Quick verdict: If you’re choosing between the ten options below, take the train. The LNER service from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley runs roughly hourly, takes around 4 hours and 11 minutes, and Advance fares start from £41.40 if you book three weeks ahead. Lumo runs the same route slightly slower for less. We’ve taken every other option too (well, most of them), and they all have a place, but for the city-centre-to-city-centre time, the cost, and the avoiding-airport-faff factor, the train wins. Check current train fares on Trainline.
If you’d rather not lose a day to travel, the Caledonian Sleeper overnight train is our second pick. Read on for the full breakdown of every option.
London and Edinburgh are two of the UK’s most popular cities, and many visitors to the UK want to travel between them. To help you decide how, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide. We’re going to look at all the options you have for getting from London to Edinburgh, including how long each takes, the cost, the main companies and how to book, and tips for saving money along the way.
We share our own preferred way to travel between the two cities, a journey we’ve made by train, sleeper, flight, coach, and car more times than we can count. Laurence has even driven the A1 a few times, and Jess lived in Edinburgh for around four years, so we know both ends of the trip well.
Table of Contents:
London to Edinburgh: 10 Ways Compared at a Glance
Before we go into detail on each option, here’s how the ten ways stack up on time, cost, and where they fit best.
| Mode | Typical time | Typical cost (one way) | Where to book | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train (LNER / Lumo) | 4 hr 8 min – 4 hr 30 min | £20 – £90 advance, £200+ walk-up | Trainline, LNER, Lumo | Most travellers |
| Plane | 3 hr 30 min – 4 hr 30 min total | £40 – £200 | Airline sites or comparison tools | Coming from far London airports already |
| Caledonian Sleeper | ~7.5 hr (overnight) | Seat £54+, Classic Room £210+ | sleeper.scot | Saving a hotel night, novelty |
| Bus / Coach | 9 – 11 hr | £15 – £40 | National Express, Megabus, FlixBus | Tightest budgets |
| Car (driving) | 7 – 9 hr (no stops) | £70 – £300+ (rental, fuel, tolls) | Discover Cars, Enterprise | Stops along the way |
| Guided tour | 2 – 10 days | From £919 | Rabbie’s, GetYourGuide | Sightseeing en route |
| Private car / cab | ~7 hr | £400 – £600+ | minicabit | Door-to-door, group of 3-4 |
| Ride share | ~7 hr | £8 – £35 | Liftshare | Cheap, sociable, flexible dates |
| Bicycle | 4 – 21 days | Variable | n/a | Slow travel, fitness |
| Walk / hike | 10 – 40 days | Variable | n/a | The serious adventurer |
Now let’s go through each option in detail.
1. Train
The train is our preferred way to travel between London and Edinburgh, and it’s the option we recommend to most readers. The fastest LNER services now take 4 hours and 11 minutes from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley, which is competitive with flying once you factor in airport time. The train drops you right in the centre of Edinburgh, you can move around freely, and the East Coast Main Line is one of the more scenic stretches of UK rail.
Which trains run between London and Edinburgh?
The fastest direct trains run on the East Coast Main Line, leaving from London King’s Cross and arriving at Edinburgh Waverley. Three operators run this route:
- LNER (London North Eastern Railway) is the main operator, with around 29 direct trains every weekday and a journey time of about 4 hours 11 minutes. This is the service we use most often.
- Lumo is a newer open-access operator running standard-class-only services on the same route. Trains are slightly slower, prices are typically lower, and there are fewer departures per day.
- Grand Central runs a small number of services on parts of the route but doesn’t run the full London to Edinburgh journey directly.
There’s also a slower alternative via the West Coast Main Line, run by Avanti West Coast, which goes from London Euston via Birmingham and takes closer to 5.5 to 6 hours with a change. Avanti also operates direct overnight services to Glasgow, but for Edinburgh the East Coast route is the better choice for almost everyone. We’d only consider Avanti if East Coast services were disrupted.
Lumo’s luggage policy: worth knowing in advance
One thing to flag before you book Lumo: their luggage policy is more restrictive than LNER’s. Lumo allows one medium suitcase plus one small piece of hand luggage per passenger. If you’re travelling with more than that, you’ll need to use their paid luggage courier service or look at LNER instead. We’ve had readers caught out by this when their flight was diverted to Lumo as a backup. LNER allows two medium-sized suitcases plus hand luggage per passenger as standard.
How much does the train cost from London to Edinburgh?
Train fares vary a lot depending on how far ahead you book, what time of day you travel, and which operator you choose. Here’s the rough lay of the land in 2026:
- LNER Advance singles start from £41.40 if you book three weeks ahead, with the cheapest fares often disappearing first. Typical Advance fares for a London to Edinburgh single sit somewhere between £41 and £90.
- Lumo Advance singles start from £19.90, making them the cheapest option on the route if your dates are flexible.
- LNER First Class Advance singles start from £84.40, with complimentary food and drink onboard and access to the First Class lounges at King’s Cross and Waverley.
- Anytime tickets (no advance booking needed, no specific train) cost around £204 for any-operator validity. Lumo’s own Anytime ticket is £93.
- Walk-up Standard fares on the day are routinely £150 to £200, so this is not the route to leave to chance.
Booking far enough ahead matters more on this route than almost any other in the UK. Advance tickets typically go on sale 12 weeks before departure, and we generally try to book around 90 days out when we have firm dates. Per LNER’s own figures, booking four weeks ahead saves up to 47% versus walk-up.
Where to buy train tickets
You can book directly with the operators (LNER, Lumo) or use a comparison and booking site like Trainline. We use Trainline routinely and find it easier than juggling multiple operator accounts, particularly if you’re combining the London to Edinburgh leg with onward travel in Scotland.
One practical note for international travellers: a few of our readers over the years have struggled to book directly with LNER using non-UK credit cards, with payments getting flagged for fraud review. If you hit that issue, Trainline tends to be more forgiving with international cards, and it’s the workaround we’d suggest. The booking fee is small (usually around £1 per transaction) and worth it to avoid the hassle.
Where to sit, and what to look out for
If you can choose your seat, sit on the right-hand side of the train facing forward when going from London to Edinburgh (and the left-hand side coming back). That puts you on the east side, looking out over the coast.
The first half of the journey is unremarkable English countryside, but it gets visually interesting as you head north. Durham Cathedral comes into view on the right as you cross the Durham viaduct, sitting high above the river on its peninsula. After Newcastle, the line runs close to the coast through Northumberland, and the stretch between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Dunbar is the visual highlight of the whole route, with the train running right along the cliffs above the North Sea. We try to time food and drink purchases so we have a coffee in hand by the time we get there.
BritRail Pass
If you plan to make multiple train journeys around the UK, you might consider getting a BritRail GB Pass, which covers train travel in England, Scotland, and Wales. It can save you money if you’re doing several long journeys. These passes must be purchased before you arrive in the UK and are not valid for UK residents. Check the maths against your planned journeys before buying. For a single London to Edinburgh trip plus one or two shorter UK journeys, individual Advance tickets are usually cheaper.
2. Plane
Flying is the option people often default to first, but in practice, once you add airport travel time and security, it’s only modestly faster than the train, sometimes not faster at all.
Which airlines fly between London and Edinburgh?
The main airlines flying between London and Edinburgh are British Airways, easyJet, and Ryanair. London has six main airports, and five of them have direct flights to Edinburgh. See our guide to getting to and from London’s six airports for details on each.
Edinburgh has only one main airport, located about 8 miles from the city centre. From there you can take the tram, the AIRLINK bus run by Lothian Buses, or a taxi or Uber. The tram and Airlink are the cheapest, both around £6 single, and both deposit you in the city centre in 25 to 30 minutes.
Which London airport is actually fastest end-to-end?
This is where the choice of London airport matters more than people realise. From central London to landing wheels-down in Edinburgh, the total time can vary by an hour or more depending on which airport you use:
- London City (LCY) is the dark-horse winner if you’re staying anywhere near the City or Canary Wharf. The airport is small, security queues are short, and you can go from a Liverpool Street taxi to your aircraft seat in 15 to 20 minutes.
- Stansted (STN) and Luton (LTN) are budget-airline territory but add a long Tube and train journey at the London end, eating most of the time savings.
- Gatwick (LGW) works well if you’re staying south of the river or have a direct Gatwick Express train booked.
- Heathrow (LHR) is usually the slowest end-to-end despite being the largest airport. The Tube takes around 50 minutes from central London, plus the standard 90-minute pre-flight cushion.
For most central London hotels and most travellers, the train is faster door to door once you account for all of this.
How much does it cost to fly from London to Edinburgh?
Most flights are operated by budget carriers, so headline fares can look cheap. Advance fares with budget airlines can be as low as £30 to £50 one-way, with typical fares more like £80 to £150 if you’re booking closer to the date or travelling at peak times. Expect prices to climb significantly during the Edinburgh August festivals and around Hogmanay.
Be careful with budget-airline pricing on this route. The headline fare often doesn’t include hold luggage (typically £25 to £50 per bag each way), seat selection (£5 to £20), or priority boarding. If you have a checked bag and want to choose your seat, the actual cost can double from the advertised fare. Once you add airport transfers at both ends, a “cheap” flight is often more expensive than a Standard Advance LNER ticket.
How long does it take to fly from London to Edinburgh?
The flight itself is 60 to 90 minutes. But factor in travel to the airport (30 to 90 minutes from central London depending on which airport), airport check-in and security (90 minutes is the standard pre-flight cushion for a domestic flight), and getting from Edinburgh Airport into the city (25 to 30 minutes), and the realistic door-to-door time is 3.5 to 4.5 hours. That’s roughly the same as the train, which doesn’t have the airport time built in.
Where to book flight tickets?
You can book directly with each airline (British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair) or compare across multiple airlines using a flight comparison site. Most major comparison sites (Skyscanner, Google Flights) will show you all the budget and full-service carriers on this route at once.
3. Caledonian Sleeper (Overnight Train)
The Caledonian Sleeper is an overnight train service that runs from London Euston to Scotland, with the Lowlander route serving Edinburgh and Glasgow. It’s a slower service than the daytime trains by design, giving you a proper night’s sleep on board so you wake up in Edinburgh ready for the day.
The service runs Sunday to Friday nights (no Saturday departure). The train leaves London Euston around 11.30pm and arrives at Edinburgh Waverley around 7.30am, with boarding from around 10.15pm so you can settle in before departure. We’d recommend boarding early if you’ve booked a Club Room or Caledonian Double, both for the included Club Car access (food and drink served onboard before bed) and to make the most of the experience.
You can read about our personal experience riding the Caledonian Sleeper for a more detailed account of what the journey is actually like.
How much does the Caledonian Sleeper cost?
Sleeper pricing is dynamic, like airline fares, so it varies based on demand and how far ahead you book. As a guide for the Lowlander to Edinburgh in 2026, advance fares typically fall in these ranges:
- Sleeper seat: £54 to £75 per person
- Classic Room (private, twin bunks, shared bathroom): £210 to £270 (per room, sleeps up to two)
- Club Room (private, en-suite shower and toilet): £270 to £360 (per room, sleeps up to two)
- Caledonian Double (private, double bed, en-suite): from £410 (per room). These sell out months in advance, particularly for weekends and summer dates
Family discounts of up to 33% are applied automatically when you book. Club Room and Caledonian Double fares include breakfast served in the Club Car or delivered to your room.
When you compare these prices, factor in that you’re saving the cost of a hotel night. Two people sharing a Classic Room from £210 are paying around £105 each for both transport and an Edinburgh night, which often works out competitively against a daytime train plus an Edinburgh hotel.
How long does the overnight train take?
The total scheduled journey is around 7 hours 30 minutes from London to Edinburgh. The actual time you spend onboard is longer if you take advantage of early boarding, and you’ll arrive in Edinburgh well before most hotels’ check-in time. Edinburgh Waverley has left-luggage facilities if you need to drop bags before exploring the city in the morning.
How do I book a Caledonian Sleeper ticket?
Book directly through the Caledonian Sleeper website. Tickets go on sale up to 12 months ahead, and the popular dates (summer weekends, festival season) sell out months in advance for Club and Caledonian Double rooms. You can see the full London to Edinburgh timetable on their site.
4. Bus / Coach
A long-distance bus, usually called a coach in the UK, is one of the cheapest ways to travel between London and Edinburgh. Coaches run regularly from a number of departure points in London, with the majority leaving from Victoria Coach Station and arriving at Edinburgh Bus Station on Elder Street, near St Andrew Square in the city centre.
Which bus companies run between London and Edinburgh?
Three main long-distance bus operators run the London to Edinburgh route: National Express, Megabus, and FlixBus, all with multiple departures per day including overnight services.
How much does the bus cost from London to Edinburgh?
Booking in advance gets you the best deals. Advance fares typically range from £15 to £25 one-way, making the coach the most cost-effective option if you have time and a bit of flexibility. Walk-up fares are higher but still usually under £40. If you’re booking last minute on a tight budget, the coach is almost always your cheapest option.
Overnight buses run on this route as well. They’re not luxurious, but they save the cost of a hotel night, which can stack savings if you can sleep in a coach seat.
How long does the bus take?
The coach is one of the slower options. Expect 9 to 11 hours of travel depending on the operator, route, and traffic.
How to book a bus ticket?
The easiest way is to book directly via the operators’ websites: National Express, Megabus, or FlixBus. National Express tickets can also be bought by phone or in person at Victoria Coach Station; Megabus and FlixBus tickets are sold online.
5. Car / Driving
Driving from London to Edinburgh is an option, but we should be upfront: it’s not one we’d recommend for most visitors. We’ve made this drive a number of times over the years and it’s our least favourite way to do the journey. The route is long, much of it is dull motorway, and the stretches near both cities can produce heavy queues that you can’t predict in advance. We’ve been stuck in plenty of them.
A car (or motorcycle or campervan) does give you flexibility and lets you stop wherever you want, which is useful if you’re planning detours. We don’t recommend driving in central London or central Edinburgh; both cities are best explored on foot, by public transport, or by taxi, and parking in either is expensive. London’s Congestion Charge is also worth knowing about if you’re planning to drive into the city centre. It’s currently £18 per day on weekdays 7am to 6pm and weekends 12pm to 6pm. Pick up a rental car at the edge of London or at an airport rather than central London, and drop it back the same way at the Edinburgh end.
How long does it take to drive from London to Edinburgh?
It’s around 400 miles by road from London to Edinburgh. In good traffic conditions, plan on a 7 hour drive from central London to central Edinburgh. Realistically, allow 8 to 9 hours total to include food and rest stops. If you’re driving during rush hour, August festival season, Hogmanay, or a UK bank holiday weekend, add more.
Fastest driving route from London to Edinburgh?
