London truly is one of a kind among the many cities in Europe. The sights, scents and scenes are unique to say the least. People from across the world, across Europe and the UK, often travel to London to experience its amazing attractions and historical monuments.
Doing so is often easier when one is equipped with the means to find suitable train tickets to London. Our mission at cheap train tickets is to equip you will all the requisite knowledge about what London has to offer and how you might travel there from wherever you might be in Europe or the UK whether it be Paris, Glasgow or Manchester. If you read ahead, all further trips you take there can be as cheap as possible.
How to book cheap Train tickets to London?
The question often comes up “How to book cheap train tickets to London?”, and in truth, travelling is much more convenient if one has access to affordable train tickets to London. You can use some of the following tips to secure cheap train tickets to London for yourself and your loved ones.
Use Railcards:
A railcard is a card that can be purchased either digitally or physically and can be applied to train tickets you purchase to give a substantial discount. Railcards are such a powerful device for saving money on trips because everyone can have one (albeit a different type) and they can be applied to almost every ticket you purchase. According to the National Rail, the average railcard user saves about £158 and there are 9 different kinds of railcards available according to one’s current status. They are as follows:
16-17 Saver: Costs £30 per year, this enables 16-17 year olds to save up to 50% on rail travel.
16-25 Railcard: Costs £30 per year, this enables 16-25 year olds to save up to a third off rail fare.
26-30 Railcard: Costs £30 per year, this enables 26-30 year olds to save up to a third of their fare on Off-Peak travel.
Disabled Persons Railcard: Costs £20 per year and it allows disabled people meeting the criteria to get 1/3 off rail travel fare for themselves and a companion.
Family & Friends Railcard: At £30 per year, four adults receive a discount of up to a third on their rail fare and up to four children aged 5-15 receive up to a 60% discount
Network Railcard: At £30 per year, receive a third off rail fare for you, three other adults and up to four children for destinations in East England.
Senior Railcard: At £30 per year, receive a third off rail travel on Off-Peak journeys for people aged 60 and over.
Two Together Railcard: At £30 per year, save a third on tickets for you and a partner (which could be anyone) you travel with on off-peak journeys.
Veterans Railcard: At £30 per year, receive up to a third off rail fare for veterans who have served in His Majesty’s UK Armed Forces or UK Merchant Mariners
Book train tickets to London in advance:
If you would like to secure cheap train tickets to London, you should be booking advance tickets. There are two parts to this method. For the first, you will need to know what an advance ticket is: There are certain tickets produced for train rides that can be purchased up to 12 weeks in advance. A limited number of them are produced and they are usually cheaper than regular tickets
The key is to book sufficiently in advance to be able to find one before it’s sold out. It often happens however that even on the day of departure or very close to it, there are still advance tickets available for purchase.Unlike regular tickets, advance tickets are non-refundable unless your train is delayed or cancelled. You can however change, at a cost, the day or time of travel. The second option is to book a ticket for a trip with a regular ticket but sufficiently in advance that it is cheap enough since there is less demand for it at that point.
Travel during Off-Peak times:
If you often ask yourself “How to book cheap train tickets to London?” then this can aid you substantially. As you might be aware, certain hours of the day have a good bit of traffic. Lots of people are going to work, and there is a lot of movement. Tickets sold for this period are usually more expensive likely due to a higher demand.
On the flip side, after everyone has gone to work, there is a period of time with less traffic and less demand. These are called Off-Peak hours and these are usually from 9-9:30 am every day. Train tickets to London for these hours aren’t as expensive as they are for peak hours so if you would like cheap train tickets to London, you could consider booking a ticket for an Off-Peak hour. Savings here can be further enhanced if you combine it with a railcard as some give up to a third off for Off-Peak hours.
