
during the middle of the day is often an easy way to keep your ticket fare low. Finally,
if you can be flexible with your travel dates then you might find it easier to find a
good deal on trains to London. It’s also worth experimenting with your route, to see if choosing a
connecting train or a slower journey might save you money.