Getting from Sunderland to London with Grand Central takes around three hours and forty minutes.
You’ll begin your journey at Sunderland and then stop at stations in County Durham and North Yorkshire. After you leave York, you’ll head straight down to London Kings Cross on the East Coast Mainline.
Grand Central operates services from London Kings Cross to Sunderland via York and to Bradford via Doncaster, Wakefield, and Halifax. It is not part of the National Rail network.
Departing from Sunderland
Sunderland Station can be found along Athenaeum Street in the city centre, near The Bridges Shopping Mall. It’s an easy station to reach as it’s connected to the Tyne & Wear Metro, which operates light rail services to Newcastle. Meanwhile, regular rail services operated by Northern also stop at Sunderland, serving destinations like Newcastle, Carlisle, Middlesbrough, and Hexham.
Taxis can drop you off at the station’s entrance, while local buses stop only two minutes from the station.
Main stops
There are five stops between Sunderland and London Kings Cross. These are: Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe, Northallerton, Thirsk, and York.
These stops may change due to engineering work or scheduling changes, so it’s worth checking before you travel to avoid disappointment.
Arriving at London Kings Cross
London Kings Cross station is on Euston Road in the Borough of Camden. It’s a busy station, as it’s the southern terminus of the East Coast Mainline, which connects London with cities like Newcastle, York, Stevenage, Newark-on-Trent, and Edinburgh.
It’s a handy station to arrive at, as it has plentiful public transport links that can get you around London in one tap. For example, Kings Cross has a London Underground Station (also named Kings Cross) serving the Circle, Metropolitan, Hammersmith & City and Victoria lines. Taxis and bus routes are also available outside the station along Euston Road.
The British Library, The Wellcome Collection, Regent’s Park, Camden, and the British Museum are all within walking distance. So, even if you’d prefer to stretch your legs after your trip down from Sunderland, there’s still tons to do nearby.
Grand Central train classes
- Standard Class: Comfortable seats & tables, and catering service.
- First Class: A Sunderland to London First Class ticket grants you access to a First Class lounge, spacious seating, larger tables, power sockets, and complimentary refreshments.
Grand Central train travel advice
- Luggage: You can bring a maximum of three items of luggage. One suitcase, one small carry-on bag, and one handbag or backpack.
- Pets: Dogs, cats, and other small animals can travel for free. Dogs must be on a lead. Other animals must travel in carriers.There is a maximum of two pets per passenger.
- Bicycles: Bicycles are welcome on Grand Central. There are three bicycle spaces available on their trains: two can be reserved online and one is served on a first-come-first-served basis. To avoid disappointment, book early.
- Children: Under 5’s can travel for free. Children aged 5 to 15 can save 50% on their tickets. The Family & Friends Railcard offers up to 1/3 off family ticket costs.
- Passenger Assist: Arranges station navigation, train boarding with ramps, luggage handling (up to three items), and guidance to connecting trains or exits.
*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip.