Birmingham to London by train

Birmingham to London is a direct train journey of about 1 hour 30 minutes on Avanti West Coast from Birmingham New Street to London Euston, and the fastest trains take 1 hour 17 minutes. Two other companies run the trip. London Northwestern Railway also goes from New Street to Euston, taking from 1 hour 53 minutes, and Chiltern Railways goes from Birmingham Moor Street to London Marylebone in about 2 hours. Pick your company first, because many cheap tickets work on one company only.

Three companies run direct trains to London

Every train is direct. Avanti West Coast leaves Birmingham New Street and reaches London Euston in around 1 hour 30 minutes. The quickest trains take 1 hour 17 minutes.

London Northwestern Railway also runs New Street to Euston, with 3 trains an hour, calling at Coventry, Rugby, Northampton, Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction. The fastest trains take 1 hour 53 minutes, and the others take longer.

Chiltern Railways leaves Birmingham Moor Street, about five minutes' walk from New Street, and arrives at London Marylebone. There are two trains an hour, though services can vary at weekends and bank holidays. The fastest take 1 hour 47 minutes and the average is about 2 hours 2 minutes.

Find your platform at New Street or Moor Street

New Street is under the Grand Central shopping centre in the city centre, and the Bullring is a minute away on foot. Moor Street is opposite Selfridges. If your ticket is for Chiltern Railways, go to Moor Street, because that is where Chiltern Railways trains leave.

The platform for your train appears on the departure boards shortly before it leaves.

Buy the ticket before you board

Advance tickets are the cheapest. They are for one named train on one date, and you can buy them up to about 12 weeks ahead. Off-Peak tickets let you travel outside the busiest hours. Anytime tickets work on any permitted train and cost the most.

Some tickets are tied to one train company. A cheap ticket for Chiltern Railways does not work on an Avanti West Coast or London Northwestern Railway train, and the reverse applies too. Check the company shown on the ticket before you board.

Chiltern Railways Advance singles start from £6.40 between Marylebone and Moor Street. Other Advance fares rise as the train fills, so book ahead where you can. A Railcard takes a third off many fares if you qualify.

You do not need a seat reservation with a rail pass

With an Interrail or Eurail Global Pass, you only need an activated travel day and the journey added to your pass in the app. Avanti West Coast lets you pick a seat when you buy a ticket, but the pass does not require one.

Passes work on Avanti, Northwestern and Chiltern

Interrail Global Passes (for people who live in Europe) and Eurail Global Passes (for people who live outside Europe) are valid on Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern Railway and Chiltern Railways, and a pass holder can board without a reservation. A Global Pass covers only one outbound and one inbound journey in your country of residence, so someone who lives in the UK cannot use it for an ordinary trip inside Britain.

Euston and Marylebone are both in central London

Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway trains arrive at Euston, which has Northern and Victoria line Tube services. Chiltern Railways trains arrive at Marylebone, which has the Bakerloo line. If your hotel is near one station, choose the company that arrives there.