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England by Train

Trains - Tickets - Tours
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A Travel Guide For Train Travel In England.

Here you will find information for England about trains, routes, tours, connections, where to buy train tickets, and more.

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Useful Information

Population: 55.98 million

Currency: Pound Sterling

Language: English

Capital: London

Country Code: +44

Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

Train Companies

Most of the country’s trains are not only operated by one company, but by several smaller, private train operators. Some well-known companies are listed below:

 

  • Avanti West Coast
  • Crosscountry
  • East Midlands Railway
  • Eurostar
  • Great Northern
  • Great Western Railway
  • ScotRail
  • TransPennine
  • Virgin Trains
England rail map

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Train Tickets

Buy your train tickets for England online at Rail Easy.

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Buy your train tickets online at OMIO and compare trains, buses & flights.

Rail Passes

Interrail / Eurail Pass

Do you want to travel throughout Europe flexibly and comfortably? Then the Interrail Pass is perfect for you. With the Interrail Pass, you can visit 40,000 destinations in 33 countries in Europe. You can travel for up to 3 months by train.

Britrail Pass

Explore Great Britain by train. You can use all national trains in Great Britain with the Britrail Pass. The Britrail Pass is valid in England, Wales, and Scotland.

TrAIN tYPES

CrossCountry Trains operate routes from Nottingham to Cardiff, Wales, and London to Edinburgh and Glasgow

  • 1st and 2nd Classes offered
  • 1st Class includes complimentary snacks and drinks served to your seat, electrical sockets at every seat.
  • No reservations required
  • Trains are equipped with WiFi and air-conditioning. Offers an on-board catering trolley with a range of drinks and snacks.

Pendolino operates on routes from Birmingham and London Euston to Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland, operated by Avanti West Coast.

  • 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1), access to the first-class lounge
  • 2nd Class (Standard): Rows of four seats (2+2)
  • Reservations not required, but optional
  • Trains are equipped with power sockets, free WiFi, and air conditioning. Some trains have a shop carriage offering snacks as well as a refreshment trolley.

SuperVoyager connects England to Scotland and to North Wales, operated by CrossCountry and Avanti West Coast.

  • 1st Class: Rows of three seats (2+1)
  • 2nd Class (Standard): Rows of four seats (2+2)
  • Reservations not required, but optional
  • Trains are equipped with power sockets, free WiFi, and air conditioning. Trains have a shop carriage offering snacks as well as a self-catering trolley.

Transpennine Express connecting northern England to Scotland.

  • 1st Class: Some trains have rows of four seats (2+2), otherwise rows of three seats (2+1)
  • 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
  • Reservations not required.
  • Trains are equipped with WiFi and air-conditioning. offers an on-board catering trolley with a range of hot drinks and snacks.

Eurostar (ES) connects London to Paris and Lille, France; to Brussels, Belgium; and Amsterdam, Netherlands.

  • 1st Class (Business Premier): Rows of three seats (2+1), inclusive of a meal, lounge access at terminal stations, as well as shorter check-in times at least 10 minutes before departure
  • 1st Class (Standard Premier): Rows of three seats (2+1), inclusive of a meal, check-in at least 30 minutes prior to departure
  • 2nd Class (Standard): Rows of four seats (2+2), check-in at least 30 minutes prior to departure
  • Reservations required
  • Most services are equipped with power outlets, WiFi, air-conditioning, and an on-board bistro offering a range of food and drinks.

Caledonian Sleeper

  • Routes:
    • London Euston – Glasgow
    • London Euston – Edinburgh – Aberdeen
    • London Euston – Edinburgh – Inverness
    • London Euston – Edinburgh – Fort William
  • Reservations required
  • Sleeping Carriages: All rooms are sold like a hotel room, you book the whole room, and prices differ on single or double occupancy. Every room comes stocked with soap, towels, USB ports, power sockets, and WiFi.
    • Classic Room includes an upper and lower berth with a washbasin.
    • Club Room includes has an upper and lower berth with a washbasin, shower, and toilet.
    • Caledonian Double includes a double bed with a washbasin, shower, and toilet.
    • Accessible twin or double includes wheelchair accessible twin bunks or double bed as well as a washbasin.
  • Seat: reclining seat with no access to club car.
  • Operated by Avanti West Coast

**Tip: with an Avanti West Coast Caledonia Sleeper ticket, 2nd Class passengers may gain access to the 1st Class Lounge at the end of their journey; however, while still on the train, ask the train manager for a voucher.

Night Riviera / Cornwall Sleeper

  • Routes:
    • London – Penzance
    • Penzance – London
  • Reservations required
  • Sleeping Carriages:
    • Single and Twin sleepers available
    • Every sleeper has a washbasin and includes bedding
    • Rooms are equipped with USB ports, power sockets, WiFi, and a free bottle of water.
    • A light breakfast is provided in the morning and inclusive in the ticket price
    • Complimentary tea, coffee, and water are provided in the lounge car for sleeper passengers
    • Sleeper passengers are allowed access to lounges at London Paddington and Penzance
  • Seating Carriage
    • 2nd Class only
    • No access to lounges at the departure station
  • The train is equipped with a bar and lounge car selling drinks, and snacks
  • Toilets are located at the end of each carriage
  • Operated by Great Western Railway

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
British Pullman
Northern Belle

Routes

Frequently Travelled Routes In England

National

From > To
Duration (h) Changes Transport
London to Liverpool 2:14 Direct Train
London to Cambridge 0:48-1:23 Direct Train
London to Birmingham 1:29 Direct Train
London to Sheffield 2:10 Direct Train
London to Manchester 2:07 Direct Train
Liverpool to Birmingham 1:46 Direct Train
London to Brighton 0:58 Direct Train
Liverpool to Leeds 1:45 Direct Train
Liverpool to Newcastle 3:17 Direct Train
Manchester to Liverpool 0:36-1:17 Direct Train

 

 

International

From > To
Duration (h) Changes Transport
London to Glasgow, Scotland 4:49 Direct Train
London to Edinburgh, Scotland 4:20 Direct Train
London to Brussels, Belgium 2:01 Direct Train
London to Paris, France 2:19 Direct Train
London to Cardiff, Wales 1:51 Direct Train
Liverpool to Dublin, Ireland 6:40-7:39 1-2 Ferry via Isle of Man, Train & Ferry via Holyhead, Wales
Newcastle to Amsterdam, Netherlands 17:03 1 Ferry & Bus

 

England travel routes

The Mystical Orient Express

The Mystical Orient Express

England: The Loop Around London

England: The Loop Around London

Main Train Stations

  • London St. Pancras
  • London Kings Cross
  • London Paddington
  • London Euston
  • Birmingham New Street
  • Liverpool Lime Street
  • Manchester Piccadilly

Train Tours in England

Good to know

Best Time To Travel To England

We recommend traveling anytime between May and October because the weather is cool in spring and autumn, and during the summer the sun comes out; however, keep in mind the English flock to the seaside so expect crowds and higher prices. During wintertime, England has cold, dark, and rainy winters, which isn’t perfect for exploring but still manageable.

Whether you want to visit the thatched houses in the Cotswolds, see the famed Stonehenge, take a ride in the London Eye, swim in the Lake District, tour Harry Potter Studios, or wander the coast in Cornwall, England truly has so much to offer and it’s extremely accessible by train!

 

  • High Season: July – September
  • Low Season: October – March

Accommodation In England

Booking

The best place to find cheap hotels for is to book by www.booking.com. There you will find a large selection of cheap hotels, hostels, and apartments. > BOOK HERE

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Hostelworld

If you are looking for a low budget accommodation, then go on www.hostelworld.com. They have the best choice of cheap hostels for backpackers and low budget travelers. > BOOK HERE

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Guidebooks For England

Travel with a guidebook ease your journey to find best sights and things to do. Buy it on Amazon.

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