Two main options:
- The A1 / A1(M) up the east side via Cambridge, Peterborough, Newcastle, and into the borders. This is the route I’ve taken most often. The A1(M) sections are full motorway, but parts of the A1 in Northumberland are single-carriageway with overtaking lanes, which can slow you down behind slower traffic. Newcastle’s western ring road (A1 around the city) is a regular bottleneck at rush hour.
- The M1 to M6 to A702 up the western side. All motorway-grade until you hit Scotland, then the A702 takes you across the borders to Edinburgh. Often slightly longer in distance but sometimes faster in good traffic conditions.
Before setting off, check road conditions on Traffic England and Traffic Scotland for live updates on motorway delays, construction, and incidents. UK radio stations also report traffic conditions regularly while you’re on the road.
If you’re driving overnight or in the early hours, the A1 is well-lit on the motorway sections but darker on the single-carriageway stretches in Northumberland. We’d recommend driving in daylight if you’re not used to UK motorway driving, and always plan to arrive before dark if you can.
Where to rent a car in the UK?
If you need to hire a car, there are a number of rental companies operating in the UK. Note that one-way rentals (pick up in London, drop off in Edinburgh) usually carry an extra one-way fee, so check before booking.
We compare prices across a few sites: Discover Cars for general comparison, and Enterprise directly, as Enterprise’s one-way fees are often the lowest.
One important note for North American visitors: in the UK, “car hire” and “rental car” mean the same thing. You’ll see the term “car hire” used most often. Don’t be confused into thinking it means a chauffeur service, which is what “hire” usually means in American English.
The other thing to know is that the default UK rental car is manual transmission. If you want an automatic, you need to specifically request and pay extra for it, and you should book it well in advance because automatics in budget categories are limited. Even if you can drive a manual, doing so on the opposite side of the road while shifting with your left hand adds a real layer of distraction. We’d recommend an automatic for most overseas visitors. See our friends at Finding the Universe’s tips for driving in the UK for more on this.
Cost of driving from London to Edinburgh
Costs vary widely. The big variables are whether you need to rent (and what category), fuel prices, and your route. Fuel for the one-way drive in a typical petrol car works out around £70 to £100 at current prices. Add a rental at £40 to £80 per day for a budget car (more for an automatic), plus the one-way fee of £40 to £100 from most companies. So a 2-day one-way rental with fuel could come in around £200 to £350 depending on category and company. Insurance and any extras add to that.
6. Guided Tour
If you’re not in a rush and want to see more of the UK between the two cities, a guided tour is another option. You can join an existing multi-day tour or arrange a private one.
How long is a guided tour from London to Edinburgh?
Tours range from 2 days to 10 days or more. Most tour companies don’t offer one-way London-to-Edinburgh tours, but some do. Rabbie’s, one of our favourite tour companies in the UK, runs an 8-day London to Edinburgh Adventure tour that ends in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh-based company also offers customisable private tours.
If you want to return to London after Edinburgh, you have more options. Plenty of tour companies offer multi-day Scotland and northern England tours that loop back to London, with itineraries from a long weekend up to ten days or more. Search for “London to Edinburgh tour” or “Britain tour from London” to compare current offerings on platforms like GetYourGuide and Viator.
How much does a tour from London to Edinburgh cost?
Tour prices vary dramatically by length, season, group size, and inclusions. As one example, the Rabbie’s 8-day London to Edinburgh Adventure costs from around £919 per person for the tour itself (transport, guide, tour itinerary). Accommodation is booked separately on this tour, so factor that into your total budget. Compare what’s included carefully when comparing tour prices.
7. Private Car Transfer or Cab
Hiring a private car with driver, or taking a cab the whole way, is an option if you want comfort by road without driving yourself. The driver picks you up and drops you off at the address of your choice.
How to book a private car transfer?
You’ll need to arrange this in advance. We recommend using a UK cab comparison site like minicabit to compare quotes from cab and private transfer companies on this route.
How much does a private cab from London to Edinburgh cost?
This is a premium option. Quotes typically range from £400 to £600 for a private transfer in a standard sedan. If you have 3 or 4 people sharing, the per-person cost becomes much more reasonable, particularly compared to last-minute walk-up train fares for a group.
8. Ride Share
Ride sharing means catching a lift with someone who is already driving the route, contributing to their fuel costs in exchange for a seat. It’s cheap, can be sociable, and offers flexible dates.
Ride sharing services in the UK
The two main dedicated UK ride sharing platforms are BlaBlaCar and Liftshare. Some travellers also use online classifieds (Gumtree, university noticeboards) or social media groups for ad-hoc carshare arrangements.
Use good judgement when arranging carshares with people you don’t know. Verify identities, share trip details with someone you trust, and meet in public locations.
Cost of ride sharing
Usually inexpensive, since drivers are looking to cover fuel costs rather than make a profit. Expect somewhere between £8 and £35 per person for a direct London-to-Edinburgh share, depending on the driver, route, and timing.
9. Bicycle
If you cycle, you can ride from London to Edinburgh on the UK’s network of bike routes, the National Cycle Network.
Bike route from London to Edinburgh?
One option is Route 1, which runs 1,695 miles between Dover and the Shetland Islands and passes through both London and Edinburgh. The London-to-Edinburgh section is 783 miles via the scenic route. More direct routes that follow major roads are around 450 miles.
How long does it take to cycle from London to Edinburgh?
For an average rider on a fairly direct route, expect 2 weeks at a steady pace. A serious cyclist could complete it in 4 to 6 days. The full National Cycle Network Route 1 with detours and slower pace is more like 9 to 20 days depending on daily distance.
Where to rent a bike in London?
Plenty of bike hire companies in London, but most don’t allow one-way rentals where you return the bike in Edinburgh. Specialist providers like Bike Hire UK may be able to arrange a one-way or by-mail rental. Confirm current options with them directly before relying on this for your trip planning.
An alternative is to buy a used bike in London and sell it once you reach Edinburgh.
10. Walk or Hike
Few people choose to walk the 377 miles between London and Edinburgh, but it is the oldest way to make the trip and the most leisurely. If you’re into very slow travel, this is your option.
Hiking route from London to Edinburgh?
There’s no single dedicated walking route between the two cities. You can join sections of England’s National Trails with Scotland’s Great Trails to plot a route. History fans might follow a route like the Great North Road, dating back to Roman and stagecoach times, parts of which the modern A1 follows closely.
Walking the route requires serious planning, reasonable fitness, and the ability to be self-sufficient on long days, but if you have the time and want an adventure, this is one way to do it.
How long does it take to walk from London to Edinburgh?
Depends on your route, fitness, planned stops, and pace. A fit walker covering 30 miles a day could reach Edinburgh in 12 to 13 days. At 20 miles a day, you’re looking at around 19 days. At a more relaxed 10 miles per day, it’s a 5-week trip.
What is the Best Way to Get From London to Edinburgh?
The right answer depends on your budget, time, and travel style. Here’s how we’d think about it.
Cheapest way to get from London to Edinburgh?
For the lowest absolute cost, the long-distance bus, especially with advance booking, is your cheapest option, with fares from £15. Lumo’s Advance train fares from £19.90 are very close, and the train is far more comfortable. If you’re booking last minute on a tight budget, the bus is almost always your cheapest option.
Quickest way to get from London to Edinburgh?
Door-to-door, the train and the plane work out roughly the same: 4 to 4.5 hours for either, once you account for airport time. The train wins on convenience because you avoid the airport faff.
Most cost-efficient way to get from London to Edinburgh?
The Standard Advance LNER ticket, booked 3 to 12 weeks ahead, hits the sweet spot of cost, time, and comfort. The Caledonian Sleeper is also very efficient if you can sleep on a train, since it removes a hotel night from your trip.
Most luxurious way to get from London to Edinburgh?
For comfort on a normal budget, consider First Class on LNER (Advance from £84.40) or a Caledonian Double on the sleeper. The Club Room on the sleeper, with its en-suite shower and Club Car access, is also a notable upgrade for the experience.
Best way to sightsee from London to Edinburgh?
If you want to make stops, consider driving, joining a guided tour, or taking the train and breaking the journey at York or Durham (both excellent stopover towns). The Rabbie’s 8-day tour is a good way to see plenty of the country with someone else doing the planning. If you’d rather plan it yourself, our 1-week UK road trip itinerary and 10-day UK by public transport itinerary over on Finding the Universe both work well.
Most leisurely way to get from London to Edinburgh?
Walking or cycling, both of which are healthy and force you to slow down. Driving with planned overnight stops is also a good way to make the journey at your own pace.
Our preferred way to get from London to Edinburgh?
The day train. Specifically, an LNER Standard Advance ticket booked around 90 days out, with a window seat on the right-hand side of the train facing forward. We’ve made this journey by every available motorised mode (Laurence has even driven the A1 a number of times), and the day train is the one we keep coming back to. It’s competitive on time, comfortable, drops you in the centre of both cities, and you don’t have to deal with security queues or motorway traffic. The Caledonian Sleeper is our second choice when we want to save the time and cost of an Edinburgh hotel night.
Can You Take a Day Trip From London to Edinburgh?
It is possible to visit Edinburgh as a day trip from London, but we’d advise against it. The fastest train round-trip alone is over 8 hours, leaving you with maybe 5 to 6 useful hours in Edinburgh after factoring in walking time and a meal break. That’s not enough time to really see the city.
If you want to visit Edinburgh from London, we’d strongly recommend staying at least one night, ideally two. Browse Edinburgh accommodation on Booking.com for a wide range of options, from budget hostels to luxury hotels. Or check our recommendations for things to do in Edinburgh to plan a worthwhile multi-day visit.
If you really have to do it in a day, take the earliest LNER train and the latest one back, prioritise Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, and accept that you’re getting a taste rather than a real visit. Alternatively, there are guided day-trip packages from London that handle the logistics for you, like this Edinburgh day tour by train.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book my London to Edinburgh train ticket?
Train tickets typically go on sale 12 weeks before departure, and the cheapest Advance fares often disappear first. We try to book around 90 days out when we have firm dates.
If your dates are flexible, midweek travel and trains outside the morning and evening commute peaks tend to have the lowest fares. To guarantee a reserved seat, book at least 24 to 48 hours before departure.
Which London station do trains to Edinburgh leave from?
The fast direct trains to Edinburgh leave from London King’s Cross. LNER and Lumo both run from King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley.
The slower alternative via Avanti West Coast leaves from London Euston and goes via Birmingham, but for almost everyone the King’s Cross route is the better choice. The Caledonian Sleeper overnight train also leaves from London Euston.
How long does the train take from London to Edinburgh?
The fastest LNER trains take 4 hours and 11 minutes from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley. Some services with more stops take up to 5 hours.
Lumo trains take slightly longer (around 4 hours 20 minutes). The journey time is broadly competitive with flying once you account for getting to airports and going through security.
Which is better for London to Edinburgh: LNER or Lumo?
LNER runs more frequent services (around 29 per weekday), is slightly faster, and offers both Standard and First Class. Lumo runs fewer services, is standard-class-only, and tends to be cheaper.
One important difference: Lumo’s luggage policy allows just one medium suitcase plus one small piece of hand luggage per passenger. If you’re travelling with more, LNER is the better choice. For most travellers we’d recommend LNER first and only switching to Lumo if the price difference is meaningful for your dates.
Is it worth flying from London to Edinburgh?
For most central London travellers, no. Once you add airport transfers and 90 minutes of pre-flight cushion to the 60- to 90-minute flight, the door-to-door time is roughly the same as the train, often longer.
Flying makes more sense if you’re connecting from an international flight at Heathrow, if you’re already staying near a London airport, or if you’re flying from London City to a similarly central destination on the other end. Otherwise the train is more comfortable, often cheaper once you add baggage and seat-selection fees, and drops you in the city centre.
What’s the cheapest way to travel from London to Edinburgh?
For pre-booked tickets, the long-distance bus (National Express, Megabus, FlixBus) is usually the cheapest option, with advance fares from around £15. Lumo’s Advance train fares from £19.90 come a very close second and are far more comfortable.
If you’re booking last minute, the bus is almost always cheaper than walk-up train fares, which routinely hit £150 to £200 on the day.
Can you do a day trip from London to Edinburgh?
Technically yes, but we don’t recommend it. The fastest train round-trip is over 8 hours, leaving only 5 to 6 useful hours in Edinburgh after walking time and a meal break.
If you want to see Edinburgh properly, plan to stay at least one night, ideally two. Browse Edinburgh accommodation to find a hotel that suits your budget, or take a structured 2- to 3-day guided tour package from London that handles the logistics.
What’s the best side of the train to sit on for views?
Sit on the right-hand side facing the direction of travel when going from London to Edinburgh, and the left-hand side coming back. That puts you on the east side, looking out over the coast.
The most scenic stretch is between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Dunbar, where the line runs along the cliffs above the North Sea. Durham Cathedral also comes into view on the right as you cross the river viaduct just south of Durham station, and is well worth keeping an eye out for.
Is the Caledonian Sleeper worth it?
If the experience appeals to you, yes. You save the cost of a hotel night, you arrive in Edinburgh ready to start the day, and the Mark 5 carriages introduced in 2019 are comfortable. The Club Rooms with en-suite showers are particularly good.
If you’re optimising purely for time and cost on a one-way trip, a daytime LNER train will get you there faster and cheaper. The sleeper makes most sense as part of a planned trip where you want the experience, or where the saved hotel night materially improves your itinerary.
How long is the drive from London to Edinburgh?
Around 400 miles by road, with a typical drive time of 7 hours in good conditions. Realistically, allow 8 to 9 hours total to include food and rest stops. Traffic can add significantly to this around Newcastle, during August festival season, and around Hogmanay.
If you’re not used to UK motorway driving, consider booking an automatic transmission (default UK rentals are manual) and avoid driving in central London or central Edinburgh, where parking is difficult and the London Congestion Charge applies at £18 per day.
So that summarises our guide to getting from London to Edinburgh. If you’re planning your trip to the UK, here is a guide to public transport in London, plus our 3-day London itinerary and 6-day London itinerary to plan your time in London.
Once you arrive in Edinburgh, take a look at our guide to the must-see things to do in Edinburgh as well as our tips for getting off the beaten path in Edinburgh. For a structured 2-day plan, see Finding the Universe’s two-day Edinburgh itinerary, and if you’re a photographer, their guide to the best photography locations in Edinburgh is well worth a read.
We hope this helps you figure out how to get from London to Edinburgh, or vice versa. If you have any questions about travelling between these two cities or travel within either one, just let us know by leaving a comment below. If you have your own tips or experiences to share about travel between London and Edinburgh, feel free to add those too.
ivan Post author
thanks for this guide so helpful for those coming from another country! do you have any thoughts on how far in advance we should book trains as we know that sometimes it is booked out in advance, the london to edibnburgh route?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ivan,
Happy to hear that our guide is helping you plan your trip in the UK.
