London to Leeds by train

London to Leeds is a direct LNER train of about 2 hours 15 minutes, and the fastest trains take around 2 hours 11 minutes. You leave from London King's Cross and arrive at Leeds station, which sits in the city centre. LNER is the only company running direct trains between the two. Book a specific train ahead and fares can be low, with LNER fares from £12 on selected trains.

One company runs the direct trains from King's Cross

Every direct train on this trip is an LNER train, and LNER is the only operator offering one between London King's Cross and Leeds. You do not change trains, and you do not need to look at other companies.

LNER runs about two direct trains an hour, so you are rarely stuck waiting long. Some stop at Peterborough, Doncaster and Wakefield Westgate, while others also call at Stevenage and Grantham, which adds a few minutes. Look at the arrival time and not only the departure when you pick a train. Weekend times can differ, so check your date.

Find London King's Cross before you travel

London has several main stations, each serving different parts of the country, and trains to Yorkshire leave from King's Cross. Do not go to St Pancras International next door, which is a separate station.

King's Cross is a short walk from St Pancras. Its Underground station, King's Cross St. Pancras, is served by the Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria lines, so you can reach most of central London easily. If you arrive in London on Eurostar at St Pancras, King's Cross is the right place to continue to Leeds. Allow time to walk across, and look at the departure screens for your platform.

Choose between Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime tickets

An Advance ticket is for one specific train and is usually the cheapest. LNER says Advance tickets can save up to 45%, and the best prices tend to be for those who book four or more weeks ahead. An Off-Peak ticket lets you take any train outside the busiest times. An Anytime ticket is the most flexible and the most expensive, valid on any train that day.

Fares change by date and demand, and cheap seats on the most popular trains go first.

If you have a Railcard, it saves a third on most fares. Tell the website when you search, because it will not apply automatically.

Seat reservations are optional but worth having

You do not have to reserve a seat in Britain, but LNER recommends one so that you have a place on the train. With an Advance ticket you can choose your seat in your LNER account. With a flexible ticket you can reserve a seat using LNER's reservation tool on its website or app.

Interrail and Eurail Global Pass holders can use LNER

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, and LNER is covered. Book a free seat reservation with LNER before you travel, because some LNER trains require one. 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 inside Britain.

Arriving in Leeds

Leeds station is on New Station Street, in the middle of the city. It has step-free access to all platforms, a ticket office, shops and cafés, and bus and taxi links outside. The Trinity Leeds shopping centre, the Leeds City Museum and the Granary Wharf waterfront are all close, so many visitors can walk to their hotel.

If you are heading further out, buses and taxis run from the station. Leeds is also a rail hub for local trains to other Yorkshire towns, so you can continue by train from the same station.