- Must visit
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Major museum and gallery with fine art, local history, decorative arts and changing exhibitions in the city centre.
Cheapest price
£16
Average price
£26
Fastest journey
2 h
Average duration
2 h 25 m
Trains per day
7
Distance
138 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Watford to Birmingham is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Watford to Birmingham will cost around £26 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £16.
Of the 7 trains that leave Watford for Birmingham every day 7 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 138 km distance in an average of 2 h 25 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h .
The slowest trains will take 2 h 39 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.










The table below shows live departures for Watford to Birmingham trains for tomorrow, Sunday 23 August. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 8:03 Watford | 2h00 | 10:03 Birmingham | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 8:04 Watford | 2h39 | 10:43 Birmingham | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 8:05 Watford | 2h41 | 10:46 Birmingham | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 8:07 Watford | 2h36 | 10:43 Birmingham | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 9:20 Watford | 4h16 | 13:36 Birmingham | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 9:45 Watford | 2h20 | 12:05 Birmingham | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 10:14 Watford | 2h29 | 12:43 Birmingham | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train 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 Watford to Birmingham run on average 24 times per day, taking around 1h 46m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £8 if you book in advance.
There are 5 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:39, the last at 23:47. The fastest train covers the 138 km distance in 1h 17m.
Distance 138 km |
Average train duration 1h 46m |
Cheapest ticket price £8 |
Trains per day 24 |
Direct trains 5 |
Fastest train 1h 17m |
First train 0:39 |
Last train 23:47 |
Cheapest Month Feb |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Tue |
Best time to book 14 days |
Discover the best of Birmingham — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Birmingham trip today.
Major museum and gallery with fine art, local history, decorative arts and changing exhibitions in the city centre.
Science museum with interactive galleries on industry, transport and invention, making it a strong family-friendly visit.
Independent museum in a converted factory, exploring Birmingham's pen trade with demonstrations and hands-on exhibits.
Creative district with street art, independent shops and converted industrial buildings, popular for urban walks and photography.
Historic quarter known for jewellery workshops, heritage trails, museums and distinctive Georgian and Victorian streetscapes.
Waterside district of canals, bars and cultural venues, ideal for strolling, boat trips and seeing Birmingham's industrial past.
A Birmingham-born curry with spiced meat in rich tomato gravy. It reflects the city’s famed Balti Triangle and its South Asian culinary heritage.
A slow-cooked stew of beef, vegetables and stock topped with sliced potatoes. A Black Country classic closely associated with the Birmingham area.
Pork offal sausage traditionally served with peas, mash and gravy. It is a long-standing working-class dish from the Black Country near Birmingham.
Elegant modern dining in Edgbaston with refined tasting menus and polished service in a calm, intimate setting.
Popular Jewish-style deli and restaurant famous for piled-high sandwiches, baked treats and relaxed daytime dining.
Lively Indian restaurant in the Balti Triangle, known for Balti dishes cooked in pressed-steel bowls and a bustling local atmosphere.
Moderate for UK city breaks: hotels and dining sit below London, while local transport and casual meals are fairly manageable for most tourists.
Service may be included in restaurants; otherwise tip around 10%. Taxis are often rounded up or tipped 10%. Tipping in cafés is optional, usually just small change.
Official public transport app
Birmingham New Street -> Bullring, Birmingham
Taking the train is by far the easiest and quickest way to travel from Watford to Birmingham. Trains depart several times an hour, seven days a week, so travellers have plenty of options around the clock. For those planning a trip abroad, Birmingham International Airport may be just as convenient to reach from Watford as the major London airports.
Virgin Trains and West Midlands Railway both offer many direct trains from Watford to Birmingham every day, at all times of day. West Midlands Railway provides the most frequent journeys and is the least expensive option, but Virgin Trains tend to be slightly faster. Both companies also offer indirect services in the early morning before 6 a.m. and in the late evening.
When travelling directly with Virgin Trains, the journey to Birmingham from Watford takes just one hour six minutes at the quickest. On average, a West Midlands Railway service takes around 30-40 minutes longer than a Virgin Trains service. The longest advertised journey is an early morning indirect service that departs just before 1:00 a.m. and takes five hours 21 minutes.