So to make sure you have a reserved seat on the train between London and Edinburgh, you need to book at least 24 hours or 48 hours before your trip departs on most trains. Otherwise you are not guaranteed a reserved seat (often not a big deal as there are unreserved seats). But you are right in that trains can also be sold out, especially during peak times and dates. The bigger issue though is often that there are seats left but they are the most expensive seats and prices are higher.
I would definitely book it at least a couple of weeks in advance if you can so you can ensure you get seats for the train at the time and category of seat you want. But booking even earlier is better in terms of prices, as booking when seats are releseased will generally get you the cheapest tickets – we generally try to book around 90 days out if we have a trip planned but the sooner the better once you know your dates.
Best,
Jessica
Darlene Post author
Wow I am so thankful I found your blog. I am going to do my first solo adventure and I have been having a hard time deciding how to get from Southampton to Edinburgh after a cruise. I will definitely be taking a train from London ( think it was Kings Cross station) to Edinburgh. Now I just need to decide how I am getting from Southampton to London. I truly appreciate the valuable information you put in this post.
From a very grateful first time solo traveler from Maine.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Darlene,
So happy to hear you have found our travel blog helpful in planning your trip to Scotland, and on how to get between London and Edinburgh.
We’ve done cruises to and from Southampton so have done those connections. So to get from Southampton to London, you have two real options, either take a bus/coach (National Express is the one we have used) or the train to London. First, to get from the cruise port, you’ll need to make your way to the bus or train station. It is a short taxi ride to either from any of the cruise terminals (there are several within the port) to either the central coachstation or train station. It is even possible to walk to the bus station – 15-30 minutes depending on the arrival terminal but probably not the best idea if you have luggage. There is also a local bus you can take but you’d need to check the schedule for that so again a taxi is probably easiest.
Both the bus or train work well. If you can get a direct train that will be a bit faster, but a bus is often a bit cheaper – we’ve done both. Bus is great backup also if there are any railway strikes going on. Neither the train or bus go directly to Kings Cross station though (trains normally end at Waterloo station or Paddington, and buses normally terminate at Victoria Station in London) so you’ll want to take the Underground (Tube) or a taxi probably once you get to London if you need to then head directly to Kings Cross for a train.
No matter which option, just be sure to allow for possible delays and travel time so you are not rushing. You can almost always count on at least a small delay somewhere with so many connections in your journey. Being able to do it at a more relaxed pace is always nice, particularly if it is your first time.
Hope that helps, and wishing you a wonderful trip. If you have any further questions as you plan your trip, just let us know!
Best,
Jessica
Pedro Post author
Hi,
This information has been very useful. I have a couple of questions that hopefuly you can help provide guidance to. Here´s a little context that might help set the stage. We are planning on UK (London)- Scotland-Ireland for our Honey Moon and are flying in from Mexico City. From the total of 17 days (+2 for the international flights), we´ve decided on 3 days in London to then go to Edinburgh. This is were we are having a hard time pinning down an itinerary beggining with how to get to Scotland, how to move around Scotland and what to prioritize for scenery, towns, castles, etc.
1. We are planning to spend aproximately 1 week in scotland getting to Edinburgh from London. We haven´t decided if a day (7.5 hr), a speed train (4 hr), a night train or flight is best. If we want to also go sight seeing in Scotland, is it worth it to take the train? If so, which train would you take to get there? Would the 4 hr spreed train be good enough to check the sight seeing box?
2. While in Scotland, would you recommend to move between towns or pivot back and forth from Edinburgh? If moving from town to town is recommended, would you recommend renting a campervan for the experience/cost/flexibility? If not, how would you recommend to move between towns?
3. To move around Scotland, is it better to join tours privoting from Edinburgh (or Glasgow), to rent a car, to move around by bus or move by train?
4. How many days would you recommend for Glasgow (considering a samewhat fast paced trip and that we will most likely want to spend more time in Edinburgh)?
5. Considering the time restriction, what would you list as must see places, towns and visits?
Any recommendations for Ireland along the previous travel plan style would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance for the help.
Best,
Pedro
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Pedro,
Happy to try to help you plan your trip to the UK and Ireland.
First, I would suggest considering 4 nights in London if that is your first stop. You’ll likely be very tired the first day and with potential flight delays, it might be good to have an extra night here. Also, out of all the cities in the UK (and Ireland), London has some of the top museums, attractions, and nightlife. So it is a good city to spend a little extra time so you don’t feel too rushed.
To get from London to Edinburgh, I’d probably suggest just taking the high-speed day train. In terms of time X cost, it is probably the best bet (although you can compare them to a flight, but flights are more a hassle with security/screening, etc.). There is some nice scenery from the train, particularly as it gets further north but it is certainly not a panoramic sort of train ride (the best scenery in Scotland from a train is north of Edinburgh and Glasgow). But the night train can also be a good option as it does save you the money of a hotel that night but is not always a restful experience depending on how you sleep on trains and normally it arrives very early in the morning.
If Edinburgh and Glasgow are places you plan to go already, then getting around by train probably makes a lot of sense. You don’t need a car to get around either city if you stay near the city center, lots of stuff is walkable or you can take the public transit (or a taxi).
I would say maybe 3 nights Edinburgh, 2 nights Glasgow, and 2 night up in Inverness. Both Glasgow and Inverness are very easy to reach by train from Edinburgh. From Glasgow, you can also easy day trip to Loch Lomond. Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, makes a good base to explore Loch Ness, Cairngorms, and/or Isle of Skye.
Across our two travel blogs Independent Travel Cats and Finding the Universe, we have lots of articles on Scotland (and London and Ireland) that I think cover all or most of these places and top things to see. If you have any questions, just ask!
For tours in Scotland, we recommend checking out Rabbie’s which is based in Edinburgh and offers both day tours and multi-day tours from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness.
I am not sure what your plans are for Ireland. But you can take a ferry from Scotland to Northern Ireland for example (or catch a short flight), and then head to Belfast. In Northern Ireland. Top sights here would probably be Belfast (particularly the Titanic Belfast) and the Giant’s Causeway (you can drive or take a day tour along the Causeway Coastal Highway).
Then you could take the train down to Dublin and spend a couple days exploring the sights around Dublin. You can also do day tours from Dublin to places like the Cliffs of Moher, Kilkenny, and Blarney Castle. I would also recommend seeing a bit of the countryside, so depending on how much time you have left, you could either take rent a car or join a tour to explore a scenic more rural area such as the Ring of Kerry or Dingle Peninsula.
So your trip itinerary might look something like this: 4 nights London, 7 nights Scotland (split between Edinburgh/Glasgow/Inverness), 2-3 nights Belfast, 3-4 nights Dublin (maybe 1-2 nights in rural area instead?) – flying into London and out of Dublin.
Anyway, hope that helps, and just let us know if you have further questions as you plan your trip.
Happy travels,
Jessica
Rindy Post author
My flight from London to Edinburgh was canceled and our optional flight gets us into Edinburgh after midnight and we still have to drive to Glasgow. We decided to take the train, but noticed the Lumo wont allow luggage, is that correct? We are open for any advice on how get to our destination.
Jessica Post author
Hi Rindy,
I am not sure if you are asking about going from London to Glasgow by train or how to get from Edinburgh airport to Glasgow after midnight. So I will try to answer both questions.
