Things to do in London, England: The Best Railways

February 18, 2022 Toi Mattera

The crown jewels, Buckingham Palace, Camden Market…in London, history collides with art, fashion, food, and good British ale. A perfect day is different for everyone: culture aficionados shouldn't miss the Tate Modern and the Royal Opera House. If you love fashion, Oxford Street has shopping galore. For foodies, cream tea at Harrod’s or crispy fish from a proper chippy offers classic London flavor. Music and book buffs will love seeing Abbey Road and the Sherlock Holmes Museum (at 221B Baker Street, of course).
Restaurants in London

1. Docklands Light Railway

London E14 0DS England +44 343 222 1234 http://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/what-we-do/docklands-light-railway
Excellent
61%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 408 reviews

Docklands Light Railway

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) offers high-frequency links between two of the world's most important financial districts - The City and Docklands - and regeneration areas in east and south east London.

Reviewed By karensR2745QW - London, United Kingdom

An excellent way of travelling around London from just outside central London and leading in. Trains run very frequently and you can often connect to a main railway station to go into central London or further out. Tickets, Oyster cards and travel passes all accepted (check times for travel using freedom pass). A couple of useful places it goes to are London City Airport, Canary Wharf, London O2 arena and Westfield Stratford. This is an overground rail service.

2. London Bridge Station

London England https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stations/london-bridge/
Excellent
46%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 28 reviews

London Bridge Station

Reviewed By therichastill - Stevenage, United Kingdom

London Bridge Railway station underwent a HUGE redevelopment a couple of years ago and now it is very impressive. Previously it had been a cobbled together mish mash of bits added on and now it is quite grand. There are trains running by South Eastern Trains from Charing Cross and Cannon Street to South East London and Kent. There are also trains run by Thameslink from Cambridge, Peterborough, Bedford & Luton Airport to Brighton, Horsham, Rainham and Gatwick Airport so it is a very busy station! There are also links to the Tube with the station being served by the Northern Line and Jubilee Line. To get to the main concourse you walk through a lot of arches which have now been adapted to accommodate small shops. The station has entrances at ground level but as you walk in you can see how high the platforms are above the street with long escalators, staircases and lifts to take you up to get your train. There are a number of retail outlets on the concourse to get snacks, drinks and some medical items. Overall the station is easy to navigate and a handy interchange.

3. Liverpool Street Station

Liverpool Street Station, London EC2M 7QH England +44 845 711 4141 http://www.networkrail.co.uk/stations/liverpool-street/
Excellent
29%
Good
49%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
3%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 439 reviews

Liverpool Street Station

Reviewed By GreenInsights - Perth, Australia

Plenty happening at the station with links to the underground lines as well as long distance trains with GWR. Mezzanine level offers plenty of food outlets with a view and includes a very busy Wetherspoons and plenty of retail favs all under cover. Good FREE toilets towards the street exit.

4. Heathrow Express

Heathrow Airport, London England +44 345 600 1515 http://heathrowexpress.com
Excellent
49%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
5%
Terrible
11%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1,405 reviews

Heathrow Express

Heathrow Express is the fastest way between Central London and Heathrow Airport. With frequent departures and a 15 minute journey time to Terminals 2&3 and a few minutes more to Terminal 4 or 5, the non-stop service achieved 96% overall satisfaction in the latest National Rail Passenger Survey. On board the modern fleet of fully electric and air conditioned trains customers can enjoy complimentary 4G Wi-Fi, at seat power, dedicated luggage space and good accessibility for wheelchair users.

Reviewed By AthosTA - Lincoln, United Kingdom

So ... Heathrow Express - an express service From London Paddington station to Heathrow Terminals 2/3. and T5. If you want T4 you need to change @ T2/3. Its pricey unless you book online and as far ahead as possible - but you can get a weekend single for as little as £5.50 if you can give 90 days notice. Its a fast, non-stop train between Paddington & T2/3 (15 minutes and an extra five on to T5) and should run every 15 minutes. There always seems to be ample luggage space. There are walkways, lifts & escalators (and some moving walkways) to the terminals. To me, the joy of Heathrow Express is that it gets you seamlessly to the centre of London where it then becomes a short tube or taxi ride to a hotel or another station. Certainly, if you're tired, have family, luggage and don't know London the HEX will get you in quickly and then then a cab-ride will give you an idea of where you are, at ground level, often seeing some of the sights, and possibly with a driver who'll happily talk to you. When you're settled - then take the tube, or bus, or walk ... but to reach the centre from LHR I'd always look to use the HEX. Where HEX does fall down is if you're travelling to T4. You need to change at T2/3 for a service to T4 which might be a shuttle between the two stations or the regular (half-hourly) Transport for London (TfL) suburban train from Paddington to T4. This is slower and stops at a number of stations on its way into London and the single fare is only £10.00. The TfL train stops at Ealing Broadway - change for District & Central lines - so if they're convenient for you - take it. (The tube is slow and complex - 56 minutes from Kings Cross to Terminal 3, and 23 stops) Oyster & Contacless are valid on Heathrow Express And ... in a cosmopolitan city like London ... the staff are almost always friendly & helpful.

