What are my Bradford to London train options?

You have two options for a London to Bradford train journey. Firstly, you can go directly on Grand Central from Bradford Interchange. Or, you can take a small number of direct trains on LNER from Bradford Forster Square. If there isn’t a direct option available, you can head for Leeds first for an LNER connection. Let’s take a look at both companies.

Grand Central

Grand Central runs direct from Bradford Interchange to London King’s Cross. You’ll find up to four trains in each direction every day. However, one of these trains currently runs only between Wakefield Kirkgate and London. Here’s the typical stopping pattern:

• • Low Moor, Halifax, Brighouse, Mirfield, Wakefield Kirkgate, Pontefract Monkhill*, Doncaster and London King’s Cross.

Not all trains stop at Pontefract Monkhill. The journey takes between 2h40m and 3h25m depending on the path that the train has. Some of them have a fairly clear run, while others have a lot of padding built in so they can fit around other trains. Here are the fares that you can expect to pay on the day:

• • Anytime Return - £187.80
  • Off-Peak Return - £110.10.

The Off-Peak Return isn’t valid on the 06:59 train from Bradford Interchange on weekdays. When you return, it isn’t valid on the 16:27 train from London King’s Cross on weekdays. There aren’t any restrictions on weekends and Bank Holidays.

LNER

Your other option for a Bradford to London train journey is to take LNER. They run a few trains direct from Bradford Forster Square, but you’ll need to change at Leeds at other times. There are two return trips on Mondays to Saturdays and one on Sundays. From Leeds, you’ll find two trains every hour.

The stopping pattern can vary, though the 06:30 train from Bradford Forster Square stops only at Shipley, Leeds, Wakefield Westgate and London King’s Cross. The journey time varies between 2h30m and 2h45m, though it could be a little longer if you need to change at Leeds.

Here are the fares that you can expect to pay on the day. LNER only offers single fares:

• • Anytime Single - £162.10
  • Super Off-Peak Single - £72.90.

The Super Off-Peak Single is valid to arrive in London after 11:17 on Mondays to Thursdays. When you return, it’s valid between 09:06 and 14:59 and after 18:59 on a Monday to Thursday. There aren’t any restrictions (when using LNER) on a Friday, and there aren’t any restrictions on any operator on weekends and Bank Holidays.

How do I get the cheapest Bradford to London train fare?

You can get the cheapest Bradford to London train fare with Railsmartr. Let’s see what we can find a month in advance:

As you can see, Grand Central are indeed the cheapest option, though they’re a little slower. Meanwhile, there doesn’t seem to be any Advance fare availability on the trains that leave Bradford at 08 minutes past the hour (which connects with the trains to London at 45 minutes past).

What are the trains like?

Let’s take a look at what trains are like on the Bradford to London route and what you can expect to find on board.

Grand Central

You can expect an Adelante train if you travel with Grand Central as your Bradford to London train option. They have five carriages. All seats in Standard Class are in a 2+2 layout and there’s a power socket at every window seat:

There’s a buffet counter, too. In First Class, the seats are in a 2+1 layout. You’re still entitled to some complimentary food and drink, but it’s more along the lines of drinks and snacks rather than a proper meal!

The seats are a little more comfortable than on LNER and they’re tilted back a little, so you can sit back and relax rather than being forced upright. The only issue is that legroom isn’t quite so good, especially at the table seats. If you’re working at a laptop, the airline-style seats can be a bit tricky. The tilt of the seat means that you need to have the laptop hanging off the edge of the table!

The overhead racks aren’t huge, either. You’ll struggle to get anything bigger than a small backpack into them, as they’re very shallow.

LNER

If you’re using LNER, then you’ll have an Azuma train. They have a mixture of five, nine and ten carriages. Seating is in a 2+2 layout in Standard Class:

You’ll find power sockets under every seat and a cafe bar. It’s also possible to order food and drink directly to your seat by scanning a QR code on the seatback. In First Class, you’ll also have access to USB ports under your armrest. Feeling peckish? There’s a complimentary menu on every train. You can expect, at minimum, sandwiches, snacks and hot and cold drinks (including alcohol after 11am). On many trains, you’ll get hot food, as well.

When it comes to seat comfort, the seats in both classes can be a little firm. However, the legroom is pretty good, so there’s a bit of 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 Bradford to London 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.

_{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 14:00 05/10/2023. All information is issued in good faith. Flexible fares correct at September 2024. 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.}