Yes, it looks like from their policy that the Lumo train service only allows one medium suitcase and hand luggage so that would probably not be a good fit (although they have a luggage courier service you can pay extra for). The last non Lumo train is also at 11.45pm so that would probably not work in terms of timing if your flight doesn’t get into Edinburgh until midnight or later.
If you need to get from Edinburgh to Glasgow late at night, I’d recommend looking at the Megabus bus service. They currently offer through-the-night direct services from Edinburgh airport. So that should work if you take the midnight flight, just be sure to check the bus schedule for your specific date.
If you are asking about best way to get from London to Glasgow, you have a few options: train (Avanti West Coast has probably the most direct trains), sleeper train (Caledonian Sleeper service at night), or a long-distance bus (such as by Megabus or National Express).
Note that if planning to take the train, you’ll want to check in advance for rail stike dates as industrial actions in the UK has made some of the companies limit selling tickets on some dates because of planned or potential strikes. I think the dates for September have been announced.
Hope that helps, and feel free to follow up if you have further questions as you plan your trip to Scotland.
Best,
Jessica
Noelle Post author
Thanks for this informative article. I am planning to take the train from London to Edinburgh in mid August right after I land from the US. My flight from the US gets into Heathrow at 1:15PM and I don’t plan on checking a bag. I’m trying to figure out if I should buy:
1. an advanced single train ticket (£71.50) or
2. an anytime ticket (£173) or
3. just show up at the train station and buy a ticket day of (not sure how much more $$ this will be)
With air travel the way it is in the UK right now, I’m worried if my flight will get delayed. Also I have no idea how long it will take to get through customs, etc. What are my options if I miss a train or can I take an earlier one if I show up way before my scheduled train? Thanks for your help!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Noelle,
This is a great question. There is no real right answer to this, it really depends on balancing money with risk.
So most advance single tickets can only be exchanged fee free up to 6pm the day before you travel. Changes made after this will depend on the train company, for the London to Edinburgh route that is operated by LNER and they currently charge £10 for a change. However you have to make the change prior to the timetabled departure.
LNER currently also allows you to book an advance ticket up to 5 minutes before departure however this will be subject to availability. You can see more here.
To answer your questions:
– Baggage/security/customs can take a while! Recently we’ve gotten through in as little as half an hour, but it can take much longer depending on how many flights are coming in and staffing. You also have to factor in the time to get from Heathrow to London Kings Cross. It’s about an hour direct by Picadilly Line.
– If you miss a train you are normally out of luck, unless you have requested to change it before it leaves (for advance and saver tickets). For anytime tickets, you can travel any time, but they are more expensive.
– If you show up early, you can pay the small fee to change to an earlier train, subject to availability.
If it was me, I would likely book a train at around 4.30pm with an advance single. That should be enough time to get through customs and across London. I’d book an advance single directly with LNER, you can download and use their app. If your flight arrives late, unless it is really late then you should be able to change it when you land. If it is looking like it is going to depart very late, then you can change your train before the flight takes off.
Of course, this is down to your own personal approach to risk. You could opt to try for an advance single on the day, but they are not always available. If you are arriving on a Thursday or Friday for example these might have less availability than earlier in the week.
If you don’t want to worry about delayed flights and timing that day, you could also just plan to spend the first night of your trip in London near the train station so you are more relaxed and just book a morning train to Edinburgh from London. So the only thing you need to do is to get from the airport to you hotel and then you can just choose one within walking distance to the train station.
Anyway, hope all the above helps in making a decision. If you have any further questions, just ask! Fingers crossed for a smooth and on-time flight.
Best,
Jessica
Noelle Post author
Thank you so much for this detailed response. I have been trying to research this for days and figuring out the train system has been confusing for me. This is SO helpful for me and I will take your advice and book the advanced single for 4:30pm. I’m assuming that if I download the LNER app I can make changes to the train (if needed) right on the app? Also if I make any changes and there is a change in fare (like if it’s more $), do I need to pay the difference plus the fare change fee or just the change fare fee?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Noelle,
You’re very welcome, happy to try to help.
Yes, you should be able to make changes (e.g., times) via the LNER app once you sign up and have a ticket booked in your account. If there is a price difference between the train tickets, you would normally need to pay the price difference plus the admin change fee.
Yes, we have been having a lot of train/airline staff strikes in the UK and the rest of Europe. A good thing is that they are normally announced publically about 2 weeks in advance. So I would check for updates before you head out.
Also note if you have travel insurance, you might want to check to see if that would cover you if you needed to cancel your tickets or miss your train due to a flight or travel issue. Travel insurance will often cover things booked according to their policy due to travel delays/cancellations/interruptions. Although hopefully you will not need to use it!
Best,
Jessica
Tiffany K Post author
A note for Americans who may be looking to rent a car: Car Hire is our equivalent of rental cars and you may see them advertised either way. We were a bit confused as “car hire” over here typically means someone else is driving (like a limo or a taxi). Also, most UK cars have manual transmissions and you’ll need to specify if you want an automatic. I highly recommend it; even if you CAN drive stick, doing so on the opposite side of the road and shifting with your left hand adds a whole new level of distraction to an already somewhat stressful activity.
Thanks for your article–we’re about to go visit Edi again (to watch our daughter graduate this time!) and I just can’t get enough of the city. Always love to spend a few days in London first, then take the train up to Scotland and enjoy the countryside. Your information is very helpful!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Tiffany,
You are very welcome! And thanks for sharing some comments about what you have found confusing about the way that rental cars are advertised and rented in the UK as an American.
Yes, the Brits normally use “car hire” versus the term “rental car” that is often used in the United States but they mean the same thing. But in the UK, if you say you want to rent a car, they understand what that means and it means the same thing. Americans generally only refer to hiring when it means hiring an actual person, such as a driver.
Yes, there are definitely more cars with manual transmission available to rent/hire in the UK. There is definitely a shift though to more automatic cars on the road here. More than 50% of new cars sold in the UK are automatic and this keeps rising and it also means more and more rental cars are also automatic. But if you are someone who is good at driving a manual car, they are usually less expensive, so a good way to save money. But if you are not used to manual gears, I would definitely not recommend it for tourists, especially for those coming from countries used to driving on the right side of the road.
A note on trains. The UK is experiencing a number of strikes (including rail strikes) and transport staffing issues. This means that lots of trains have not been running on certain days, this is particularly the case in Scotland. So just be sure to check this close to your trip. For strikes, they normally give about a 2 week notice. Hopefully all the strikes will be ended by the time of your trip but they have been causing a lot of travel chaos affecting the rails, Underground in London, trams, and airports. So always good to have an alternative travel plan just in case.
That sounds like a lovely trip, and I hope you have a great time in Edinburgh to visit your daughter and see her graduate!
Best,
Jessica
Christine Post author
Thank you for making my travel planning a lot easier and more efficient. I normally do all my own research and would have spent so many hours pulling together all the information that is in one article. Plus, I have never been to Scotland so my understanding of how it all works would have taken much longer to process and I still might not have felt 100% confident with my information. Your wonderful article laid out everything beautifully. So organized and answered all the questions I had about costs, names of vendors, and pros/cons of choices. I am done with this portion of my trip and have decided to book a day train ticket from London to Edinburgh so I can see the scenery. Many thanks!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Christine,
I am so glad that our traveling planning guide for getting from London to Edinburgh was helpful to you. A day train is a great choice and I hope you enjoy the train and your time in Scotland!
