Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington Trains From £40.50*

Cheltenham is a spa town, located on the rim of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire. It takes just under two hours to get from Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington with Great Western Railway. The first train leaves Cheltenham at 5.48 am and the last service leaves the station at 9.32 pm, meaning you can travel to London at a pace that suits yourself.

Getting from Cheltenham Spa to London Paddington is a wonderfully scenic route, offering views of the dreamy English countryside. On your journey, you can sit back and relax as the Cotswolds floats past your window before passing through the legendary city of Oxford. Later, you’ll pass by the Chilterns before hitting Greater London and finally ending your journey in busy central London.

Great Western Railway offers routes to the West of England and South Wales, along with inter-city trains to West London and the Thames Valley. Additionally, it provides a sleeper service connecting London and Penzance on the Cornish coast.

Departing from Cheltenham Spa

Cheltenham Spa Station is just outside the town centre on Queens Road. It’s serviced by a taxi rank and local buses, too. Making it very easily reachable from the town centre.

Great Western Railway and CrossCountry are the primary users of this station. They serve local routes to places like Bristol and Gloucester, or extended services to London. CrossCountry also connects the West Midlands to cities like Manchester, Cardiff, and York.

Main stops

Seven stations connect Cheltenham and London: Gloucester, Stonehouse, Stroud, Kemble, Swindon, Didcot Parkway, and Reading.

These can change, however. For example, engineering works or scheduling changes might alter these routes. It’s best to check which routes you’ll be stopping at before you travel.

Arriving at London Paddington

London Paddington is a highly well-connected station, being served by local public transport. Local buses stop outside the station and the station has its own London Underground stop via the Circle, District, Bakerloo, and Hammersmith & City lines. You can also get the Heathrow Express directly from Paddington to Heathrow Airport.

Paddington station is a great starting point for exploring the rest of London. The Natural History Museum, Buckingham Palace, and so much more are only a few tube stops away. When arriving at London Paddington, the city is all yours.

Great Western Railway train classes

• Standard Class: Comfortable seating and free Wi-Fi. There are also tables and power sockets for your devices.
• First Class: It is possible to get a Cheltenham to London First Class ticket with Great Western Railway. First Class includes more spacious seating, greater comfort, large tables, and exclusive dining options. It also offers access to first class lounges at London Paddington station.

Great Western Railway train travel advice

• Luggage: Maximum of three items of luggage. This goes up to two larger items and one smaller bag.
• Pets: Dogs, cats, and other small animals can travel for free. Dogs must be on a lead. Other animals must travel in carriers. Extra pets cost half the adult fare. There is a maximum of two pets per passenger.
• Bicycles: Bikes can be stored free of charge, but space is limited. It is strongly recommended that you book your ticket in advance to book a bike space.
• Children: Under 5’s can travel for free. Children aged 5 to 15 can save 50% on their tickets. Booking in advance using TrainPal helps ensure families can sit together. The Family & Friends Railcard offers up to 1/3 off family ticket costs.
• Passenger Assist: Helps with journey planning, ticketing, seat and wheelchair space booking, boarding and alighting with ramps, station navigation, and luggage handling. Booking in advance is recommended for a seamless experience.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip.