London to Cardiff by train

Photos from our destination guides; each links to the page that lists the place.

• Fastest published time1 hr 45 min¹
• Straight-line distanceabout 211 km (131 miles)
• FaresVary: book ahead for Advance²

The time above is the quickest journey on the National Rail page we read on 1 Nov 2026; it is not a timetable. Some trains take longer and some need a change. Check the National Rail journey planner (opens in new tab) for your date.

Where the trains go from

The operator page we read does not name a single London station with direct trains to Cardiff; the journey planner will show the best London station for your time.

Which ticket to look for

• Advance. Single tickets for one train on one date. National Rail says you can usually buy them up to 12 weeks ahead and, on many routes, until shortly before departure. You may pay £10 to change one plus any fare difference (as stated on 1 Nov 2026); they are non-refundable unless your train is delayed or cancelled and you choose not to travel.²
• Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak. Not tied to one train, but limited to quieter times. National Rail says off-peak hours generally begin at 09:30 on weekdays in cities and large towns (09:00 elsewhere), and weekends and bank holidays are off-peak all day. Evening restrictions may apply.³
• Anytime. The most flexible and usually the most expensive.⁴

A Railcard can cut many fares by a third. See rail tickets explained, Railcards and the which ticket helper.

Step-free travel and assistance

National Rail’s Passenger Assist lets you book help for the whole journey through one train company, even across several trains. It says train companies accept requests up to 2 hours before the journey starts, and that you can also turn up and go by asking staff or using a Help Point.⁵ See accessible travel.

Other ways to make the trip

Coach. Long-distance coaches are usually slower but can be cheaper. See coaches and long-distance buses for the operators.

Driving. Read driving in Britain first if you plan to hire a car, especially for the city driving zones.

• Getting around Cardiff
• Cardiff guide
• All journey times between regions

More train routes

• London to Oxford by train
• London to Cambridge by train
• London to Bath by train
• London to Bristol by train
• London to Wales by train
• London to York by train
• London to Manchester by train
• London to Liverpool by train
• London to Lake District by train
• London to Edinburgh by train
• London to Glasgow by train
• London to Cornwall by train

All train routes

Questions

How long is the train from London to Cardiff?

The fastest journey National Rail publishes takes 1 hr 45 min. Many trains take longer, and some need a change: check the journey planner for your date.

How much is the train from London to Cardiff?

There is no single fare. Prices depend on the ticket type, time and how early you book. National Rail says Advance tickets can usually be bought up to 12 weeks ahead and are only valid on the train you book; Off-Peak tickets are cheaper than Anytime tickets where they exist.