I’ve traveled from London to Edinburgh twice – once by car and once by train. And I can tell you with certainty, the easiest and fastest way to get between the two cities is by train. And although I love car travel (you can read about renting a car here), sometimes you just need to get somewhere quick and easy, which is where the train comes in. This is everything you need to know about taking a train from London to Edinburgh!
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Booking a Train from London to Edinburgh
First thing’s first when booking your train travel from London to Edinburgh… you have to purchase a ticket. In my opinion, the easiest way to do this is to use a search engine like Omio, input your departure and arrival city, and search from there. This way you can compare multiple different train lines and prices in one spot. Omio also lets you search by bus and airplane so you can ensure the most time-effective, cost-effective option for you.
When searching for a departure spot in London, there are two main stations to choose from – London Kings Cross or London Euston. I recommend using the one closest to your hotel to save time! When arriving to Edinburgh, you’ll want to arrive to the Edinburgh Waverley station.
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Different Types of Trains that Run Between London & Edinburgh
There are tons of different types of trains that run between London and Edinburgh. You can take a high speed train, a luxury train, or even an overnight train! (I did the overnight train on the Caledonian Sleeper, and while I loved the experience, it’s a pretty short route so you don’t get much sleep.)
If I were to make the trip again from London to Edinburgh (or vice versa), I would search for a non-stop day train between the two cities.
Booking First Class vs Second Class
Something to keep in mind when booking train travel is whether you want to book in first class or second class. Generally, first class just comes with bigger seats and more leg room but when you check out on Omio, you’ll be able to see the differences in classes and fares. Trains throughout Europe are usually pretty comfortable, so I don’t personally ever bother booking first class.
What is the Cost of a Train Ticket Between London & Edinburgh?
The cost of a train ticket varies depending on demand, time of year, and what “class” you book. The further out you book your ticket, the more affordable your ticket will be. As time gets closer, prices increase. Generally, train tickets get released 3 months ahead of time so if you’re looking to travel in August, you’ll want to book a ticket in May.
How Long is the Train Between London & Edinburgh?
A non-stop train between the two cities takes anywhere from 4-5 hours. If you choose to take a sleeper train, the route is a little bit longer around 7-8 hours.
What to Wear on the Train Between London & Edinburgh
Europeans generally dress nice when out and about, including on travel days. As an American, I’m used to throwing on leggings and a sweatshirt (comfort > style) – especially on travel days – but since that isn’t the norm in Europe, I tend to dress a bit nicer than I would at home.
While you don’t need to dress up, I do recommend wearing something other than leggings and a sweatshirt. Jeans, a nice top, and comfortable shoes should be just fine! I also like to bring along a light jacket in case the train is cold.
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How to Pack for Train Travel
There will be space for luggage on the train, but space is limited so I wouldn’t recommend overpacking. (If you take the night train, there is usually a little bit more room.) If you do need to take a bigger bag with you, I also recommend making sure you have a backpack or purse that’s big enough to hold a few things that would be convenient to have nearby. This can fit overhead or under the seat in front of you.
Don’t forget to bring…
- Water bottle (I like to travel with a reusable water bottle to cut down on plastic waste)
- Sleep mask (if you plan to book the sleeper train)
- Snacks (I’ve been on trains before that claim to sell food and then they didn’t that day for some reason or another)
- Phone charger
- Travel adapter (sometimes there will be a place for you to charge your phone)
- Power bank (in case there isn’t a place to charge your phone)
- Travel insurance (in case of a train delay or if something goes wrong, I recommend traveling with insurance)
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Tips for Traveling by Train Between London & Edinburgh
After tons of train travel through Europe, here are my tips for traveling between London and Edinburgh on train…
- Arrive early – finding the train can be confusing so I suggest arriving earlier vs later (I try to show up 1 hour before my train leaves)
- There aren’t liquid size requirements like there are on airlines
- Bring snacks and water
- London and Edinburgh are both in the UK so you won’t need to stop to go through passport control in Edinburgh
- As far as seat assignments – some people like to sit in their assigned seats, and others sit wherever. You will be asked to move if you sit in a different class (i.e. you have a ticket for second class but you sit in first class), but you won’t always be asked to move if you’re in someone else’s seat
- To find your assigned seat, you’ll first find the “coach” that you’re in and then you’ll find your seat. The coach number is listed on the outside of the train
If you’re planning to take a train from London to Edinburgh, I hope that this guide was helpful! It’s really quite easy and one of the most convenient ways to travel between the two cities. If you have any questions, let me know in a comment below!
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Thank you so much for sharing this detailed guide on taking a train from London to Edinburgh! I completely agree with your recommendation—train travel between these two cities is not only fast but also incredibly scenic. It’s such a stress-free way to travel, especially compared to driving. I also love your tip on packing smart, as space can indeed be limited on trains.
For anyone looking to save on tickets, I’d recommend checking out Split Train Tickets. You can often get cheaper fares by splitting your journey into multiple tickets, even if you stay on the same train! It’s a great trick to know, especially when booking longer trips like this one.
Thanks again for all your useful tips—especially about arriving early and the seating details. Your guide will definitely come in handy for my next trip! 😊
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Hi Bella, thanks for the comment! And I will have to check out the website you mentioned – sounds great!