How to travel from Colchester to Edinburgh, United Kingdom
The distance between Colchester and Edinburgh is around 575km (357 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m.
11 routes found
We've found 11 different ways to get from Colchester to Edinburgh by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.
👋 Also check out Edinburgh → Colchester if you're planning a return trip.
Train and Plane
Take the train to Stratford (London) then fly from London City (LCY) to Edinburgh (EDI).
- Duration2h 40m
- Flight time1h 15m
- Typical cost£200($235)
Multiple operators
5 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train
Take the train to London Liverpool Street and then to Edinburgh.
- Duration5h 15m
- Departshourly
- Typical cost£86($100)
Greater Anglia
2 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Bus
Take the bus to Stansted Airport London then London Finchley Road Station and then to Edinburgh Bus Station.
- Duration10h 55m
- Departsevery 20 mins
- Typical cost£35($42)
Multiple bus operators
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Colchester and Edinburgh
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Colchester to Edinburgh by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £35 ($42) and will take around 10h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 2h 40m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £200 ($235).
The distance between Colchester and Edinburgh is around 575km (357 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 525km (326 miles)
It takes around 5h 15m to get from Colchester and Edinburgh by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 6h 55m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Colchester to Edinburgh is to take the train and then fly which takes around 2h 40m and will set you back approx £200 ($235).
The cheapest way to travel between Colchester and Edinburgh, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £35 ($42) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
Yes there is a train service that runs between Colchester and Edinburgh. It typically takes around 5h 15m and departs hourly.
There are no direct train services that runs from Colchester to Edinburgh. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in London Liverpool Street and King's Cross St. Pancras station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 5h 15m.
Greater Anglia, LNER, East Midlands Railways and CrossCountry run train services between Colchester and Edinburgh. Trains depart hourly and will take around 5h 15m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.
Bus travel
Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Colchester and Edinburgh. It typically takes around 10h 55m and departs every 20 mins.
There are no direct bus services that runs from Colchester to Edinburgh. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Stansted Airport London and London Finchley Road Station. These services run every 20 mins and will take a minimum of 10h 55m.
National Express, FlixBus and Megabus UK run regular bus services between Colchester and Edinburgh. Buses run every 20 mins and take around 10h 55m on average but will vary depending on you book with.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Colchester to Edinburgh. We recommend that you take the bus to Stansted Airport London then fly from London Stansted (STN) to Edinburgh (EDI). instead which will take 2h 45m.
The closest major airport to Edinburgh is Edinburgh Airport (EDI) (EDI) which is approximately 11km (7 miles) from Edinburgh. Dundee Airport (DND) (DND) and Glasgow Airport (GLA) (GLA) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.
Drive yourself
Yes it is possible to drive from Colchester and Edinburgh. The distance is around 622km (386 miles) by road and it will take around 6h 55m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Colchester to Edinburgh is to take the train which takes, on average, 5h 15m and will usually cost around £86 ($100).
Compare travel optionsbetween Colchester and Edinburgh
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Train and Plane + 5 similar | 2h 40m | £200($235) | every 20 mins | 636km (395 miles) |
| Bus and Plane | 2h 45m | £87($105) | once daily | 575km (357 miles) |
| Train to London Liverpool Street, Fly | 3h 15m | £215($255) | every 15 mins | 658km (409 miles) |
| Train to London Liverpool Street, plane | 3h 25m | £140($165) | every 15 mins | 639km (397 miles) |
| Train to London Liverpool Street, plane | 3h 35m | £165($195) | every 15 mins | 711km (442 miles) |
| Bus, Plane and Train | 3h 30m | £110($130) | once daily | 683km (424 miles) |
Train + 2 similar | 5h 15m | £86($100) | hourly | 714km (443 miles) |
| Train via Peterborough | 5h 50m | £95($110) | once daily | 663km (412 miles) |
| Train via Ely | 7h 45m | £190($225) | once daily | 732km (455 miles) |
Bus | 10h 55m | £35($42) | every 20 mins | 747km (464 miles) |
Drive | 6h 55m | £105($125) | on demand | 622km (386 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Colchester and Edinburgh
Train operators
Greater Anglia
LNER
East Midlands Railways
Thameslink
Airlines
Loganair
Aer Lingus
Bus companies
Airports near Edinburgh
The following major airports near Edinburgh offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
- Distance
- 11km (7 miles) from Edinburgh
Dundee Airport (DND)
- Distance
- 57km (35 miles) from Edinburgh
Glasgow Airport (GLA)
- Distance
- 78km (48 miles) from Edinburgh