How to get from London to Edinburgh​: Train, flight or drive?

What is the best method of travel?

*All figures included are estimates as of May 2025 and are liable to change

Quickest way from London to Edinburgh: Plane (from 1 hour 15 mins)

Cheapest way from London to Edinburgh: Coach (from £15)

Our recommended way to travel: Train

Why?: For us, the train offers the best compromise. Though the plane is literally faster, you must also consider the process of getting to and navigating the airport, which can make it both longer and more expensive, whereas the train means you can relax throughout your journey. And, although the coach is the most affordable, the journey time is almost double that of the train. Plus, the train is the most eco-friendly way of travelling!

London to Edinburgh trains

There are a few ways to get trains from London to Edinburgh, including different providers, routes, durations and prices.

London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley 

For the fastest train tickets from London to Edinburgh, we’d recommend the direct LNER (London North Eastern Railway) service from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley. Expect to pass by stations such as York, Darlington, Newcastle and Berwick-upon-Tweed. 

The journey takes typically between 4 hours 20 minutes and 4 hours 50 minutes, and ticket prices range from just over £50 to around £170. We recommend booking well in advance and exploring Split Tickets to keep costs on the lower side. Remember, you can also bump that price down even further if you pick up a Railcard with Trip.com, with savings of up to ⅓ off your ticket price.

We reckon the journey is long enough to justify splashing out on a bit of luxury. A LNER First Class ticket from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley affords you an even bigger seat with more legroom, a guaranteed table, and a dedicated member of staff to take care of you and serve you complimentary food and drinks during the journey. And don’t forget to check out the LNER First Class Lounge to take a load off pre-journey. Find out more about LNER First Class here.

London Euston to Edinburgh Waverley

Alternatively, you can also get a direct train from London to Edinburgh with Avanti West Coast, which departs from London Euston instead. Expect a slightly longer, yet often cheaper, train journey when compared with LNER. Journey duration often falls around 5 hours 40 minutes, whereas ticket prices average around £125, but can go as low as £22 when using the correct money-saving precautions (Railcards, Split Save, booking far in advance, etc).

You’ll pass through various notable and scenic spots on this lengthier journey, including Milton Keynes Central, Coventry, Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Sandwell & Dudley, Wolverhampton, Stafford, Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, Preston (Lancs), Lancaster, Oxenholme Lake District, Carlisle, and Haymarket.

If you fancy upgrading, Avanti West Coast offers First Class tickets for this route, which means you’ll get access to the First Class Lounge in Euston, comfier seats and a guaranteed table, as well as complimentary food and drink. Find out more about Avanti First Class here.

London to Edinburgh flights

You can easily catch a flight from London to Edinburgh if you prefer a cheaper cost and a shorter travel time, as there are plenty of airlines offering services at a range of prices and durations to best suit your needs. Covering a flight distance of 537.75 km and an average flight time of around 1 hour 20 minutes, popular providers include easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways.

You can depart from most London airports, and the price and duration difference is often minimal, so it could be worth choosing the one closest to you for the sake of convenience. Depart from London Luton for an average journey time of 1 hour and 20 minutes when flying with easyJet, or shave off 5 minutes (we told you it was a minimal difference!) for a 1 hour 15 minute journey when departing from London Stansted with either easyJet or Ryanair. 

If you live further South, you can always hop on a flight from London Gatwick’s North terminal provided by easyJet . And for those looking to avoid the travel outside of Central, you can catch a 1 hour 15 minute flight with British Airways from London City (though this often a bit pricier than the alternative options). British Airways also fly from London Heathrow Terminal 5.

London to Edinburgh coach

Looking to cut back on costs? The coach is a suitable alternative for those who don’t mind a longer journey duration, with expected travel times between 8 and 11 hours when taking direct services from National Express, FlixBus or megabus, though travel times are heavily impacted by the amount of traffic. 

There are a few stops you can set off from, most notably London Victoria Coach Station, though also London Golders Green, London Finchley Road (Stop CL). You’ll be arriving into Edinburgh Bus Station upon the journey’s termination, putting you pretty central in the city. On the way, you’ll be passing through notable cities such as Leeds, Newcastle and Milton Keynes, and you can enjoy amenities such as WiFi, power sockets, toilets and air conditioning.

Prices can range depending on who you are travelling with, how far in advance you book, and the time of day you are travelling, but you can expect tickets for around £20 to £40.

London to Edinburgh drive

Driving from London to Edinburgh can be ideal for those looking for as much flexibility as possible when travelling or for anyone with plenty of luggage, though the 400-mile car ride will take a lot longer than trains and planes, and it’s also a lot less eco-friendly!

Regardless, those looking to drive from Central London should take the A41 or A406 to join the M1 Northbound, continue on past Milton Keynes and Leicester. Near Leeds, merge onto the A1(M) Northbound and, for the final stretch, follow signs for Edinburgh via the A720 City Bypass, which will take you into the city centre. All in all, this journey should take around 7 hours to 8 hours 30 minutes, though we’d recommend a stop off somewhere like York or Durham.

For parking, we’d advise Waverley Station, Castle Terrace, and OMNI Centre - all within walking distance of the Old Town and major attractions. Park & Ride options are also available to avoid city-centre traffic.