London to York: How to Get There by Train, Car or Coach (and as a Day Trip)
Getting from London to York is easy: direct trains from King’s Cross take about two hours, and you arrive in a station that’s a 10-minute walk from the old town. You can even do it as a day trip.
I’ve taken the LNER train out of King’s Cross on my way up to Harrogate, which runs on the same main line north, so I know the journey and the booking tricks well. This guide covers the train (the best option for almost everyone), driving, the coach, and how to do York as a day trip from London.
London to York at a Glance
| Option | Time | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | 1 hr 45 min to 2 hrs | about £23 one way in advance | Almost everyone |
| Car | about 4 hrs | fuel and parking | Touring the countryside afterwards |
| Coach | 4 hrs 30 min to 6 hrs | from about £5 to £11 one way in advance | Travelling on a tight budget |
Times and fares last checked October 2026. Fares change constantly, so treat them as a guide.
London to York by Train
The train is the fastest, easiest and often the cheapest way to get from London to York. Trains leave from London King’s Cross and run up the East Coast Main Line, with around 80 trains a day. The fastest take about 1 hour 45 minutes; most take around 2 hours. You arrive at York station, a grand Victorian building just outside the city walls.
Which Train Companies Run from London to York?
- LNER (London North Eastern Railway): runs most direct trains, at least twice an hour for most of the day, on modern Azuma trains.
- Grand Central: an open-access operator with a few direct trains a day from King’s Cross to York. Fares can be cheaper, but tickets are often only valid on their own trains, so check before you book.
How to Get Cheap Train Tickets from London to York
Train fares in Britain can be eye-wateringly expensive on the day and surprisingly cheap if you plan ahead. These are the tips I use:
- Book Advance tickets early. Advance fares are released around 12 weeks ahead and are the cheapest by far, from about £23 one way. They’re only valid on the train you book, so don’t miss it.
- Travel off-peak. Avoid weekday trains leaving London between about 4pm and 7pm, and Friday evenings, which are the busiest and most expensive.
- Get a railcard if you qualify. Railcards knock a third off most fares. The Two Together Railcard (for two named adults travelling together) and the 16–25, 26–30 and Senior railcards are the most useful for visitors. They cost £35 a year and usually pay for themselves on one return trip. Some have time restrictions (for example, the Two Together and Senior railcards can’t be used before 9.30am on weekdays), so check before you buy.
- Book direct with LNER or a ticket app. The LNER app shows Advance fares clearly and lets you pick seats. Mobile tickets work fine.
- Look at First Class. Booked early, an Advance First ticket on LNER is sometimes only a little more than Standard, and includes complimentary food and drinks at your seat. It’s a nice treat for a two-hour journey.
Tips for the Journey
- Reserve a seat. Trains get busy, especially on Fridays, Sundays and December weekends. Advance tickets come with a reservation; with flexible tickets, add one for free when you book.
- Want peace? Book a seat in the Quiet Coach.
- Arrive at King’s Cross 15 to 20 minutes early. The platform is announced shortly before departure, and the station is busy. Harry Potter fans should look for Platform 9¾ in the main concourse.
- Coming from Heathrow? Take the Elizabeth line or the Piccadilly line towards King’s Cross. Allow at least an hour.
- Flying in from abroad? Sort your phone data first. When I travel I use Airalo eSIMs, always a single-country plan, in about 15 countries so far, including the UK when I was still visiting, before I moved here. It’s a little pricier than buying a local SIM card when you arrive, but much more convenient: you set it up before you fly and it’s ready when you land. My one tip: follow the setup instructions closely.
Arriving at York Station
York station sits just outside the city walls. It’s about a 10-minute walk to the centre and 15 minutes to York Minster: cross the road, walk through the arch in the walls and follow the river over Lendal Bridge. The free National Railway Museum is right behind the station, if you have an hour to spare before your train home.
London to York by Car
York is about 200 miles from London, and the drive takes around 4 hours without traffic, mostly on the A1(M). I wouldn’t drive just to visit York itself: parking in the city is expensive and scarce, and you won’t need a car to get around.
A car makes sense if you’re touring Yorkshire afterwards: the Dales, the North York Moors and the coast are much easier to explore by car. In that case, my tip is to take the train to York and pick up a hire car on the day you leave the city. You can compare car hire on Booking.com. If you do drive into York, use one of the Park & Ride sites on the ring road.
London to York by Coach
The coach is the cheapest way to get from London to York. National Express and FlixBus run coaches throughout the day from London Victoria Coach Station (some also stop at Golders Green or Finchley Road), arriving next to York station. The fastest take about 4 hours 30 minutes, but many take 5 to 6 hours. Booked a few weeks ahead, fares can be as low as £5 to £11 one way; closer to the day they’re usually around £20 to £30, which is still often less than a train ticket bought on the day.
The trade-off is time: you’ll spend two to four hours longer on the road than on the train. If you’re on a budget and don’t mind a longer trip, the coach is great value. If time matters more, book an Advance train ticket.
Can You Do a Day Trip from London to York?
Yes. With a two-hour train each way, you get around seven or eight hours in York, which is enough for the main sights. It’s a long day, though, so here’s how I’d plan it:
- Around 7.30am: train from King’s Cross; arrive in York by about 9.30am.
- Carrying bags? Drop them at luggage storage near York station first. You don’t want to haul a suitcase up the steps to the city walls.
- Morning: walk to Bootham Bar and do the best stretch of the city walls to Monk Bar, then York Minster.
- Lunch: Shambles Market, then the Shambles.
- Afternoon: Jorvik Viking Centre or Clifford’s Tower, then a drink in one of York’s historic pubs.
- Early evening: dinner near the station and a train back to London.
Book Advance tickets for both directions to keep the cost down. If you can, though, stay at least one night: you’ll see the Shambles before the crowds and York after dark, which are two of the best things about it. My York itinerary has plans for 1, 2 and 3 days, and my guide to where to stay in York covers the best areas and hotels.
Going Further: London to the Rest of Yorkshire
- Harrogate: a few direct LNER trains a day from King’s Cross take just under 3 hours; otherwise change at Leeds, or go to York and take the 38-minute train from there. See the best things to do in Harrogate.
- The coast and the Moors: take the train to York, then a train to Scarborough (about 50 minutes) or a hire car or tour to Whitby. See my day trips from York.
- The Yorkshire Dales: easiest by car from York, Harrogate or Leeds. See my Yorkshire Dales guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the train from London to York?
The fastest direct trains from London King’s Cross take about 1 hour 45 minutes. Most take around 2 hours.
How much is the train from London to York?
Advance tickets start at around £23 one way if you book early. Tickets bought on the day can cost several times that, so book ahead and use a railcard if you can. On a tight budget, the coach is cheaper still, from around £5 booked in advance.
Which London station goes to York?
London King’s Cross. Direct trains run from there to York throughout the day.
Is York worth a day trip from London?
Yes. It’s one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips from London, with a cathedral, medieval walls and streets, and great museums, all walkable from the station. But it’s even better with a night or two.
Is it better to take the train or drive from London to York?
The train, for a city break: it’s twice as fast and you don’t need a car in York. Drive (or hire a car in York) only if you’re touring the Yorkshire countryside afterwards.
Plan the Rest of Your Trip
- See the best things to do in York, and plan your days with my York itinerary.
- Visiting in November or December? Don’t miss the York Christmas Market.
- Building a longer trip? Start with Plan your Yorkshire trip.
