Travel from Birmingham to Edinburgh by Coach
How to get to Edinburgh from Birmingham with National Express buses
Updated September 2011
You can get from Birmingham to Edinburgh (or Edinburgh to Birmingham) by taking the National Express coaches. The journey is 7 hours and 20 minutes for the quickest direct buses. Travelling by National Express is the cheapest way to get from Birmingham to Edinburgh with NX funfare tickets (very cheap tickets) starting at £10 one-way. Also check the Birmingham - Edinburgh flights page for quicker travel.
Instant timetables and tickets for Birmingham - Edinburgh coaches.
There are up to 5 coaches a day between Birmingham Coach Station (Digbeth) and Edinburgh Bus Station (St. Andrew's Square). There are three direct Birmingham - Edinburgh buses a day (each way) while the other coaches are indirect National Express services via Newcastle upon Tyne and Leeds (2 changes). National Express is the only coach company operating services between Birmingham and Edinburgh.
Direct buses from Birmingham to Edinburgh (journey time between 7-9 hours)
| Weekdays | Weekend | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | ||
| Birmingham to Edinburgh (NX536) (departs at 11:00, arrives at 19:30) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| Birmingham to Edinburgh (NX539) (departs at 13:45, arrives at 21:05) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| Birmingham to Edinburgh (NX336, overnight) (departs at 22:30, arrives at 07:30) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
Direct buses from Edinburgh to Birmingham (journey time between 7-9 hours)
| Weekdays | Weekend | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday | ||
| Edinburgh to Birmingham (NX539) (departs at 07:00, arrives at 14:25) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| Edinburgh to Birmingham (NX536) (departs at 09:15, arrives at 17:55) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
| Edinburgh to Birmingham (NX336, overnight) (departs at 21:30, arrives at 06:45) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Book bus ticket |
NOTE: the schedule of buses may change without notice. Please double check with the National Express for the latest travel times for getting to Birmingham or Edinburgh.
There is a direct early morning bus only from Edinburgh to Birmingham (not the other way around) and a late evening (overnight) direct coach between Birmingham and Edinburgh (each way). There are no other direct buses other than the National Express services listed above. See below the section on non-direct buses.
Instant fares for cheap flights from Birmingham to Edinburgh and Edinburgh to Birmingham.
All Edinburgh - Birmingham buses (National Express) with service times
Direct buses
Daytime coaches
- There are 2 direct daytime buses from Edinburgh to Birmingham (bus services NX536 and NX539) which depart St Andrews Bus Station at 07:00 and 09:15 respectively; they arrive at Birmingham Coach Station at approx 14:25 and 17:55 respectively.
- There are 2 direct daytime buses from Birmingham to Edinburgh (bus services NX536 and NX539) which depart Birmingham Coach Station at 11:00 and 13:45 respectively; they arrive at St Andrews Bus Station at approx 19:30 and 21:05 respectively.
Overnight coaches
- There is one direct overnight bus from Edinburgh to Birmingham (bus service NX336) which departs St Andrews Bus Station at 21:30 and arrives at Birmingham Coach Station at approx 06:45.
- There is one direct overnight bus from Birmingham to Edinburgh (bus service NX336) which departs Birmingham Coach Station at 22:30 and arrives at St Andrews Bus Station at approx 07:30.
Indirect buses
Daytime coaches
- There are up to 2 indirect daytime coaches from Edinburgh to Birmingham (2 changes in Newcastle upon Tyne and Leeds). The earliest indirect bus departs St Andrews Bus Station at 09:45 while the last daytime bus leaves at 12:30.
- There are up to 2 indirect daytime buses from Birmingham to Edinburgh (2 change in Newcastle upon Tyne and Leeds). The earliest indirect bus departs Birmingham Coach Station at 08:40.
Overnight coaches
There are no indirect overnight buses between Birmingham and Edinburgh.
How long does it take to get from Birmingham to Edinburgh by bus
The direct buses take between 7 hours and 20 minutes (daytime) and 9 hours (overnight) but the the non-direct Birmingham to Edinburgh bus services to St Andrews Bus Station or Birmingham Coach Station include waiting times in Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne of around 80 mins. Given the choice, always go for the direct coach services.
How much does the bus ticket from Birmingham to Edinburgh cost
The Birmingham - Edinburgh route is a National Express funfare route with bus fares for one-way journeys starting at £10-£15 (check availability now). These cheap bus tickets (non-refundable) are available only online when you book in advance. Funfare prices are only available on direct bus journeys, all the more reason to avoid the coaches which change in Leeds and Newcastle upon Tyne.
Make sure to book in advance for travel on busy periods like Bank Holidays, Half-Term, Christmas Holidays and New Year's.
National Express bus fares between Birmingham and Edinburgh
The cheapest National Express tickets for the Birmingham coach are NX funfare tickets but you need to book these in advance.