5. Heathrow Connect

Westbourne Gardens, London W2 6BR England +44 844 824 3115 http://www.heathrowconnect.com/
Excellent
41%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
7%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 41 reviews

Heathrow Connect

Reviewed By therichastill - Stevenage, United Kingdom

Heathrow Connect was started as an alternative way to get to Heathrow Airport from Central London and the intermediate stations in between. These trains are not related to the Heathrow Express which runs non-stop from Heathrow to Paddington. Heathrow Connect is now part of Transport For London (TfL) as ultimately it will be swallowed up as part of the Crossrail project. Watch this space! The service is pretty good and the trains are all quite spacious and well lit. Wifi is available and there is a bit more extra space for your luggage. It's not the cheapest way to get to Central London, if you want the cheapest I would suggest getting the Picadilly Line instead. Heathrow Connect will take you to Paddington and then you will have to get the Tube for onward connections so it's horses for courses. You decide.

6. Gatwick Express

Victoria St, Victoria South Terminal, London Gatwick Aiport, London RH6 0NP England +44 845 850 1530 http://www.gatwickexpress.com/
Excellent
32%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
7%
Terrible
21%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 685 reviews

Gatwick Express

Reviewed By Bobalobajob - St Ives, United Kingdom

Fly in to North Terminal...and grab the shuttle to South terminal..then head through to the trains departure hall....Gatwick Express ticket office is at the far end on the right...grab a ticket and down to the platform.. Super fast efficient clean express train from Gatwick to Victoria...30 minutes non stop...fantastic Really great value Carriages are clean air conditioned and comfortable Can’t recommend this service highly enough..makes the journey between these two points on your travels, very enjoyable

7. Transport For London

London England +44 343 222 1234 https://web.facebook.com/transportforlondon/?_rdc=1&_rdr
Excellent
51%
Good
8%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
5%
Terrible
28%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 39 reviews

Transport For London

Reviewed By georgiab660 - Plano, United States

My husband and I travel to the UK each year. It includes a stay in London with a friend. Regardless of the location of the tube station, if there is an issue with my Oyster card I am always told off a bit for not using it properly-it certainly can’t be the aged card reader . I always get a bit of a chuckle and it wouldn’t be London Transport if I didn’t get told off in just the nicest British way. By the way, you must get an Oyster card even if it’s your first and only visit to the city. It’s easy to use and to top up.

8. London Euston Station

Euston Road, London NW1 2BF England +44 345 711 4141 http://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/london-euston/
Excellent
23%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
21%
Poor
8%
Terrible
7%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 119 reviews

London Euston Station

London Euston is the sixth busiest railway station in Britain, the southern terminus of the West Coast Mainline and the busiest passenger route in Britain. Serving over 71 million people each year, it’s a gateway from London to popular destinations like Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Reviewed By rumblenewfy

My husband had eye op which meant he had no sight whatsoever and had to be guided by me. As we arrived at the station we were approached by a very kind member of staff offering assistance. He took us to the disability office where we were driven right in to the train ahead of everyone. Very kind and caring staff. Thank you!

9. Eurostar

London England +44 343 218 6186 http://www.eurostar.com/uk-en
Excellent
34%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
8%
Terrible
25%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 705 reviews

Eurostar

Reviewed By unknown2u18

Irvine; Jean Paul and Rachid took the best care of my mother and I. This was our first time traveling out of Country (London & Paris getaway) and we booked Standard Premier tickets from London to Paris. I didn't realize that the seats I booked were "backwards" and my 72 year old mom found it very disorienting. They immediatly helped us move to forward facing seats which really helped. The cars and restrooms were well tended/clean and the food was great. The service was fantastic and scenery just lovely. *Be sure to get a photo on the platform at the London station, they have a beautiful statue of a soldier and his lady saying good-bye and a neon sign below a large clock that reads "I want my time with you"

10. Caledonian Sleeper Train

London England +44 330 060 0500 http://www.sleeper.scot/destination/london/
Excellent
36%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
18%
Poor
9%
Terrible
22%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 33 reviews

Caledonian Sleeper Train

Reviewed By douglasdI2882DD

Having used the Sleeper Service going home at Christmas over the past few years and enjoyed it, I was really keen to try the new trains. There has been a few teething problem's in its birth like anything. I have to say I cannot find fault. I booked myself the Double En Suite Berth - absolutely fantastic. Full size Double Bed. Shower Toilet and Wash-hand Bason. Crisp clean Bed Linen, Dimmer Lights, Air Conditioning, Wi-Fi, Plug and Charger points. Really comfortable Bed, slept very well. You can have your Cooked breakfast delivered to your Room - I chose to have mine in the Lounge Car - it was delicious. Hot Coffee, Orange Juice. Can't fault one single thing. Well worth the price paid. Will do it again.

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