How to get from London to Edinburgh [Options – train, car, plane or coach]
Wondering how to get from London to Edinburgh? This guide covers four popular travel options: train, car, plane and coach. Discover which one best suits your budget, travel style and itinerary.
Planning to travel from London to Edinburgh? These two iconic cities are on most UK itineraries, but with several ways to get between them, the best option depends on your time, budget and travel preferences.
In this guide, I’ll break down the main transport choices and what to consider when deciding how to make the journey. Whether you’re after the fastest route, want to stop somewhere interesting along the way, or need something that suits your group’s needs, you’ll find everything you need to know here.
First time in Edinburgh? Read our practical tips to ensure you make the most of your visit
🧭 Fast Facts
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 (note that Grand Central does not run the entire route)
- Train Tickets – Check the trainline or National Rail Enquiries.
- Options include (Generic Terms):
- Advance Train Tickets – Sold in limited numbers in advance (6 to 9 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 – For any travel time or day on this route only.
- Split tickets may also prove cost effective. These are separate tickets purchased for each leg of the journey.
- Click for ticket prices on TheTrainLine.com
- NOTE: Individual train companies and Ticket Retailers MAY have there own ticketing structures or terminology.
- UK National Railcards – Up to 1/3 off fares with national railcards. Apply for 12 months (or 36 months for selected options ie, Family & Friends and Seniors), costs around £35 per person but can have travel restrictions.
- 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.
- 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
- Global Eurail – Similar to the Britrail and also has continuous or flexible duration options.
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.
Read more about the Caledonian Sleeper or listen to our podcast episode 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
Tickets/Railcards and Passes – As above for the ECML.
London to Edinburgh by Coach
The buses or coaches that journey between the two cities generally depart from London Victoria Coach Station for National Express and Flixbus, arriving at Edinburgh Bus Station on Elder Street (near St Andrews Square).
These are generally the cheapest form of travel; they also take around 9 ½ hours, depending on the roads and 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 and FlixBus via Omio
London to Edinburgh by Plane
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 essential 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.
London to Edinburgh by Car
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.
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How will you travel from London to Edinburgh?
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:
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:
*Note
Train operators highlighted are the principal train operators on these train routes as of May 2025. Other operators are available but do not necessarily cover the entire train route between London and Edinburgh.
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