We used to live in Edinburgh and have written several Edinburgh articles across our two travel blogs that may be useful, but just let us know if you have any questions about your trip.
Best,
Jessica
Rachel Post author
Thank you so much for this article! So much information that I needed when trying to decide how best to plan. Really appreciate the details!!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Rachel,
Glad to hear and wishing you a great trip in the UK. Just let us know if you have any questions about planning travel between London and Edinburgh!
Best,
Jessica
Jack Post author
Hey, very helpful article, all you need to know to find the best way to get from Edinburgh to London!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Thanks Jack, glad you enjoyed it and just let us know if you have any questions!
Wishing you safe & happy travels,
Jessica
Rose Post author
Oh dear I’m a bit confused…hasn’t Virgin trains lost the contract to Avanti? A while ago so it’s not a new thing? Thanks, great post otherwise.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Rose,
Glad you found our article helpful in planning your journey between London and Edinburgh!
Yes, you are (sort of) correct. As noted, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is the main operator of trains from London to Edinburgh (formerly Virgin Trains East Coast) and the one we mainly recommend as it operates the fastest service. This has not changed since we wrote the post. However, more recently another route between Edinburgh and London was operated by Virgin Trains and this changed to Avanti West Coast in December 2019.
The operators of various trains and routes, particularly during our time in Scotland, have changed fairly frequently but the routes themselves have generally remained the same, which of course is the important thing!
Wishing you safe & happy train travels,
Jessica
Swati Post author
Hi! Great info in your post! I am travelling next week Wednesday evening from London to Edinburgh. We are driving down (3 couples and 4 kids in two cars ). We intend to leave around 3-4 pm and reach by 11-12 at night. Could you provide some insight on how the drive is – single/double lane road ? Well lit or no street lights? Is it recommended to drive during the night ? Safe/risky?
Thanks!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Swati,
Yes, if you follow the most direct route (and fastest route) north from London to Edinburgh, you’ll mainly be on the A1 and the M1 motorway – this is a major highway in the UK and a busy one. The A1 is mostly 2 lanes, but the number of lanes does of course vary over the course and it gains lanes in different sections of the route, from one lane each way to several. You can see all the lane changes here. The road is well signed, easy to follow, there are many exits, and it is a popular route.
If you are not used to driving very much, it may be easier to drive it during daylight than at night. So you may consider leaving earlier to arrive before dark.
The drive between London and Edinburgh takes about 7 to 8 hours, but of course you’ll want to leave time for stops for food, fuel, etc. so I think leaving 9 to 10 hours, especially with kids, would be a good idea to ensure plenty of time. Road construction can add time to the journey as well.
Enjoy your trip!
Jessica
Elizabeth Noble Post author
Hi. We are headed to Edinburgh in August and may head to Ireland. What is the best way to travel across that won’t break the bank? Also once there the best way to get around if we don’t feel confident driving to see the sights. Thank you.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Elizabeth,
You, of course, need to cross a body of water to get from Scotland to Ireland so you will need to either take a ferry or fly as part of your journey. The larger airports are in Dublin and Belfast.
If you want to take a ferry, you’ll need to get a coach or train to reach the ferry ports. It depends where in Ireland you want to go as well as they will determine some of your travel options and companies that run that route. So I’d probably compare prices and time between flying from Edinburgh or doing a ferry route.
The quickest option is to fly but it can often be less expensive to take a coach & ferry trip.
Probably the least expensive way to get from Edinburgh to either Belfast or Dublin is to book a coach and sail package with Stena Line as they often offer rates as low as £29 per person. They also offer rail & sail packages as well. It is probably too early to book for August so you’ll need to wait until closer to your trip to book these.
There are regular ferries from Cairnryan, Scotland to Larne / Belfast in Northern Ireland. You can go by foot passenger, car, or via a bus (all the regular passenger buses and tour buses must cross by ferry obviously). The two main ferry companies are Stena Line and P&O Ferries.
Once in Ireland, you can travel between cities and towns pretty easily by train or bus, for train Irish Rail is the main provider. For day trips, if you want to see several sites in one day, I’d recommend taking a bus tour. For example you can see our recommendations for day tours from Belfast.
If you are looking for longer trips around Ireland to explore various areas, you might consider checking out the tours from Dublin offered by Rabbie’s Travel.
BTW, Edinburgh is easy to see on foot and via public transit. There are also a lot of day tour possibilities from the city. You probably are well aware, but August is a VERY busy time in August so I’d book your accommodation as soon as you know your dates, especially if you are on a budget, as it is the most expensive time for lodging in the city given all the August Edinburgh festivals.
Hope that helps you get started. Let us know if you have further question as you continue with your planning.
Best,
Jessica
Pat Post author
Excellent information for someone who had never traveled from London to Scotland. Appreciate all the options, tips, etc. We will have about 5 days to visit Scotland/Ireland in May 2020. I wish we had more time. Any suggestions are welcome.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Pat,
I would suggest spending all 5 days in Scotland if you can. If you try to also visit Ireland it will mean a lot more rushing around and you won’t get to see much in either country. If you have 5 days in Scotland, I’d recommend 2 days in Edinburgh and then the next 3 exploring the Highlands (Glencoe, Loch Ness, Cairngorms, castles, whisky distilleries, etc.) and maybe a visit to Glasgow if you enjoy cities. You can either move around or just base in Edinburgh and take day trips from Edinburgh, depending on how you want to get around. It depends a lot on your interests. Are there different sorts of things you really want to do/see in Scotland?
If you do split the 5 days between Scotland and Ireland, it will depend on how you plan to get around (car, public transit, tour). You can also do a flight from Edinburgh to Dublin. But I’d probably recommend 3 nights Edinburgh (2 days exploring city, 1 day trip) and then 2 nights in Dublin (I’d recommend flying from Edinburgh to Dublin). Alternatively, you could choose Belfast instead of Dublin. I’d recommend flying to Ireland, but you can also get from Scotland to Ireland by ferry but this will take up more time.
Hope that helps, and just let us know if you have further questions as you plan your trip to the UK.
Best,
Jessica
Ashley Post author
Which is the best train station in London to go into?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Ashley,
There are a lot of train stations in London and they are well-connected. If you are trying to get to Edinburgh, I’d purchase your ticket and that will tell you which station to go – most trains from London to Edinburgh leave from Kings Cross. Let us know if you have further questions.
Best,
Jessica
Gail Dundas Post author
How much luggage can you take with you on the train from London to Edinburgh?
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Gail, You’ll need to check with the specific train company operating the route you book (e.g., Caledonian Sleeper, LNER, etc.) as it is different for every transport service. But normally you are allowed 2-3 pieces of luggage per person that fit comfortably in the train, don’t block passage, and you can handle yourself. Extra luggage can often be taken but will need to be put in bulk storage (if available) and may incur an extra fee. For example here is the baggage policy for LNER. Hope that helps, Jessica
Rachel Post author
Great and helpful information, exactly what I needed. Think I am going to take a bus or train, just need to check on prices 😉
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Rachel, Glad this was helpful, and enjoy your trip from London to Edinburgh!! Best, Jessica
VIKKI WANG Post author
Hi! I just would like to clarify : London to Scotland Caledonian sleeper New train has been started running? I am travelling around 06 Feb 2019. is it possible to book for new sleeper. Can you please reply to my email? Thank you!
