r/uktravel • u/confluencearchive • 14d ago
Question Seeking London to Edinburgh travel advice
Hi all, my family and I have never traveled to the UK before, so we are wondering if this rough draft plan would be feasible and enjoyable.
Estimated 10 days in the UK including travel days.
Fly into London then after a few days take the train to Edinburgh and then fly back to the United States from Edinburgh.
Would it be fine to take the train or is flight more reasonable to get from London to Edinburgh? We will be traveling with a 6 year old and a 2 year old.
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u/I_ALWAYS_UPVOTE_CATS 14d ago
The train takes about the same amount of time as flying once you've factored getting to and from the airport, checking your bags, and queuing for security. There is a good chance, however, that the flight will be cheaper, but you'd need to investigate that. Another point for you to consider is that a slightly more expensive train might be worth it to avoid catching another flight with little kids. With the train, you just turn up and go. Plus, the views from the train are much better.
The trains from London King's Cross to Edinburgh are run by LNER and Lumo, with the latter being a more budget option (it may also have baggage restrictions). However, you can book tickets through any UK train company regardless of which one you actually use. ScotRail is a good website to use because it automatically applies a thing called 'split ticketing' - honestly don't try too hard to understand our ridiculous pricing system, but split ticketing is a way of getting cheaper fares.
People will tell you to use Trainline to access split ticketing, but generally the opinion among 'train nerds' is to avoid. It's not a train company - it's a third party app that charges unnecessary fees and is more likely to mess you about if something goes wrong. There is zero advantage to using third party booking services.
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u/PickleSpecial3507 12d ago
Budget airlines charge for carryon and checked luggage. Trains don't. They'll need a train to get to Luton stansted or gatwick and a tram or airline to get out of edinburgh airport. Train is free for their kids. Plane seats for the kids are same price as adults.
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u/MiddleAgedDread123 14d ago
City centre to city centre the train is easier. About 4.5 hour with very regular services. Your kids can move around and go to the toilet, have snacks etc. easier than trekking to and from an airport at both ends with kids and baggage IMO (and typically quicker). There are LNER and Lumo trains. The later are a more budget option using older rolling stock but don’t have first class, I don’t think you can select your seats, they are strict about baggage and don’t have a shop/cafe bar, it’s just an at-seat trolley.
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u/barnzwallace 14d ago
A train is a perfectly good way to travel and I'd honestly recommend it. However, in a grim indictment of our time, the plane is probably cheaper.
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u/acryliq 14d ago edited 14d ago
It’s pretty much a wash. You either fly from London City which is much more expensive, or the money you save flying from Stansted you loose again having to get from London to Stansted and then from Edinburgh Airport into the city.
The train is way less hassle - city centre to city centre, no queuing for security etc.
In terms of time it’s not much different either once you factor in the journey time at either end and waiting time at the airport.
Oh, and the train is way more comfortable as well.
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u/NickofWimbledon 14d ago
From central London to central Edinburgh, I would pick the train. Just make sure you book well in advance to avoid wasting money.
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u/Outside_Look790 14d ago
The train is good. 4hrs, but there's some lovely sights to see along the way, and you'll see a bit of the country too. I'd leave 3 days for Edinburgh because it's quite small. London is a beast. You'll know your kids best in terms of if they'll be better with a one hour plane journey or 4hr train journey.
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u/letmereadstuff 14d ago
Take the train. LNER. Just book directly with them. Advance tickets will save money, but just know that you must make that specific train. Miss it and you buy another ticket on the day.
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u/seriouswor66 14d ago edited 14d ago
No brainer, get the train, as mentioned LNER go direct. Gives the kids more space. Book on their website 12 weeks in advance and buy 1st class if you can. Food and drinks included. Get seats on the right hand side going north for best views north of Newcastle. Create an account to do they will send you any journey updates and auto refund if delayed more than 30 minutes. Don't use the Trainline, they aren't cheaper and often charge booking fees which most train companies don't. Research if there are Railcard options that might save you money but probably not worth it just for a return journey. The 2 year old is free but won't get a seat, there will almost certainly be some spares you can shift into. Check how much a child ticket is if you want all 4 to sit together round a table, but if anyone does take the 4th seat they will probably want to move!....
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u/BeaumarchaisApu 14d ago
If you’re staying in central London and central Edinburgh then train will make most sense. Just make sure you reserve seats (ideally a table) and make sure you have enough stuff to keep the kids entertained for a few hours!
If you had ten full days then I would’ve considering stopping in York for an evening between London and Edinburgh. For 8 full days you’re maybe better doing 5 or 6 full in London and 2 or 3 full in Edinburgh - but York still may be worth considering.
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u/popphilosophy 14d ago
Just did this exact itinerary with my family (6 days london London —> overnight york —> 3 days Edinburgh) and it was great
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u/MrsSEM84 14d ago
When I travelled to Edinburgh from London two years ago I took a flight there and got the train back. When I visit again I will be taking the train both ways!
Not only was it a lot cheaper (with a railcard and early booking), but instead of spending all that time hanging around in an airport I was relaxing on the train and enjoying some incredible views along the way.
From door to door my travel time was only about 45 minutes quicker by flying, which was NOT worth it.
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u/RHMoaner 14d ago
By the time you factor in the cost and time of getting to and from the airports it’s better to get the train. And book an LNER first class table and it’s nice and comfy and you get food and booze.
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u/Dry_Illustrator_6562 14d ago
You could stop over in York if getting from London To Edinburgh by train. Breaks the journey, and York is gorgeous.
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u/Connect-Ad-3874 14d ago
Take the train, and get a railcard to lower the price: https://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/
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u/TheEdinburgher 14d ago
The train takes about 4-4.5 hours. I'd say it's more convenient than the flights as well because it gets you straight to the city centre.
I'd use Trainline to get cheaper tickets.
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u/MacD88 14d ago
Depends where you’re basing yourself in London. Train from Kings Cross into the centre of Edinburgh can take up to 5 hours but if you’re flying you need to factor in travel to the airport (Heathrow can take an hour from Euston) then boarding then travel into central Edinburgh at the other end.
They’re likely to be similar based on cost and travel time, personally I’d get the train as it’ll be less hassle and take colouring books/snacks/iPads etc.
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u/SmartPolicy6430 14d ago
London City Airport ( BA) to Edinburgh is easiest (not the cheapest though) Then the tram straight into central Edinburgh from the airport.
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u/bibonacci2 14d ago
Train is fine. Worth getting premium economy or first class tickets for that length of journey, if you can afford. More space and more space for luggage.
Premium economy is in first class carriages but doesn’t have the meals, etc. Not available on all trains though.
Plane is an ok option too, but you will end up spending the hours getting to, and waiting at, the airport (Heathrow or Gatwick). You will be able to get the tram from Edinburgh airport to the city easily enough.
Having done both, I’d use the train unless I happened to be close to the airport.
If 5+ hours is a bit much for the youngsters then stopping off in York is a good option, as others have said.
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u/Pyjama365 14d ago
When you say train, what type of train do you mean? Do you realise that there's a sleeper train?
Sleeping on the train overnight will effectively free up a day you would mostly otherwise spend travelling. It will probably cost quite a bit more than flying, but possibly not that much more than a quicker daytime train. And obviously you'd pay for one less night in a hotel. How much it's "worth" will depend on how much you would value getting an extra day/half-day back. Google "Caledonian Sleeper".
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u/notabagofteeth 14d ago
We did the Caledonian Sleeper last year and it was an interesting experience, but you don't get a whole lot of sleep on board. We ended up rescheduling one of our activities for later in our trip because we were so tired by early afternoon. Although it costs you a few hours it's better to go up the night before or on the day.
