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London to Oslo by train is possible, but it is not a direct journey. The practical all-rail route runs from London to Amsterdam, across northern Germany to Hamburg, through Denmark to Copenhagen, up Sweden's west coast to Gothenburg, and finally into Oslo.
This is a journey for travellers who like the trip as much as the destination. It is long, scenic, and very doable with planning. It is not the kind of route where you should stack tight connections and hope for the best.
The Short Answer
There is no direct train from London to Oslo, so plan the trip as a two-day rail journey with one overnight stop.
The cleanest route is:
London St Pancras International to Amsterdam Centraal by Eurostar, then Amsterdam to Hamburg, Hamburg to Copenhagen, Copenhagen to Gothenburg, and Gothenburg to Oslo S.
You can sometimes find route planners that suggest a very long same-day or overnight combination. For most travellers, that is too brittle. A missed connection in Hamburg, Copenhagen, or Gothenburg can unravel the rest of the trip. A planned overnight stop turns the journey into a comfortable rail itinerary instead of a sprint.
The Best All-Rail Route
The best current all-rail route from London to Oslo uses five main legs and keeps you on trains all the way.
| Leg | Main operator or service | Main stations | Booking note |
|---|---|---|---|
| London to Amsterdam | Eurostar | London St Pancras International to Amsterdam Centraal | Book early; direct trains are simplest, but Eurostar also sells journeys via Brussels. |
| Amsterdam to Hamburg | NS International / Deutsche Bahn ICE | Amsterdam Centraal to Hamburg Hbf, usually with one change | Check Amsterdam-Hamburg fares and times with NS International or Deutsche Bahn. |
| Hamburg to Copenhagen | DSB / international trains | Hamburg Hbf to Copenhagen H | Check the current DSB timetable before travel, especially during engineering work. |
| Copenhagen to Gothenburg | Öresundståg | Copenhagen H to Gothenburg Central | Regional cross-border train through Malmö and the west coast of Sweden. |
| Gothenburg to Oslo | Vy | Gothenburg Central to Oslo S | Book with Vy for the Norway-Sweden leg. |
This route avoids unnecessary detours through Paris or Stockholm. Amsterdam is usually the neatest first mainland stop because Eurostar runs from London to Amsterdam and because the onward route to Hamburg is straightforward.
Brussels can still be useful. If the direct Amsterdam train is expensive, sold out, or badly timed, you can take Eurostar to Brussels-Midi/Zuid and continue towards the Netherlands or Germany from there. Just leave a sensible buffer.
How Long the Journey Takes
The journey is long. Eurostar lists London to Amsterdam at 4 hours 19 minutes. NS International lists Amsterdam to Hamburg at 5 hours 15 minutes. The Hamburg-Copenhagen and Copenhagen-Gothenburg legs each add several more hours; check current timetables for exact times before you book. Vy lists Gothenburg to Oslo at about 3.5 hours.
In practice, this is a two-day trip. The best break depends on your departure time and how hard you want to push.
Hamburg is the easiest overnight stop if you want a relaxed first day. You can take Eurostar to Amsterdam, continue to Hamburg, sleep there, then ride Hamburg-Copenhagen-Gothenburg-Oslo the next day.
Copenhagen is better if you want to cover more ground on day one. It makes the second day shorter, but it also requires a long first day and a reliable Hamburg connection.
Gothenburg works well if you want the final day to be short. It is also a useful backup if you reach Sweden late and do not want to gamble on the last train to Oslo.
How To Book the Trip
Book London to Oslo by train in separate legs or in small groups of legs, not as one fragile basket.
Start with Eurostar. It is the capacity-sensitive part of the journey from the UK, and passholder places can sell out. Then book Amsterdam-Hamburg and Hamburg-Copenhagen. Finish with Copenhagen-Gothenburg and Gothenburg-Oslo once your overnight plan is clear.
For most travellers, the simplest booking order is:
- London to Amsterdam with Eurostar.
- Amsterdam to Hamburg with NS International or Deutsche Bahn.
- Hamburg to Copenhagen with DSB or Deutsche Bahn.
- Copenhagen to Gothenburg with Öresundståg, or through a Swedish or Danish booking channel that sells that train.
- Gothenburg to Oslo with Vy.
If you book separate tickets, build in extra time between operators. A cheap fare is not much use if it leaves you with 12 minutes to change trains after a cross-border delay.
Ticket and Fare Expectations
There is no fixed London to Oslo train fare because each leg is priced separately.
Eurostar advertises London-Amsterdam fares from GBP 39 one way in Standard, subject to availability. NS International lists Amsterdam-Hamburg from EUR 33 one way by ICE, also with early booking as the way to find the lowest prices.
Those two figures are useful anchors, not a total trip price. Hamburg-Copenhagen, Copenhagen-Gothenburg, and Gothenburg-Oslo prices vary by date, operator, ticket type, and how far ahead you book. If you are travelling in summer, around holidays, or on a Friday or Sunday, price the whole route before committing to the first leg.
If the train total looks high, compare it with a Global Pass only if you are taking more trains before or after Oslo. A pass can be poor value for a single long one-way journey once Eurostar reservations and any compulsory reservations are added.
Eurail and Interrail Passes
Eurail and Interrail Global Passes can be useful on this route, but they do not remove the need to plan reservations.
Eurostar requires a reservation or passholder ticket for travel to and from London. Book this as early as possible, because passholder availability is limited separately from normal tickets.
Denmark-Germany trains also need attention. DSB's 2026 international timetable says seat reservations are required for international journeys between Denmark and Germany from 26 June to 16 August 2026. Outside that period, reservations may still be wise on busy departures.
Öresundståg is different. The operator says seat tickets cannot be booked on Öresundståg, so you travel with a valid ticket or pass and take an available seat. For Gothenburg to Oslo, book or check the Vy leg directly with Vy, especially if you want a reserved seat where offered.
Stations and Transfer Tips
This route uses central stations, which is one of its main advantages.
You leave London from St Pancras International and arrive in Amsterdam at Amsterdam Centraal. The German leg brings you to Hamburg Hbf. In Denmark, Copenhagen H is the main station for onward trains to Sweden. The Swedish transfer is at Gothenburg Central, and the Norwegian arrival is Oslo S.
Carry valid travel documents and keep them easy to reach. Eurostar involves border and security checks before departure from London. Öresundståg notes that border controls are currently carried out when entering Sweden, so have your ID ready at that crossing too.
Give yourself more time than a booking engine's minimum connection. Hamburg and Copenhagen are easy stations to use, but this route crosses several networks. A 30-minute delay early in the day can matter much more than it would on a simple domestic trip.
Alternatives and Future Changes
The current all-rail route is not the only surface option, but it is the cleanest train-first plan.
Some travellers mix trains with ferries or coaches to reduce the number of rail changes. That can be sensible if you want a slower overland trip or if fares are high on a particular date. It is not the same as travelling London to Oslo by train, so check exactly which parts of the journey are rail before booking.
There is also a future change worth knowing about. Deutsche Bahn, DSB, and Vy have announced a planned daily Berlin-Copenhagen-Oslo direct train from summer 2028. That would simplify the northern half of the trip, but it is not running yet. For current travel, you still need to change between Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
Frequently asked questions
Is There a Direct Train from London to Oslo?
No. There is no direct London to Oslo train. The practical rail route uses Eurostar to the continent, then trains via Hamburg, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, and Oslo.
Can You Travel from London to Oslo by Train in One Day?
It is not a sensible one-day journey for most travellers. The confirmed leg times alone add up to many hours before connection buffers, so plan at least one overnight stop.
What Is the Best Route from London to Oslo by Train?
The best all-rail route is London to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Hamburg, Hamburg to Copenhagen, Copenhagen to Gothenburg, and Gothenburg to Oslo.
Is London to Oslo Covered by Interrail or Eurail?
A Global Pass can cover the rail route, but Eurostar requires a passholder reservation and Denmark-Germany trains have reservation rules to check, especially in summer.
Where Should I Stop Overnight Between London and Oslo?
Hamburg is the easiest overnight stop. Copenhagen gives you a shorter second day, while Gothenburg makes the final hop to Oslo very easy.