Travellers can expect to find over 40 direct trains per day along this route, up to around 48. There will also usually be an additional three to six indirect trains each day. In total, this works out to around three trains per hour every hour, including at weekends. One of these will be a Virgin Trains service and one to two will be West Midlands Railway services. The first regular, direct service of the day departs just before 6:00 a.m. and the last departs at 10:45 p.m.
Departure train station: Watford Junction is a centrally-located station and is a bus transport hub for the local area. Regular coach services run to Heathrow and Luton Airports, and it's possible to reach central London in just 16 minutes by train.
Arrival train station: Birmingham New Street has been recently revamped and is home to more restaurants, bars and shops than ever. The station is a major transport hub, not only for the local area but for the UK as a whole. Fast, direct trains depart for Birmingham International Airport every few minutes.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Watford to Birmingham 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 Birmingham, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Watford to Birmingham trains use the Watford Junction to Birmingham New Street station pair, with some services arriving at Birmingham International. Use this guide to compare Watford and Birmingham train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Watford Junction has practical services for this route, including Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Watford Junction.
ATMs are available at Watford Junction.
Ticket office support is available at Watford Junction. 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.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Watford Junction: Parking, WC.
Available at Watford Junction: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Watford Junction: 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 on platform 6, Accessible taxis: Accessible taxis are available, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: Ticket Vending Machines are located in the Booking Hall, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Watford High Street has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, Hotel, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Bike Rental.
Food and drink options are available at Watford High Street.
Wi-Fi is available at Watford High Street. ATMs are available at Watford High Street.
Ticket office support is available at Watford High Street.
Available at Watford High Street: Parking.
Available at Watford High Street: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Watford High Street: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: No, Step free access note: Level access to ticket office from street. Single island platform, accessible from entrance by staircase only, Accessible taxis: Contact taxi operator directly, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Ramp for train access: No, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Bushey is 1 km from Watford city centre. Public transport options include:
Bushey has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, Accessibility, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Bushey.
Wi-Fi is available at Bushey.
Ticket office support is available at Bushey. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from information point, Helpline Contact: 0343 222 1234, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements.
Available at Bushey: Parking.
Available at Bushey: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Bushey: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: No, Step free access note: Accessibility category C. This station does not have step-free access, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station, Accessible taxis: contact taxi operator directly, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Ramp for train access: No, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Birmingham New Street has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food options include: All Bar One, Leon, Caffè Nero, Five Guys, Krispy Kreme, The Pasty Shop, Upper Crust, Wasabi, Starbucks, Hotel Chocolat
Pay as you go Wi-Fi is available from Sky Wi-Fi The Cloud. ATMs are aTM machines are located on the paid concourse.
The ticket office is open Mon - Sat: 05:15 - 23:00, Sun: 07:30 - 23:00. Information desks are in the middle of the station.
Luggage storage is you can leave bags with Excess Baggage Co inside the entrance off Hill Street. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Birmingham New Street: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Birmingham New Street: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Birmingham New Street: Step-free access in the whole station and ramps available for train access. All platforms have elevators and escalators.
Nearby hotels include Holiday Inn Birmingham City Center, Premier Inn Birmingham City Center (New St Station), Radisson Blue Hotel, Birmingham.
Birmingham International is 12 km from Birmingham city centre. Public transport options include:
Birmingham International has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Birmingham International.
Wi-Fi is available at Birmingham International. ATMs are available at Birmingham International.
Ticket office support is available at Birmingham International. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from information point,Yes - from ticket office, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Birmingham International: Parking, WC.
Available at Birmingham International: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Birmingham International: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: This station has step-free access to all platforms / the platform, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users can use car park equipment at this station unaided, 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.
Stechford is 5 km from Birmingham city centre. Public transport options include:
Stechford has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Accessibility, Lounge, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Stechford.
Ticket office support is available at Stechford. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: 0800 0248998, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements.
Available at Stechford: Parking.
Available at Stechford: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Stechford: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Accessible taxis: Accessible taxis are available, Accessible ticket machines: There are no accessible ticket machines at this station, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need