Aberdeen is 545 miles from London. Unless you have an urgent need to drive there, several other travel options are better .
The granite city of northeast Scotland is a gateway to the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands, as well as the center of the Scottish North Sea oil industry with all its exploration and engineering related businesses. Since the exploitation of the North Sea fields began, Aberdeen has grown from a northern provincial port to a cosmopolitan hub, able to cater to the sophisticated tastes of wealthy travelers. The best way to travel between London and Aberdeen is to fly or take a night train.
Check out these train, bus, plane and car travel instructions to decide your best option for Scotland’s North Sea capital of the oil industry.
How to get there
By train
LNER offers direct services from London to Aberdeen. Direct trains run from London Kings Cross to Aberdeen Station approximately every four hours. The trip takes about 6 and a half hours and there are only a few direct trains in each direction. The company also offers hourly services throughout the day with a change of trains in Edinburgh. The cheapest fare (as of August 2018) was around £ 100 round trip when purchased in advance as two one-way tickets for off-peak services. Use the Cheap Fare Finder, described below, to find the best deal.
By far the most comfortable train offer for this long journey is the Caledonian Sleeper leaving London Euston at 9:15 pm and arriving in Aberdeen at 7:39 am If you are willing to travel in a seat rather than a compartment for sleeping, the fare (as of September 2018) is £ 50 each way. The fixed standard advance purchase fare for a shared bed compartment is £ 135 each way, with no refunds, changes or train upgrades. The standard Flexi fare is £ 160 one way. And if you opt for a single car, the Flat Advance rate at £ 165 each way (or £ 195 flexible rate) with breakfast and access to first-class lounges and showers included.
- Read more about train travel in the UK
- Plan a trip with The National Rail Inquiries Journey Planner
- Book train tickets for the UK
Tips for traveling to the UK The cheapest train fares are designated as ‘Advance’: anticipation depends on the journey, as most rail companies offer advance fares on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance tickets are generally sold as one-way or “single” tickets. Whether or not you buy advance tickets, always compare the price of the “single” ticket with the round trip or the “return” price, as it is often cheaper to buy two individual tickets rather than one single ticket. round trip.
To find the best fare , use the National Rail Inquiries cheapest fare finder, checking the “All Day” box on the search form if you can be flexible about travel time.
Look for first-class deals – Whether you’re taking a direct train, changing trains on the way, or taking the bed, the journey from London to Aberdeen is a long one. When using the Cheapest Fare Finder, also look under First Class Fares for special offers in advance. First class upgrades are sometimes quite reasonably priced for this train. While I don’t recommend first class for most shorter trips, a more comfortable seat and onboard meal service can make longer trips to Scotland much more relaxed.
By bus
National Express buses from London to Aberdeen take between 1pm and 14. Buses leave from Victoria Coach Station in London for Aberdeen Coach Station twice a day at 8am and 11pm. At 8 am, the coach takes about 13 hours and 40 minutes; The night coach, which leaves at 11pm, takes 12 hours and 45 minutes. Fares in 2018 started at £ 31.50 one way. Bus tickets can be purchased online.
- Read about bus travel in the UK
- Book UK bus tickets
Tickets UK Travel Tip sold only in one direction (or “individual”) and the range of prices for the same trip can be mind – boggling (in 2018 I found that fares for this trip ranging from £ 24 to £ 45 each way) The best way to get the best fares and potentially get extra cheap tickets is to use the online fare finder. Rates are displayed on a calendar, so if you can be flexible about your travel time or date, you can save a lot.
By car
Aberdeen is 545 miles northeast of London, using the M1, M6 and M42 motorways in England and the M74, M8, M9 and M90 and A90 motorways in Scotland. In perfect conditions, it can take around 10 hours to drive, but conditions are rarely perfect. In addition to the traffic and constant roadworks on the M1, M6 and M42, you may encounter spring or fall snow on parts of this route. You could easily spend 18-20 hours trying to handle this at once. The trip should only be taken by car as part of a multi-day tour or by alternate drivers.
Keep in mind that gasoline, called petrol in the UK, is sold by the liter (just over a quart) and the price is usually more than $ 1.50 per quart.
- Use the Automobile Association Route Planner to map a route with suggested stopovers and gas stations.
- Check daily gasoline prices (gasoline)
By air
Aberdeen Airport is one of the UK’s international airports, handling flights from Europe, North America and throughout the UK. These airlines have flights from London to Aberdeen:
- Flybe from London Heathrow for about £ 40 one way or London City for about £ 150 one way in September 2018
- easyjet from London Gatwick (from approx £ 35) and London Luton (from approx £ 32) in 2018
- British Airways from London Heathrow, from £ 58 one way in September 2018.
