Train travel to and from London

Select the tabs below to see view train options to suit you. Rail passengers will need to make their final connection to or from the terminal via the Luton DART.

Fast and frequent trains to London Luton Airport (LTN) from Central London

If you’re travelling from Central London to London Luton Airport, hop on a frequent direct train to Luton Airport Parkway from St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, Blackfriars, London Bridge, and beyond.

  • Trains in as little as 32 minutes from London St Pancras to the terminal
  • Up to 10 trains an hour to Luton Airport Parkway at peak times
  • Trains available through the night
  • Tap and go with the convenience of contactless payments on your entire journey.
  • Connect to the terminal 24/7 via the Luton DART (4-min shuttle)

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:
OperatorLuton Airport Express / EMRThameslink
First Train (approx.)05:45 (Weekdays)Through the night
Last Train (approx.)23:51 (Weekdays) Through the night
Journey Time (approx.)22–32 minutes24–45 minutes
Distance26 miles (42 km)26 miles (42 km)
FrequencyUp to 2 trains per hourUp to 8 trains per hour
ChangesNon-stop serviceDirect
Key ConnectionsEurostar, 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.

FarringdonCity ThameslinkLondon BlackfriarsLondon BridgeElephant & Castle
First train05:1105:08Through the night05:2705:14
Last train00:2622:58Through the night23:3600:04 (following day)
Average Journey time (excluding Luton DART transfer)41 mins43 mins46 mins49 mins1 hour
Distance27 miles (44 km)28 miles (45 km)29 miles (47 km)31 miles (50 km)29 miles (47 km)
ChangesDirect trains availableDirect trains availableDirect trains availableDirect trains availableDirect trains available
Key Tube/Line ConnectionsElizabeth, Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & CityThameslink Only (National Rail)Circle, DistrictJubilee, NorthernBakerloo, 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)ZFDCTKBFRLBGEPH

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.

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Brighton to Bedford

Thameslink Service: Brighton to Bedford

  • Brighton
  • Preston Park
  • Hassocks
  • Burgess Hill
  • Wivelsfield
  • Haywards Heath
  • Balcombe
  • Three Bridges
  • Gatwick Airport (GTW)
  • Horley
  • Redhill
  • Merstham
  • Coulsdon South
  • Purley
  • East Croydon
  • London Bridge
  • London Blackfriars
  • City Thameslink
  • Farringdon
  • London St Pancras International
  • West Hampstead
  • St Albans City
  • Harpenden
  • Luton Airport Parkway (Connect to London Luton Airport via the Luton DART)

Rainham (Kent) to Luton

Connecting from Luton Airport Parkway?

Hop on the Luton DART for a seamless, 4-minute automated shuttle connecting the terminal to the rail station 24/7.
Find out more about the Luton DART
Luton DART on tracks in sunset

Fast central London trains from London Luton Airport

If you’re looking to travel to London, there are a number of direct and frequent options for you. Hop on a frequent direct train from Luton Airport Parkway to St Pancras International, Farringdon, City Thameslink, and London Blackfriars and beyond.

  • The fastest train to London takes as little as 32 minutes from the terminal
  • Trains every 10 minutes on average at peak times 
  • Through-the-night limited service please check with the train operator 

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

Begin your journey with the Luton DART

Take the 4-minute shuttle from the terminal to Luton Airport Parkway to catch your National Rail service.
Find out more

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:

StationKey Connections & Information
FarringdonInterchange for Elizabeth Line, and London Underground Circle, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith & City lines.
City ThameslinkCentral London station.
London BlackfriarsOffers interchange with the London Underground District and Circle lines, and unique views over the Thames.
London BridgeA major interchange station providing connections for South East London and Kent, and excellent access to The City.
Elephant & CastleConnections 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.


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