Train travel to and from London and the South
Select the tabs below to view bus travel information for London and Southern England
Fast and frequent trains to London Luton Airport (LTN) from Central London
Travelling to London Luton Airport by train is one of the fastest and easiest ways to reach the airport from London and the South.
If you’re travelling from Central London to London Luton Airport, hop on a frequent direct train with East Midlands Railway or Thameslink to Luton Airport Parkway from St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, London Bridge, and beyond.
- Journeys in as little as 32 minutes from London St Pancras to the terminal
- Up to 10 trains an hour at peak times
- Trains available through the night
- Convenient “tap and go” contactless payments
- Seamless connection to the terminal via the Luton DART shuttle service
London Luton Airport also has great connections with other central London stations, and connecting trains offer easy access from Kent, Surrey and Sussex with minimal changes.
Choose your location from the list below to find out more about your journey.
Jump to: London St Pancras | Farringdon | City Thameslink | London Blackfriars | London Bridge | Elephant & Castle | East Croydon | Gatwick Airport | Three Bridges | Brighton | Sutton | Orpington | Rainham | Horsham | Check times | Buy tickets
Trains from St Pancras International
If you are travelling from St Pancras International, you have two primary, frequent rail options to get you to Luton Airport Parkway. See more:| Operator | Luton Airport Express / EMR | Thameslink |
| First Train (approx.) | 05:45 (Weekdays) | Through the night |
| Last Train (approx.) | 23:51 (Weekdays) | Through the night |
| Journey Time (approx.) | 22–32 minutes | 24–45 minutes |
| Distance | 26 miles (42 km) | 26 miles (42 km) |
| Frequency | Up to 2 trains per hour | Up to 8 trains per hour |
| Changes | Non-stop service | Direct |
| Key Connections | Eurostar, Victoria, Northern, Piccadilly, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan | (Same as EMR) + Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars |
| Price exc Luton DART (Starts from) | £10.00 (Advance) | £6.50 (Advance) |
Luton Airport Express - Fastest
The Luton Airport Express, operated by East Midlands Railway (EMR), is the fastest route from London St Pancras International to the terminal. Departing from the upper level, direct non-stop trains reach Luton Airport Parkway in just 22 minutes.
Thameslink - Most frequent
Thameslink provides the most frequent rail service and offers direct trains to Luton Airport Parkway from multiple Central London locations, including London St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, London Blackfriars and London Bridge.
Other Central London Stops
Ditch the uncertainty of the road and travel directly via fast and frequent train services. Connect to London Luton Airport from key destinations in the heart of the capital in under an hour. You can get from St Pancras International to the airport terminal in as little as 32 minutes.
Which station will you be travelling from?
The table below provides detailed information for several key London train stations.
| Farringdon | City Thameslink | London Blackfriars | London Bridge | Elephant & Castle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First train | 05:11 | 05:08 | Through the night | 05:27 | 05:14 |
| Last train | 00:26 | 22:58 | Through the night | 23:36 | 00:04 (following day) |
| Average Journey time (excluding Luton DART transfer) | 41 mins | 43 mins | 46 mins | 49 mins | 1 hour |
| Distance | 27 miles (44 km) | 28 miles (45 km) | 29 miles (47 km) | 31 miles (50 km) | 29 miles (47 km) |
| Changes | Direct trains available | Direct trains available | Direct trains available | Direct trains available | Direct trains available |
| Key Tube/Line Connections | Elizabeth, Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City | Thameslink Only (National Rail) | Circle, District | Jubilee, Northern | Bakerloo, Northern |
| Price (excl. Luton DART fee) | From £6.50 (Advance) | From £6.50 (Advance) | From £6.50 (Advance) | From £6.50 (Advance) | From £15 (Off-peak single) |
| National Rail Code (CRS) | ZFD | CTK | BFR | LBG | EPH |
Source: Thameslink 26/03/26. Table information is correct at the time of publishing.
Travelling from South of London?
Beyond Central London, Thameslink operates from key destinations in the South / South East, such as Brighton and Kent.
From the Brighton terminus, the train travels 73 miles to Luton Airport Parkway and takes approximately 2 hours 11 minutes.
From Rainham (Kent), there are around 25 services a day covering a 56-mile journey and taking approximately 2 hours 29 minutes.
Not all trains stop at the calling stops mentioned, so passengers should use a journey planner or check before travelling.
Connecting from Luton Airport Parkway?
Fast central London trains from London Luton Airport
Take the 4-minute shuttle from the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway to catch your National Rail service. Travelling from London Luton Airport by train is one of the fastest and easiest ways to continue your journey to London and the South.
If you’re looking to travel to London, there are a number of direct and frequent options for you, such as East Midlands Railway and Thameslink. Hop on a frequent direct train from Luton Airport Parkway to St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, and London Blackfriars and beyond.
- Journeys in as little as 32 minutes from the airport to London St Pancras
- Up to 10 trains an hour at peak times
- Services running through the night
- A seamless connection from the terminal via the Luton DART shuttle service
London Luton Airport also has excellent rail connections to other central London stations, with onward services providing easy access to Kent, Surrey and Sussex with minimal changes.
Choose your location from the list below to find out more about your journey.
Jump to: London St Pancras | Farringdon | City Thameslink | London Blackfriars | London Bridge | Elephant & Castle | East Croydon | Gatwick Airport | Three Bridges | Brighton | Sutton | Orpington | Rainham | Horsham | Check times | Buy tickets
Travelling to London by Train
Getting to London St Pancras
Catching a train from Luton Airport to London St Pancras International is quick and convenient. Begin your journey on the Luton DART shuttle from the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway station. From there, the Luton Airport Express, operated by East Midlands Railway (EMR), offers a direct, non-stop trip to St Pancras International in as little as 22 minutes. This fast express service departs every 30 minutes, providing a stress-free link to Central London. Alternatively, Thameslink also provides frequent services to London St Pancras International, running approximately every 10-15 minutes during the day.
Further South, beyond St Pancras
Hop on a frequent direct Thameslink service from Luton Airport Parkway to other Central London stops and you could be there in as little as 24 minutes.
Beyond St Pancras International, Thameslink typically calls at the following Central London stations:
| Station | Key Connections & Information |
|---|---|
| Farringdon | Interchange for Elizabeth Line, and London Underground Circle, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith & City lines. |
| City Thameslink | Central London station. |
| London Blackfriars | Offers interchange with the London Underground District and Circle lines, and unique views over the Thames. |
| London Bridge | A major interchange station providing connections for South East London and Kent, and excellent access to The City. |
| Elephant & Castle | Connections to the London Underground Bakerloo and Northern lines. |
Beyond Central London
If you're going further South, Southbound Thameslink trains often continue as direct services to the following destinations:
- East Croydon
- Gatwick Airport
- Three Bridges
- Brighton
- Sutton
- Orpington
- Rainham
- Horsham
Not all trains stop at the calling stops mentioned, so passengers should use a journey planner or check before travelling.
