london to edinburgh travel options

How to get from London to Edinburgh (Options – train, car, plane or coach)

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: February 13, 2024

Wondering how to get from London to Edinburgh ? In this guide, we cover 4 of the most popular ways to get to Edinburgh from London including by train, car, plane and coach to help you choose the best option for your travel budget, style and needs.

Edinburgh and London are two of the most popular cities to visit for both overseas visitors and UK residents. It is, therefore, no surprise that visitors want to see the many attractions these UK cities have to offer.

So how to get from London to Edinburgh may be an easy question to answer but it can depend on various considerations and factors, including:

• Do you want to travel directly to Edinburgh by the quickest means?
• Do you want to stop off on the way there?
• How many are there in the travelling group?
• Do you have a preferred mode of travel?
• The cost of travel
• The day and time of travel and time of the year, around seasons and daylight hours.

This quick guide provides an overview of the various travel options with considerations taken of the factors mentioned above. Individual preferences are numerous but can be based on:

• Particular travel mode preferences
• Places/site attraction sites along the route best suited for visiting with one mode of travel eg castles and the countryside best reached by car.
• Mobility restrictions of travel group member(s)
• Quantity of luggage to be moved
• Budget of the group
• Time limitations or preferences

First time in Edinburgh? Read our practical tips to ensure you make the most of your visit

🧭 Fast Facts

• London to Edinburgh by Train*

London to Edinburgh by Coach

London to edinburgh by plane, london to edinburgh by car, how will you travel from london to edinburgh, london travel guide & itinerary planner (+ 4 bonus ebooks).

London to Edinburgh Distance

By car – 400 miles or 643 km

By train – 332 miles or 534 km

London to Edinburgh train – how long does it take?

The quickest route is 4h 20

How to get from London to Edinburgh

London to edinburgh by train *.

Listen to episode 26 of the UK Travel Planning podcast where we chat about how to travel by train from London to Edinburgh plus tips to make the most of the journey.

Our preferred mode of travel is to travel by train from London to Edinburgh.

The train journey has many advantages including being able to choose the day/time and route of travel and book train tickets for your preferred class of travel.

You can move around the train easily, it’s more social and there is no better way to see the beautiful English countryside than from the comfort of a modern fast train.

The train arrives directly into the city centre too. Book a hotel in the Old or New Towns of Edinburgh and you won’t have too far to go from Edinburgh Waverley Train Station.

East Coast Mainline (ECML) London King’s Cross Station to Edinburgh Waverley

This is the train line from London King’s Cross train station up the east side of the UK to Edinburgh Waverley Station.

The east coast route offers the fastest and most direct train services to Edinburgh, favoured by many and is the most direct for a stopover for days or just hours in York.

• Train Operators – LNER London North Eastern Railways, Lumo and Grand Central
• Train Tickets – The best deal option is likely displayed first with the national ticketing online booking options and with individual train operating companies or Open – Access  – companies.
• Advance Train Tickets – Sold in limited numbers in advance (around 9 to12 weeks from day of travel) and subject to availability. Not all advance tickets are released for general sale at the same time. Date and train specific.
• Off-Peak – Available to buy for off-peak travel only (specific to individual companies), buy at any time.
• Anytime – Any travel time or day. Buy any time.
• Season train ticket – Unlimited travel between 2 stations for a specific length of time.
• Click for ticket prices on TheTrainLine.com
• NOTE: Individual train companies and Ticket Retailers MAY have there own ticketing structures or terminology.
• Various types available can be posted out to the UK only or purchased on arrival at most mainline train stations, including some airports – though not Heathrow Airport .
• Digital options can be bought online prior to travel with terms and conditions.
• Click for more information about UK Railcards
• Britrail Pass – An excellent alternative for overseas travellers visiting the UK intending to travel around frequently using trains. Good option choices for area-specific passes and families. Has continuous or flexible durations available. Click here for more information about the BritRail Pass.
• Global Eurail   –  Similar to the Britrail and also has continuous or flexible duration options. Click here for more information about the Global Eurail Pass. www. Global Eurail.com

West Coast Main Line (WCML)

This is the train line from London Euston station up the west side of the UK and then across to Edinburgh Waverley Station.

These are fast trains but not the quickest or the most direct train services to Edinburgh. but it is an alternative route.

• Train Operators – Avanti West Coast. 

Tickets/Railcards and Passes – As above for the ECML.

Caledonian Sleeper – Night train service

This is a luxury overnight sleeper train service that departs from London Euston station for ‘Highland’ and ‘Lowland’ destinations on Sunday to Friday nights (not Saturdays) travelling initially along the West Coast Main Line train route.

The Lowlander service operates between London Euston and the stations of Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley.

This is not intended to be the fastest option but it is a fantastic time-saving option to travel overnight with the opportunity for a lovely meal and hotel-quality accommodation.

Click to purchase tickets on the Caledonian Sleeper

Read more about the Caledonian Sleeper or listen to our podcast episode all about travelling on the Caledonian Sleeper

Cross-Country (via Birmingham New Street or Derby)

This is the train line from Birmingham New Street train station travelling up through the middle of the UK to Edinburgh. This joins the ECML at York.

Alternative routes to Birmingham are via the WCML (and then the Birmingham line) or the Chiltern train line from London Marylebone to Birmingham Moor Street train station. A short walk, well signposted, then to Birmingham New Street.

Another alternative is to head to Derby on the Midland Mainline (also known as the East Midlands Route) and then join a train and travel on the Cross Country Line via York Station to Edinburgh.

These are not the fastest train routes and this definitely is not the quickest or the most direct train services to Edinburgh. This is popular option for visitors who wish to enjoy a trip through the industrial heartland of England including towns and countryside along the way.

Train Operators – Cross Country/ East Midlands Trains

UK Train Travel Guide

The buses or coaches that journey between the two cities generally depart from London Victoria Coach station for National Express and Megabus, arriving at Edinburgh Bus Station on Elder street (near St Andrews Square). National Express has around 4 daily services and Mega-bus around 4 connecting services.

These are generally the cheapest form of travel, they also take around 9 ½ hours, depending on roads/weather etc.  The amount of luggage taken can be restrictive. You can break your journey up with this option.

Click here for ticket prices for National Express Coaches via TheTrainLine.com or Omio for ticket prices for Megabus.

Whilst this may seem at first glance an ideal way to move between London and Edinburgh it has several logistical issues to be considered.

While it is the fastest direct line of travel (around 332 air miles once in the air) with a flight time of around 1 hour 20 minutes it is important to factor in the travel time to and from the airports.

The cost of the flight itself may seem reasonable but add checked baggage and costs rise. These are smaller aeroplanes used for domestic flights and weight/space is of a premium.  If you have carry on only this may make flying a more cost-effective option.

One obvious disadvantage of flying is missing out on enjoying the scenery of the English countryside as you travel.

There are several London airports with flights to Edinburgh including London Heathrow, London City Airport, London Gatwick Airport

Several operators fly between London airports, including British Airways, Easyjet, KLM, American Airlines as examples.

For flights check Omio for prices and schedules.

This is, of course, an option but firstly driving in London is not advised. The traffic congestion is immense and the time to even get out of London can be lengthy.

Options for car hire from the principal airports can be considered if this is a preference particularly if you wish to visit destinations along the way to Scotland.

The most direct road route is about 400 miles and can take around 7 to 8 hours depending on the day/time of setting out.

Car hire gives flexibility to a travel itinerary but can be demanding on time and budget (consider car hire costs plus insurance and the high cost of petrol). 

Visitors not familiar with driving on the left may find it stressful. We recommend Tripiamo – an online resource which through its online guides prepares North Americans to drive in the UK. You can listen to our podcast where we chat with founder John Cortese about Tripiamo .

Good to know – Most availability for UK car hire is for manual transmission cars and not automatics. An automatic will cost more and must be booked in advance.

Read – Guide to renting a car (and driving) in the UK

So there you have it – the various options to travel from London to Edinburgh (or of course how to get from Edinburgh to London if you are travelling the opposite way!)

For information about what to see and do in Edinburgh, these articles are what you need to read:

• Things to do and see in Edinburgh (Itinerary suggestions)
• Where to stay in Edinburgh
• Best day trips from Edinburgh

We highly recommend stopping off along the way if you are travelling by train (and of course by car) and York would be our number one choice (followed by Durham ) Read more about visiting York:

• Visiting York Podcast
• Where to stay in York
• Things to do and see in York

Train operators highlighted are the principal train operators on these train routes as of Feb 2024. Other operators are available but do not necessarily cover the entire train route between London and Edinburgh.

How to Travel from London to Edinburgh by Train, Bus, Car, and Plane

TripSavvy / Jess Macdonald

Edinburgh is the Scottish capital and sits about 400 miles from its English counterpart in the south. You'll have to traverse nearly all of the United Kingdom from south to north to get there, so flying is the fastest way to complete the journey. However, the train takes almost the same amount of time and also lets passengers enjoy the lush beauty of the landscape that you would otherwise miss. You can also enjoy the scenery for a fraction of the price by taking the bus, although that is a much longer trip. If you have access to a car, driving yourself is the best way to truly experience life in the U.K. outside of the major cities.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Get From London to Edinburgh?

If you don't mind an all-day (or all-night) bus trip, you can book a bus from London to Edinburgh on National Express or Megabus . It's a long journey and involves nearly 11 hours seated on the bus, but when tickets are as cheap as $20, it's hard to turn down. Megabus is about two hours faster than other services, getting you to Edinburgh in roughly nine hours. You can typically choose from four daily buses, two that leaves in the morning and two more that leave at night. The overnight bus is an ideal option so you don't miss out on a full day of your trip while also saving yourself a night of accommodation.

Regardless of the company you choose, you catch the bus in London from Victoria Station, with connections to the Circle, Victoria, and District lines of the Underground. The Edinburgh Bus Station is in the city center next to St. Andrew Square and is easily accessible to most parts of the city by foot.

What Is the Fastest Way to Get From London to Edinburgh?

The method of transport with the least amount of travel time is flying, and you can choose from one of several direct daily flights between London and Edinburgh. The total time in the air is only 1 hour, 20 minutes and flights start as low as $30 for a one-way ticket. The primary airlines that fly this popular route are Easyjet and British Airways, with flights departing from any one of the several London airports—Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, or Stansted.

Heathrow is the largest of the airports and is the one that's best connected to the city center, with an express train from Paddington Station to the terminal. You can also take a train to Gatwick or Luton from the city center, while Stansted is only accessible by bus. Edinburgh Airport is located about 10 miles outside of the city, but you can take a tram or bus to the city center.

Although a plane is ostensibly the fastest way to get to Edinburgh from London, you also have to factor in all of the time it takes to get to and from the airport, check-in for your flight, pass through security, and wait at your gate. All things considered, flying and taking the train take almost the same amount of time.

How Long Is the Train Ride?

The fastest trains get you from London to Edinburgh in only 4 hours, 20 minutes. Considering that trains leave from King's Cross Station in the center of London and bring you directly to central Edinburgh, the total travel time of the train is more or less the same as going by plane. Taking the train also has the added benefits of enjoying the English countryside scenery while you travel as well as being the most environmentally friendly option.

Train tickets start at about $33 when you can find the cheapest "Advance" ticket prices. As those sell out, however, tickets jump up in price dramatically and can cost over $200 for a one-way ticket during peak travel times. Flexibility is key for finding the best deals, so try looking at different times and days to see if prices fluctuate. You should also buy tickets early to find the cheapest seats, as the Advance tickets usually go on sale about eight to 10 weeks before the travel date.