Regards
Vikki
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Vikki,
The new Caledonian sleeper trains are still being tested. They were supposed to begin running the London to Edinburgh route in October 2018, but the start date has been delayed. They are now planned to start all services with the new trains in Spring 2019. So you cannot book the new trains, but you can still book a journey between London and Edinburgh on the old trains as they will continue to operate until the new ones are ready.
Best,
Jessica
Kim Post author
Great information, thank you! Just booked a trsin trip for my family from London-Edinburgh. Allow me to share the difficulty I had, and how it was solved. For some reason, the LNER website refused to take either of our credit cards (Visas issued on an American bank). I sent two emails to the company (different offices) and received automatic notifications that it could take up to 20 days to respond. (Who has 20 days when their booking an overseas trip??) I tried again today with the same results. Picked up the landline to call them, and received a message that “this number cannot accept incoming calls from your location.” Tried from my cell phone, same response. So I went to Facebook and messaged LNER from their FB page … aha! Got someone. They recommended I try PayPal (but had no explanation as to why my credit cards wouldn’t work). Tried PayPal, it worked. THEN I get a notification from LNER that my transaction is being investigated for fraud. I”M JUST TRYING TO BUY TRAIN TICKETS FOR MY FAMILY! Current situation: waiting to see if my purchase will go through. Bottom line: use social media to reach them if there’s a problem.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Kim, Sorry to hear that about LNER and your difficulties booking a ticket on their website. That railroad was recently taken over by LNER (Virgin used to run it). We had not had any issues with Virgin, but have also had a small issue with LNER but nothing like in your case. I hope you are able to get the issue sorted out. Thanks for sharing your experience as it may help future readers.
If you are not able to purchase them from LNER, I’d recommend using Trainline. They charge a small commission fee (usually around £1 per ticket or transaction) but we’ve found them very easy to use. In fact, we just purchased our most recent UK train tickets through them from London.
Best,
Jessica
Tiffany K. Post author
This sounds like it was flagged by your credit card company, as often happens with overseas transactions. It probably wasn’t on LNER’s end. If anyone is reading this and finding the same issue, call your card company first and see if they will allow the charge. We’ve had issues with one large bank (not sure if I’m allowed to say the name?) where they’ve even denied charges after we informed them of our travel. It’s not as much of an issue anymore because tracking is so much better, but can still pop up occasionally.
Akash Greene Post author
Where to Rent a Bike in London? Having problem answering this question! Thanks a lot for this post!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Akash, There are a number of places where you can rent a bike in London if you just want to cycle around London and surrounds, including road bikes, e-bikes, hybrids, mountain bikes, etc. These include typical bike shops, bike share programs, and docked city bikes (Santander Cycle docking program). A few places where you can rent a variety of bikes for more than a day include On your Bike and The London Bicycle Tour Company.
But if you are planning to rent a bike in London and cycle to Edinburgh (and not return to London), then you’ll need to find a place that will let you return it there which can be more difficult. I’d call and check in advance with companies. If the above aren’t won’t let you do this, I’d check out British Bike Hire‘s bike through post program as that may be an option.
Hope that helps!
Jessica
Richard Post author
Wow, such awesome info about getting from London to Edinburgh! We will be in GB and Ireland next year, 2019, for about 30 days to celebrate both of our retirements. There is just so much to take in and it can all be overwhelming when looking at all the beauty, history, and art that can be explored. We will be flying into London so finding ways to get to Edinburg for the Fringe is great information. I would love to keep in touch and pick your brains about sites and ideas to explore while we are there.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Richard,
Glad you found it helpful! Yes, if you are traveling in August, you will be traveling in high season and particularly in Edinburgh (and surrounds) things can be a bit crazy. I’d book any train tickets and hotels well in advance (~ 3 months) if you can for Edinburgh as prices go sky high for the entire time of the festivals. Even 1 hour away in Glasgow lodging prices are currently double normal rates.
Since you are planning to visit Fringe, you might find our Edinburgh summer festivals guide helpful. We have been going every year for the past few years so do let us know if you need any planning tips.
One article that may help is our 2 week UK itinerary which might help give you an outline, but since you have double the time, you can stay longer in any location and add in many more stops! If you are thinking of going by train or bus, we also have a 10 day itinerary that may give you some initial ideas.
Yes, very happy to provide advice as you plan your big trip – just ask! Sounds like a very wonderful retirement trip to look forward to next year.
Best,
Jessica
Jully Jeams Post author
In this post, there is much informative information to get from London to Edinburgh. I think the airport is the best because there has been much security available so so less likely for security problems to occur. Now Airport system takes much security.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Jully, Glad you found this information helpful and thanks for sharing your opinion! Taking a plane is definitely a fast way to get from London to Edinburgh (or Edinburgh to London) and as you point out it is definitely option that has the most security. So if you want to feel the safest, it may be the best bet! However, the downside to the security is the need to get the airport at least 1 hour in advance to get through security and this takes up a lot of the time that could be saved by flying and of course many people find the security scanning a bit of a hassle. So it is definitely a matter of personal preference in the best option to get between London and Edinburgh!! Best, Jessica
Shikha Singh Post author
Yes, the cities are both popular and beautiful as well. Thanks for guiding through these famous locations in England. The pictures are really heart winning.
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Shikha, Glad you found it helpful, do let us know if you have any questions about your UK holiday! Best Jessica
Lolo Post author
I literally just discovered the Caledonian Sleeper Train yesterday while flying home from London! That seems like it could be pretty cool, although while sleeping you’d obviously miss the beautiful countryside views! Although taking a normal train would be fun between London and Edinburgh! Would love to do that as we definitely don’t like driving in London and I can imagine how terrible it is in Edinburgh! But we do like to road trip and stopping at multiple locations! Ah I’m torn! Definitely saving this for next time!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Lolo, Yes, the Caledonian Sleeper is one of those “greatest train journeys” that shows up in a lot of rankings. The routes date back to the 19th century but they have kept updating the services and trains, and are actually getting completely new carriages this year. So we are excited to do it again and check out the new sleeper rooms and dining/lounge cars! If you take the overnight train from London to Edinburgh, you only get a couple of hours of time in the morning to see the countryside depending on the time of year, but if you continue on to Inverness, that can be a really scenic journey and gives you a much more leisurely time on the train. A regular train is probably a better way if you want to see more scenery.
Driving between Edinburgh and London is just long and while most is fast (if boring) driving along the motorway, it definitely takes most of the day. Although you can of course make stops and overnight along the way to make a fun mini road trip. We often do this if we have time to break up the journey. Edinburgh is not as bad as London in terms of driving/parking but we don’t recommend a car in either city and most people we know living in Edinburgh bike, walk, or take public transit within the city center. London now charges extra congestion fees to drive in certain parts of the city. So we recommend dropping off a rental car before exploring either city, leaving the car in long-term overnight parking (a few hotels offer free parking although most charge a lot for it), or parking at a friend’s house if you know someone in London or Edinburgh.
Best,
Jessica
Anisa Post author
So many options to get from London to Edinburgh! From Norwich to Edinburgh, where we live, I think the easiest way is to just fly. If I was coming from London I would love to do that overnight train. Thanks for sharing!
Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author
Hi Anisa, Yes there are a lot of options and the overnight train is a great way to get to Edinburgh if you are in London. If you have the chance, it is a great train journey, and going further to Inverness is an even better experience as it gives you more time to relax.
Unfortunately from Norwich it takes about the same time to reach Edinburgh by car but the train connections are much worse from there and add a couple of hours onto the journey. But at least you can get flights from Norwich to Edinburgh which is super convenient!
Best,
Jessica