What are my London to Glasgow train options?

Looking for a getaway to Glasgow, one of the world's best city breaks? We've got you covered. Here's our guide to getting a better price on your London to Glasgow train journey and what you can expect when you travel.

There's just one operator that runs direct London to Glasgow train services, which is Avanti West Coast. They run one train per hour (with a couple of extras each day that go via Birmingham). The direct trains on the fastest route take between 4h30m and 4h40m. Let's take a look at the fares that you can expect to pay on the day:

• Anytime Return - £393.00 
• Off-Peak Return - £178.70.

The Off-Peak Return is valid to leave London after 09:05 on Mondays to Thursdays. When you return, you can arrive in London after 10:05. There aren't any restrictions on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays. It's also not possible to break your journey on your outward trip, unless you're changing trains or using station facilities.

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

At Railsmartr, we'll find the best London to Glasgow train fare. This is one journey where split ticketing can be very useful. So, why is that? Put simply, the 'through' Advance fares for London to Glasgow train services (a 'through' fare means buying one ticket from A to B) can be quite high at certain times of the day - and you can still make savings no matter what time of day it is!

Let's take a look at what we get if we want to travel in the morning peak, one week in advance: As you can see, there is a mix of fares and routes available. It's cheaper to use split tickets on everything, though the most logical option for most will be to take the direct train where possible. So, how much do you save if you take the London to Glasgow train at 05:31?

So, that's a £38.60 saving by having one ticket to Crewe then another to Glasgow. That's over 25% saved! You can also save money with split tickets later in the day: In this case, we can see that the cheapest option is the 13:16 service. This train goes via Birmingham, so it's a fair bit slower, but it's a good option if you want to settle in, get some work done and watch the scenery roll by!

What are the trains like?

If you're taking a direct London to Glasgow train, then you'll be taking Avanti West Coast and you’ll have a Pendolino train. They’re currently being refurbished and have either nine or 11 carriages. The refurbished ones have a power socket at every seat:

Meanwhile, Standard Premium and First Class have seats in a 2+1 layout. Wondering what the difference is? We’ve taken a trip to compare them.

Feeling peckish? There’s a shop in Coach C. If you’re in First Class, then you’ll get complimentary food and drink served at your seat.

As for seat comfort, we’d recommend the refurbished trains. They have more legroom, winged headrests and generally more space to stretch out.

Is there anything else I should know?

The final thing we’d recommend is using the Railsmartr website to book your London to Glasgow train journey. We’re completely independent, so we’re happy to ‘tell you like it is’ when it comes to rail fares. Not only that, but we’ll show you the slower, but cheaper options that some websites won’t. Don't forget that we've got split ticketing, too!

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. Looking for some more inspiration? We've taken a day trip to Glasgow.

_{^{All information on this page is issued without liability and was correct at the time of writing (29/02/24). All fares are for ONE adult without Railcard discount. Railsmartr is not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}