The drive to Edinburgh is about 400 miles and takes seven hours if you drive straight through along the direct route on the M1 highway. Traffic around London and Edinburgh can cause major delays at the beginning and end of your trip, but the bulk of the journey should be easy driving with the scenic countryside. Parking within the city center of Edinburgh is complicated at best. However, there are several Park & Ride structures outside of the city that offer free or inexpensive parking spaces and then shuttle customers into the city. Once you're in Edinburgh, everything is accessible on foot or public transportation and your vehicle won't be necessary.

When Is the Best Time to Travel to Edinburgh?

Being Scotland, Edinburgh is cold and rainy in the winter (as well as much of spring). The summer months are the most comfortable time to enjoy the Scottish capital when the average high hovers around 65 degrees F and there are more days of sunshine than overcast. August not only all but guarantees you good weather, but the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is taking place all throughout the month. It's the largest arts festival in the entire world and it completely inundates the city for four weeks with performances, art shows, music, and entertainment. It's also the busiest time to visit the city, but it's a uniquely Edinburgh experience you won't regret seeing.

Winter may be chilly, but spending the holidays in Edinburgh has its own special magic, especially if you're visiting during the special New Year's celebration of Hogmanay . This three-day event starts on December 30 and goes until January 1 of the new year, and it's a special Scottish tradition that more than makes up for the cold weather.

What's the Most Scenic Route to Edinburgh?

If you have your own vehicle and want to get to Edinburgh quickly, the M1 highway will get you there in about seven hours. But one of the best parts of driving is being able to take your time and explore along the way. If you take the M6 highway along the west side of the country, you'll pass through worthwhile towns such as Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Liverpool, and Manchester before continuing through the photogenic national parks in northern England. The drive itself is minimally longer than the fastest route, but you'll definitely want to make pitstops along the way to see all the country has to offer.

What Is There to Do in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh offers all types of historical, cultural, and culinary delights, so it's no surprise that this Scottish capital is the second most popular city to visit in the U.K. after London. Edinburgh Castle overlooks the city and gives visitors an educational history lesson along with breathtaking views. Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and still retains the medieval architecture that it was founded with. Nearby is New Town, praised for its urban planning which culminates around the famous Princes Street, popular for shopping, restaurants, and going out.

Trains leave King's Cross Station in London and bring you directly to central Edinburgh in about four hours and 20 minutes.

Train is the best mode of travel as it's easy, convenient, and likely the fastest option (if you count the additional airport time you'd need if flying).

The drive to Edinburgh is about 400 miles and takes seven hours if you drive straight through along the direct route on the M1 highway. 

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Related Content

How to take the wonderful rail journey from London to beautiful Edinburgh

Share this journey with a friend..., london to edinburgh by train.

There are three options available for taking the train from London to Edinburgh: Taking the scenic journey by day, either on:

• A train operated by LNER...
• ...A more basic, and much less frequent service operated by Lumo
• OR travelling overnight on one of Europe's smartest night trains.

Routes you can take to go from London to Edinburgh

When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.

Choose one of the following options:

Looking for connections, route information, option 1: travel during the day with lner, station guides.

Travel Time (approx)

4hr 20 min - 4hr 40min

Travel Info

This is the typical journey time, the departures at 00 minutes past the hour are faster than the trains which leave at 30 minutes past the hour. At weekends maintenance work on the railway line can cause trains to be diverted on to longer routes.

There are 2 x trains per hour for most of the day, there is always at minimum of 1 x departure per hour

Purchase Tickets

ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. On longer-distance journeys within the UK it automatically offers a split ticket option if it will be cheaper. Plus it sells tickets for all train operators on each route.

Trainline (UK) Guide

Other Ticket Providers

LNER offers a couple of services which offer additional benefits to how tickets are usually sold for long-distance journeys: They are:

• a https://www.lner.co.uk/tickets-savings/your-ticket/price-promise/ service, which enables its customers to claim refunds for the differences in price between LNER and other booking agents for journeys by LNER trains.
• LNER Perks is a useful service for those who regularly travel by LNER trains.
• Seatfrog is a service by which those who have book Standard Class tickets can 'bid' to upgrade to First Class seats. In effect you can set the additional price you will be willing to pay to travel in First Class and if your price matches the winning bid, you'll be able to upgrade.

National Rail Guide

In Great Britain each Train Operating Company provides its own booking service for journeys by its trains, but many of their websites also sell tickets for nationwide journeys, regardless of which company operates the trains on the routes you wish to travel by.

The National Rail website is plugged into all of the train operator's booking services, so when more than one of these companies offers tickets for a route, it in effect offers a price comparison service. It isn't a ticket agent, so you will be connected to the website of your choice in order to make a booking.

Travel Information

Final Destination: Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow Inverness and Stirling - the new Azuma trains Edinburgh - the Intercity 225 trains (virtually all services on this route are now by Azuma trains)

All trains also call at: York , Darlington and Newcastle

Most trains also call at: Berwick-upon-Tweed

The London to Edinburgh service has been transformed - on Mondays to Fridays there will now be 2 x trains per hour during the day and after 41 years of service, the 125 trains have ceased operating on the East Coast main line! They have been replaced by the brand new Azuma trains on all services which continue beyond Edinburgh to serve other destinations in Scotland. Those trains to destinations beyond Edinburgh are usually scheduled to depart from King's Cross station at Mon - Sat: 10:00; 12:00; 14:00; 15:00 and 16:00 Sunday : 10:00; 12:00 and14:00 These departures are also all among the fastest services from London to Edinburgh - the departures that complete the journey in around 4hr 20 mins.

The Azuma trains also operate many of the other services to between these capital cities; when you look up the journey on the LNER website, it shows which type of train should be operating each departure.

Why you should take the train

Aside from environmental considerations there are two very good reasons for opting to take the train from London to Edinburgh.

(1) Edinburgh Waverley station has a fabulous location in the heart of the Scottish capital, so you will arrive in the city centre,

(2) Much of the London to Edinburgh train journey is glorious.

It is a journey of three phases:

• For the first 20 -25 minutes the train is travelling through the London suburbs and the commuter towns which surround it - though look out for the view from Welwyn Viaduct around 17 minutes into the journey
• Between Hitchin and Darlington the train predominantly travels through pleasant, but unremarkable countryside - though if you are in a backwards facing seat on the right, look out for a view of York Minster as the train departs the station.
• North of Darlington, approximately 2hr 25mins from London the journey becomes epic!

However all of the best of the views are on the right hand side of the train (when facing the direction of travel). If you haven't lucked out and have been assigned a seat(s) on the left-hand side when making a booking, see if you can find available seats on the right hand side after Darlington; if you move to a different seat(s) it won't affect the validity of your ticket.

This is a direct journey

You will be travelling on one of these trains....

Journey Features

Good to know.

Travel by these daytime trains and you won't arrive in Edinburgh until after 11:00, but the overnight train is scheduled to arrive Scotland's capital city before 07:30.

The overall journey time will be around three hours longer, but you will be travelling on Europe's newest overnight train service. Though note that the overnight train departs from Euston station and not from King's Cross station.

Avanti West Coast also operates day trains to Edinburgh from Euston station, but they take an indirect route and therefore have a journey time of 5hr 45mins; and they won't be cheaper than the LNER trains from Kings Cross station.

Journey description:

All of the videos were taken from a train travelling in the opposite direction, when travelling towards Edinburgh, all of these views can be seen from the right.

Around 15 mins after departing from Darlington comes the first highlight of the journey - the stunning views over the town of Durham, Over on the right before and after the station, the town's stunning  castle and cathedral can be clearly seen in all their glory.

After Durham the next highlight of the journey is the passage over the River Tyne, as the train approaches Newcastle Central station and heads over the King Edward VII Bridge. Looking to the right, five other bridges that span the river can be seen and there are also some great views of the Tyne Bridge as the train arrives in Newcastle station.

Around 30 mins after departing from Newcastle, the village of Alnmouth comes into view on the right, and just to the south of it is the first glimpse of the North Sea, which can be seen on this journey.

For most of the remainder of the journey northwards the route lives up to its name of the ' The East Coast Mainline' .

The next highlight is the view from the majestic Royal Border Bridge as the train sweeps into Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Around five minutes after the train has either passed through or departed from Berwick, it begins to travel across the clifftops as it crosses the border into Scotland - these are the most dramatic coastal views on the journey.

The coast then comes back into view to the south of Dunbar...

...and there are distant glimpses of the sea available until the train reaches the suburbs of Edinburgh.

This video produced by the train operator LNER also showcases the Newcastle to Edinburgh section of the route

How to choose seats with sea views

When booking on the LNER website it will automatically assign seats, but there is the option use a seating plan to check the position of the seat(s) you have been placed in - and more crucially you can select alternative seat(s). The trick is to take up the option of using the 'Manage your seat reservations' tool.

This is an example of a seating plan on a train being used for a London to Edinburgh departure, so if you want to choose seats on the side of the train with the sea views, ignore the seating layout as it will differ between coaches and trains etc. The crucial piece of information to take note of is the direction of travel arrow - and this is consistent, no matter the train which will be used for the departure you have chosen. The trick is to picture the seating chart as though it is turned to the left and is vertical - this is because the journey from London to Edinburgh involves travelling in a northerly direction. If this was done the arrow would be on the left and the sea views are on the right, so to be sure of making the most of the sea views, choose seats on the opposite side of the train to the arrow.

Exploring Scotland with Bookmundi

Travel with Bookmundi from Edinburgh to areas of Scotland which can't easily be reached by train.

1: The "Best Of Scotland" tour is a guided city sightseeing trip that takes 7 days. You will travel through Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Scottish Highlands on a group tour which includes accommodation in hotels, transport, meals and others. Revel in the romance and history of the Scottish Highlands and contemplate the mysterious depths of Loch Ness.

2: A one day tour of the Scottish Highlands and Loch Ness from Edinburgh passing the the town of Callander and over Rannoch Moor to a stop at Glen Coe. After crossing Loch Leven at Ballachulish, stop for lunch in the Fort William area, then follow the course of the Caledonian Canal up the Great Glen to Fort Augustus on Loch Ness where you will have time to enjoy an optional boat cruise. After Loch Ness take in magnificent views of Loch Laggan on the return our journey towards Edinburgh, which includes a stop in Pitlochry and a journey over the Forth Road Bridge.

3: The "Highland Fling" is a 5 day explorer group trip that includes accommodation in hostels, transport and others that begins and ends in Edinburgh and takes you through Oban, the Isle of Skye and Loch Ness. When available is also includes the journey on The Jacobite steam train.

4: Starting in Edinburgh and ending in Glasgow, the "Country Roads Of Scotland" tour is a guided natural landmarks sightseeing tour that takes 9 days. You will travel through Glencoe, Isle of Skye, Orkney Islands and 4 other destinations in Scotland. "Country Roads Of Scotland" is a group tour which includes accommodation, transport, meals and others.

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Travelling after February 10th:

LNER is undertaking a trial for a new approach for long-distance rail tickets on the London to Edinburgh route instead of Advance, Off Peak and Anytime tickets travellers can choose between

1: Fixed Tickets - like Advance tickets they can only be used on the specific departure selected when booking, hence the new name. This type of ticket can't be refunded from two hours after booking, if you subsequently change your travel plans, or miss the train in circumstances not to do with a connecting train. A £10 admin fee will be payable if you want to exchange your ticket to a different departure to the same destination, to that which you selected when making your booking PLUS you will ALSO be charged any price difference with the new ticket you'll then have to purchase.