Travelling as a group? Use GroupSave:
Some rail transport companies offer discounts for groups of 3-9 travelers, as well as larger groups of 10 or more. When booking train tickets to London, you may have the option to purchase a group ticket. For groups of 3-9, the discount can be as much as one-third off Off-Peak fares. Larger groups of 10 or more may also qualify for special discounts on certain transport services. For instance, the Stansted Express provides group discounts for up to 10 travelers, with fares starting from as little as £10 per person, depending on the route. However, it's important to note that group discounts cannot be combined with other rail discount offers.
Split your train tickets to London:
Split ticketing allows you to save significantly by breaking your journey into multiple segments, with your final stop being the intended destination. It happens that this approach is often cheaper than booking a direct train ticket to London. For instance, if you're traveling from London to Edinburgh, you could first book a ticket to Alnmouth and then another from Alnmouth to Edinburgh, potentially reducing the overall cost.
You can either find split train tickets to London manually by searching for separate legs of your journey or by using specialized booking platforms that automate the process. According to Split My Fare, this method can save you up to 90%, with an average saving of 26%. In some cases, you won’t even need to change trains, making it feel like a continuous trip. However, one downside is that split ticketing can result in a longer journey. If you're traveling for a time-sensitive event, be sure to plan accordingly and allow extra time.
Set Alerts for advance train tickets to London:
Setting Alerts for train tickets is a real game changer for securing cheap train tickets to London. When you set an alert for your trip, you will be notified when advance train ticket to London go on sale. This is particularly useful because there are usually a limited number of advance tickets per journey which are sold. If you are notified early enough, you can secure one before it gets sold out.
Advance tickets usually go on sale 12 weeks in advance of the journey so if you know your travel plans this far in advance, you can set an alert with the preferred rail service to be notified. Another reason you might want to be notified early is that advance train tickets to London are usually cheaper the farther back you book so it would help to book train tickets to London as early as possible.
Check for Return Tickets:
When you book train tickets to London for example, you can usually book a return trip as part of the same ticket. This is called a return ticket and there are various forms of this. The time for travel and return can be quite flexible depending on the kind of return ticket. Compared to this, the other option is to book two single tickets. It is usually a good idea to compare the prices of the two to see which might be cheaper for your intended period of travel. In certain instances, the two single tickets might be cheaper say if you travel at off-peak hours but in others, the return ticket might be cheaper. So to get the best value, be sure to compare the two prices always.
Popular Train journeys to London:
London is one of the most popular cities in Europe and probably the most popular and renowned city in England. This shouldn’t be the least surprising because of its interesting history and beautiful attractions. Here are some popular routes people and train services take to London:
Paris to London:
It very often happens that Parisians travel to London by train. The station one often arrives in London is the St Pancras station and Eurostar is usually the only train to London that moves between the two Locations. You can expect a smooth ride that lasts about 2 hours and 18 minutes since it uses the channel tunnel.
Edinburgh to London:
As you are no doubt aware, London is all the way down south of the UK and Edinburgh is further up North. Because of this, you can expect the journey on the train to London to Last at least 4 hours depending on which exact station you takeoff and exit as well as the number of stops made on the journey. Typical services that run this route are LNER, Avanti West Coast, Lumo and Caledonian Sleeper.
Glasgow to London:
If you reside in Glasgow and you hope to travel to London by train, here is what you can expect. The journey should last at least 4hrs and 30 minutes and while you can find direct trains to London, there are likely to be stops during the journey to different cities which can increase the time up to 7 hours. Trains that run this route are usually train to London Euston like Avanti West Coast.
Oxford to London:
Oxford is a city to the southeast of London and finding trains to London from there can be fairly simple. Often you can find direct trains to London in just under an hour or ones with stops for over an hour and cheaper. The choice is yours
Cambridge to London:
A little way to the North of London is the city of Cambridge. If this is where you’re travelling from, you can expect to arrive in London in about an hour or more depending on how many stops your train to London makes. Either way, you’ll likely get there in good time.
