Norwich to London by train

Norwich to London is a direct train of about 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours, and the fastest trains take 1 hour 39 minutes. Greater Anglia runs them from Norwich station to London Liverpool Street, up to twice an hour on weekdays. The station is the only main one in Norwich, so you cannot go wrong. Buy an Advance ticket for a named train if you know when you are leaving.

Trains leave from Norwich station

There is one main station in Norwich, and all direct trains for London leave from it. It has step-free access to every platform, shops, refreshments and a staffed ticket office, with shorter hours on Sundays. The city centre is about a 10-minute walk away, and buses and taxis stop at the station.

The station has public wi-fi, bicycle storage and hire, and staff help is available around the clock for anyone who needs assistance. There are 70 parking spaces if you are driving in, though a bus or taxi is simpler with luggage. Arrive a few minutes before departure rather than on the dot, because the platform for your train is shown on the board close to departure.

Make sure the train is going to London Liverpool Street. The departure board shows the destination and platform.

Direct trains take about two hours, the fastest 1 hour 39

The usual journey is about 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours. The fastest train takes 1 hour 39 minutes. On weekdays there are up to two trains an hour. Look at the arrival time before you pick a train, and check your date, because weekends and holidays can run differently.

Buy an Advance ticket and you are tied to one train

Britain has three ticket types. Advance tickets are cheapest, are for one named train and cannot be used on another. Off-Peak tickets are valid outside the busiest times, on any train they cover. Anytime tickets are the dearest and let you take any train on the day. Off-Peak and Anytime tickets do not come with a reserved seat, so you sit in any free seat.

Prices climb as the cheapest tickets sell out, so book early for busy days. Greater Anglia is the only company with direct trains, so there is no second company whose tickets are invalid on yours. Buy direct from Greater Anglia and there is no booking fee. If you hold a Railcard, Greater Anglia sells discounted tickets for it, so have it with you.

Interrail and Eurail Global Passes cover this train

A Global Pass holder can ride Greater Anglia between Norwich and London, using one travel day. A pass holder can board Greater Anglia without a seat reservation.

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

At Liverpool Street you can get onto the Underground

London Liverpool Street is in the east of the City. The Central, Circle, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan Underground lines and the Elizabeth line connect there, along with buses and taxis.

King's Cross, St Pancras and Euston are other London terminals, and you need the Underground, a bus or a taxi to reach them. Allow time if you are changing there to another terminal.

Engineering works can slow a late evening or a Sunday

Late-night and Sunday engineering works sometimes change the trains between Norwich and Ipswich and the journey can take longer. The booking engine and app show any change on your date, so check before you buy a ticket.