Edinburgh is more than 400 miles from London. You need to book most of the day to get there from London unless of course you’re flying – a good option if you have a short break.
Whether you’re heading to the Festivals, Hogmanay, or just enjoying the delights of this beautiful city, it’s well worth your time and effort. Use these information resources to plan your trip.
More about Edinburgh.
How to get there
By air
Regular flights from London to Edinburgh depart from most London airports throughout the day.
- easyJet flies from Gatwick, London Stansted and Luton
- Ryanair flies from Stansted on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year.
- British Air flies from Gatwick, London City and Heathrow
- Flybe has flights from London City, Heathrow and London Southend
The lowest economy one-way fares for December 2018 ranged from less than £ 50 roundtrip for low-cost airlines with no checked baggage to £ 100 for British Airways flights very early in the morning from Gatwick. The average is around £ 130 and there were various roundtrip combinations exceeding £ 200. Prices will depend on how far in advance you book and what time of year you travel, with the highest fares during August when they are in march the Edinburgh festivals. When comparing prices, remember that the additional costs charged by low-cost airlines (for reserved seats, onboard snacks, and checked luggage) can really add up.
Flights last about an hour and a half or a little less. From the airport, the new Edinburgh Tram takes you directly to the center of Edinburgh in no time. But. When making your travel plans, remember to take into account the time it takes to get to London airports and the time to go through airport security.
UK Travel Tip : When traveling time is taken into account, from city center to city center, train travel generally compares favorably to actual time spent arriving and passing through airports. But, while it is possible to arrange a cheap train fare to Edinburgh, the complicated ownership arrangements of the railway companies on this line mean that it is easier and less confusing to find cheap flights. And the new Edinburgh tram from the airport to the city center really brings you to life in Edinburgh in a matter of minutes.
By train
Trains from London King’s Cross Station to Edinburgh Waverley Station, operated by LNER, run frequently (between every 10 minutes and every half hour, depending on the time of day) throughout the day. The journey takes between 4 1/2 and 5 1/2 hours and the off-season winter fare in 2018 starts at around £ 66 if purchased as two one-way tickets.
Virgin Trains operate services to Edinburgh on the West Coast Line from London Euston Station. Direct trains run approximately every two hours and take between 5 and 5 1/2 hours. Advance tickets and super special rates for this service in winter 2018 started at £ 130.00 when purchased as two one-way tickets. Other Euston trains involve one or two changes.
If you’re willing to be flexible in your travel plans, you can save a lot by using the National Rail Inquiries Cheap Fare Finder. We found a combination round trip from Euston that was only £ 53 each way when purchased as two one way tickets. But on the Edinburgh route, finding these very cheap promotional rates is a lottery.
UK Travel Tip: Brand Confusion on East and West Coast Lines: Virgin used to operate Edinburgh East Coast services from King’s Cross in partnership with another company. That has now changed and the east coast service is now operated by LNER (London North East Railway). Virgin operates trains to Edinburgh that run on the West Coast Line from Euston Station.
Why should you care? It’s very easy to get services confused, and while most rail companies can sell tickets for trains owned and operated by other rail companies, Virgin Trains West Coast Line tickets are not interchangeable with those of any other company.
The Sleeper – Fans of slow travel can catch a night’s sleep, The Caledonian Sleeper. The train leaves Euston Station every night at approximately 11:50 pm, arriving in Edinburgh almost eight hours later, at approximately 7:30 am, at £ 180 for a one-way ticket in a sleeper cabin. individual. If you are traveling first class, or only in a standard sleeper cabin, you can bring your dog.
- Read more about train travel in the UK
- Plan a trip with The National Rail Inquiries Journey Planner
By bus
National Express runs coaches from London to Edinburgh which take approximately 9 3/4 hours and cost between £ 12 and £ 25 each way. Book early as lower rates sell out quickly. Buses travel between London Victoria Coach Station and Edinburgh Bus and Coach Station. The Megabus website is worth exploring for this trip because extra cheap fares are available.
Bus tickets can be purchased online. There is usually a small reservation fee.
- Read about bus travel in the UK
- Book UK bus tickets
- Book extra cheap Megabus tickets in the UK
By car
Edinburgh is 407 miles from London. It takes approximately 7 1/2 hours to drive, mainly on the M1, M6, M42 and A74 motorways in optimal traffic conditions. But a word of caution, the M1 and M6 motorways are notorious traffic hotspots and you can easily spend more than 12 hours trying to drive this trip in one go. A short section of the M6 is a toll road. Note that gasoline, called petrol in the UK, is sold by the liter (just over a quart) and the price generally ranges from $ 1.50 to $ 2 per quart.
- Use the Automobile Association Route Planner to map a route with suggested stopovers and gas stations.
- Check daily gasoline prices (gasoline)
UK Travel Tip : If you want to drive to Edinburgh from London and don’t like spending hours on boring motorways, plan the trip as part of an itinerary, with stops in Yorkshire or the Peak District along the way and a visit to and the next cultural capital of the north, Newcastle, before crossing the border into Scotland.
