England to Bavaria by Train or Bus
London to Stuttgart, Munich, South Germany by Eurostar, TGV, and ICE
Trains (Eurostar, TGV, ICE) and buses are alternatives to low-cost airlines for cheap tickets from London in England to Stuttgart, Munich, and Bavaria in South Germany.
Cheap tickets on low-cost flights from London airports in England are generally the fastest and cheapest way to travel to Munich (München) in Bavaria (Bayern) and Stuttgart in Baden-Württemberg. However, for travelers who prefer not to fly, trains and buses are also available to travel from the United Kingdom (UK) to Southern Germany.
- All journeys leave from London St Pancras International on the Eurostar trains, except for travelers leaving England by ferry.
- Note the long check-in requirement for the Eurostar – other trains may be boarded up to the last second of listed departure times.
- Reservations are compulsory on the Eurostar, TGV, and City Night Liner (CNL). Reservations on other German trains are generally not required.
By Train from London St Pancras (UK) to Stuttgart and Munich in Southern Germany
Several routings are available but the two more sensible ones are either via Paris or via Brussels and Cologne (Köln) – traveling times are surprisingly similar.
- London to Munich, Bavaria via Paris by Eurostar, TGV, and ICE Trains
The most logical route from England to Southern Germany is via Paris. This route generally requires two transfers, although occasionally only a single transfer in Paris is required. Travel time depends mostly on transfer times in Paris but is around ten hours – the fastest is 9h36 when leaving London at 06:55 am.
The journey starts from London St Pancras International Station to Paris Nord Eurostar Station (around 2h20). In Paris, it is necessary to transfer to Paris Est station, around 800 m (half a mile) from Paris Nord Eurostar Station.
From Paris Est, the French TGV high-speed trains run to Stuttgart (occasionally all the way to Munich) via Strasbourg in just over four hours. In Stuttgart, transfer to the German Inter-City-Express (ICE) high-speed trains that reach Munich Main Station (München Hauptbahnhof) in 2h20.
- London to Munich, Bavaria via Brussels and Cologne (Köln) by Eurostar, Thalys, and ICE Trains
At first glance, taking a train from London to Munich and Stuttgart via Belgium and Cologne seems like a vast detour but effective traveling times are similar to the more direct route via Paris. In fact, the fastest London to Munich train journey is on this route – 9h31 when leaving London at 7:00 am.
This routing takes the Eurostar train from London St Pancras International Station to Bruxelles Midi Eurostar Station. From Brussels, take a French Thalys TGV or German ICE – at least one further transfer will be required – usually in Cologne (Köln) or Frankfurt.
Night Trains from London to Stuttgart and Munich in Southern Germany
It is also possible to travel partly by night train from London to Munich. Once again, the journey departs from London St Pancras International station on the Eurostar to either Paris or Brussels.
- From Paris, the German City Night Line train (CNL 261) departs Paris Est for Munich via amongst other Karlsruhe, Stuttgart, Ulm, and Augsburg. Night trains follow a relaxed pace – the train generally reach Munich just before 9 am while the return train CNL 260 arrives in Paris just before 7 am. The exact departure times depend on the day and time of year. Total traveling time from London to Munich is around 13 hours.
- From Brussels, it is possible to take the German City Night Line train (CNL 243) from Bruxelles-Midi to Hannover (around 6 hours). Change here to a regular ICE to Munich. Total traveling time on this route from London is around 14 hours. This routing is a poor second choice to the simpler, single-transfer option via Paris.
The German City Night Line (CNL) is a modern, luxury sleeper train. It has accommodation ranging from deluxe compartments with private showers and toilets for one to three passengers, sleeper compartments with four to six beds, and reclining seats.
- Advance bookings of recliner seats on night trains can be quite a steal.
National Express / Euroline Buses from London to Stuttgart and Germany
Overnight buses operated by Eurolines (National Express / Deutsche Touring) from England to Southern Germany are available a few times per week. Travel times in these fairly comfortable coaches are long – London to Munich takes just over 20 hours, two hours faster on the return. Traveling times to Stuttgart are three hours less and to Ulm 90 minutes less. A change of bus is usually required in Brussels.
- Low-cost flights are a good alternative for traveling from England to Munich (München) and Stuttgart Airports in Southern Germany. However, trains to Cologne (Köln) can often be both price and time competitive with flying when traveling from London.
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