London to Köln by train
Köln lies 497 km (309 mi) east of London, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
By rail the journey is about 4 h 14 min at the speeds typical of United Kingdom and Germany rail, over roughly 606 km (377 mi) of track; the operator’s timetable is the number that counts.
| London | Köln | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom | Germany |
| Population | 9 million | 1 million |
| Elevation | 25 m (82 ft) | 58 m (190 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+1 (Europe/London) | UTC+2 (Europe/Berlin) |
| Stations on record | City Thameslink railway station, New Cross Gate railway station, Gospel Oak railway station | none listed |
| Postal codes | E1W–WC2R | 50667–51149 |
Clocks in Köln are 1 h ahead of London right now, so a 4 h 14 min journey lands 5 h 14 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Köln
Crossing from United Kingdom into Germany: money changes from the Pound to the Euro (EUR); traffic switches to the right; sockets are Euro, Schuko; the dialling code becomes +49; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1061257 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648823.
Where to book trains from London to Köln
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Köln
Our booking partner lists 1 places to stay in Köln.
Book a hotel in Köln
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Köln from London?
497 km (309 mi) in a straight line, east of London; by road roughly 606 km (377 mi).
How long does it take to get from London to Köln by train?
About 4 h 14 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between London and Köln?
Köln is 1 h ahead at the moment (Europe/Berlin against Europe/London).
What currency do I need in Köln?
The Euro (EUR).
Where can I stay in Köln?
Our booking partner lists 1 places to stay in Köln, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 13 September 2026. Hotel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.