2: Semi Flexible aka 'the 70 Min Flex tickets: When booking you will choose a specific departure, but can then swap the ticket to an alternative departure leaving 70mins before or after the chosen train, without incurring additional charges. If you instead want to choose a different departure outside of those 70 min windows, you will need to pay the £10 admin fee and the price difference if the alternative train you select is more expensive. This type of ticket can't be refunded from two hours after booking.

3: Fully Flexible When booking you will choose a specific departure, but can then swap the ticket to an alternative departure leaving at anytime on your travel date, or on the day before, or after. The tickets are refundable up to 28 days from your ticket’s expiry date, but if you don't choose another journey you will be charged a £10 admin fee.

Travelling before February 10th:

If you want to travel at the cheapest possible price, look for the 'Advance tickets', though the two key things worth knowing about booking and using 'Advance' tickets are:

(1) This type of ticket can't be refunded if you subsequently change your travel plans, or miss the train in circumstances not to do with a connecting train.

(2) A £10 admin fee will be payable if you want to exchange your ticket to a different departure to the same destination, to that which you selected when making your booking PLUS you will ALSO be charged any price difference with the new ticket you'll then have to purchase.

Also what is unusual about booking with LNER is that Advance tickets are now available online up to only 5 mins before departure. They will have sold out sooner on the most popular trains, and the earlier you can book the cheaper they will be - but before buying walk-up Off Peak or Anytime tickets at a station, just prior to departure, it's worth checking on your phone to see whether Advance tickets are still available, before heading to the ticket counter or machines.

Travelling on Monday - Friday:

Tickets are usually available 12 weeks ahead of the travel date.

However, when you look up a journey you may see dates further ahead on the calendar, but you'll be informed that tickets aren't yet available for those dates. On the LNER website you'll be prompted to sign up to a Ticket Alert service - if you will be using a PC, over on the right on the screen you'll be taken to, you'll see the furthest date ahead that tickets can be booked for.

Travelling on Saturday-Sunday

Tickets are usually available 12 weeks ahead of the travel date, but maintenance work on the route is periodically undertaken at weekends and if it is scheduled on your travel date, it can affect when tickets will be released for sale.

If you're looking up a journey less than 12 weeks ahead and tickets aren't available, it can be a good indication that works will be impacting on your travel date. It can be worth checking this on the National Rail website - enter LNER as the operator.

Making an end-to-end journey will still be possible, so it can be worth signing up to LNER's ticket alert service, though you MAY ultimately have to take a substitution bus service for part of the trip. It's the confirmation of these alternative travel arrangements which can hold up the release of the tickets for sale.

Reservations:

When you book an Advance ticket for a London to Aberdeen train journey, you will be automatically assigned a seat(s), but if you book the other types of ticket ahead, you can request a complimentary reservation - more info on this

Seat reservations aren't automatically included when booking Off Peak or Anytime tickets online, but you can add the complimentary reservation, once you've made choice of departure, either when booking or afterwards. When booking walk-up tickets at a station ticket counter, if the Advance tickets aren't available for the next departure, confirm whether a seat reservation has been added to the booking of an Anytime or Off Peak ticket, in theory reservations will be available until around 5 mins pre-departure.

If you will be using a rail pass, including a Britrail or Eurail pass, you should be able to obtain a reservation, at no charge, from a ticket counter up until 5 mins before the departure; keep this in mind as it is not the norm when using rail passes in Britain.

Receiving Your Ticket(s) booked with LNER

The four options for receiving your ticket(s) are:

(1) You will receive a booking reference number on your order confirmation email and you can use this reference number to collect ticket(s) from a ticket machine. Some stations will have dedicated ticket collection machines, but standard ticket machines will also have an option for collecting pre-booked tickets.

You will need to enter your reference number into the machine, so make sure you'll have easy access to it when you are using the machine. You will also need to insert the specific credit or debit card you used when making the booking, so have that with you too.

Showing the email you have received to staff at the ticket gates won't get you on to the train, nor will this be valid if you can only show the email to the conductor when you are on the train.

If you forget to bring your ticket(s) with you to the station, but do have the card with you that you used when booking, you can use the machines to collect your ticket(s).

Take your time and take care that you have picked up all your ticket(s) and seat reservations.

(2) Print off the tickets you receive before heading to the station - the instructions for doing this are available here .

(3) Opt to pay an additional charge to have your tickets posted to you; not available when booking tickets from outside the UK.

(4) Mobile tickets - if you select this option when making a booking you will need to download the LNER Travel Buddy app so that you can 'Activate' your ticket.

The LNER website states that 'Advance' tickets will be automatically activated, but there's no suggestion on the LNER website that it will be OK to save the ticket(s) you will receive as a PDF to your mobile device. So download the app to be sure that you can use a mobile ticket.

The potential to save by splitting tickets on Trainline

It can be worth looking up this journey on Trainline .

It can be possible to save money by using split ticketing, with the booking process being no more complicated than booking conventional tickets - find out more .

Option 2: travelling during the day with Lumo

4hr 25min - 4hr 37min

Monday to Friday

Monday to Friday = 4 x trains per day Sat/Sun = no service (for the moment)

The Lumo timetable , note that the final departure of the day from London is at 14:36.

Lumo is a relatively new rail operator which offers a more-basic alternative to travelling on LNER's trains. If you want to travel in Standard Class and...

• are happy to take your own food/drink on board with you
• want access to WiFi during the journey
• won't be travelling with more than one medium suitcase per person
• won't be taking a bike
• and aren't that bothered by seeing the view from the windows (comparatively few of the seats on Lumo trains line up well with the windows) ...then travelling with Lumo seems to compare well with travelling with LNER.

The core differences between the Lumo trains and the Azuma trains used by LNER are:

First Class: LNER = available Lumo = not available

Bar/bistro car: LNER = available Lumo = not available

At seat catering: LNER = available Lumo = available, but more substantial items such as sandwiches need to be pre-ordered up to 10 hours prior to departure

Large suitcases: LNER = yes Lumo = no

Non-folding bicycles: LNER = yes, spaces can be reserved Lumo = no

Final destination: Edinburgh All trains also call Newcastle and Morpeth Lumo offers a much more frequent service to Morpeth than LNER

The Lumo trains take the same route as the LNER trains.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open 24 weeks ahead of the travel date.

Lumo only offers two types of tickets for sale: Anytime and Lumo Fixed, which are its equivalent of discounted Advance tickets. The prices of Lumo Fixed tickets will be cheaper the further ahead that they are booked and in common with Advance tickets they are departure specific, so include complimentary seat reservations. They can be changed right up to the time of departure for any future without any admin fees, though any price difference to travel by the different departure will be payable.

Something to look out for is that the cheapest price of Lumo Fixed tickets are lower than cheapest prices of Advance tickets sold by LNER for London to Edinburgh journeys, but these cheapest prices will sell out at different rates. So it's worth comparing prices on your travel date(s), particularly if you won't be booking months ahead, you may find cheaper prices available on some LNER departures.

Option 3: travelling through the night

7hr 33min - 7hr 56min

The shorter journey time applies to Mon-Fri departures

There are no departures on Saturday evenings

Final Destination: Edinburgh

Note that this overnight train departs from Euston station in London, but the daytime trains depart from King's Cross station.

All trains also depart from: Watford Junction (the night trains take a different route to the daytime trains)

When departing from Euston, these Caledonian Sleeper trains are available for boarding from 22:30 (10:30 pm) which is more than an hour ahead of departure. Then in Edinburgh passengers can remain on board for 37 minutes after arrival.

On Board summary:

More information is available by clicking the 'train details', but if you make this journey you will be travelling on Europe's most modern overnight trains. You can opt to choose from three different types of sleeping cabin, one of which offers the opportunity to travel in a double bed, OR you can travel in reclining seats.

This train is usually scheduled to arrive in Edinburgh between 07:20 and 07:25, while the first of the daytime trains isn't due into Scotland's capital city until after 11:00 on Monday -Saturdays.

On departure from London the coaches heading to Edinburgh are attached to another part of the train which will be heading to Glasgow.

Unusually for UK train tickets, you can book journeys on the Caledonian Sleeper up to twelve months ahead. If you want a full choice of accommodation in the summer months or around holiday times, it's best to book at least a month in advance.

When making a journey by these Caledonian Sleeper trains, you can choose from three types of sleeping cabin, or you can opt to travel in reclining seats - If you want to travel in the reclining seats , you will in effect only be paying the journey costs.

In common with how tickets are sold to travel in sleeping cabins on other European night train services, there are two elements to the total cost of the sleeping cabin ticket price,

• the cost of making the journey,
• and the accommodation costs of travelling in the cabin.

On these Caledonian Sleeper trains the sleeping cabins  have a fixed price, so how the total costs are calculated is dependent on how the sleeping cabins will be occupied.

If you will be making an individual booking you will have sole occupancy of a Club Room or Classic Room - booking a Caledonian Double isn't an option for solo travellers. Although the total cost per person is more expensive if you will be travelling individually, because if you travel solo you pay the cost for the Club Room or Classic Room, plus a cost for making the journey. But two people travelling together pay the same charge for the Club Room and Classic rooms, and the additional cost comes from having to purchase two journey tickets.

Paying a higher price for single occupancy of a sleeping cabin is the norm on European night trains, but this particular pricing methodology makes the sleeping cabins on a Caledonian Sleeper service, a comparatively expensive option for solo travellers.

Travelling as a family group:

The costs of adults and children travelling together will be calculated during the booking process - here is the relevant information .

Using Rail Passes:

If you will be using a valid rail pass you can travel in a reclining seat at no additional charge, but you must reserve a place prior to boarding, by calling the Guest Service Centre on 0330 060 0500.

If you want to travel in a bed in a Club Room sleeping cabin, you need to pay a 'Room only supplement' of £170 if you will be travelling solo, or £200 if two people will be travelling together. If you want to travel in a Classic Room sleeping cabin, the supplement is £120 for solo travellers and £140 if two people are travelling together.

These 'Room only supplements' can be booked online .

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Savvy Travel Advice

A Guide to How to Get From London to Edinburgh

Last updated: April 17, 2024 - Written by Jessica Norah 49 Comments

London and Edinburgh are two of the UK’s most popular cities, and many visitors to the UK want to travel from London to Edinburgh. These two amazing capitals are very different but both offers loads of interesting attractions and activities for visitors. If you are aiming to visit both cities on your UK trip, you may be wondering how to get from London, England to Edinburgh, Scotland?

To help answer that question, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to get from London to Edinburgh or from Edinburgh to London. We’re going to list at all the options you have for getting from London to Edinburgh, as well as give you an idea how long each option takes, the cost associated with each method, the main companies and ways to book each route, and cost saving tips.

We also provide some advice on how to choose a method based on your budget, time, and travel style, and we also share our own preferred way to travel from London to Edinburgh—a trip we’ve taken ourselves many times!

Table of Contents:

How to Get From London to Edinburgh

Here are 10 different ways to get from London to Edinburgh or Edinburgh to London. We cover the most popular ways such as flying or taking a train or bus, less conventional ways such as walking or biking, as well as lesser known options such as ride sharing, taking an overnight sleeper train service, and private transfers. Here they are in no particular order:

The first option to consider is to fly. London and Edinburgh are 332 miles apart in a straight line and you’ll generally find that a plane is usually the quickest ways to get between the cities.

London has six main airports to choose from, and five of those airports offer direct flights to Edinburgh. See our guide to getting from London to all six of London airports  for information on London’s airports and options on traveling to each airport from London’s city centre.

Edinburgh has only one main airport , conveniently located with good public transport links about 8 miles from the city center. From the airport, you can take a cab, Uber, the tram , a pre-arranged  private transfer , or a city bus such as the AIRLINK bus to the city center. The least expensive options are the Airlink bus and the tram.

Which airlines fly between London and Edinburgh?

With five airports to choose from, as you might imagine, there is plenty of competition between the airlines on the London to Edinburgh route. The main airlines flying between London and Edinburgh are British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, and Flybe.

How much does it cost to fly from London to Edinburgh?

Most of the flights from London to Edinburgh are with budget carriers so they are not usually very expensive. If you book well in advance and don’t need to check luggage, you can snatch a flight for as little as £15 one way with a budget airline!

However if you are not booking well in advance and/or have luggage, expect to pay in the region of £70 to £200 per person. You’ll also need to add in the cost of travel to and from the airports into your budget.

If you have a large budget you can also charter a private plane from London to Edinburgh. Private hire costs start around £4,200 (~ 4,800 euros) for a light jet. You can check prices here .

How long does it take to fly from London to Edinburgh?

Direct flight times from London to Edinburgh are usually between 60 minutes to 90 minutes. However, you mustn’t forget to factor in the time it takes to get to the airport in London, or the requirement to check-in at least an hour before your flight. You also have to get from Edinburgh airport to the city, which will take between 20 to 30 minutes.

Once you consider those factors, you’ll likely find that the total trip time will be between 3 hours to 4 hours in total from leaving London’s city center to arriving in Edinburgh’s city center.

Where to book flight tickets?

You can of course search all the individual operators for flight options (e.g., British Airways, Ryanair), but it is often faster to use a flight comparison tool if you are looking for the lowest priced flight. Two flight comparison tools we often use are Priceline.com and  Kiwi.com ,  these both include prices from the top airlines as well as smaller budget airlines.

2. Bus / Coach

A long distance bus, usually referred to as a coach in the UK, is another way to get from London to Edinburgh. Coaches run on a regular basis from a number of departure points in London, with the majority departing from London’s Victoria Coach Station . A coach is one of the least expensive options, although it takes longer than many of the other options.

Which bus companies operate between London and Edinburgh?

The two major long distance bus operators in the UK are National Express and Megabus , and they both operate routes from London to Edinburgh with multiple departures each day.

How much does the bus cost from London to Edinburgh?

Again, booking in advance will get you the best deals. We’ve seen fares as low as £3 one way if you book in advance and are flexible with your timings! Average prices however are in the region of £10 to £30 per person, making this one of the most cost-effective options. If you are booking last minute, a bus is likely your best option if you are on a tight budget.

If you have limited travel time, there are overnight buses from London to Edinburgh as well. If you are able to sleep on a bus, then you could save time and money on a hotel by booking an overnight bus.

How long does the bus take from London to Edinburgh?

The coach is going to be one of the slower options available. You’re looking at between 8.5 and 11 hours of travel, depending on the bus and route.

How to book a bus ticket?

The easiest way to book a bus ticket is directly via the operator’s websites, either  National Express or   Megabus .  But you can also buy bus tickets from National Express by phone or in person from the Victoria Coach Station. Megabus tickets can also be purchased in person from the Victoria Coach Station.

Generally our preferred way to get from London to Edinburgh is to take the train. The UK has a good high speed rail network that runs across the country, and there are numerous direct services running between London and Edinburgh on a daily basis. We recommend booking as far in advance as possible to get the best price and to be guaranteed an actual seat. 

Which train companies operate between London and Edinburgh?

The main train company is London North Eastern Railway (LNER; formerly Virgin Trains East Coast), which operates the fastest services up the east coast. The other major operators of trains between London and Edinburgh is Avanti West Coast (formerly Virgin Trains) and Lumo.

How much does the train cost from London to Edinburgh?

If you book far enough in advance, the cheapest ticket from London to Edinburgh will cost you in the region of £25 to £30 or a single standard class ticket. If you book closer to the time, you’re looking in the region of £50 to £150 for a single in standard class. First class tickets are generally about double the price of a standard class ticket.

Rates will vary and will be higher during busier times of year (holidays, festivals, weekends, summer). Generally, the further you book in advance, the less expensive the tickets will be.

Also note that the only way to guarantee a seat on the train is to book at least a couple of days in advance. If you buy a train ticket on the day, you usually aren’t guaranteed an actual seat on the train and may have to stand for segments of the journey. It definitely pays to book in advance!

If you plan to make multiple train journeys within the UK, you might consider getting a BritRail GB Pass  (includes train travel in England, Scotland, & Wales) which can save you money if you plan to travel around the UK by train. Includes some London airport transfers. These passes must be purchased in advance of your trip (must purchase from overseas before you enter the UK) and are NOT valid for UK residents.

How long does the train take from London to Edinburgh?

The fastest trains take slightly over four hours to get from London to Edinburgh, running up the east coast of the country. These are run by LNER as well as by Lumo (starting October 2021). There are also slightly slower direct services that take the west coast, which are a little under six hours in duration.

Where to buy train tickets?

There are a number of website operators where you can book trains online. You can go directly to the train service website (LNER, Avanti, Lumo) or compare times and prices on a website like Trainline . 

You can also of course buy and book tickets in person at the actual train stations but we recommend booking in advance if you can.

4. Car / Driving 

If you’re planning on following one of our self-drive UK itineraries, such as our two week UK itinerary , then you’ll likely be thinking of getting a car. And of course, a car (or motorcycle or campervan) is a great way to get around the UK, giving you lots of flexibility in your schedule and meaning you can stop where you wish. Distances in the UK are not so great and the road network is fairly good. Read here for our  tips on driving in the UK if you are new to it.

Note that we don’t recommend driving in London or Edinburgh as both are busy cities and parking can be difficult and expensive. The best ways to explore both cities as a visitor is on foot, by public transit, or cab. So I would only recommend driving or renting a car if you plan to make other stops along the route or after your visit to Edinburgh. 

How Long Does it Take to Drive from London to Edinburgh

It is about a 400 mile drive from London to Edinburgh, and if the traffic conditions are good you’re looking at around a 7 hour drive from central London to central Edinburgh. The majority of the route will be on a fast motorway. The 7 hours is without accounting for any stops, so I’d estimate at least  8 to 9 hours for the total journey to take into account food and rest breaks. If you travel during rush hour, Edinburgh’s August festivals or Hogmanay festival season, or over a holiday weekend, the journey will likely take a little longer. 

Of course, if you are driving, you can make detours to visit some of England and Scotland’s other cities and attractions near the route. There is a lot to explore in between and even if you are stretched for time, I’d plan a couple of stops and perhaps overnight along the route to break up the long drive.

Fastest Driving Route from London to Edinburgh?

There are two main options for those looking for the quickest route between London and Edinburgh. The most direct way is to take the M1 to the A1. But you can also take the M1 to the M6 to the A702. Both options normally take a little over 7 hours without stops.

Before setting out on your long drive I’d check road conditions and any delays or scheduled construction before heading out to see which might be the best option for your trip. Two useful websites are Traffic England and Traffic Scotland which cover all the main motorways and roads in the UK, and reports live road conditions, delays, construction, traffic incidents, etc. UK radio stations normally report traffic conditions on a regular basis as well which can alert you to any major traffic incidents along the route as you are driving.

Where to Rent a Car in the UK?

If you need to hire a car, there are a number of rental car companies operating in the UK. Just note that if you are doing this as a one-way journey, that the majority of companies will charge extra for a one-way fee so do check before booking.

We definitely recommend checking around on a few sites to find the best deal on a rental car. We usually check a couple of price comparison sites, both Discover Cars  and AutoEurope . We also regularly use Enterprise as we often find their one-way fees are the lowest, so do check with them directly as well.

Cost of Driving from London to Edinburgh?

This is going to vary widely depending on whether you need to rent a car, your rental car category (e.g., economy vs. luxury), fuel prices, and your route (do you make a lot of detours or drive there directly?). Currently, the fuel cost for the drive would likely be between £55 to £80 depending on your car, speed, and route based on current fuel prices.

As an example for rental car cost, I checked for a 2 day rental in April 2024 on Discover Cars and found rates as low as £60 for a budget mini-sized car for pick-up in London and drop-off in Edinburgh. Add in fuel costs of £65 for a 2-day rental total as low as £125. So I would estimate costs between £125 to £250 for a 2-day rental. Just remember that will you will also need to factor in any needed insurance and one-way fees you may need to pay.

If you like cycling, then you may want to consider cycling from London to Edinburgh. The UK has a fairly comprehensive system of bike routes, known as the National Cycle Network .

Bike Route from London to Edinburgh?

One good option is   Route 1 , which is part of the National Cycle Network. This route links Dover on the coast of southern England with the Shetland Islands in the far north of Scotland. The 1,695 mile route runs through both London and Edinburgh. The section of the bike route from London to Edinburgh is 783 miles (1260 km) long. 

There are also other routes that follow a more direct path on or alongside more major highways, as well as less direct paths if you want to include other sites along the way. A more direct path, although less scenic route, will be about 450 miles.

How Long Does it Take to Cycle from London to Edinburgh?

If you taking a fairly direct route, the time can vary widely between 4 days and 3 weeks to complete the journey, depending on route, fitness, and speed. It can actually be done in as a little as 2 days if you are a pro athlete, but expect more around 2 weeks for the average person going at a good pace.

Estimate your days based on which route you plan to take and how much you think you can bike on average each day. Cycling the Route 1 the full way, it will take you 9 or 10 days at 80 miles per day, 13 days at 60 miles a day, or about 20 days at 40 miles a day. But if you take a more direct route using more highways, you could do it in 6 days at 80 miles per day, 8 days at 60 miles per day, or about 11 days at 40 miles per day.

Where to Rent a Bike in London?

If you are returning to London after your trip to Edinburgh, you have lots of bicycle hire companies with offices in London. However most don’t allow you to rent a bike in London and return it in Edinburgh. But we do think you can do this with British Bike Hire , as the company allows you to receive the bike by mail anywhere in the UK and then mail it back. But do check on the details before booking.

Another option is to purchase a used bike in London and then sell it once you are in Edinburgh.

6. Overnight Sleeper Train 

As well as the standard train services, there’s also an overnight sleeper train that runs from London to Edinburgh. Known as the Caledonian Sleeper , this is a specialist train service that offers comfortable sleeper accommodation and a service that runs more slowly than the standard trains, offering you the chance to get a proper nights sleep as you journey between the two cities.

You can read more about our own personal  experience riding the Caledonian Sleeper .

How Long Does the Overnight Train take from London to Edinburgh?

The total journey time is around 7.5 hours. On most days the train leaves London Euston station around midnight and arrive into Edinburgh around 7.30am. Similarly, you can also do the same journey from Edinburgh to London which has similar train times.

However, you can actually board the train in London an hour or so before the train leaves, giving you time to have a drink or meal on board and get to sleep earlier if you wish. We’d recommend boarding early to settle in and get ready for the night.

You can see the full train timetable and boarding times for London to Edinburgh here .

How much is the Overnight Sleeper Train from London to Edinburgh?

Prices vary depending on the type of accommodation you want, which ranges from a sleeper chair through to a private first class compartment. You also save money by booking a fixed date ticket in advance (dates are usually posted 12 months in advance). 

Normal advanced rates start at about £48 per person for a sleeper seat, £145 for a solo classic room, £175 for 2 people in classic twin room, £250 for a club room for 2 people (twin with en-suite), and £400 for a Caledonia superior double room for 2 persons. Note that prices will be higher on more popular dates and times of the year.

When considering the prices, don’t forget that you are also saving yourself the price of a hotel night, so it can be a pretty good value option for some travelers.

How do I buy a Caledonian Sleeper ticket?

The best place to buy tickets is directly through the Caledonian Sleeper’s official website . Tickets can be purchased up to 12 months in advance of your travel date. 

7. Walk or Hike

Not many people are going to choose to walk or hike the 377 miles from London to Edinburgh, but it is another way (and the oldest way) to get between the two cities. If you are into really slow travel, this is your best bet and it is also a very healthy option!

Hiking Route from London to Edinburgh?

Unfortunately, there is no single walking or hiking route between the two cities, although you can join some of the England’s National Trails  and Scotland’s Great Trails   together. History fans may want to follow a famous old route like the Great North Road that dates back to Roman and stagecoach times (now A1 closely follows a large part of this route)..

Hiking will of course require you to do a fair bit of planning and be reasonably fit and resourceful, but if you have time and want an adventure, this is certainly an interesting way to get from London to Edinburgh!

How Long Would it Take to Walk from London to Edinburgh?

This will depend on your chosen route, level of fitness, planned stops, and how fast you want to move. A really fit person moving at a good pace could do the walk in about 1.5 to 2 weeks but it will take longer for the average person.

I’d estimate your time based on how many miles you think are doable per day on average. So for example if you think you can walk 30 miles a day you could reach Edinburgh in about 12 or 13 days, doing 20 miles per day you’d get there in about 19 days, and if you think 10 miles per day is more realistic it will take about 37 days.

8. Take a Guided Tour

If you aren’t in a rush, or want to see a bit of the UK as you go, then another option for getting from London to Edinburgh is to take a guided tour. This is a great way to see more of the UK in between these two great capitals. You can join an existing guided tour or arrange a private tour.

How Long is a Guided Tour from London to Edinburgh?

This really depends and tours may be as short as two days or as long as 10 days or more.

Most companies do not offer one-way tours, but a few do. For example, we know that Rabbie’s (one of our favorite tour companies in the UK) offers a guided  eight day tour that starts in London and finishes in Edinburgh! The Edinburgh-based tour company also offers the opportunity to build a customized private tour, so you can put together an itinerary that suits.

If you are looking to return to London, then you have a lot more options as there are a number of tours that visit Edinburgh and return to London, such as this 3 night long weekend tour and this   5 day tour.

How Much Does a Tour from London to Edinburgh Cost?

Tour prices will vary dramatically depending on the length of the tour, time of year, number of people and so on. As an example though, the Rabbie’s 8 day tour mentioned, which will be in a group of 15 people or less, costs around £474 per person, excluding accommodation, entrance fees, and most meals. The 8-day tour cost including B&B overnight accommodation and daily breakfast for this trip would be around £719 per person. Just be sure to take into account what each tour includes when comparing prices.

9. Ride share

Another option for getting from London to Edinburgh is to share a ride with someone who is already going there. There are a number of ride sharing websites that let you find rides going where you want to go, and you usually just have to contribute to the cost of the journey. This can be a great way to meet strangers and fellow travelers, but do use good judgement and caution in vetting opportunities.

Ride Sharing Services for a London to Edinburgh Trip?

We have not personally used these, but a couple of ones to check out include BlaBlaCar and Liftshare . You can join a carshare that someone else is offering or offer one to have others join if you are able to drive.

Other options include posting or checking ads online to find a travel buddy or ride sharing opportunity. Some places to try include online classifieds (e.g., Craigslist, Gumtree), online travel message boards, and physical classified and bulletin boards (if you live or already staying in the London area). 

Cost of Ride Sharing Services from London to Edinburgh?

It is usually very inexpensive as most drivers just want company and assistance covering their expenses such as the cost of fuel. Expect it to be a little less or similar to the cost of a budget long-distance bus. Costs might range from £8 to £35 per person for a direct drive from London to Edinburgh (and return back to London is usually an option as well).

10. Private Car Transfer or Cab

A final option is to hire a private car with driver or take a cab. These are good for those wanting to travel in comfort by road without having to worry about driving or renting a car. The driver will pick you up and drop you off at the address of your choice. Options can range from a standard cab to a luxury limo.

How to Book a Private Car Transfer or Cab from London to Edinburgh?

There are several cab and private transfer companies who will offer a car service between London and Edinburgh, but it is something you’ll need to arrange in advance. We recommend using a UK cab comparison website like minicabit to compare rates for cabs and private transfer options.

How Much is a Private Car Transfer or Cab from London to Edinburgh?

This is a premium option and rates are likely to range from about £400 to £600 for a private transfer in a standard sized car. However, if you have 3 or 4 people sharing the cost, it is not as expensive.

What is the Best Way to Get From London to Edinburgh?

There is no easy answer to this question as it is going to depend on factors such as your budget, time, and travel style. But the following information should help you find the best method for you and your travel plans.

Cheapest Way to Get from London to Edinburgh?

Those on a tight budget should check out the long distance buses, train, and ride sharing options. Booking in advance can save you a lot of money on both bus and train tickets which are likely to be the least expensive options. If you have a car in the UK, then driving may also be a good budget option, especially if you can split fuel and parking costs with travel companions.

If you need to book relatively last minute, then a long-distance bus ticket is likely going to be the least expensive option.

Quickest Way to Get from London to Edinburgh? 

The quickest way is to fly. But because of travel time to and from the airports and airport security, flying will only save you a little time (40 minutes to 1.5 hours) over taking a high-speed direct train. So those looking for fastest options should check out flying or taking a direct train.

Most Cost/Time Efficient Way to Get from London to Edinburgh?

The most efficient way based on both money and time depends on how much you value each, but we’d recommend taking a direct train or flying if you are able to book your tickets in advance. However, overnight buses and the overnight sleeper train can also be very time and budget efficient options as they don’t waste sightseeing time and save you the expense of paying for lodging for one night.

Most Luxurious Way to Get from London to Edinburgh?

If you have the money, you can charter a private plane which is probably the most luxurious option available. However, for those looking for the most comfortable way to get from London to Edinburgh on a tighter budget should consider first-class seats on commercial flights, first-class train seats, the private Caledonian Sleeper rooms, and private transfers. 

Best Way to Sightsee from London to Edinburgh? 

Those wanting to make some stops and sightsee should consider taking a guided tour, driving, or biking. You can also go by train and travel the route in sections, stopping in a number of towns and cities along the way. Check out our 10 day UK by public transport itinerary and 1 week UK by car itinerary for ideas. If you are considering joining a guided tour, we recommend checking out this one .

Most Leisurely Way to Get from London to Edinburgh? 

Walk or bike, which are also the most healthy ways! Driving is another good way to make the journey at your own pace and everyone loves a good road trip. 

Our Preferred Way to Get from London to Edinburgh?

We’ve traveled from London to Edinburgh and from Edinburgh to London more times than we can count and have made the journey using a variety of transportation types. Our preferred method for traveling between London and Edinburgh is to take the train. If you book the train in advance it can be very competitively priced compared to other options such as a long-distance bus. While traveling by train might take slightly longer than flying, the advantages are that it is more convenient, normally less expensive, and you are able to watch the scenery go by outside. The overnight sleeper train option is also recommended for those wanting to travel without losing precious sightseeing time.

But we can also recommend checking out flying, long-distance buses, driving, and taking a guided tour. All of these are also good options that we have used. It really just depends on your budget, time, and travel style.

Can you Take a Day Trip from London To Edinburgh?

It is possible to visit Edinburgh as a day trip from London, but honestly, we would advise against this. It’s going to involve at least eight hours of travel, meaning an early start, a late finish, and limited time to actually sightsee in Edinburgh.

If you want to visit Edinburgh from London, we would highly recommend staying at least one night in Edinburgh, and ideally two. This self-guided tour for example includes round trip transfers, an overnight stay in Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle entry and a hop on hop off bus ticket whilst this is a similar 3 day tour .

Of course, you can visit Edinburgh as a day trip from London if you really want to. We would recommend taking the train as it will take you directly from city centre to city centre. Alternatively, there are tours available, such as this one .

So that summarizes our guide to getting from London to Edinburgh! If you are planning your trip to the UK, here is a guide to public transit in London as well as a 3 day London itinerary and a  6 day London itinerary to get you ready for your time in London.

To give you some ideas for what to do when 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 .

We hope this helps you figure out how to get from London to Edinburgh, or vice versa! If you have any questions about traveling between these two cities or travel within either one, just let us know by leaving a Comment below. Also, if you have any of your own tips or advice about travel between London and Edinburgh, feel free to share below!

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Darlene Post author

January 13, 2024 at 10:49 am

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

January 13, 2024 at 5:53 pm

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

January 1, 2023 at 2:52 pm

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

January 2, 2023 at 8:19 am

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

September 3, 2022 at 10:13 am

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

September 3, 2022 at 11:58 am

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.

Noelle Post author

July 25, 2022 at 6:16 pm

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!

July 26, 2022 at 9:45 am

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.

July 26, 2022 at 2:50 pm

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?

July 28, 2022 at 3:03 am

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!

Tiffany K Post author

June 29, 2022 at 6:42 am

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!

June 29, 2022 at 8:24 am

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!

Christine Post author

November 23, 2021 at 9:31 am

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!

November 24, 2021 at 1:48 pm

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.

Rachel Post author

November 4, 2021 at 8:17 pm

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!!

November 5, 2021 at 8:52 am

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!

Jack Post author

October 14, 2021 at 6:14 am

Hey, very helpful article, all you need to know to find the best way to get from Edinburgh to London!

October 17, 2021 at 6:13 am

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

October 1, 2020 at 6:33 pm

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.

October 2, 2020 at 4:05 am

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

August 22, 2020 at 5:02 pm

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!

August 23, 2020 at 6:48 am

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

March 10, 2020 at 11:36 am

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.

March 10, 2020 at 12:26 pm

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.

Pat Post author

November 12, 2019 at 5:07 pm

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.

November 13, 2019 at 9:26 pm

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.

Ashley Post author

June 18, 2019 at 4:47 am

Which is the best train station in London to go into?

June 19, 2019 at 8:39 pm

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.

Gail Dundas Post author

March 25, 2019 at 2:34 pm

How much luggage can you take with you on the train from London to Edinburgh?

March 25, 2019 at 4:03 pm

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

December 31, 2018 at 1:25 am

Great and helpful information, exactly what I needed. Think I am going to take a bus or train, just need to check on prices 😉

January 1, 2019 at 11:17 am

Hi Rachel, Glad this was helpful, and enjoy your trip from London to Edinburgh!! Best, Jessica

VIKKI WANG Post author

December 26, 2018 at 10:44 pm

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

December 27, 2018 at 3:23 am

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.

Kim Post author

November 8, 2018 at 11:59 am

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.

November 9, 2018 at 1:30 am

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.

Tiffany K. Post author

June 29, 2022 at 6:36 am

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

August 29, 2018 at 6:47 am

Where to Rent a Bike in London? Having problem answering this question! Thanks a lot for this post!

August 29, 2018 at 8:06 am

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

July 19, 2018 at 2:53 pm

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.

July 22, 2018 at 5:55 am

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.

Jully Jeams Post author

April 21, 2018 at 9:43 pm

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.

April 22, 2018 at 12:27 am

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

April 2, 2018 at 5:41 am

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.

April 2, 2018 at 6:06 am

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

March 28, 2018 at 7:33 am

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!

March 28, 2018 at 8:05 am

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.

Anisa Post author

March 26, 2018 at 7:14 am

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!

March 26, 2018 at 9:48 am

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!

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£19 Find cheap flights from London to Edinburgh

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a kayak user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from london to edinburgh departing on 13/5. fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. click the price to replicate the search for this deal., search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to edinburgh.

Save 28% or more Compare multiple travel sites with one search.

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Filter your deals Choose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Bundle and save Save money when you bundle your flight + hotel.

Cheap flight deals from London to Edinburgh (LON-EDI)

Flights from london to edinburgh - travel insights & trends, get data-powered insights and trends into flights from london to edinburgh to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more., what is the cheapest london to edinburgh flight route, our data shows that the cheapest route for a one-way flight from london to edinburgh cost £15 and was between london stansted airport and edinburgh. on average, the best prices are found if you fly this route. the average price for a return flight for this route is £26., what’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from london to edinburgh, for london to edinburgh, monday is the cheapest day to fly on average and friday is the most expensive. flying from edinburgh back to london, the best deals are generally found on tuesday, with sunday being the most expensive., what is the cheapest month to fly from london to edinburgh, the cheapest month for flights from london to edinburgh is january, where tickets cost £39 on average. on the other hand, the most expensive months are december and july, where the average cost of tickets is £70 and £62 respectively., how far in advance should i book a flight from london to edinburgh, to get a below average price on the flight from london to edinburgh, you should book around 3 weeks before departure. for the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 67 days before departure., which airlines provide the cheapest flights from london to edinburgh, in the last 72 hours, the cheapest one-way ticket from london to edinburgh found on kayak was with ryanair for £19. ryanair proposed a return connection from £32 and easyjet from £35., which airlines fly most frequently between london and edinburgh, london and edinburgh are connected by different airlines. the airlines that fly that route the most regularly are british airways (19 flights per day), easyjet (11 flights per day), and ryanair uk (3 flights per day)., which airlines fly direct between london and edinburgh, there are 3 airlines that fly direct from london to edinburgh. they are: british airways, ryanair uk and easyjet. the cheapest price of all airlines flying this route was found with ryanair uk at £21 for a one-way flight. on average, the best prices for this route can be found at ryanair uk., how many flights are there between london and edinburgh per day, each day, there are between 23 and 39 nonstop flights that take off from london and land in edinburgh, with an average flight time of 1h 22m. the most common departure time is 08:00 and most flights take off in the morning. each week, there are 239 flights. the most frequent day of departure is thursday, when 16% of all weekly flights depart. the fewest flights depart on a saturday., which cabin class options are there for flights between london and edinburgh, there are 3 cabin class options for the route. these are business, economy and prem economy. perform a search on kayak to find the latest prices and availability for all cabin fares, which differ across airlines., how long does a flight from london to edinburgh take, the average direct flight takes 1h 15m, covering a distance of 335 miles., what’s the earliest departure time from london to edinburgh, early birds can take the earliest flight from london at 05:45 and will be landing in edinburgh at 07:05., what’s the latest departure time from london to edinburgh, if you prefer to fly at night, the latest flight from london to edinburgh jets off at 22:55 and lands at 00:15., good to know - cheap tickets from london to edinburgh, when to book flights from london to edinburgh, faqs for booking flights from london to edinburgh, how can i find cheap flights from london to edinburgh to reduce my travel footprint.

Flying from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) with British Airways is the best way to reduce your carbon emissions on flights between these UK capitals. Flights from London to Edinburgh with British Airways produce approximately 50% less C02 than other airlines and usually take around 1h 30min. Choosing to fly this route with British Airways can increase your travel costs.

Can I leave my car at any one of the London airports?

All 5 of London’s main airports provide long-stay parking so you can securely leave your car at the terminals during your Edinburgh trip. If you’re flying from LTN, long-stay parking will cost you roughly, £30 per day, with the Long-stay Car Park located a 10 minute shuttle ride from the airport. At London Stansted Airport (STN), long-stay parking costs around £60 for an 8day stay. Meanwhile, at LHR, long-stay parking costs around £35 per day during the off-season and about £39 during peak times.

How do I transfer from Edinburgh Airport to the city centre?

The easiest and the most budget-friendly way to get into the centre of Edinburgh is to take the tram which run every 7 minutes and the journey to the city centre takes about 30 minutes. There are also plenty of buses that will take you from the airport to Edinburgh and other cities. If you are not a fan of public transportation and plan to travel outside of Edinburgh, consider renting a car from one of the agencies at the Car Rental Centre in the airport.

What services does the London City Airport offer?

If you are flying from the London City Airport you can expect to find numerous restaurants and shops, a shoe shine service, a spa centre and a Mail and Fly service. You can also store your items at the luggage storage or lockers and connect to the free internet.

Does the Edinburgh Airport provide facilities for families with kids?

Families travelling with kids will find areas for kids and a few baby changing rooms around the Edinburgh Airport. It is also possible to find items like puzzle books or comics for kids. Most eateries at the Edinburgh Airport are equipped with high chairs and meals for kids.

Are there any budget airlines that fly from London to Edinburgh?

Yes, it is a popular route from London and many low-cost airlines fly daily. You can book affordable flights from London to Edinburgh with Ryanair, Flybo and easyJet which usually fly from London Stansted Airport.

What is the cheapest flight from London to Edinburgh?

In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from London to Edinburgh was £24 for a one-way ticket and £40 for a return.

Which airports will I be using when flying from London to Edinburgh?

London has 6 major airports: London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Southend, and London Stansted. Edinburgh Turnhouse is the only airport in Edinburgh. You’ll usually find the cheapest deals if you fly from London Stansted Airport.

Which aircraft models fly most regularly from London to Edinburgh?

The Airbus A320-100/200 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the London to Edinburgh flight route.

Which airline alliances offer flights from London to Edinburgh?

oneworld, and SkyTeam are the airline alliances operating flights between London and Edinburgh, with oneworld being the most commonly used for this route.

On which days can I fly direct from London to Edinburgh?

There are direct flights from London to Edinburgh on a daily basis.

Which is the best airline for flights from London to Edinburgh, KLM or easyJet?

The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from London to Edinburgh are KLM and easyJet. With an average price for the route of £278 and an overall rating of 7.8, KLM is the most popular choice. easyJet is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of £70 and an overall rating of 6.9.

How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from London to Edinburgh?

KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from London to Edinburgh.

How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from London to Edinburgh?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Edinburgh from London is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from London to Edinburgh?

Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional return ticket. You could then fly to Edinburgh with an airline and back to London with another airline.

What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from London to Edinburgh?

Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Edinburgh from London up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding a cheap flight from London to Edinburgh

• Looking for a cheap flight from London to Edinburgh? 25% of our users found flights on this route for £72 or less one-way and £137 or less round-trip.
• Want to find cheap flights from London to Edinburgh and enjoy a good night’s rest when you arrive? Edinburgh Airport (EDI) has 2 airport hotels. Passengers can stay at the Hampton by Hilton Airport Hotel, which is located just around a 2 minute walk from the terminals. Alternatively, you can take the 2 minute airport shuttle to the Doubletree by Hilton, which is located just outside the airport.
• If you’re flying from London to Edinburgh with EasyJet from London Luton Airport (LTN), you can relax and unwind before your journey in the Aspire Lounge. Entry to the lounge costs about £35 for adults and approximately, £19 for children under 11. You will find the lounge located on the first floor level just past security and next to the departure gates.
• UK passengers flying from London to Edinburgh do not need to have a visa or any other documentation to legally fly. However, it is strongly recommended that you take your valid British passport with you when you travel. This can be used as identification when you check in at the airport and when moving through security.
• When booking flights from London to Edinburgh with British Airways you can choose between London City Airport, London Gatwick Airport or London Heathrow Airport. London City Airport is a good idea if you are transferring from the city centre of London as it is the closest. Heathrow Airport will be better for those who want to enjoy a variety of services and facilities, and Gatwick Airport for those who are going from the southern part of London and wish to avoid big crowds.
• People who are flying with Ryanair or easyJet from London Stansted Airport will not have a problem when it comes to finding places for a quick meal before boarding the plane. An ideal spot for sushi enthusiasts is Itsu, whereas Coast to Coast is for those who love burgers or pizza and people looking for vegan options can find a variety of options at Pret.
• Those who booked their flight from London to Edinburgh and who are flying from London Gatwick Airport, there are ChargeBox kiosks or charging stations located around the airport if you need to charge your device, available free of charge.
• Not sure how to fill your time in Edinburgh? Forgot to book a hotel? Grab some maps from the VisitScotland Information Centre where you can also get tips on things to do and places to stay at in the city.
• If you want to release some pressure at the Edinburgh Airport before or after your flight, visit Inside & Out or AeroSpa where you can get a massage and various beauty treatments. There are also some massage chairs at the airport if you do not have enough time for a spa centre.

Prefer to fly direct from London to Edinburgh?

Find which airlines fly direct from London to Turnhouse, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

London to Edinburgh Turnhouse

American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, +10 more

American Airlines, British Airways, +11 more

Direct returns

Edinburgh Turnhouse to London

American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, +9 more

American Airlines, British Airways, +10 more

American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, +8 more

American Airlines, British Airways, +9 more

Top 4 airlines serving from London to Edinburgh

The trip itself was good. I have given only good as rating, because my first flight has been cancelled by a different airline and that caused disruption in my trip. I spent over ten hours in Luton airport and that caused me high tiredness, sickness, because of the very early initial trip. easyJet staff has been professional and friendly.

Very pleasant crew, working hard on a full plane. Delay by a broken seat. However crew made back 60% of the delay.

Delayed and then further delayed with no announcement made so that all the passengers (who were standing in the jetty) could hear. We stood there for well over 20 minutes. We were further delayed through weather but no one explained that to us until the pilot made an announcement when finally on board

easyJet need to ensure that whether pre-booking seats or not children aren’t split from their parents the crew spent the majority of boarding asking passengers to move to accommodate two families. Surely the system identifies minors on a booking !!!!! It was all very frustrating to watch and caused delays which I’m sure cost easyJet more in the long run rather that automatically allocating families with minors seats together automatically.

As you would expect from a budget airline Left and arrived on time, no frills, not even a glass of water offered But you get what you pay for

I had an emergency escape seat. The attendant gave the extrA briefing to my side of the aisle but didnt direct it at all to the other where my wife was sitting

Boarding great. Didn’t eat or drink so can not comment.

Speedy boarding is a waste of money when they herd you on to a bus and take you to the plane and it turns in to a free for all …very unsatisfactory

3 hours delayed Don’t understand why when you have paid for ‘speedy boarding’ they call you forward to then make you stand fir another 20 minutes in a confined space before boarding the plane.

The pilot did everything possible to make up the 35 minute delay. His communications were honest, prompt and positive throughout.

I got denied boarding bevause they said they "ran out of seats on a plane"

Speakers were blaring. It's like being in a Moroccan market and you keep getting shouted at with what's for sale

What can you say Ryanair get you there,no frills Not so cheap anymore ..... but what is now days! Would use again as always. Good flight times for us.

Perfect timing, perfect departure, lovely crew on the ground and in the air.

Good flight. Take off a little late but make up the time

Very unpleasant staff, disgusting service, ignoring requests, refusal to help

Late again rude staff at gate bullying passengers made us stand in the cold 3degrees for 40 mins before they let us board

The usual average Ryanair flight, but we landed 20 min before due time, which was very good.

Enjoyed our flight with Ryanair to Arrecife. Flight boarded pretty much on time, crew were welcoming and very good. Generally good for a frequent low cost flight, Seats could however have been more comfortable.

I wouldn't like to fly with them anymore, I don't like their service, you can hardly take carry-on luggage because they charge you for everything, you can't ask for a glass of water, and the flight attendant tells you that they don't have any, that you have to Paying 3 euros for a bottle of water horrible, I don't recommend it, and they don't have anything low cost, because the plane ticket may not be expensive but what they charge you later for the rest, the flight becomes more expensive, it's the only airline that I don't like it so far, and I traveled a lot.

my original flight was cancelled the previous day, and i was rescheduled onto this flight, which left much earlier in the morning, impacting my previous evening and requiring me to get up much earlier in the morning to get to the airport online. This practice happens way way way too much, and it seems on every airline, though AA is probably the worst.

The flight was on time and the crew very professional. Everything went as expected and I will use BA again for this trip.

We paid to have overhead carry-on baggage. When we got to the gate we were told that our carry on bags would need to be checked and go below because the flight was full. Notably we were nowhere near the last people to board and about 30 other passengers also had to check their carry-on bags. Other than that the flight was fine.

Very bad plain although I paid A business class ticket I was stuck in a stiff fixed seat without any entertainment or Wi Fi for 5 hours I will never ever book a flight on British airline.

Self check in Kiosk did not recognize that I had prepaid for my luggage. This caused a 40 minute delay even though I had my British Airways email receipt for the prepaid luggage.

Crew were very friendly and helpful. They explained to us in detail the delay in our takeoff due to the storm that rolled in from Belfast and did their best to make up the time. Always great to fly BA!

Staff were very helpful. The free WiFi for messages was also very useful to keep in touch

Crew was more interested on looking at their phones than welcoming passengers during boarding.

The crew was very attentive and kept busy serving a variety of treats!

Terrible. Missed my flight to final destination because of delayed British Airways flight. Had to spend 12 hours in airport and $1500 for new plane tickets

We bought tickets for £30 from kayak but we paid £55 for check in to rayan , they slaught us

Flight was delayed so long we missed our second flight. Entire trip had to be cancelled. Ryanair refused to help us.

Stanton airport is outdated, pure equiped, airport. Fire alarms, power outages is a common routine, wich result ir flights delay , additional money spending and huge gathering of people in airport wich is unsafe.

After you made us check-in I tried to add a suitcase in the internet and also to get help by chet. Nothing work and we pay 60 pounds at Airport. Comper to Easyjet to do the same, was easy and customer friendly.

Boarding was like being hoarded like cattle, all penned in in an area way to small

I missed the flight from Manchester to Dublin because of poor informations from Aer Lingus and the airport, no possibility to check in online, they don't respond to phone calls, I had to buy another tickets to enable me travel to Dublin from Manchester. I want my money to refund.

Rude check in staff. Split family up with young children.

I were there 20min before departure and they didn’t let me on the board with 5 other people, after all they admitted it was their(Ryanair) fault.

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$30 Find cheap flights from London to Edinburgh

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a kayak user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from london to edinburgh departing on 7/1. fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. click the price to replicate the search for this deal., search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to edinburgh.

Save 22% or more Compare multiple travel sites with one search.

Track prices Not ready to book? Create a price alert for when prices drop.

Filter your deals Choose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

Bundle and save Save money when you bundle your flight + hotel.

Cheap flight deals from London to Edinburgh (LON-EDI)

Flights from london to edinburgh - travel insights & trends, get data-powered insights and trends into flights from london to edinburgh to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more., what is the cheapest london to edinburgh flight route, our data shows that the cheapest route for a one-way flight from london to edinburgh cost $19 and was between london stansted airport and edinburgh. on average, the best prices are found if you fly this route. the average price for a return flight for this route is $32., what’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from london to edinburgh, your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to edinburgh on a tuesday and more expensive on a saturday. on your return trip to london, you should consider flying back on a saturday, and avoid tuesdays for better deals., what is the cheapest month to fly from london to edinburgh, the cheapest month for flights from london to edinburgh is january, where tickets cost $49 on average. on the other hand, the most expensive months are december and july, where the average cost of tickets is $87 and $77 respectively., how far in advance should i book a flight from london to edinburgh, to get a below average price on the flight from london to edinburgh, you should book around 3 weeks before departure. for the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 67 days before departure., which airlines provide the cheapest flights from london to edinburgh, the best deals for a one-way ticket found by kayak users over the last 3 days were on easyjet ($30) and british airways ($48). the cheapest round-trip tickets were found on easyjet ($65) and british airways ($82)., which airlines fly most frequently between london and edinburgh, in normal times, british airways flies from london to edinburgh up to 19 times per day, easyjet up to 11 times per day, and ryanair uk up to 3 times per day., which airlines fly non-stop between london and edinburgh, there are 3 airlines that fly nonstop from london to edinburgh. they are: british airways, ryanair uk and easyjet. the cheapest price of all airlines flying this route was found with ryanair uk at $19 for a one-way flight. on average, the best prices for this route can be found at ryanair uk., how many flights are there between london and edinburgh per day, each day, there are between 22 and 39 nonstop flights that take off from london and land in edinburgh, with an average flight time of 1h 22m. the most common departure time is 8:00 am and most flights take off in the morning. each week, there are 239 flights. the most frequent day of departure is thursday, when 16% of all weekly flights depart. the fewest flights depart on a saturday., which cabin class options are there for flights between london and edinburgh, there are 3 cabin class options for the route. these are business, economy and prem economy. perform a search on kayak to find the latest prices and availability for all cabin fares, which differ across airlines., how long does a flight from london to edinburgh take, direct flights take on average 1h 25m to travel the 335 miles between london and edinburgh., what’s the earliest departure time from london to edinburgh, early birds can take the earliest flight from london at 5:45 am and will be landing in edinburgh at 7:05 am., what’s the latest departure time from london to edinburgh, if you prefer to fly at night, the latest flight from london to edinburgh jets off at 10:55 pm and lands at 12:15 am., good to know, when to book flights from london to edinburgh, faqs for booking flights from london to edinburgh, how do i transfer from edinburgh airport to the city centre.

The easiest and the most budget-friendly way to get into the centre of Edinburgh is to take the tram which run every 7 minutes and the journey to the city centre takes about 30 minutes. There are also plenty of buses that will take you from the airport to Edinburgh and other cities. If you are not a fan of public transportation and plan to travel outside of Edinburgh, consider renting a car from one of the agencies at the Car Rental Centre in the airport.

What services does the London City Airport offer?

If you are flying from the London City Airport you can expect to find numerous restaurants and shops, a shoe shine service, a spa centre and a Mail and Fly service. You can also store your items at the luggage storage or lockers and connect to the free internet.

Does the Edinburgh Airport provide facilities for families with kids?

Families travelling with kids will find areas for kids and a few baby changing rooms around the Edinburgh Airport. It is also possible to find items like puzzle books or comics for kids. Most eateries at the Edinburgh Airport are equipped with high chairs and meals for kids.

Are there any budget airlines that fly from London to Edinburgh?

Yes, it is a popular route from London and many low-cost airlines fly daily. You can book affordable flights from London to Edinburgh with Ryanair, Flybo and easyJet which usually fly from London Stansted Airport.

What is the cheapest flight from London to Edinburgh?

In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from London to Edinburgh was $30 for a one-way ticket and $65 for a round-trip.

Do I need a passport to fly between London and Edinburgh?

Even though you are not required to have a passport, keep in mind that an official ID is needed to board the airplane.

Which airports will I be using when flying from London to Edinburgh?

London has 5 major airports: London City, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, and London Stansted. Edinburgh Turnhouse is the only airport in Edinburgh. You’ll usually find the cheapest deals if you fly from London Gatwick Airport.

Which aircraft models fly most regularly from London to Edinburgh?

The Airbus A320-100/200 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the London to Edinburgh flight route.

Which airline alliances offer flights from London to Edinburgh?

oneworld, and SkyTeam are the airline alliances operating flights between London and Edinburgh, with oneworld being the most commonly used for this route.

On which days can I fly direct from London to Edinburgh?

There are nonstop flights from London to Edinburgh on a daily basis.

Which is the best airline for flights from London to Edinburgh, easyJet or British Airways?

The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from London to Edinburgh are easyJet and British Airways. With an average price for the route of $89 and an overall rating of 6.9, easyJet is the most popular choice. British Airways is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $173 and an overall rating of 6.8.

How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from London to Edinburgh?

KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from London to Edinburgh.

How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from London to Edinburgh?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Edinburgh from London is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from London to Edinburgh?

Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Edinburgh with an airline and back to London with another airline.

What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from London to Edinburgh?

Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Edinburgh from London up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding a cheap flight from London to Edinburgh

• Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $90 or less one-way and $195 or less round-trip.
• When booking flights from London to Edinburgh with British Airways you can choose between London City Airport, London Gatwick Airport or London Heathrow Airport. London City Airport is a good idea if you are transferring from the city centre of London as it is the closest. Heathrow Airport will be better for those who want to enjoy a variety of services and facilities, and Gatwick Airport for those who are going from the southern part of London and wish to avoid big crowds.
• People who are flying with Ryanair or easyJet from London Stansted Airport will not have a problem when it comes to finding places for a quick meal before boarding the plane. An ideal spot for sushi enthusiasts is Itsu, whereas Coast to Coast is for those who love burgers or pizza and people looking for vegan options can find a variety of options at Pret.
• Those who booked their flight from London to Edinburgh and who are flying from London Gatwick Airport, there are ChargeBox kiosks or charging stations located around the airport if you need to charge your device, available free of charge.
• Not sure how to fill your time in Edinburgh? Forgot to book a hotel? Grab some maps from the VisitScotland Information Centre where you can also get tips on things to do and places to stay at in the city.
• If you want to release some pressure at the Edinburgh Airport before or after your flight, visit Inside & Out or AeroSpa where you can get a massage and various beauty treatments. There are also some massage chairs at the airport if you do not have enough time for a spa centre.

Prefer to fly non-stop from London to Edinburgh?

Find which airlines fly direct from London to Turnhouse, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Nonstop departures

London to Edinburgh Turnhouse

American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, +10 more

American Airlines, British Airways, +11 more

Nonstop returns

Edinburgh Turnhouse to London

American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, +9 more

American Airlines, British Airways, +10 more

American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, +8 more

American Airlines, British Airways, +9 more

Top 4 airlines serving from London to Edinburgh

The trip itself was good. I have given only good as rating, because my first flight has been cancelled by a different airline and that caused disruption in my trip. I spent over ten hours in Luton airport and that caused me high tiredness, sickness, because of the very early initial trip. easyJet staff has been professional and friendly.

Very pleasant crew, working hard on a full plane. Delay by a broken seat. However crew made back 60% of the delay.

