The journey from Banbury to London takes around one hour and ten minutes with Chiltern Railways.
Banbury is a market town in Oxfordshire, only sixty-four miles from London. So, on your journey, you’ll have a great view of the quintessential English countryside, with its small parishes, petite villages, and leafy green forests. You will also pass through the Chilterns National Landscape, an area noted for its outstanding natural beauty. Afterwards, you’ll head straight towards London Marylebone.
Chiltern Railways provides rail services from London Marylebone Station, serving Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire, including Aylesbury, Leamington Spa, and Banbury.
Departing from Banbury
Banbury Station is east of the town centre, along Station Approach. It’s a station with a historic past, having been opened all the way back in 1839. Chiltern Railways and CrossCountry both use this station.
Taxis can drop you off at the front of the station, and the station has a whopping 978 car-parking spaces open all week long. It’s perfect if you’d like to commute from the surrounding area into London.
Main stops
The route from Banbury to London Marylebone includes three stops: Bicester North, Haddenham & Thame Parkway, and High Wycombe.
Although these stops may change due to scheduling alterations or engineering work, it’s best to double-check before travelling.
Booking your ticket early, using a Railcard for an extra discount, and using TrainPal to find the cheapest fares are the best ways to buy cheap train tickets in the UK.
Arriving at London Marylebone
London Marylebone Station is located between Hyde Park and Regent's Park at Melcombe Place in the City of Westminster. It acts as the southern terminus of the Chiltern Main Line, which runs from Birmingham to London.
Although smaller than some of the other mainline stations in London, like Waterloo and Kings Cross, it’s still a convenient station to depart from as it’s in the centre of London and has excellent access to public transport. For instance, Marylebone Underground station is on the Bakerloo Line. At the same time, Baker Street Station is only four minutes away and connects to the Bakerloo, Circle, Jubilee, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith & City lines.
Nuzzled between two of London’s great parks, there’s so much to do around the station. For example, the London Zoo, Abbey Road Studios, Madame Tussauds, and the British Museum are all nearby. The legendary Baker Street, where fictional detective Sherlock Holmes lived, is just a two-minute walk from the station. The Sherlock Holmes Museum can also be found on Baker Street.
Chiltern Railways train classes
- Standard Class: Snacks and drinks are available from the onboard shop. Chiltern Railways does not offer seat reservations.
- First Class: Chiltern Railways does not offer First Class tickets for any of its services.
Chiltern Railways train travel advice
- Luggage: A maximum of three items: one small item, one medium-sized bag, and one large suitcase.
- Pets: Dogs, cats, and other small pets are free of charge. They must be well-behaved and do not disturb other passengers. Two pets per passenger.
- Bicycles: Only folding bicycles are permitted.
- Children: Children under the age of five travel for free. Children aged between five and fifteen can travel using a cheaper child’s ticket. Anyone who is sixteen or over must pay for an adult fare. The Family & Friends Railcard offers up to 1/3 off family ticket costs.
- Passenger Assist: Helps with journey planning, ticketing, boarding and alighting with ramps, station navigation, and luggage handling. Advance booking is recommended.
*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip.