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London King's Cross to Durham trains
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Passengers
Relax on your way to Durham
Soak up the stunning landscapes of the English countryside as you speed smoothly between London and Durham.
Enjoy our excellent range of refreshments, or catch forty winks in our comfy seats. With LNER, you'll arrive in style - and with a little extra spending money in your pocket!
Average travel time
2h 56m
Distance
233 miles
Cheapest train tickets from London to Durham
Today's train times
Upcoming direct journeys for London Kings Cross to Durham trains
Things to do in Durham
Durham’s famous Cathedral is just the tip of the iceberg. Wander heather-topped hills, explore twisty cobbled streets and feed your brain with museums and architecture.
Durham Cathedral
You’ll get an awesome view of Durham Cathedral as you approach the station on the East Coast Main Line. To see the magnificent Norman building up-close and personal, walk over Framwellgate Bridge or take the shuttle bus. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – that puts it in the top division of tourist hotspots. Clamber up 325 steps to be rewarded with views that’ll make you go ‘wow!’ – Durham City, the River Wear and the Angel of the North.
Durham CathedralShildon National Railway Museum
Do the locomotion at Shildon National Railway Museum, the little brother of the more famous York attraction. Relive the romance of steam travel in days gone by and admire the workmanship that went into building real steam engines. It’s locomotives galore, but if you’re looking for cheap train tickets, booking online with LNER is the best bet.
Shildon National Railway MuseumOriental Museum
The Oriental Museum, part of Durham University, gathers together beautiful objects and ancient stories from every corner of Asia and North Africa. Archaeology buffs, art historians and anyone who loves exquisite things will be round-eyed with awe at the Tibetan wall-hangings and Chinese jade. At £1.50 for adult admission and 75p for kids, it’s a total steal.
Oriental Museum
Durham Cathedral
You’ll get an awesome view of Durham Cathedral as you approach the station on the East Coast Main Line. To see the magnificent Norman building up-close and personal, walk over Framwellgate Bridge or take the shuttle bus. The cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – that puts it in the top division of tourist hotspots. Clamber up 325 steps to be rewarded with views that’ll make you go ‘wow!’ – Durham City, the River Wear and the Angel of the North.
Durham CathedralShildon National Railway Museum
Do the locomotion at Shildon National Railway Museum, the little brother of the more famous York attraction. Relive the romance of steam travel in days gone by and admire the workmanship that went into building real steam engines. It’s locomotives galore, but if you’re looking for cheap train tickets, booking online with LNER is the best bet.
Shildon National Railway MuseumOriental Museum
The Oriental Museum, part of Durham University, gathers together beautiful objects and ancient stories from every corner of Asia and North Africa. Archaeology buffs, art historians and anyone who loves exquisite things will be round-eyed with awe at the Tibetan wall-hangings and Chinese jade. At £1.50 for adult admission and 75p for kids, it’s a total steal.
Oriental Museum
Discover more things to do and places to see on our trains to Durham page.

Get a little extra with your journey
Not only will you never pay a booking fee when you book your ticket with LNER, you can also sign up for LNER Perks.
When you sign up for Perks, you'll get:
Get £5 free to spend on your next journey
2% back on all LNER journeys
Download the LNER app or find out more about LNER Perks and sign up today.
How to book cheap tickets for your Durham to London train
Book your Durham to London train in advance
Buying your Durham to London train ticket at least four weeks in advance ahead of your travel date can save you up to 47%* on on-the-day train ticket prices.
Buy a Standard Advance ticket through the LNER website and app at least four weeks before you travel, and you'll save up to 47%* compared to buying any Standard ticket on the day of travel.
Book in advanceSave 1/3 on your Durham to London train with a Railcard
A Railcard is a discount card that allows you to save money on train travel throughout Great Britain, which often offers 1/3 off the cost of your train tickets on most routes.
RailcardsSave 63%** on high-speed Durham to London trains
Travel between 17 cities and save on average 63%** when you're travelling with up to two adults and four children. Use one Family ticket for the whole family and get a reserved seat for everyone.
Family SinglesUse our Deal Finder for the cheapest Durham to London trains
Access the best train fares on trains from Durham to London King's Cross easily with the LNER app. Use Deal Finder to find the lowest prices on train tickets by simply entering your travel details. It's your shortcut to easier and more affordable travel!
Get the LNER App
Book your Durham to London train in advance
Buying your Durham to London train ticket at least four weeks in advance ahead of your travel date can save you up to 47%* on on-the-day train ticket prices.
Buy a Standard Advance ticket through the LNER website and app at least four weeks before you travel, and you'll save up to 47%* compared to buying any Standard ticket on the day of travel.
Book in advanceSave 1/3 on your Durham to London train with a Railcard
A Railcard is a discount card that allows you to save money on train travel throughout Great Britain, which often offers 1/3 off the cost of your train tickets on most routes.
RailcardsSave 63%** on high-speed Durham to London trains
Travel between 17 cities and save on average 63%** when you're travelling with up to two adults and four children. Use one Family ticket for the whole family and get a reserved seat for everyone.
Family SinglesUse our Deal Finder for the cheapest Durham to London trains
Access the best train fares on trains from Durham to London King's Cross easily with the LNER app. Use Deal Finder to find the lowest prices on train tickets by simply entering your travel details. It's your shortcut to easier and more affordable travel!
Get the LNER App
* Saving average based on all Standard Advance tickets bought on the LNER website and App at least four weeks before you travel vs buying any Standard ticket on the day you travel.
** Average saving is based on two adults and two children travelling with an LNER Family Single vs Advance fare.
Take the train to Durham from London with LNER
Taking the train from London to Durham is quick and easy with LNER.
Covering a distance of 233 miles, our trains to Durham from London take just 2h 56m.
Once on-board, you'll be able to order food directly to your seat, browse the internet with free Wi-Fi, and charge your phone with a plug at every table.
And for a more luxurious London to durham train journey, travel First Class – with wider seats, complimentary food and drinks, and use of our First Class lounge at London.
Related FAQs
Are there direct trains between London King's Cross and Durham?
Are there direct trains between London King's Cross and Durham?
Yes, direct LNER trains run from London King's Cross to Durham, a journey that normally takes just over 2h 56m.During the week, there are approximately 10 direct LNER trains per day between 06:15 and 22:00.
Which rail lines go through Durham?
Which rail lines go through Durham?
The principal trains going through Durham station are LNER, CrossCountry, Northern Trains, and TransPennineExpress.
Can you buy a Season Ticket between London King's Cross and Durham?
Can you buy a Season Ticket between London King's Cross and Durham?
From seven days to twelve months, we offer a lot of Season Ticket options for the traveller going from London King's Cross to Durham.
Do you offer a student discount on train tickets?
Do you offer a student discount on train tickets?
We don't offer a student discount however, you can purchase a 16-25 Railcard and save 1/3 on train tickets.
How can I apply for compensation if my train is delayed or cancelled?
How can I apply for compensation if my train is delayed or cancelled?
Cancelled train
In the rare event that your train is cancelled, we offer full refunds (assuming you don't take an alternative train). Be sure to apply for the refund within 28 days of the cancelled journey date.
If you meet these conditions, follow these steps for your refund:
- Swipe down the page and click on ‘Amend journey’ or ‘Request a refund’
- Notify us of the reason for the refund request by pressing 'My train was cancelled' and then ‘Continue’
- Enter your details and submit your request
Already collected your tickets or had them posted to you?
If you’ve already received your printed tickets, you'll need to fill in our Change of Plans form and follow the instructions included.
Was your train delayed by at least 30 minutes?
On our Delay Repay page, you can learn about compensation if your train is delayed. For future LNER journeys, book through our website or app, then choose One-Click Delay Repay to ensure claiming for a delayed journey is as easy as possible.