4.9
4.6The cheapest and fastest trains from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF)
Cheapest price on Sep 19
zł231
Average ticket price on Sep 19
zł308
Fastest journey on Sep 19
3 h 11 m
Average journey duration on Sep 19
3 h 16 m
Trains on Sep 19
38
Distance
212 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF) is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF) will cost around zł308 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only zł231.
It's difficult to get from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF) without transferring at least once.
L79350+
W349959:37 AM5h13London Waterloo (WAT)2:50 PMCardiff Central (CDF)zł2311One-way1 transfer- L80111 · L79367+C4226310:46 AM5h03London Waterloo (WAT)3:49 PMCardiff Central (CDF)zł2311One-way2 transfers
- L80103 · L79356+W349959:46 AM5h04London Waterloo (WAT)2:50 PMCardiff Central (CDF)zł2311One-way2 transfers
- L79418+C48623 · C421803:37 PM5h00London Waterloo (WAT)8:37 PMCardiff Central (CDF)zł2311One-way2 transfers
- L79418+C422723:37 PM5h08London Waterloo (WAT)8:45 PMCardiff Central (CDF)zł2311One-way1 transfer
- L80569+W346055:26 AM3h11London Waterloo (WAT)8:37 AMCardiff Central (CDF)zł3481One-way1 transfer
- L80684+C4217612:19 PM3h17London Waterloo (WAT)3:36 PMCardiff Central (CDF)zł3481One-way1 transfer
- L80648+W3462110:19 AM3h18London Waterloo (WAT)1:37 PMCardiff Central (CDF)zł3481One-way1 transfer
- L80774+C421805:19 PM3h18London Waterloo (WAT)8:37 PMCardiff Central (CDF)zł3481One-way1 transfer
- L80666+W3462511:19 AM3h18London Waterloo (WAT)2:37 PMCardiff Central (CDF)zł2311One-way1 transfer
Travel Information
Compare bus and train for London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF)
Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF) among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of zł104 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 3h 1m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of zł104, while a train costs an average of zł393.
Distance: 131 miles (212 km)
Compare train with
| Train | Most popular Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
zł393 Average price | zł104 Average price Cheapest | zł375 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 1m Average total duration Fastest 2h 31m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 23m Average total duration 3h 53m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 11m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF):
A bus is zł288 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF) costing on average zł393.
Other travel options to Cardiff Central (CDF) take longer:
Bus takes on average 3h 53m.
You'll arrive about 40m sooner (2h 31m by train vs 3h 11m by car). Tickets start at around zł393 compared to roughly zł375 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
Live departures
London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF) train times
The table below shows live departures for London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF) trains for today, Friday, September 18. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G15023+L79428 | Delayed 6:42 PM 5:23 PMLondon Waterloo (WAT) | 4h22 | 9:45 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| G15023 · G15506+L79433 | Delayed 6:42 PM 5:53 PMLondon Waterloo (WAT) | 4h24 | 10:17 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| W35040+L79438 | Delayed 7:42 PM 6:23 PMLondon Waterloo (WAT) | 4h27 | 10:50 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L79444+W35040 | On time 6:50 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 4h00 | 10:50 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| G15027+L79450 | Delayed 8:42 PM 7:20 PMLondon Waterloo (WAT) | 4h31 | 11:51 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| G15027+L79456 | Delayed 8:42 PM 7:50 PMLondon Waterloo (WAT) | 4h01 | 11:51 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
C42182+ Tube from London Waterloo to London Paddington | Delayed 9:49 PM 10:08 PMLondon Waterloo (WAT) | 2h52 | 1:00 AM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| Saturday, September 19 | |||||
| L80569+W34605 | 5:26 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h11 | 8:37 AM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80573+W34609 | 5:48 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h48 | 9:36 AM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L84182 · L80579+W34609 | 5:52 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h44 | 9:36 AM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L79310+C42255 | 6:06 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 4h46 | 10:52 AM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L79316+C42257 | 6:37 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h08 | 11:45 AM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80361 · L79322+C42257 | 6:46 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 4h59 | 11:45 AM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L80215 · L79327+W34983 | 7:26 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h24 | 12:50 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L79327+W34983 | 7:37 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h13 | 12:50 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80602+W34615 | 7:45 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h55 | 11:40 AM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80085 · L80060+W34983 | 7:46 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h04 | 12:50 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L80611+W34615 | 8:19 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h21 | 11:40 AM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80629+C42175 | 9:19 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h21 | 12:40 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80235 · L79350+W34995 | 9:26 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h24 | 2:50 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L79350+W34995 | 9:37 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h13 | 2:50 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80638+W34621 | 9:45 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h52 | 1:37 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80103 · L79356+W34995 | 9:46 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h04 | 2:50 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L80648+W34621 | 10:19 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h18 | 1:37 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L79361+C42263 | 10:37 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h12 | 3:49 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80111 · L79367+C42263 | 10:46 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h03 | 3:49 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L80666+W34625 | 11:19 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h18 | 2:37 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L79373+W35006 | 11:37 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h12 | 4:49 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L79373+C48625 · Y41815 · W34631 | 11:37 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h00 | 4:37 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 3 transfers | |