Single fares
- Economy Apex single ticket: £50.90
- Standard single ticket: £51.20
- Best Deal, ideal for budget travellers - funfare ticket: from £10
Return fares
- Economy Apex return ticket: £66.40
- Standard return ticket: £66.80
- Best Deal, ideal for budget travellers - combined single NX funfare tickets (£20 cheapest)
Book Birmingham - Edinburgh direct coach tickets
NOTE: Ticket prices may change without notice. Please double check with the National Express for up to date coach fares.
Where does the bus between Birmingham and Edinburgh stop
Stops for direct buses
You can buy tickets for travel from any of these stops in Scotland or England to Birmingham or Edinburgh.
The direct National Express NX536 bus goes via Wolverhampton, Carlisle and Glasgow. Full NX536 itinerary: Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Carlisle, Glasgow, Edinburgh.
The direct National Express NX539 bus goes via Penrith, Carlisle and Glasgow. You can buy tickets for travel from any of these stops in Scotland or England to Birmingham or Edinburgh. Full NX539 itinerary: Birmingham, Penrith, Carlisle, Glasgow, Edinburgh.
The direct National Express NX336 bus (overnight) goes via Manchester (including Manchester Airport), Preston, Carlisle and Glasgow. Full NX336 itinerary: Birmingham, Hanley, Manchester (including Manchester Airport), Salford, Preston, Lancaster, Carlisle, Glasgow, Edinburgh.
Stops for buses changing in Newcastle Upon Tyne and Leeds
Birmingham, Lichfield, Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Meadowhall Interchange, Leeds (change at bus station), Harewood, Harrogate, Ripon, Catterick, Darlington, Durham, Newcastle Upon Tyne (change at bus station), Morpeth, Alnwick, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edinburgh.
National Express coach services - Web links
Bus Tickets, Timetables and Journey Planner
Use the form to get timetables and tickets for coach trips from Birmingham to Edinburgh or Edinburgh to Birmingham and anywhere else in the UK. Alternatively, you can buy your ticket from St Andrews bus station or Birmingham coach station. Remember that the cheapest Edinburgh - Birmingham bus tickets (funfare offers) are available ONLY online.
Address of Birmingham Coach Station
National Express Coach Station in Birmingham
Mill Lane
Digbeth
Birmingham
Postcode: B5 6DB
Address of Edinburgh Bus Station
National Express Coach Station in Edinburgh
St Andrew's Square
Edinburgh
Scotland
Tel: +44 (131) 5556363
Tel: +44 (131) 2253858
No exact postcode has been found for St Andrew's Bus Station in Edinburgh
» Back to Edinburgh Coach Travel guide index
All Edinburgh coach travel articles:
- See the articles below for more information on travelling by bus or coach to and from Edinburgh.
- Coach tickets and discounts Where to buy cheap coach tickets online and available discounts.
- St Andrew's Square Bus Station Description of coach station in Edinburgh's St. Andrew's Square and walking directions.
- Edinburgh - London by coach Cheap way to get from London to Edinburgh and return is by National Express coach. Travel by day or take the overnight coach.
- National Express Funfare tickets Where to buy cheap funfare tickets for National Express coach routes to Scotland.
- Megabus coach tickets Where to buy cheap coach tickets for Megabus bus routes to Scotland from London and within Scotland.
- Eurolines tickets to Edinburgh How to travel with Eurolines to Edinburgh via London.
- Bus from Edinburgh to Glasgow Airport Getting to Glasgow Airport from Edinburgh City Centre by bus.
- Bus from Glasgow to Edinburgh Airport Getting to Edinburgh Airport from Glasgow City Centre by bus.
- Coaches between Edinburgh and Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Dundee, Perth Tickets and bus times for popular bus routes within Scotland from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and Perth with Megabus/Scottish Citylink or NX.
- Around Edinburgh by coach Information on coach travel from Edinburgh to the Scottish Borders and Fife.
- Unirider Student Bus Pass Guide Where to buy discounted students passes for bus travel in Scotland.
- Bus routes to and from Edinburgh
- Glasgow - Edinburgh by Bus
- Aberdeen - Edinburgh by Bus
- Inverness - Edinburgh by Bus
- Dundee - Edinburgh by Bus
- Perth - Edinburgh by Bus
- Belfast - Edinburgh by coach and ferry
- Birmingham - Edinburgh by coach
- Bristol - Edinburgh by coach
- Cardiff - Edinburgh by coach
- Leeds - Edinburgh by coach
- Manchester - Edinburgh by coach
- Newcastle - Edinburgh by coach
- York - Edinburgh by coach
- Dublin - Edinburgh by coach
- Bus transfer to and from Edinburgh Airport
Also see:
- Edinburgh coach tours Suggestions for tours from and to Edinburgh by private or public coach.
- Glasgow - London coach travel Cheap fares and online tickets for getting from Glasgow to London by bus.
- Edinburgh travel guide How to travel to and from Edinburgh by different means of transport.
