- Must visit
King Richard III Visitor Centre
Modern museum telling the story of Richard III through archaeology, history and the king’s Leicester burial site.
Cheapest price on 19 Sept
£26
Average ticket price on 19 Sept
£28
Fastest journey on 19 Sept
1 h 47 m
Average journey duration on 19 Sept
1 h 51 m
Trains on 19 Sept
6
Distance
71 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Milton Keynes to Leicester is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Milton Keynes to Leicester will cost around £28 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £26.
To travel from Milton Keynes to Leicester you need to make at least one change.
C17940+
XC002600
C17955+
XC002800
C17949+
XC002700
C17755+
XC014500
C17935+
XC002200
C17940+
XC002600
C17955+
XC002800
C17949+
XC002700
C17755+
XC014500
C17935+
XC002200Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Milton Keynes to Leicester among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £13 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 29m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £13, while a train costs an average of £29.
Distance: 71 km
| Train | Most popular Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£29 Average Price | £13 Average Price Cheapest | £15 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 29m Average total duration Fastest 59m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 47m Average total duration 1h 17m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 11m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Milton Keynes to Leicester:
A coach is £16 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Milton Keynes to Leicester costing on average £29.
Other travel options to Leicester take longer:
Coach takes on average 1h 17m.
You'll arrive about 12m sooner (59m by train vs 1h 11m by car). Tickets start at around £29 compared to roughly £15 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Milton Keynes to Leicester trains for today, Friday 18 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C17873+ G00789 | Delayed 10:21 11:19Milton Keynes Central (MKC) | 1h31 | 12:50 Leicester station (LEI) | 1 change | |
| Saturday 19 September | |||||
C17749 · W11270+ XC003800 | 5:45 Milton Keynes Central (MKC) | 3h21 | 9:06 Leicester station (LEI) | 2 changes | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and coach prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Milton Keynes to Leicester run on average 6 times per day, taking around 59m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £22 but you can travel from only £12 by coach.
The earliest train runs at 04:30, the last at 22:56. The fastest train covers the 71 km distance in 1h 13m.
Distance 71 km |
Average train duration 59m |
Cheapest ticket price £22 |
Trains per day 6 |
Fastest train 1h 13m |
First train 4:30 |
Last train 22:56 |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Fri |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 1 day |
Discover the best of Leicester — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Leicester trip today.
Modern museum telling the story of Richard III through archaeology, history and the king’s Leicester burial site.
Leicester’s main art and history museum, with dinosaur galleries, fine art and displays on the city’s people and past.
Museum beside Roman remains, exploring local archaeology from Roman Leicester to later city history in a compact setting.
Lively regenerated waterside with bars, boats, public art and an easy walk linking the city centre to the canal heritage area.
Large central park with formal gardens, broad lawns and space to relax near the university and city centre.
Attractive green space around abbey ruins and the River Soar, good for walks, wildlife and traces of medieval Leicester.
Red Leicester is a crumbly orange cow’s milk cheese from Leicestershire, long linked to the county and traditionally coloured with annatto for its rich hue.
Melton Mowbray pork pie is a hand-raised pie from Leicestershire with seasoned chopped pork and a distinctive free-form crust, traditionally eaten cold.
Stilton is a famous English blue cheese historically traded through Leicestershire, prized for its creamy texture and strong savoury flavour on local cheeseboards.
Popular Indian restaurant on the Golden Mile known for rich curries, tandoori dishes and a lively, family-friendly atmosphere.
Stylish modern British restaurant and bar in St Martins Square, known for seasonal plates, cocktails and a polished but relaxed dining room.
Long-running vegetarian Gujarati restaurant serving thalis, snacks and sweets in a simple, busy setting loved by local families.
Moderate for a UK city. Hotels and dining are usually cheaper than London, while local buses and casual meals remain fairly affordable for visitors.
Service may be included in restaurants; if not, 10-12.5% is common for good service. Round up taxi fares. Tipping in cafés is optional, often just small change.
Official public transport app
Leicester Railway Station -> Clock Tower, Leicester
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Milton Keynes to Leicester by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Leicester, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Milton Keynes to Leicester trains use the Milton Keynes Central to Leicester station pair. Use this guide to compare Milton Keynes and Leicester train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Milton Keynes Central is 1 km from Milton Keynes city centre. Public transport options include:
Milton Keynes Central has practical services for this route, including Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Milton Keynes Central.
ATMs are available at Milton Keynes Central.
Ticket office support is available at Milton Keynes Central. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: 0800 0248 997, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens.
Available at Milton Keynes Central: Parking, WC.
Available at Milton Keynes Central: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Milton Keynes Central: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station, Accessible public telephones: Public telephones are accessible - situated on the concourse and at the front of the station outside the main entrance, Accessible taxis: Accessible taxis are available, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Leicester has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Leicester.
Wi-Fi is available at Leicester. ATMs are available at Leicester.
Ticket office support is available at Leicester. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from information point,Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: 08000 11 33 23, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens.
Available at Leicester: Parking, WC.
Available at Leicester: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Leicester: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: This is a Category A access station. There is step free access to the main entrance and lifts to all platforms. Customers with wheelchairs who require assistance on graduated slopes should press the ticket gate 'assistance' button located at the bottom of the stairs near the self service ticket machines. To ensure availability of staff to assist, it is imperative that customers book assistance in advance. This station has tactile paving at the edge of all platforms and at the bottom of all staircases, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
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