London St Pancras International to St Albans City Trains From £5.80*

Take the train from London St Pancras International to St Albans City to complete the short journey out of the capital quickly and cheaply.

Travel from London to St Albans, a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, can take as few as 18 minutes on rapid, regular trains with Thameslink. Across only 20 miles, the train is an ideal choice for comfortable direct routes from London to St Albans City.

Whether you are escaping the capital for a day out at a nearby historical city, or returning home from a business meeting or the daily commute, getting from London to St Albans costs less by train. Prices start from just £5.80, or even less when you add a Railcard discount and split ticket savings.

Thameslink is a popular provider of frequent services in and around London. Direct routes connect central London stations like St Pancras, Blackfriars, and London Bridge with cities and towns including St Albans, Cambridge, Peterborough, Bedford, and Brighton.

Departing from London St Pancras International

London St Pancras International is one of the UK's most iconic railway stations with a wide range of rail connections around the UK and into mainland Europe.

Starting your journey from St Pancras is simple, with excellent inter-city transport links around the city of London. The station shares an Underground station with neighbouring King's Cross, allowing passengers to arrive on the Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Northern, Piccadilly, or Victoria lines.

Passengers who prefer to travel by bus can benefit from the station’s links with several bus routes, while bike storage facilities (and cycle hire drop-off points) make active travel a great option too. Before you board, London St Pancras has truly impressive facilities, as well as an architectural design that delights visiting passengers.

If you’re hungry, you’ll be spoilt for choice at big-brand outlets serving fast food, salads, sushi, desserts, and more. Browse the station’s many shopping outlets for books, stationery, travel essentials, or chocolate, or relax in comfortable waiting areas with fast, free connection to public Wi-Fi. At St Pancras, you’ll find step-free access, accessible toilets, induction loops, marked help points, and more accessibility features throughout the station.

From London St Pancras International, travel to Paris, Brussels, or Amsterdam, as well as to Luton, Peterborough, Bedford, and Brighton. Train operators at St Pancras include Southeastern, Eurostar, East Midlands Railway, and Thameslink. 

Main stops

Trains from London St Pancras International to St Albans City with Thameslink typically call at some or all of Kentish Town, West Hampstead Thameslink, Cricklewood, Brent Cross West, Hendon, Mill Hill Broadway, Elstree & Borehamwood, Radlett, before reaching St Albans City. Some faster services call only at West Hampstead Thameslink, and exact routes may vary depending on the train times and dates.

Arriving at St Albans City

St Albans City is the larger of two stations in St Albans, a cathedral city 20 miles north-west of London. The station is situated just a short walk to the east of the city centre.

From St Albans City Station, you can easily access St Albans and its main attractions on foot. On family day trips by train from London, visit the city’s dynamic museums, restaurants, and cultural venues. Watch a movie at the Odyssey Cinema, an independent, arthouse cinema, or get out into nature at the Watercress nature reserve on the River Ver.

Before you leave the station, make use of comfortable seating areas, buy a light meal, or browse shops for snacks, drinks, newspapers, and more. Accessible toilets, an induction loop, and step-free access from all platforms make St Albans City a well-provisioned station for all accessibility needs.

You can also travel around the town, or further afield, on local bus routes. If you are continuing your journey into local villages or towns such as Luton or Watford, travel on buses run by Arriva Herts & Essex, Uno, or Sullivan Buses.

From St Albans City, passengers can board trains operated by Thameslink to Bedford, Brighton, Luton, Three Bridges, and Rainham (Kent).

Thameslink train classes

• Standard Class: Travelling with Thameslink is a comfortable experience in Standard Class. Get spacious seats that give you plenty of room to unwind on your short journey from London to St Albans. Make use of ample luggage space, but be aware that there are no plug sockets on Thameslink services.
• First Class: For the most luxurious travel experience, upgrade to a London St Pancras International to St Albans City First Class ticket. Benefit from extra comfort and convenience in quieter carriages, and added luxury in every detail.

Thameslink train travel advice

• Bicycles: Cyclists can travel with their two-wheeler from London to St Albans on Thameslink services during off-peak hours. Remember to plan ahead and check the exact conditions before you travel.
• Children: Under 5s travel free on Thameslink routes, ideal for a family day trip by train from London for less. Children aged 5 to 15 get half-price fares, while Family & Friends Railcards offer extra savings.
• Pets: No need to leave pets behind. Each (human) passenger can bring up to two well-behaved dogs on Thameslink trains at no extra charge. Make sure to keep dogs on leads and other pets secured in carriers at all times.
• Luggage: Thameslink provides ample luggage space to store bags in racks or under seats. Bring up to three items of luggage per person, as per National Rail luggage rules.
• Passenger Assist: Book assistance in advance through the Passenger Assist website or app, or speak to staff at either station. Whether it’s helping board a train or assisting in navigating the stations, help is at hand.

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