One of the things I love about living in London is that there are so many beautiful rail journeys one can take from the UK capital. From day trips to weekend getaways and longer escapes, there’s no shortage of scenic train rides from London. Today I want to share my favorites with you. Whether you’re interested in visiting cities, the coast, or the countryside, there’s one for you. I’ve included a map, too.
Scenic Train Rides from London
The best thing about rail journeys from the city is that there’s an abundance of them. Whether you want to visit somewhere in Britain or venture into Europe, you’re spoiled for choice.
I’ve written a lot about train trips from London. From day trips to weekend escapes and rail travel to Europe, I’ve covered an abundance of related topics.
I’ve even blogged about villages near London by train and walks near London by rail. I’ve published a guide to where to eat near London’s train stations, too.
But today I want to focus on British rail journeys that are particularly scenic. From stunning countryside to dramatic coastline, there are some that stand out above the rest. I hope you enjoy my list.
If you’re new to British rail travel, you’ll want to take a look at my blog post with tips for train travel in the UK before you go. It will help you navigate the system and save on tickets.
You can also book a guided or independent tour. Whether you go to Edinburgh, the Lake District, Yorkshire, or somewhere else, it will save you time and ensure you see the best sights. You can take a look at options and book one here.
1. Settle to Carlisle Railway
I’ll start my list of scenic train rides from London with the famous Settle to Carlisle Railway. This 73-mile (117-kilometer) line in the north of England is one of the most beautiful train journeys I’ve ever taken (think rolling hills and fluffy sheep and you’ll get the idea).
The route runs between Settle, which is in the foothills of the Pennines (you can get there from London via a train to Leeds), and Carlisle, which is near the border of England and Scotland (you can get there from London on a direct rail service).
Constructed in the 1870s, the Settle-Carlisle line is still one of the most beloved railways in the UK. Along the route it traverses remote regions of the Yorkshire Dales and the North Pennines. It takes in 20 viaducts and 14 tunnels, including the stunning Ribblehead Viaduct.
If you’re traveling from Settle to Carlisle, make sure to sit on the right-hand side of the train facing the direction of travel. You’ll get the best views throughout the 1-hour-and-45-minute journey.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay along the line, my top pick is the Eden Valley. This part of Cumbria is one of my favorite places to experience the English countryside. It’s worth a special trip.
2. East Coast Main Line
Perhaps it’s because I did this train journey every week for two years, but the East Coast Main Line is one of my favorite scenic train rides from London.
This 393-mile (632-kilometer) route goes all the way from London King’s Cross station to Edinburgh Waverley.
Along the way it stops at Stevenage, Peterborough, Grantham, Newark North Gate, Retford, Doncaster, York, Northallerton, Darlington, Durham, Newcastle, Morpeth, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, and Dunbar.
This is one of the great British railway journeys for good reason: the stretch along the coast in County Durham, Northumberland, and the Scottish Borders nothing short of breathtaking.
From the views of Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island to the sight of Durham Cathedral rising above the city, the route is packed with one iconic sight after another.
The railway bridge over the river in Berwick-upon-Tweed offers one of the most majestic views in the country, which is to say nothing of the beaches along the Scottish coast before the train reaches its final destination.
If you’re traveling from London to Edinburgh, make sure to sit on the right-hand side of the train facing the direction of travel. You’ll get the best views of the coast throughout the 4 to 5-hour journey.
3. West Coast Main Line
I’ve spent a lot more time on the East Coast Main Line than the west, but the handful of times I’ve taken the train from London to Glasgow and other destinations have shown me that the West Coast Main Line rivals its counterpart in scenic beauty.
The West Coast Main Line covers a route of nearly 400 miles (640 kilometers) between London Euston and Glasgow Central in Scotland.
Along the way trains stop at Watford Junction, Milton Keynes Central, Rugby, Stafford, Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, Preston, Lancaster, Oxenholme Lake District, Penrith, and Carlisle.
There are also spur lines that serve hubs like Stoke-on-Trent, Macclesfield, Stockport, Manchester, Runcorn, and Liverpool.
I’ve particularly enjoyed two trips on this line. Both were in winter, and Cumbria was dusted with snow. It was amazing to see the hills powder white, especially the stunning section through the Northern Fells between Carnforth and Penrith.
If you’re traveling from London to Glasgow, you can sit on either side of the train. If you sit on the right side, the views get good north of Lancaster. If you sit one the left side, you’ll get great views of the coast and the hills around the Lake District.
The total travel time on this route is 4.5 to 5.5-hours, depending which train you take.
Whether you board the busiest mixed-use railway in Europe to visit the Lake District without a car, use it as a jumping-off point for seeing the best of Dumfries and Galloway, or spend a few days in Glasgow, it’s worth a special journey.
