Edinburgh to London train

Trains from Edinburgh to London

Looking for a train from Edinburgh to London? Good news - you have over 30 options to pick from each day. The journey generally takes about 4h 30min, departing from Edinburgh Waverley Station in Scotland to its arrival at King's Cross Station or Euston Station in London, England. The trains on this line are operated by London North Eastern Railway, Avanti West Coast, and Caledonian Sleeper. For early risers, the first train of the day departs at around 5:40 a.m. for a 9:40 a.m. arrival in London. Night owls can take the final train of the day at about 11:40 p.m. for an overnight journey that brings you to London at around 7:15 a.m. With more than 30 choices of departure time - and some completing the journey in as fast as 4h - you have plenty of choices to fit your timeline and travel needs.

Edinburgh to London Train Time: Daily Departures

There are 29 total trains per day, with the earliest departure around 5:40 a.m. and the latest around 11:40 p.m. There are 10 options between 5:40 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. before a break in departures until about 1:00 p.m. From that point until the end of the night, there are about 2-3 trains departing for this route per hour. The night train departing at about 11:40 p.m. is much slower than most of the other trains throughout the day - it takes approximately 7h 30min to complete the journey while most of the trains take around 4h 30min. The last train of the day that takes under 6h is the 7:30 p.m. departure, finishing the journey in about 5h 40min.

How long is the journey by train from Edinburgh to London?

The length of time you spend on a train from Edinburgh to London depends on the departure time you select, and the company operating the train for your line. The fastest train of the day departs around 8:30 a.m. from Edinburgh and arrives at King's Cross in London around 12:50 p.m. for a 4h 20min travel time. This train is operated by London North Eastern Railway and has no changes. The slowest train of the day takes about 10h with one change in York - departing at 9:00 p.m. from Edinburgh and arriving in London around 7:00 a.m. on the following day.

Edinburgh Art Performer. Source: Shutterstock

What is/are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Edinburgh to London?

Departure train station: The departure station for trains from Edinburgh, Scotland to London, England is Edinburgh Waverley Station. Nestled in a tight, steep valley between the medieval-era Old Town and the 18th Century New Town, this station is also close to Princes Street - known for plentiful shopping options and restaurants. Inside the newly renovated station, you can find a relaxing train hall, restrooms, ticketing counters, self-service kiosks, showers, ATMs, and an entire section of shopping, dining, and drinking options.

Arrival train station:The arrival stations for trains from Edinburgh to London are King’s Cross railway station or Euston railway station. King’s Cross - one of the most notable train stations in the world and immortalized by its role in the Harry Potter series - is located on the London Inner Ring Road, with connections to the London Underground and other public transit. The station offers restrooms, ticketing counters, self-service kiosks, ATMs, and an entire section of shopping, dining, and drinking options. For Witches and Wizards, Platform 9 ¾ is the gateway to the Hogwarts Express. Euston railway station is in the London Borough of Cambden, and is known as London’s gateway to the West Midlands, Northwest England, North Wales and Scotland. Euston Bus Station is located directly in front of the station itself, providing easy transit upon arrival. The station houses restrooms, ticketing counters, self-service kiosks, ATMs, plus access to shopping and dining options.

Which train companies travel from Edinburgh to London?

The trains from Edinburgh to London are operated by London North Eastern Railway, Avanti West Coast, and Caledonian Sleeper. The trains operated by London North Eastern Railway arrive at King’s Cross railway station, while the trains operated by Avanti West Coast arrive at Euston railway station. Caledonian Sleeper only operates one train per day on this route, the overnight train departing at 11:40 p.m. and arriving at Euston railway station after 7h 30min. London North Eastern Railway trains are typically about 1h faster than those operated by Avanti West Coast.

London North Eastern Railway trains from Edinburgh to London

London North Eastern Railway offers over 30 trains per day, averaging about 4h 30min for the total duration of the journey. Most of these trains are direct, with no change required. The trains operated by London North Eastern Railway arrive at King’s Cross railway station

Avanti West Coast trains from Edinburgh to London

Avanti West Coast offers about 5 trains per day, averaging about 6h for the total duration of the journey. These trains have more stops than London North Eastern Railway trains, but are still without any changes required. The trains operated by Avanti West Coast arrive at Euston railway station.

Caledonian Sleeper trains from Edinburgh to London

Caledonian Sleeper operates one train per day from Edinburgh to London, departing around 11:40 p.m. for approximately 7:30 a.m. arrival at Euston railway station.

Edinburgh Sunrise. Source: Shutterstock

Train Edinburgh to London: Services on Board

First and second class tickets are available on trains from Edinburgh to London, with a variety of improved amenities and services available depending on the provider you choose. Travelers with disabilities should contact their provider at least 24h in advance of travel, if possible. This will allow the provider to establish support throughout the journey and ensure that sufficient seating is available - such as wheelchair access or seating areas. The luggage allowance for these providers is similar because the trains are similar models.

Each passenger can bring three items, with a maximum of one large suitcase, one carry on item, and a small item. The maximum size of large luggage is approximately 32x22x12 in (80x57x30 cm). Bikes are only allowed on board if they are foldable bikes, but reservations for non-folding bikes can be made directly through providers. Pets are allowed on trains, with two dogs, cats or other small pets for free, so long as they will not take up a seat. Additional pets are allowed for a small fee.

How to find cheap train tickets from Edinburgh to London?

When you are looking to find cheap tickets for trains from Edinburgh to London, look no further than Omio. With the helpful filters and search tools on the Omio website, you can organize the results according to exactly what you need. Considering how many results will pop up for a journey by train between these two popular cities, that will prove particularly helpful for this specific route. You can sort according to departure time, price, and speed of the journey.

With the filters, you can only show results from certain providers, or those arriving at particular stations in London. You can even find tickets that fit between specific price ranges. When you find a ticket that you like, consider booking far in advance to ensure your price does not increase. If you can, flexibility with your travel dates and times can also save a heap of money, as some departure times can be more expensive than others. No matter what your budget and travel preferences, you can find what you need by trusting Omio.

To London by train—travel tips

Whether you are making this journey for the iconic sights of Big Ben, or just want to see the Tower Bridge in person, London is almost a required visit for world travelers. Catch a game at one of the many professional football stadiums - from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to Stamford Bridge. If you are truly lucky, you might even be able to catch a game at Wembley Stadium. If you are interested in the crossover of history and monarchy, pay a visit to Buckingham Palace. Regardless of where you decide to visit, be sure to get around with the iconic double-decker buses and get the best view in town.