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London Train to Edinburgh

Latest Edinburgh - London Train Travel Information

Updated September 2011

You can travel by train from London's King Cross (KGX) direct to Edinburgh Waverley (EDB), the main rail station in Edinburgh using any of the frequent daytime trains (which run at least once an hour) or the convenient Caledonian Sleeper (overnight) service departing from London Euston (EUS) 6 nights a week. Have you considered taking the bus or flying? See our National Express / Megabus Scotland in-depth guide for coach travel to/from and within Scotland.

Flights and buses from London to Edinburgh may be cheaper:

Alternatively, buy your train ticket for trains from London to Edinburgh online and have it delivered to you the same or next day or have it ready for collection at the train station (be it in London or Edinburgh).

Instant fares for cheap flights from London to Edinburgh and Edinburgh to London.

Book coach tickets from London to Edinburgh from £15. Guaranteed seats, overnight or daytime journeys.

Tickets for Trains to Edinburgh from London

Buying Cheap Train Tickets Online

The UK train ticket system is extremely complicated and finding the cheapest tickets can be frustrating and time consuming. Here are a series of invaluable tips on how to make considerable savings on train journeys between London and Edinburgh:

  1. If finding the cheapest train tickets is more important to you than an exact travel date and time, then the Best Fare Finder gives you an instant list of the cheapest tickets available by day, week and month. You can view the lowest fares available each day for up to three months in advance!
  2. Advance single tickets are usually the cheapest option for travelling from London to Edinburgh IF you book them far enough in advance (preferably 12 weeks in advance). Use the Cheap Ticket Alert Service to be notified by email the instant advance train tickets become available. The earlier you subscribe to the service, the more chance you have of being the first to snatch the cheapest tickets and make considerable savings.
  3. It may seem strange but two singles can be cheaper than a return ticket because often the top deals are available on one-way journeys. Simply search for return London - Edinburgh tickets for your desired travel dates and look for the 2 singles could be cheaper alerts in the 'price and availability' section. You can save up to £200 on a London - Edinburgh return trip!
  4. Cheap advance tickets can be bought as late as the night before you travel or even just before you leave for the station. So if, for example, you find out today that you have to travel to Edinburgh or London tomorrow, keep checking on last minute fares and offers. You'd be surprised how much you can save using this simple technique!

Save up to 75% on Accommodation in Edinburgh or London

Edinburgh Hotels near Waverley Train Station
Great Edinburgh hotels and accommodation near Waverley train station.

London Hotels near King's Cross Train Station
Great London hotels near King's Cross train station.

Advantages of train travel between London and Scotland

Travelling by train from London to Edinburgh has advantages that other means of transport like coaches and flights simply can't compete with:

Transport to and from King's Cross train station in London

King's Cross train station in London is a busy transport hub easily reachable from most parts of London by bus, tube as well as private car and taxis. Short-term parking is available at King's Cross while long-term parking is available at nearby St Pancras train station.

The last evening train from Edinburgh (excluding overnight services) gets into London just over midnight. You may miss the last tube home but night buses will still be available and so will taxis. The Caledonian Sleeper from Edinburgh arrives at 6:45 am approx while the first train to Edinburgh from London leaves at 6:15 am. In both cases tube and buses will be available.

Transport to and from Edinburgh Waverley train station

Edinburgh Waverley train station is located on Princes Street, in the heart of Edinburgh. It is easily reachable by bus from most parts of Edinburgh as well as private car and taxis. Parking is available at Edinburgh Waverley though it is expensive.

The last evening train from London (excluding overnight services) gets into Edinburgh at around 12:15 am allowing you to catch the last evening bus or night bus home. The Caledonian Sleeper from London arrives at 7:20 am approx while the first train to London from Edinburgh leaves at 5:50 am. In both cases there will be Lothian Buses services running in Edinburgh.

London to Edinburgh Other Train Stations

If you are departing from a London train station other than King's Cross or London Euston or from an Edinburgh train station other than Waverley it's cheaper to plan the portion of the journey from these stations separately.

Scenic views from the London train

While the route from London to Edinburgh is not particularly scenic, there is a section around the Scottish Borders where it passes near the coast and it has some spectacular views. But the beauty of train travel from London to Edinburgh is that you also get a glimpse of great places on the way like Peterborough, York, Durham, Newcastle and Berwick.

When to look out the window - Approximate times after train departs London

Tip

When you book your train ticket for Edinburgh, remember to ask for a seat on the right side for the great coastal views. Sit on the left side when taking the train in the opposite direction, from Edinburgh to London.

Short Breaks by Train from London to Edinburgh

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