What are my London to Cardiff train options?

The direct London Paddington to Cardiff train is operated by Great Western Railway. You usually find two trains per hour on this route, stopping at the following stations Off-Peak:

• • Reading, Didcot Parkway, Swindon, Bristol Parkway, Newport, and Cardiff Central.

The typical journey time is around 2hrs. During the early morning and late evening, some trains also stop at Didcot Parkway.

If you travel with a cheaper Off-Peak Return, you can use your ticket between 09:17 and 16:40 and after 18:32 on weekdays. It’s valid at any time on weekends and Bank Holidays. On the return trip, you can leave Cardiff after 08:09 on weekdays.

There are more restrictions the Super Off-Peak Return, which is valid from London Paddington between 10:15 and 15:01, and after 19:01 on weekdays. The return part is valid to leave Cardiff before 05:30 and after 09:40 on weekdays. There aren’t any restrictions on weekends or Bank Holidays.

Are there any other routes I can take?

If you’re looking to travel on a London to Cardiff train on a budget, then it’s also possible to go via Warminster and Salisbury. For this route, you start your journey from London Waterloo. This is an extremely slow option but can be worth it if the trains from Paddington are either too expensive or fully reserved.

How do I get the best London to Cardiff train fare?

The best advice that we have for finding a cheap London to Cardiff fare is to aim for the trains that terminate at Cardiff Central. These trains usually leave London Paddington at 18 minutes past the hour. The trains at 48 minutes past tend to be busier, as they continue to Swansea or Carmarthen.

What are the trains like?

You’ll find the same type of train on all of the London to Cardiff train services. These are InterCity Express trains, and they have five, nine, or 10 carriages. Every seat has access to a three-pin power socket and there’s free WiFi available. All seats in Standard Class are in a 2+2 layout:

All of these trains also have First Class. The seats are in a 2+1 layout and have all of the same features you’ll find in Standard, as well as USB charging points. 

Is there anything else I should know?

The final thing we’d recommend is using the Railsmartr website to book your London to Cardiff train tickets. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to rail fares!

Don’t forget that we don’t charge any fees, either. That includes if you change your mind and want to travel on a different day. If your ticket is refundable, we’ll refund it fee-free, too.

_{^{Flexible fares & validity correct on 28 March 2025. All information is issued in good faith. They’re subject to change at any time and Railsmartr are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}