| L80121 · L79378+W35006 | 11:46 AM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h03 | 4:49 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L80684+C42176 | 12:19 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h17 | 3:36 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L84277 · L80693+W34631 | 12:22 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 4h15 | 4:37 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L80263 · L79385+W35011 | 12:26 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h22 | 5:48 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L80693+W34631 | 12:45 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h52 | 4:37 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80702+W34631 | 1:19 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h18 | 4:37 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80275 · L79396+C42268 | 1:26 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h24 | 6:50 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L84299 · L80720+W34635 | 1:52 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h45 | 5:37 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L79407+C42270 | 2:37 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h13 | 7:50 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80295 · L79418+C42272 | 3:26 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h19 | 8:45 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L79418+C48623 · C42180 | 3:37 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h00 | 8:37 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 2 transfers | |
| L79418+C42272 | 3:37 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h08 | 8:45 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80756+W34641 | 4:19 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h20 | 7:39 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L79429+C42274 | 4:37 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h09 | 9:46 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L80774+C42180 | 5:19 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 3h18 | 8:37 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
| L79439+C42276 | 5:37 PM London Waterloo (WAT) | 5h17 | 10:54 PM Cardiff Central (CDF) | 1 transfer | |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF) by bus or train
Compare bus and train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Sep 19
Sep 20
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Sep 23
Sep 24
Sep 25
Why should you book London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF) trains with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs South Western Railway?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for South Western Railway, but also compare tickets for the likes of Great Western Railway to find the best option for your trip from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF).
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare South Western Railway with all available travel options, which are bus and train to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF).
Why book with Omio over Wanderu?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of Great Western Railway to find the best option for your trip from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF).
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including bus and train to find the ideal travel option from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF).
Journey information
Overview: Train from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF)
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Trains from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF) run on average 8 times per day, taking around 2h 31m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at zł216 but you can travel from only zł25 by bus.
The earliest train runs at 04:46, the last at 12:50. The fastest train covers the 131 miles (212 km) distance in 2h 7m.
Distance 131 miles (212 km) |
Average train duration 2h 31m |
Cheapest ticket price zł216 |
Trains per day 8 |
Fastest train 2h 7m |
First train 4:46 AM |
Last train 12:50 PM |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Sat |
Least Busy Day Mon |
Best time to book 1 day |
Train companies: Great Western Railway, South Western Railway from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF) trainsGreat Western Railway, South Western Railway trains will get you between London Waterloo (WAT) and Cardiff Central (CDF) from zł25. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Great Western Railway
South Western Railway
FAQs: Trains from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF)
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF) by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Cardiff Central (CDF), this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.
popular train stations
Popular train stations from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF)
Most London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF) trains use the Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 to Cardiff Central station pair. Use this guide to compare London Waterloo (WAT) and Cardiff Central (CDF) train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Getting to London Waterloo from London city centre
London Waterloo is 1 km from London city centre. Public transport options include:
London Waterloo train station facilities and services
London Waterloo has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental, and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food and drink options are available at London Waterloo.
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Wi-Fi is available at London Waterloo. ATMs are available at London Waterloo.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at London Waterloo. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from information point,Yes - from ticket office, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens.
Luggage and lost property
Lost and found is available at the station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at London Waterloo: Parking, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at London Waterloo: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at London Waterloo: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: There is step free access from the main concourse to all platforms, shops and facilities. Step free exits are exit 1 (Station approach), exit 2 (with a lift to Waterloo Road and lift access to the London Underground Jubilee line), and exit 3 for taxis and onward travel towards the South Bank, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users can use car park equipment at this station unaided, Accessible taxis: Accessible taxis are available from the taxi rank on Cab Road / Station Approach, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: Ticket machines are located at various locations on the main concourse and are accessible to wheelchair users, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Getting to Cardiff Central from Cardiff city centre
Cardiff Central train station facilities and services
Cardiff Central has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, and Car Rental.
Food and drink
Food options include: Gourmet Coffee Bar & Kitchen, Pret a Manger, Tesco Express
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Free Wi-Fi in the station. ATMs are located outside of the main entrance.
Tickets and information
The ticket office is open Mon - Fri: 05:40 - 21:30, Sat: 05:40 - 21:30, Sun: 07:30 - 21:30.
Luggage and lost property
Lost and found is available at the station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Cardiff Central: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Cardiff Central: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Cardiff Central: There is step-free access in the whole station. There are also ramps for train access and elevators in the station.
Shops, hotels and contact
Nearby hotels include Clayton Hotel Cardiff, Cardiff Marriott Hotel, Travelodge Cardiff Central.
Most popular train connections from London Waterloo (WAT)
More options for your journey from London Waterloo (WAT) to Cardiff Central (CDF)
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Most popular trains to and from Cardiff Central (CDF) and London Waterloo (WAT)
Most popular train connections to Cardiff Central (CDF)
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