4. Cambrian Railway
Next on my list of scenic train rides from London is the Cambrian Railway. Located in Wales, this one covers 120 miles (193 kilometers) of unspoiled natural beauty. It’s one of the most picturesque rail routes in Britain.
The Cambrian Railway consists of two parts: the Cambrian Main Line and the Cambrian Coast Line. The former starts in Shrewsbury. You can get there by rail from London with 1 change en route.
From Shrewsbury, the line crosses over the English border into Wales. From there it runs through rugged mountain terrain, alongside pretty market towns, and past castles as it transports passengers towards the seaside.
At Dovey Junction the Cambrian Main Line merges into the Cambrian Coast Line. It offers spectacular views of coastal villages, Cardigan Bay, Snowdonia, and Portmeirion as it goes north to Pwllheli.
If you’re traveling from Shrewsbury to Pwllheli, make sure to sit on the left-hand side of the train facing the direction of travel. You’ll get great coastal views throughout the 3.75 to 4-hour journey.
5. Cotswolds
If you’re looking for a day trip or overnight getaway from London, my top pick for a scenic train ride is the Cotswolds. I love taking the train to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, not to mention how easy it is.
There are a number of places you can take the train to in the Cotswolds. Services depart from Paddington station, and they go to places like Charlbury, Kingham, and Moreton-in-Marsh.
There are also trains to destinations on the outskirts of the Cotswolds like Bath, Stroud, Cheltenham, Kemble, Gloucester, Hanborough, and others.
You can learn more on my blog post about how to visit the Cotswolds without a car. Additionally, my blog post about spending 3 days in the Cotswolds will show you a great itinerary that uses public transport to get around, and I’ve written about a number of walks in the Cotswolds you can do by train.
Journey times vary depending where you go, but the trip can take as little as 1 hour and 10 minutes. You can sit on either side of the train, as the views of the rolling hills and Cotswold scenery can be seen from both the left and right.
6. Cornwall
Another of my favorite train rides from London is the rail journey to Cornwall. I’ve done this one a number of times, and the scenery in the southwest of England never gets old.
I’ve traveled to Cornwall on both daytime services and the Night Riviera Sleeper train, which runs from London to Penzance. I know this blog post focuses on scenic rides, but even the sleeper train offers them.
The main reason for this is that the highlight of the train journey from London to Cornwall is the St Ives Bay Line. Despite being only 4.25 miles (6.84 kilometers) long, this railway line between St Erth and St Ives is spectacular.
It’s also the last part of the journey if you take the sleeper train from London to St Ives, so you’ll be awake for it (you have to change trains in St Erth).
I certainly was. I couldn’t take my eyes off the views as the train made its way along the coast, past the golden shores of Hayle Towans and Carbis Bay, and into St Ives.
If you’re traveling from London to St Ives, make sure to sit on the right-hand side of the train facing the direction of travel. You’ll be treated to the best views of the Cornish coastline and sea.
The journey time on this route depends on whether you travel by day or night. Daytime trains take at least 5.25 hours, and the sleeper train takes around 9 hours.
7. West Highland Line
Back in Scotland, another of the most scenic train rides from London is the one to Oban or Mallaig via Glasgow. The West Highland Line has featured in the Harry Potter movies and TV shows like The Crown. It has to be seen to be believed.
The line starts in Glasgow (you can get there from London via the aforementioned West Coast Main Line) and splits in Crianlarich. From there it either continues past Loch Awe to Oban (a great jumping-off point for sailing in the Scottish Hebrides), or up to Rannoch Moor, Fort William, and Mallaig.
The West Highland Line has been called one of the world’s most scenic train rides by the BBC. Depending on your final destination, it will transport you from Scotland’s largest city to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, alongside the lochs and glens of the Highlands, under Ben Nevis, and past the stunning Glenfinnan Viaduct.
If you’re traveling from London to Oban or Mallaig, make sure to sit on the left-hand side of the train facing the direction of travel. You’ll be treated to the best views throughout the journey.
The trip from Glasgow to Oban takes around 3 hours and 20 minutes, and the journey from Glasgow to Mallaig takes about 5 hours and 30 minutes. If you alight at Fort William, it’s 3 hours and 50 minutes.
Map
As promised, I’ve created an interactive map of all the places I mentioned in this blog post. You can see it here. I hope it helps you get a feel for where each destination is in relation to London so you can plan your own trip.
Scenic Train Trips from London
I hope my guide to scenic train rides from London has inspired you to take to the rails yourself. It’s a great way to see the best of the coast and countryside in the UK.
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