Portsmouth to London train with South Western Railway

Trains from Portsmouth to London

If you are planning to travel by train from Portsmouth to London, then your departure train will leave from Portsmouth & SouthSea Railway Station and your arrival station will be either London Waterloo Station or London Victoria Station, depending on which provider you use. There are two main providers of railway service for this route: South Western Railway handles the majority of the Portsmouth to London train services, with all their trains travelling directly from Portsmouth & SouthSea Railway Station to London Waterloo Station. The other option to use is Southern Railway, which has fewer trains, and only around half of those trains are direct; the other half will make a stop in Barnham along the route. Southern trains from Portsmouth & SouthSea Railway Station will always arrive at London Victoria Station.

Portsmouth to London Train Time: Daily Departures

There are multiple trains travelling from Portsmouth to London every day, from both providers. Most train stations in the UK operate roughly from 06:00 until 01:00. With that being said, the first train that leaves from Portsmouth to London is at around 06:15, with the last train leaving Portsmouth at 22:30. Keep in mind that national holidays and events in either area may disrupt train schedules, so you should look for tickets at least a week before your plans, to ensure they will be operating on the day.

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

The distance covered when taking the train from Portsmouth to London is about 64 miles (103 km) and will take you 1h 30min to complete, on average, depending on what ticket you purchase. There are two main routes when taking the train from Portsmouth to London. One route is direct from Portsmouth & SouthSea Railway Station to London Waterloo Station and is the fastest option. The other is often cheaper and travels from Portsmouth & SouthSea Station to Barnham Station, and then from there to London Victoria Station.

Waterfront of Portsmouth. Source: Shutterstock

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Portsmouth to London?

Departure train station: Portsmouth & SouthSea Railway Station will be your departure point. It’s the main railway station in Portsmouth and is located in the city centre. The station is only about a 5min walk from one of the many city bus stops located in Portsmouth. There are a total of about 50 trains that travel from Portsmouth to London every day.

Arrival train station: You may arrive at either London Waterloo Station or London Victoria Station. London Waterloo is the busiest and most popular train station in the country, and it is also one of the main terminals in London's railway network, which services most of the northern railway routes in England. The station is equipped with 24 platforms in the main terminal, with the station also having restaurants, cafes, restrooms and public eating areas. London Victoria Station is another main terminus in London's railway network, connecting it with the Underground trains network (the tube) of London's greater metropolitan area. London Victoria Station is located in the city centre of London, and you will be able to take public buses or a taxi from the station itself.

Which train companies travel from Portsmouth to London?

There are two major companies that operate trains from Portsmouth to London. The train provider that operates the majority of trains along this route is South Western Railway. While it has faster trains and offers more direct trains to London Waterloo Station, the tickets can be around double the price of its competitors. South Western Railway is the secondary provider of train routes from Portsmouth to London; there are some direct routes available through South Western Railway, but most of the routes will have a stopover, at Barnham Station, before travelling the rest of the way to London Victoria Station.

Night trains London

Unfortunately, there are no available night trains from Portsmouth to London. Train stations in the UK usually operate from 06:00 to 01:00, so a better way to travel through the night across the UK is by taking an overnight bus or a sleeper bus to your destination.

Southern Railway trains from Portsmouth to London

Southern Railway operates most of the routes from Portsmouth to London, with all their trains travelling directly. Southern Railway offers train routes from Portsmouth & SouthSea Railway Station to London Waterloo Station; there are generally over 30 daily trains operated by Southern Railway along this route; note that the company's tickets are faster but much more expensive.

South Western Railway trains from Portsmouth to London

South Western Railway offers the majority of train routes in the south-western region of the UK. South Western Railway offers two options for its tickets from Portsmouth to London. There are a few direct trains daily, but the majority of the trains will have a stopover, at Barnham Station. The company offers about 20 daily train routes from Portsmouth to London, with around half being direct. The arrival station for South Western Railway is London Victoria Station.

Trains from Portsmouth to London: Sustainability travel

The railway network of the UK has been growing towards carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability for years, but with the latest efforts resulting from the Paris Agreement, the providers of the railway industry have been upgrading trains to be more efficient whilst using less power. Future development also includes making natural paths over railway lines to allow the wildlife of the country to travel freely and to stop dividing and disrupting natural ecosystems. Check out the sustainability article in our online magazine for ideas on how to reduce your impact whilst travelling.

Train Portsmouth to London: Services on Board

Regardless of which ticket provider you have chosen, your standard economy ticket will give you access to all the amenities on all trains. Along this route, you can expect the trains to have comfortable seating areas as well as poles and handles for passengers who have shorter routes and can stand; while there’s an overhead compartment to store belongings. There is no food or drink allowed on the trains in the UK without the privilege of first-class tickets, so there will not be food or beverage options whilst travelling on the train.

How to find cheap train tickets from Portsmouth to London

The best way for you to find the cheapest tickets from Portsmouth to London is to use our website. It offers you tickets for trains, buses, ferries and planes from almost anywhere in the world. Travel is made easy with Omio, as our site is accessible from laptop computers and phones, allowing you to make travel bookings in advance at the click of a button. No matter where you are or where you need to go, we will be there to help you get to your destination.

woman on a train to London. Source: Shutterstock

To London by train—travel tips

London is an enormous city and has a multitude of attractions and landmarks for you to see. One of the most popular attractions found in London would be Big Ben, the clock tower located at the back of the Winchester Palace. Buckingham Palace, the home and administrative office of the royal family of England, is where the queen lives and where she meets with prime ministers and government representatives to discuss policies for the nation. Another great attraction in London is the London Eye, which is a massive Ferris wheel found on the River Thames, in the centre of the city. There are many more attractions to see in the city of London. The best attractions are not always the most important, but London has lots to offer you, such as:

• The Tower of London
• Natural History Museum
• St Paul Cathedral
• Tower Bridge
• London Red Bus Tour