Trains from London Kings Cross to Aberdeen from £47.00

If you're planning on taking the train from London King's Cross to Aberdeen, you're in the right place. This handy guide covers all you need to know about one of the region's longest train journeys, including train operators, departure times, and even some sneaky tips to save on your train fare.

London King's Cross to Aberdeen direct trains

There are 3 direct trains per day between London King's Cross and Aberdeen during the week and 2 on weekends. At 7 hours 10 minutes, it's a long – but scenic – journey along the East Coast Main Line up to Aberdeen, where the train terminates.

Along the way, you'll catch a glimpse of York's historic walls, the pretty Borderlands area around Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edinburgh's famous landmarks, and the rugged Scottish coastline through Dundee and Montrose.

This is a surprisingly busy route for tourists, workers and students. Aberdeenshire's castles, coastal walks and whisky trail make it a popular holiday destination, while the oil and gas industry has earned it the nickname the "Energy Capital of Europe". It's also home to the University of Aberdeen, which attracts students from London and beyond.

Train operators on the London King's Cross to Aberdeen route

LNER operates this route with modern Azuma trains – these come with all the comforts you could need for the trip north. You can sink into ergonomic seats and stretch out with extra legroom. The windows even have blinds if you fancy a kip on the way up.

You'll be pleased to know there's free Wi-Fi onboard too, ideal for working, studying, or just staying entertained. The network uses mobile data connections along the route, so there's usually full coverage throughout the journey – even in remote areas. There are also power sockets for keeping your devices fully charged.

If you're a student moving bags up at the start of term, or a holidaymaker with luggage, you'll find dedicated storage areas in each carriage. There are overhead racks and a room below your seat, too. You'll also see a QR code on seats – scan this to order food and drinks from the onboard shop. The menu includes snacks, sandwiches, hot drinks, and alcoholic tipples.

Travelling in first class from London King's Cross to Aberdeen

First Class is available on London to Aberdeen trains with LNER – and it's certainly worth considering for such a long journey. You'll get extra legroom for stretching out, faster Wi-Fi, and complimentary food and drink with locally sourced ingredients and a menu that adapts to different times of day. You'll also get access to the lounge from 2 hours before departure.

Main stops

Trains stop at York, Darlington, Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Edinburgh Waverley, Haymarket, Inverkeithing, Kirkcaldy, Leuchars, Dundee, Arbroath, Montrose, and Stonehaven.

Average London King's Cross to Aberdeen train prices

Prices for London King's Cross to Aberdeen train tickets start from around £47.00 for an advance off-peak fare. While there are no peak-time departures for the direct trains, if you book at the last minute, fares can be as steep as £220. To keep your costs down, it's always a good idea to book early and use a railcard if you have one.

For students counting the pennies, sometimes a 1-stop journey via Edinburgh can be cheaper without adding too much to the overall travel time.

London King's Cross to Aberdeen train times

From Mondays to Fridays, you can choose from 3 departure times from London King's Cross: 10:00 (arrives at 17:06), 14:00 (arrives at 21:13), and 16:00 (arrives at 23:09). On Saturdays and Sundays, there are only 2 trains and these depart at 10:00 and 14:00.

For tourists travelling onwards to other areas in Aberdeenshire, it's best to take the morning service, as this gets you in early enough to catch trains and buses to other areas. For the 14:00 and 16:00, public transport may be limited at the time you arrive, so it's a good idea to book accommodation somewhere close to the station.

If these times don't work for you, consider a 1-stop journey, as this gives you a wider choice of schedules. For example, there's a 07:00 train from King's Cross with LNER to Edinburgh, where you change to a ScotRail service to Aberdeen – the total journey time is 6 hours 50 minutes and gets you in at 13:50.

Departing from London King's Cross

King's Cross is one of London's busiest terminals, with countless trains heading north, while next door, St Pancras offers departures southwards to the coast and even international services to Europe. With so many services between the two adjoining stations, you can bet there are plenty of services, from food to shops and help with luggage.

Getting there's easy thanks to the Underground—King's Cross St Pancras is on the Piccadilly, Victoria, Northern, Hammersmith & City, Circle, and Metropolitan Underground lines. If you're travelling with university luggage or work equipment, there are escalators and lifts from the Underground to the main concourse.

Arriving at Aberdeen

When you reach Aberdeen, you'll be right in the city centre, just a short walk from Union Street and the main shopping areas. Local buses run from directly outside to reach different parts of the city and surrounding areas, while there are car hire outlets nearby if you're planning to explore the countryside.

If you're arriving on the late 23:09 service, most city centre hotels are within walking distance, though taxis are available outside the station. Luckily, the area is well-lit and safe for late arrivals.

Compare prices and find the best deals for London King's Cross to Aberdeen trains

One of the easiest ways to score cheap London King's Cross to Aberdeen train fares is with Trip.com's search tool. It lets you compare different times, operators and fare types at the click of a button. It even has sneaky Split Ticket savings built in – on a route like this, these can potentially save you a fortune - look out for the blue savings label in the search results.

A quirk of rail pricing in Britain is that sometimes splitting your tickets across different stations along your route can be cheaper than buying one ticket that covers the whole length. For example, instead of buying a London to Aberdeen ticket, you might get cheaper combinations like London to York and York to Aberdeen without needing to change trains.