On a regular day, it takes just under three hours to get from Swansea to London Padding with Great Western Railway.
As you travel, you'll glide across the Welsh countryside, heading east, swapping one of Wales’s biggest cities for the UK's capital.
Great Western Railway provides services to the West of England and South Wales and inter-city trains to West London and the greater Thames Valley.
Departing from Swansea
Swansea Train Station is located along High Street, just off New Cut Road, on the edge of the city centre.
It's easy to reach by public transport. The station has a taxi rank opposite it, and frequent buses leave at the front of the station, heading to the city centre and the Quadrant Bus Station, one of the city's major bus stations.
This station's main UK rail operators are Transport for Wales and Great Western Railway.
Main stops
There are eight stations from Swansea to London Paddington: Neath, Port Talbot Parkway, Bridgend, Cardiff Central, Newport, Bristol Parkway, Swindon, and Reading.
To get the cheapest deal, book early and add a Railcard to net you a discount. It's also a good idea to use sites like TrainPal to find the cheapest fares. It's a great strategy to buy cheap train tickets.
The train travelling from Swansea to London arrives at Paddington Station. This station lies between Notting Hill in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and Marylebone in the City of Westminster. It’s a key UK station as it serves as the terminus for the Great Western Mainline, connecting London with the west of England, Wales, and the western coast of Scotland.
A London Underground station serves Paddington on the Circle, District, Bakerloo, and Hammersmith & City lines. Taxis and local buses also conveniently serve this station, making it easy to get around London fast. Major London attractions like Shepherd’s Bush, the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, and Tate Modern are only a few tube stops away.
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: 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.