London to Coventry by train

London to Coventry is a direct train journey from London Euston. Avanti West Coast runs the fast trains in about 1 hour, and the quickest take around 55 minutes. London Northwestern Railway runs slower trains that make more stops and take about 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. Both companies arrive at Coventry station, so you can pick on time or on price.

Leave from London Euston on either company

Both Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway use London Euston, so you do not need to hunt for a second station. Euston has the Northern and Victoria lines, bus and taxi links, lifts to every platform (Euston Square, nearby, has the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines), and a First Class lounge for Avanti first class ticket holders.

When you search for tickets, you will see two kinds of train. The fast Avanti trains are the quicker choice if you have a fixed arrival time. The London Northwestern Railway trains are slower but run often, and its advance fares start lower.

The fast train is Avanti, the slower one is London Northwestern Railway

Avanti West Coast is the long-distance operator on the West Coast Main Line. Its Coventry trains take just over an hour and have reclining seats, wi-fi and power sockets. London Northwestern Railway is the second operator on the same line.

There is no need to guess which is which. Look at the journey time and the company name on the booking page. A journey of about an hour is Avanti, and one close to an hour and a half is London Northwestern Railway.

Advance tickets only work on the train you book

British fares are split into three families. Advance tickets are the cheapest, fixed to one named train, and go on sale about 12 weeks ahead. Off-Peak tickets cost the same whenever you buy them and allow travel outside the busiest times. Anytime tickets are the most flexible and the most expensive, and you can use them on any train that day.

The costly mistake is mixing companies. An Avanti Advance ticket is only valid on the train you book, and London Northwestern Railway advance fares are sold for its own trains only. If you miss your train, you cannot hop on the other company's service with a cheap ticket. Buy the exact train you plan to catch, and if your plans are loose, an Off-Peak or Anytime ticket is safer than an Advance one, but check the ticket for any company restriction.

London Northwestern Railway advance fares start from £9 and Avanti Advance fares from £12. A Railcard can take up to a third off most fares if you qualify. Fares rise closer to the day, so book early for busy times.

Avanti Advance tickets offer a seat reservation

On Avanti, an Advance ticket comes with a seat reservation where one is available, and you can choose the seat with the seat picker. You do not need to reserve for an Off-Peak or Anytime ticket, though a reservation is available where the train offers one. On a London Northwestern Railway train, check your booking for seat details before you travel.

Interrail and Eurail Global Passes work on both companies

Interrail Global Passes (for people who live in Europe) and Eurail Global Passes (for people who live outside Europe) are valid on National Rail trains in Great Britain, including Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway. You do not need a seat reservation on either company, so you can just board.

If you live in the UK, a Global Pass covers only one outbound and one inbound journey in your own country, so you cannot use it for an ordinary trip like this one. The Interrail Great Britain Pass is sold to residents of other European countries, not to UK residents.

Arriving in Coventry

Trains stop at Coventry station, with step-free access to all platforms. Buses and taxis wait outside and bike hire is available at the station.

Check the date you are travelling, because timetables change.