Delayed and then further delayed with no announcement made so that all the passengers (who were standing in the jetty) could hear. We stood there for well over 20 minutes. We were further delayed through weather but no one explained that to us until the pilot made an announcement when finally on board

easyJet need to ensure that whether pre-booking seats or not children aren’t split from their parents the crew spent the majority of boarding asking passengers to move to accommodate two families. Surely the system identifies minors on a booking !!!!! It was all very frustrating to watch and caused delays which I’m sure cost easyJet more in the long run rather that automatically allocating families with minors seats together automatically.

As you would expect from a budget airline Left and arrived on time, no frills, not even a glass of water offered But you get what you pay for

I had an emergency escape seat. The attendant gave the extrA briefing to my side of the aisle but didnt direct it at all to the other where my wife was sitting

Boarding great. Didn’t eat or drink so can not comment.

Total jobs worths over carry on bags, charged £96 extra for bags that were clearly hand luggage

Speedy boarding is a waste of money when they herd you on to a bus and take you to the plane and it turns in to a free for all …very unsatisfactory

3 hours delayed Don’t understand why when you have paid for ‘speedy boarding’ they call you forward to then make you stand fir another 20 minutes in a confined space before boarding the plane.

I got denied boarding bevause they said they "ran out of seats on a plane"

Speakers were blaring. It's like being in a Moroccan market and you keep getting shouted at with what's for sale

What can you say Ryanair get you there,no frills Not so cheap anymore ..... but what is now days! Would use again as always. Good flight times for us.

Perfect timing, perfect departure, lovely crew on the ground and in the air.

Good flight. Take off a little late but make up the time

Very unpleasant staff, disgusting service, ignoring requests, refusal to help

Late again rude staff at gate bullying passengers made us stand in the cold 3degrees for 40 mins before they let us board

The usual average Ryanair flight, but we landed 20 min before due time, which was very good.

Enjoyed our flight with Ryanair to Arrecife. Flight boarded pretty much on time, crew were welcoming and very good. Generally good for a frequent low cost flight, Seats could however have been more comfortable.

I wouldn't like to fly with them anymore, I don't like their service, you can hardly take carry-on luggage because they charge you for everything, you can't ask for a glass of water, and the flight attendant tells you that they don't have any, that you have to Paying 3 euros for a bottle of water horrible, I don't recommend it, and they don't have anything low cost, because the plane ticket may not be expensive but what they charge you later for the rest, the flight becomes more expensive, it's the only airline that I don't like it so far, and I traveled a lot.

The flight was delayed as they were waiting on catering. Catering. Was eventually delivered but they still had no food. No meals for us in business class - just a bag of nuts.

Our luggage is missing. We are at the Hotel Gran Via in Barcelona

Air hostess delayed providing food and then pulled away the tray before i finished eating

my original flight was cancelled the previous day, and i was rescheduled onto this flight, which left much earlier in the morning, impacting my previous evening and requiring me to get up much earlier in the morning to get to the airport online. This practice happens way way way too much, and it seems on every airline, though AA is probably the worst.

The flight was on time and the crew very professional. Everything went as expected and I will use BA again for this trip.

We paid to have overhead carry-on baggage. When we got to the gate we were told that our carry on bags would need to be checked and go below because the flight was full. Notably we were nowhere near the last people to board and about 30 other passengers also had to check their carry-on bags. Other than that the flight was fine.

Very bad plain although I paid A business class ticket I was stuck in a stiff fixed seat without any entertainment or Wi Fi for 5 hours I will never ever book a flight on British airline.

Self check in Kiosk did not recognize that I had prepaid for my luggage. This caused a 40 minute delay even though I had my British Airways email receipt for the prepaid luggage.

Crew were very friendly and helpful. They explained to us in detail the delay in our takeoff due to the storm that rolled in from Belfast and did their best to make up the time. Always great to fly BA!

Staff were very helpful. The free WiFi for messages was also very useful to keep in touch

We bought tickets for £30 from kayak but we paid £55 for check in to rayan , they slaught us

Flight was delayed so long we missed our second flight. Entire trip had to be cancelled. Ryanair refused to help us.

Stanton airport is outdated, pure equiped, airport. Fire alarms, power outages is a common routine, wich result ir flights delay , additional money spending and huge gathering of people in airport wich is unsafe.

After you made us check-in I tried to add a suitcase in the internet and also to get help by chet. Nothing work and we pay 60 pounds at Airport. Comper to Easyjet to do the same, was easy and customer friendly.

Boarding was like being hoarded like cattle, all penned in in an area way to small

I missed the flight from Manchester to Dublin because of poor informations from Aer Lingus and the airport, no possibility to check in online, they don't respond to phone calls, I had to buy another tickets to enable me travel to Dublin from Manchester. I want my money to refund.

Rude check in staff. Split family up with young children.

I were there 20min before departure and they didn’t let me on the board with 5 other people, after all they admitted it was their(Ryanair) fault.

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Compare transportation modes for London to Edinburgh

How to Get from London to Edinburgh (+ cheap options!)

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Figuring out the journey from London to Edinburgh can be a confusing one for visitors.

What’s the best way to get from London to Edinburgh?

Should you fly, take a train, a bus, or rent a car?

In this guide, I’ll break down the methods of getting to Edinburgh from London (and how to get from Edinburgh to London) so you can make the most informed choice for your vacation.

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Edinburgh is one of the UK’s most popular cities, and it’s really worth exploring if you have time.

From these wonderful free things to do in Edinburgh to the full list of what to do in Edinburgh with kids to things to do in Edinburgh indoors , I’ve got a wealth of experience in traveling to this Scottish city and it’s got to be on your bucketlist.

Expert tip for all types of public transportation in the UK : the best way to figure out your best options is to click here to use Omio (free), where it’ll show you the prices, options (including buses, trains, taxis, ferries, and even flights) and help you compare the cheapest and fastest routes.

Hey! Want more honest UK tips and planning advice? Click here to join my London and UK Travel Tips Facebook group , where I can answer more of your questions!

How to Get from London to Edinburgh by Car

The first option for getting to Edinburgh from London is to drive.

The drive takes about 8 hours, and we have done it multiple times.

If you don’t have a car in the UK, you’ll want to rent one using Discover Cars for the best comparison prices.

There’s something about driving in the UK that makes driving seem like it takes much longer, but an 8 hour drive is an 8 hour drive.

You can leave early in the morning and be there by early afternoon.

However, I would not recommend driving from London to Edinburgh.

There are much easier ways (and faster) for you to get to Edinburgh from London, and renting a car and driving in a foreign country is not an easy or recommended task.

IMPORTANT: are you coming to the UK from abroad?

In case you’re reading this from outside the UK and will be a foreign visitor here, you need to know these 2 things to stay safe and save money.

• Travel insurance – you need it when going overseas! I use this site to get the best quotes and purchase my packages from. Do not skip this – having medical coverage abroad as well as other coverage in case of missed flights, lost luggage, etc is essential. As I said, I have never gone wrong using this site .
• International debit cards without fees – do not get stuck paying extortionate foreign fees when using your card abroad (and the UK is almost all card these days). I use the Wise debit and travel card which you can apply and learn more about here .

Getting to Edinburgh from London by Public Transportation

The UK is well connected via public transportation, and that’s one of my top picks for how to get to Edinburgh from London.

Below, I’ll talk about the options you have when it comes to using public transportation to get to Edinburgh so you can make decisions based on timings, prices, and your preferred method of travel.

How to Get to Edinburgh from London by Bus

There are two bus options for getting to Edinburgh from London.

This is for the incredibly cost conscious, as tickets range from just about £12 and up for a one way ticket, but the ride will take you 10 to 11 hours depending on the route.

Also you’ll be on a bus so, there’s that.

The first option is to book with Megabus, who operate a London to Edinburgh route and are focused on “low cost” travel.

The buses depart from London Victoria Coach Station and have different stops on the way up depending on which route you take.

The second option is to book with National Express , who also operate a London to Edinburgh route that departs from Victoria Bus Station.

When it comes to choosing the route, I would go with whichever is cheaper as there’s not much difference ( compare options with Omio here ).

I wouldn’t recommend this route unless you desperately need the savings.

How to Get to Edinburgh from London by Train

The most popular way to get to Edinburgh from London is by train!

LNER runs the London to Edinburgh service, which usually departs from London St. Pancras Station and take around 4 hours.

Taking the train is the best way to get to Edinburgh from London for most people, as you don’t need to go through any security or bag checks so you can bring as much as you want.

You also can just sit on a train for four others rather than having to navigate airports or spend the entire day on a bus, and the view out the window can be pretty spectacular.

The caveat with this route is that the tickets do increase in price a lot the closer to the date of travel you are, and they can get expensive.

Try to book as soon as possible when you know your dates of travel to snag the best deals.

On average, tickets range from £30 one way to over £100 one way.

Should You Fly from London to Edinburgh?

When train prices get crazy, but you don’t want to spend 11 hours on a bus, what are you to do?

Look into flights, of course!

London and Edinburgh are well connected via a few different airports with multiple flights going out each day, and the flight itself only takes about an hour.

Sometimes, you can find flights for much cheaper than taking the train, and if you’re willing to navigate airports and you have the right baggage allowances, it’s worth looking into.

I use SkyScanne r to book my flights, by plugging in London and Edinburgh and seeing what’s available.

It will bring up every flight option in cost order if you want it too, which can easily show you how cheap you can go.

Two things to consider with this option are the time it will take to get to the airport in London and also the fact that you’ll need to get from Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh City Center on the other end.

It’s not always time saving versus taking the train, but it can be cost saving.

A random search on a day a few weeks from now brings up many flights at around £23 to £26, so you can see that this is definitely an option in many people’s budgets!

My best advice is to compare the full cost of flying (including getting to and from airports) to the train before making your decision on which works best for you.

Getting to Edinburgh from London with a Guided Tour

If you’re unsure about getting to Edinburgh by yourself or want to make the most out of your time there, you can look into guided tours that will take the guesswork out of it and make sure you are escorted and understand where to be and where to go.

It is possible to take a simple overnight tour from London to Edinburgh – the day trips are few and far between as it takes too long on the train for just one day.

However, this overnight escorted tour to Edinbu rgh from London is an option for anyone who wants a taste of this Scottish city and the knowledge that all of your tours and accommodation are sorted.

If you’ve got longer, however, I would highly recommend this 8 day tour from London to Edinburgh using Rabbie’s.

We went on a 3 Day Welsh adventure with Rabbie’s and had a fabulous time.

They keep the tour groups small, the guides knowledgeable, and the buses comfortable, and they make sure to support local businesses along the way.

Want more UK travel help? Check out these guides!

• Exactly How to Get to Dover from London
• Exactly How to Get to Brighton from London
• Exactly How to Get to Disneyland Paris from London
• Exactly How to Get to Paris from London
• Exactly How to Get to Canterbury from London
• Exactly How to Get to Windsor from London
• Exactly How to Get to Hampton Court Palace from London
• Exactly How to Get to Stonehenge from London
• Exactly How to Get to Cambridge from London
• Exactly How to Get to Oxford from London
• Exactly How to Get to the Harry Potter Studio Tour from London
• Exactly How to Get to Bath from London
• Exactly How to Get to Stratford-upon-Avon from London

Heading to London? Want the best tips?

Check out my Ultimate Guide to London for Visitors. Using text, images and video, this guide is packed full of tips, tricks, safety advice, knowledge on how to get around and what to do, and more!

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1 thought on “How to Get from London to Edinburgh (+ cheap options!)”

I managed to hit up several of the places you mentioned, but would love to check out the botanical gardens, castles and tea house!

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