Lowest Prices
We partner with the top coach & train carriers to bring you the best deals.
Best Travel Options
We help you find & compare the best buses & trains in one place.
Quick & Easy Booking
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
Fast Customer Support
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
Trip Summary
You can pick from 3 daily train trips between Birmingham and Glasgow. The average train journey from Birmingham to Glasgow takes 4 hours and 51 minutes, but some Avanti West Coast train trips are as short as 4 hours and 5 minutes.
| Distance | 252 mi (406 km) |
| Fastest train | 4h 5m |
| Lowest price | £118.04 |
| Trains per day | 3 |
| Most frequent service | Avanti West Coast |
| Train lines | 2 |
Which train should you take from Birmingham to Glasgow?
2 train services operate from Birmingham to Glasgow. Avanti West Coast usually has more trains scheduled, with 2 trips per day. That said, it's still worth comparing the prices and trip durations:
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avanti West Coast | 2 | 4h 11m | £118.04 |
| CrossCountry | 1 | 6h 10m | £154.71 |
Avanti West Coast is one of the primary rail links between London and Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. On any given day, Avanti West Coast operates almost 300 routes and departs hourly from select destinations.
CrossCountry operates an extensive rail network in the U.K., centered in Birmingham. In standard class, passengers enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, power outlets, and onboard restrooms. Trains also contain a small café or a trolley that passes through the carriages. An upgrade to first-class gives passengers more legroom and complimentary food. The journey from Birmingham to Glasgow usually takes about 6 hours and 10 minutes on a CrossCountry train. There are 1 trips on this route every day, and 0 daily trips on weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between Birmingham and Glasgow is approximately 252 miles, or 406 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 4 hours and 51 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 4 hours and 5 minutes.
Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.
Trains departing from Birmingham to Glasgow tend to have the most passengers on Thursday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Thursday. If you are trying to snag a cheap train tickets or just want an emptier train you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Thursday as the least number of people tend to travel then.
The earliest train departs Birmingham at 15:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 17:00. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
There are 3 daily scheduled trains, all of which are direct trains that take you the entire way from Birmingham to Glasgow.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Glasgow to Birmingham.
City Information
Birmingham
As the second-largest city in the UK, Birmingham effortlessly blends the city’s quaint vibe with modern-day high-rises. One of the top local attractions is St. Martin in the Bull Ring, the original parish church of Birmingham. Featuring remarkable Gothic Revival architecture standing in stark contrast with the futuristic-looking shopping centers, the church is a great spot for travelers looking for a bit of respite. As you stroll around the city, don’t forget to visit the famous Cadbury World, which details the long history of the brand, as well as all the products it produces. For culturally-inclined activities, head to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, which offers over 40 exhibits.
If you wish to try out authentic Indian dishes with a local twist, head over to Pushkar. For those who wish to enjoy a more upscale dining experience, Bank offers a chic menu in an elegant setting.
The principal rail station is Birmingham New Street Station, which is the busiest train station in the UK. The Birmingham Coach Station offers coach services by National Express as far as London and Dublin. The city’s main airport is the Birmingham Airport, which is located 6 miles east of the city center.
Glasgow
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland. The city's name means "Dear Green Place" in Gaelic, and Glasgow earns this title as it is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the area. Beyond its impressive green spaces, it is full of historical and cultural destinations.
There are dozens of inspiring museums and galleries in the city, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Riverside Museum, and the Gallery of Modern Art. The Glasgow Green is a vast public park dotted with monuments right next to the People's Palace, a museum devoted to social history. In the central shopping district, Buchanan Street is your go-to for mouthwatering cuisine and retail therapy.
If you want to try some local beer, hit up The Pot Still, The Ben Nevis Bar, or The Laurieston. Be sure to visit the Clydeside Distillery, too, so you can see how the national drink of Scotland (hello, Scotch) is manufactured.
Several trains serve Glasgow, including Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, CrossCountry, Caledonian Sleeper, London North Eastern Railway, Northern Rail, and the West Midlands Railway. In addition, Megabus and FlixBus offer coach service from Glasgow to other destinations in Scotland and beyond.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Birmingham?
Main departure station: Birmingham New St
There is one train station in Birmingham.
All train stations in Birmingham:
Birmingham New St
Where is the train station in Glasgow?
Main arrival station: Glasgow Central
Glasgow has one train station.
Train stations in Glasgow:
Glasgow Central
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Glasgow to Birmingham?
Search Train Tickets
Wanderu is the simplest way to book coach and train travel.
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare coach and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap coach and train tickets hassle-free and with no additional fees. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading coach and train companies, we always have the best coach and train deals out there.
Book coaches and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more