The journey from Liverpool to Nottingham takes just under three hours with East Midlands Railway.
You’ll begin your trip in Merseyside, before heading through Greater Manchester, and then the Peak District National Park with its stunning countryside views. Afterwards you’ll head through Nottinghamshire, going south to the city of Nottingham.
East Midlands Railway offers connections between the Midlands and various regions beyond, serving prominent cities including Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield, Leicester, and major urban centres of the UK such as Manchester and Liverpool. Furthermore, it provides international rail services, which is uncommon in the UK, with a key connecting route to London St Pancras International. This service effectively links the Midlands with France, the Netherlands, and other parts of Europe by rail.
Liverpool Lime Street is the busiest train station in the city, and one of the busiest train stations in the UK. Luckily, it’s a great destination to depart from as it’s very conveniently linked to taxis and served by Liverpool’s central bus station, which is only a four-minute walk.
Because it’s a busy station, it’s also possible to get many light rail options that can be used to travel to Liverpool Lime Street. For example, Northern offers many routes into Liverpool from smaller regional stations in Merseyside, too.
Many UK rail operators, such as Avanti West Coast, Merseyrail, Northern, and TransPennine Express, operate via Liverpool Lime Street.
Main stops
There are eleven stations between Liverpool Lime Street and Nottingham: Liverpool South Parkway, Widnes, Warrington Central, Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport, Chinley, Dore & Totley, Sheffield, Chesterfield, and Alfreton.
These stops may change, however, due to things like scheduling changes. It’s worth checking before you travel.
Arriving at Nottingham
Nottingham station is the busiest station in Nottinghamshire and the second busiest in the Midlands after Birmingham New Street. Located on Carrington Street in the city centre, it’s serviced by buses, taxis, and the city’s tram network. It also has a large car park that is open seven days a week.
East Midlands Railway, CrossCountry and Northern run their routes from this station.
Nottingham is a history lover’s paradise. From the wildly famous Nottingham Castle—made famous by the legend of the cloaked hero Robin Hood—to Wollaton Hall, a 16th-century mansion and museum housed around beautifully decorated parkland, there’s so much to learn and explore about this historic city.
East Midlands Railway train classes
- Standard Class: Passengers benefit from complimentary Wi-Fi and convenient plug sockets for all devices.
- First Class: A Liverpool to Nottingham First Class ticket entitles passengers to enjoy more spacious and comfortable seating and complimentary food and drinks served at their seat on weekdays.
East Midlands 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. There is a maximum of two pets per passenger.
- Bicycles: Reservations are essential. There are only two cycle spaces on each train, so they recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.
- 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: Assist with journey planning, ticket selection, fare reductions, and train seat bookings. We provide help with boarding, alighting, luggage handling, and transferring between trains.
*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip.