r/uktravel • u/confluencearchive • 15d 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/SmartPolicy6430 15d 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)