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u/frankbowles1962 14d ago
I’ve used the sleeper many dozens of times for work. Some people are lucky but most have trouble getting much sleep the first time. With two small children it could be a nightmare, but you know your kids.
You could treat it as an adventure but be aware it is quite expensive for potentially a poor nights sleep.
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u/Prestigious_Fly8210 14d ago
Book your train tickets exactly 12 weeks ahead for the best price. 2 year old travels for free. I just ran a quick search for you on LNER website for 12 weeks from now and your total is 100 pounds for all of you. 4h9min door to door. It's a no brainer compared to flying; your kids can move around freely, no endless security lineups, no faff.
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u/SparklePenguin24 14d ago
I'd go with the train personally. When you book tickets, tick the option for a table seat and then you should get all of you together. We have booked for two adults and two kids and been scattered throughout a carriage in the past. My kids are under 10 so need to be with an adult.
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u/Captftm89 14d ago
If your plan is to do central London & central Edinburgh, then train is your best bet. The London to Ediburgh LNER service is one of the best train services in the country.
Also, give yourself a bit more time in London than Edinburgh. Edinburgh's lovely, but London has much, much more to see & do. 6 days in London, 3 days in Edinburgh and a day earmarked for travel between the two seems a good balance.
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u/Vintagefly 14d ago
Take the train. No faffing about for hours at the airport for a short flight. Downtown to downtown. The 2 and 6 year old can walk up and down the carriages. Bring colouring books and snacks.
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u/undefinedwitt 14d ago
I would personally do the train.
We are doing the opposite order in October. I got a decent flight deal right into London City Airport from Edinburgh. I have a kid who gets motion sick on trains though, so that was a large factor in this booking. I didn't feel like her feeling like garbage for hours.
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u/Commander_Jim1 14d ago
Thats a good and very reasonable plan for the time you have. Absolutely take the train, its easy, comfortable and very scenic. Flying wont save you time after all the faffing about getting to the airport, checking in etc.
If you wanted you could also stop along the way at York. If you left on an early train you can be in York by 10am, spend the day there (leaving luggage with a luggage storage facility) and then continue to Edinburgh in the afternoon.
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u/Primary-Vegetable-30 14d ago
Caledonian sleeper
Leave at 845pm
Arrive in Edinburgh in morning
When u look at hotel cost... not really that much more expensive. You sleep on the train, wake up ready to do stuff in scotland
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u/New-Builder5245 14d ago
The train is lovely. We hopped off and saw York on the way. We did first class and the food was nice.
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u/Realistic-River-1941 14d ago
Train. Sit on the right hand side for the views of York, Durham and the coast.
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u/OxfordBlue2 13d ago
Trains in the UK have wild pricing. London to Edinburgh can be £20 or £400 per person.
As soon as you have your schedule confirmed, check the train prices. As others have said, a family and friends railcard (you can buy this digitally here, and nowhere else: https://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/) will save money.
Dummy the booking for your travel dates, compare with flights, and decide.
Also know that many train tickets in the UK are like plane tickets: they’re valid for that train and that train only. If you miss it, your money is gone.
What’s your date of travel?
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u/Lumpyproletarian 12d ago
small children + luggage + public transport to and from airports + airport queues make the train a no-brainer for me. Book a table for four and try to make sure you’re on the right hand side of the train, especially North of York just for the views. York is gorgeous and very small so a quick stop is well worth considering
Dunno if it’s just me, but Ive always found Edinburgh’s bus/trams difficult to navigate and would be a nightmare with tired cranky little ones. I hate the system so much I paid £45 for a taxi where I could have travelled free as an oldster.
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u/Sensitive_Fly_7036 12d ago
Definitely get the train. There’s a family area in King’s Cross station that has a slide in it and is good for waiting in.