Manchester to London:
If you’d like to get to London from Manchester, you can expect the trip to take between 2 to 3 hours depending on the train to London and number of stops. Also, the most direct trains you are likely to find are trains to London Euston from the Piccadilly station in Manchester such as Avanti west coast.
Leeds to London:
Because it is not too far from Manchester, you can expect that departing from Leeds via a train to London will take about as long to get to London as departing from Manchester which is between 2 to 3 hours. As usual, you might book advance tickets or use railcards to lower the cost.
Sheffield to London:
Being a sizeable distance to the North of London, a train to London from Sheffield lasts about 2 hours on average and can be more or less as always depending on stops as well as terminal stations.
Brighton to London:
Brighton is one of the few cities on this list to the South of London. As a result of this, if you book a train to London you will be travelling North to get there for about an hour. Also, you are likely to stop at a station more south or central leaning in London such as Victora or Blackfriars.
Birmingham to London:
Because Birmingham is Located in the West Midlands region of England, trains to London from there typically last longer than an hour but less than 2 hours. They can also be greater than two hours. Certain faster trains to London that run this journey such as Avanti trains hence the faster times. Another factor as usual is the number of stops.
Exeter to London:
To the far west of London is Exeter from which trains typically last between 3 and 4 hours. Train services you might see running this route are the Great Western Railway as well as CrossCountry among others. Also, trains to London from here are likely to arrive at either Paddington or Waterloo stations.
Warrington to London:
Another popular route is from Warrington. Trains to London from this city that sits between Liverpool and Manchester typically spend between 2 and 3 hours. So if you would like to attend a function, be sure to leave at an appropriate time.
Wigan to London:
Although at a decent distance to the North of London, it is possible to use a train to London from Wigan in as Little as 2 hours if you book train to London with a few stops. However, the chances are that it will likely take longer than this and can be up to 3 hours. Furthermore, keep in mind that this will likely be that trains along this route will likely be trains to London Euston.
Popular Train Routes from London:
As you are no doubt aware, the whole of the UK is interconnected by a robust network of rails. As such if one stays in London, they could very easily visit various other cities if they booked a train ride. To aid you in this, here is some information about some of the more popular destinations you could travel to by rail.
London to Paris:
Regardless of whatever your reason might be for travelling to Paris, Using Eurostar, it is fairly trivial to travel all the way to the heart of London. If you aren’t aware, the high-speed trains that move between Paris and London follow the channel tunnel making it possible to arrive at Paris in about 2 hours and 18 minutes.
London to Glasgow:
If you find that you need to or would like to visit the city of Glasgow, you can expect to arrive there in about 4 hours and 30 minutes at the very least. However, there is a decent chance this can stretch up to 7 hours if the train makes enough stops. For the best prices, be sure to book in advance
London to Edinburgh:
To journey to Edinburgh from London will take you through some very interesting scenes. Enjoying these, the 4 hours it takes to get there can pass by very quickly. Otherwise, you might avail yourself of the onboard internet to kill the time by catching a movie or two alone or with your partner.
London to Manchester:
Perhaps you reside in London and would like to catch a Manchester United match at the weekend in the city of Manchester or you’d like to visit relatives? If so, you can take a train for this journey which lasts between 2 and 3 hours.
London to Brighton:
Brighton is quite a popular destination among folk who live in London. If you would like to visit by rail, the journey down south will take you about an hour to an hour and 30 minutes depending on stops. The Thameslink and the Gatwick Express are two services that route often.
London to Liverpool:
With quite a few sights to see in Liverpool and places to be, a substantial amount of Londoners take the trip to Liverpool often enough. It is usually possible to travel here in about 2 hours and 30 minutes to 3 hours. It can also take as much as 7 hours on some services that have a transit time in between the trip.
London to Birmingham:
Birmingham offers a different destination for people in London. To get there by rail, it will take you just over 2 hours on average.
