There are nine major London train stations and your destination will determine which one you use. Be sure to confirm which station your train leaves from — you’re sure to miss it if you go to the wrong one. London Transport has a Stationlink bus that connects the stations and you can often take the Underground from one to another.
Most of the stations were build around the middle of the 19th century, and they’re beautiful architectural marvels of glass and steal. Today, they offer a full range of amenities including shops, restaurants, storage lockers, and other services.
Major London train stations.
Built in 1864, Charing Cross provides service to cities southeast of London, including Canterbury and Dover, as well as English Channel crossing ports. The station connects to London Bridge and Waterloo.
Euston provides service to 50 million passengers a year traveling to northwest England and Scotland. The Station was built in 1837.
Heathrow is located at the airport and provides service to Paddington Station via the Heathrow Express.
A short walk from St. Pancras station, King’s Cross serves York and Edinburgh. Part of King’s Cross was used as Platform 9-¾ in the Harry Potter movie.
If you’re headed to Northern Germany, the Netherlands, or Scandinavia, you’ll travel from Liverpool Street. With 123 million passengers a year, it’s the third busiest London train station.
One of the most historic trains stations in London, Paddington was the original terminus of the Great Western Railway. Although the station has been extensively modernized, many original details have been preserved. Paddington is also a hub of four Underground lines.
St. Pancras was completely overhauled to provide Eurostar service to Paris and Brussels. Today, it’s one of the most modern and appealing railway stations in the world with dozens of restaurants, the longest Champagne bar in Europe, and stores like Marks and Spencer. In fact, the whole area has become gentrified with new hotels and cafes.
Not far from Buckingham Palace, Victoria Station provides service to Sussex, Kent, Brighton, and Gatwick Airport via the Gatwick Express. The second-busiest station in London, it’s the western departure point of the Venice Simplon Orient Express.
Waterloo Station provided Eurostar service until 2007, when it moved to St. Pancras. It’s not only London’s busiest station, it’s also the largest in the country. Waterloo provides service to the south of England, and is best known for the Victory Arch built to honor Britain’s war dead.
Read more about travel by train in Great Britain.
Legend:
1) Charing Cross Station
2) Euston Station
3) Heathrow Station
4) King’s Cross Station
5) Liverpool Street Station
6) Paddington Station
7) St. Pancras Station
8) Victoria Station
9) Waterloo Station