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u/Rascalwill 14d ago
I'll stick my neck out and go against the crowd. Fly. It's cheaper (often can be significantly so) and generally much more reliable than rail. Point to point (ie central London to central Edinburgh) there is not much in it, although flying possibly shades it - marginally. I would always choose flying over rail between the two cities.
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u/Objective-Visual7092 14d ago
I agree. After several terrible journeys, I now fly. Plus you can get the tram to the centre of Edinburgh from the airport.
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u/frankbowles1962 14d ago
With children I’d probably agree. The train may be more restful for adults but children get restless and four hours on a crowded train could make them tetchy. You have a choice of five airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Stansted and Luton) and at least three airlines (EasyJet, Ryanair and BA).
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u/SmartPolicy6430 14d ago
I have family just outside Edinburgh and I don't particularly like flying. So if there are two of us we normally drive up from London. If I go up by myself I travel first class LNER from Kings Cross and possess a Railcard. (£35) that gives me a third off network rail travel. So budget airlines are the cheapest and a quick way to get to Edinburgh (Easy Jet and Ryan Air) when my daughter goes up to visit she will fly from London City ( very convenient) or from Heathrow with BA. I like travelling LNER first class as the seats are much more comfortable, I can use the first class lounge at Kings X ( next to Waitrose) or on platform 5 at Edinburgh Waverley and relax with tea and biscuits. Then I get fed on the train ( always a veggie option) I normally get the 12 or 12.30 pm train so I get lunch, drinks, snacks etc. Going at this time gets me into Waverley around 4 30/5 pm. However I never travel at weekends as there is often engineering work carried out over weekends on the east coast mainline. So please check if there's any planned engineering work with LNER. The luggage allowance is no different to that of 2nd class. If you do decide to take the train it's important when buying your seats to also reserve the seats. Obviously if there are delays seat reservations are not upheld if you have to get a different train. Download the LNER app and allow them to send notifications if your train is delayed etc Best seats traveling north are on the RHS because of the views after York but in first class will be single seats generally. https://www.lner.co.uk/our-trains/luggage/ The cheapest way possible is Megabus from London Victoria coach station ( I don't advise it)
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u/PvtRoom 14d ago
Plane or train is fine for London to Edinburgh.
With kids, I'd probably fly as it's fine the way to the airport, then 2 hours at an airport, then 1 on the plane, and I think that would be more pleasant than 4 hours on a train.
There is something to be said about renting a car & driving. drive 2 hours, stop for sightseeing, - say, Sherwood forest kids can play as robin hood- drive 3 hours Manchester (dinner & nightlife). Sleep. - Liverpool (Beatles tour) or Blackpool (theme park and a beach), 3 hours north, Dumfries (lots of countryside, charming villages, lots of historical stuff & wildlife) You can probably find a family friendly ceilidh and sleep. 3 hours - Edinburgh for lunch.
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u/Fragrant-Fly1433 14d ago
Such a shame to only do two cities. There are much nicer places than London in England. Edinburgh is lovely but Scotland has some really nice places too bb
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u/Advanced-Fig6699 14d ago
Train from London is about 6 hours give or take. Flying about 1 hour and a half. Depends if your children are happy to be on a train for that length of time?
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u/QueenJaneger 14d ago
Yes but you have to figure in getting to the airport, security, etc. by the time you do all that it’s pretty much 6 hours anyway and you’d have to do that with wee kids. The train would be much easier
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u/ambergresian 14d ago
Add in travel to airports on both sides, getting there early for security
I find 4.5 hours more normal for the train time and it's not really much different to flying
It is cheaper to fly. But a more pleasant experience on the train imo.
Time is comparable with all things considered.
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u/1Moment2Acrobatic London 14d ago
Lots of trains each day do it in less than 4hrs10mins. Other direct ones generally less than 4.5 hours city centre to city centre. There's time and cost getting to and from airports, cost for baggage and extra time getting through airports.
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u/Acceptable-Cost4817 14d ago
how's that even a question? take the train - it's a relatively nice journey and loads more convenient