London to Amsterdam:
Another popular destination within Europe but outside of the UK aside from Paris for Londoners is Amsterdam. Eurostar runs this route and you might expect to get from the St Pancras station in London to the Centraal in Amsterdam in an average time of about 5 hours.
London to Newcastle:
Newcastle is a vibrant city to travel to the far North of London. Travelling here can take as little as 3 hours or as many as 7 depending on the train transit time and stops.
Things to do in London:
London is a rich, beautiful city where you can get really immersed in the sights, scents and scenes. In London, there are several attractions and activities you can get involved in and experience. Here are just a few of the things you can do whilst in London
Visit World-Class Museums:
Museums tell the stories of the past and give a glimpse into the History of a place. London has some of the most renowned museums in Europe in the Natural History Museum and the British Museum. At the Natural history museum, you can visit the dinosaur gallery and check out the blue whale model to name a few things.
Whereas at the British Museum, you could explore the Picasso printmaker exhibition which offers a glimpse into the life of the famous artist Pablo Picasso by displaying a collection of his prints. In addition to this, you can enjoy the collections of ancient artwork from different civilizations.
Explore Iconic Landmarks:
London features some of the most Iconic landmarks in all of Europe that you can visit while you’re there. Buckingham Palace is a famous example here. The seat of the British royal family. Right next to the River Thames in Westminster, in the Elizabeth Tower, you can marvel at the Big Ben. A truly breathtaking and fascinating structure. Furthermore, if you still have some energy left, you can visit the famous Tower Bridge known by some as London’s defining Landmark at Tower Bridge road.
Explore Famous Parks:
If you’re a lover of Nature, it is highly recommended while in London to visit its most famous greenery. You can start by visiting Hyde Park, a 350-acre urban park that features breathtaking landscapes, trees and greenery. From here, you can make your way west to Kensington Gardens and enjoy the quiet serenity present there.
Savor the Flavors of British Cuisines:
Depending on where you stay, you may already be familiar with some dishes traditional to England. If you aren’t you can try out the tastes of England here in London. You can start with a full English breakfast, a traditional morning feast featuring eggs, bacon, sausages, beans, and toast. In addition to this, you can try out London’s classic fish and chips for Lunch. Other dishes you could enjoy are Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding, Shepherd’s pie, as well as the famous Beef Wellington. If you are able to secure some cheap tickets to London train, you can begin to explore these things in London.
London’s Culture, Nightlife and Cuisine:
Culture:
Some may describe the culture in London as being multicultural in that it is represents various ethnicities and languages from various peoples across the world. The history of London is one spanning the past 2000 years and there are a lot of historic monuments present today such as the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace that tell interesting stories about London's history and culture.
A key aspect of London's culture as well is its language and accents. The language is English and Londoners have 4 main accents. The first is Cockney which is usually spoken by working-class folk mostly in the East end of London. The second is Estuary which is usually spoken along the River Thames. The third is Multicultural London English which is usually spoken by young working-class people. Finally, there is Received Pronunciation which some refer to Queen's English and is often spoken by the upper class.
Nightlife:
The nightlife in London has a lot to offer. One could go on the Thames dinner cruise and enjoy an exquisite four-course meal while cruising down the Thames River or the Night bus tour to explore London. It is very common for Londoners to also visit their local pubs in the evenings after work or at night to catch a drink or two with friends or to meet new people. Pubs usually close around 11 pm. Some might say it's a part of the culture to spend time at your local pub.
Cuisine:
The cusine of Londob is very rich and flavourful. A day can start with a full English breakfast, which classically features eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, and toast. In addition to this, you can try out London’s classic fish and chips for Lunch. Other dishes you could enjoy are Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding, Shepherd’s pie, scotch egg as well as the famous Beef Wellington. As well as these you might have desserts like stick toffee pudding, bread and butter pudding, and Victoria sponge cake. With cheap tickets to London train, one can begin to acquire the tastes of London.
