How to travel from Edinburgh to Leicester, United Kingdom
The distance between Edinburgh and Leicester is around 454km (282 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 60m.
11 routes found
We've found 11 different ways to get from Edinburgh to Leicester 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 Leicester → Edinburgh if you're planning a return trip.
Fly to London Luton (LTN), train
Fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to London Luton (LTN) then take the train to Kettering and then to Leicester.
- Duration2h 60m
- Flight time1h 20m
- Typical cost£135($160)
Multiple operators
6 similiar routes
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Train
Take the train to Sheffield and then to Leicester.
- Duration4h 55m
- Departsevery 2 hours
- Typical cost£150($180)
Multiple train operators
Bus to Leicester
Take the bus to Leicester.
- Duration7h 25m
- Departstwice daily
- Typical cost£27($32)
1 similiar route
We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.
Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Edinburgh and Leicester
Popular questions
There are several options for getting from Edinburgh to Leicester by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £13 ($15) and will take around 8hrs. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and then take the train and arrive in approximately 2h 60m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £135 ($160).
The distance between Edinburgh and Leicester is around 454km (282 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 392km (244 miles)
It takes around 4h 55m to get from Edinburgh and Leicester by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 5h 15m to drive there.
The quickest way to get from Edinburgh to Leicester is to fly and then take the train which takes around 2h 60m and will set you back approx £135 ($160).
The cheapest way to travel between Edinburgh and Leicester, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £13 ($15) for a standard one-way ticket.
Train travel
Yes there is a train service that runs between Edinburgh and Leicester. It typically takes around 4h 55m and departs every 2 hours.
There are no direct train services that runs from Edinburgh to Leicester. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Sheffield. These services run every 2 hours and will take a minimum of 4h 55m.
CrossCountry and East Midlands Railways run train services between Edinburgh and Leicester. Trains depart every 2 hours and will take around 4h 55m, 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 Edinburgh and Leicester. It typically takes around 8hrs and departs once daily.
Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Edinburgh and Leicester with no changeovers required. The bus runs once daily and takes 8hrs.
National Express and FlixBus run regular bus services between Edinburgh and Leicester. Buses run once daily and take around 8hrs on average but will vary depending on you book with.
Flights and Airlines
It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Edinburgh to Leicester. We recommend that you fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to Birmingham (BHX) then take the train to Leicester. instead which will take 2h 60m.
The closest major airport to Leicester is East Midlands Airport (EMA) (EMA) which is approximately 25km (15 miles) from Leicester. Birmingham Airport (BHX) (BHX) and Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) (DSA) 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 Edinburgh and Leicester. The distance is around 454km (282 miles) by road and it will take around 5h 15m in normal traffic conditons.
If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Edinburgh to Leicester is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 55m and will usually cost around £150 ($180).
Compare travel optionsbetween Edinburgh and Leicester
| Transport option | Duration | Cost | Frequency | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fly to London Luton (LTN), train + 6 similar | 2h 60m | £135($160) | hourly | 619km (385 miles) |
| Plane and Train | 2h 60m | £105($125) | hourly | 491km (305 miles) |
| Train and Plane | 3h 40m | £105($125) | hourly | 586km (364 miles) |
| Fly to London City (LCY), Train | 3h 45m | £225($265) | every 30 mins | 729km (453 miles) |
| Fly to London Heathrow (LHR), Train | 3h 50m | £240($285) | every 20 mins | 730km (454 miles) |
| Fly to Bristol (BRS), train | 4h 25m | £185($215) | hourly | 741km (460 miles) |
| Fly to London Stansted (STN), Train | 4h 30m | £145($170) | every 2 hours | 716km (445 miles) |
Train | 4h 55m | £150($180) | every 2 hours | 532km (330 miles) |
Bus to Leicester + 1 similar | 7h 25m | £27($32) | twice daily | 496km (308 miles) |
| Bus | 8hrs | £13($15) | twice daily | 485km (302 miles) |
Drive | 5h 15m | £79($95) | on demand | 454km (282 miles) |
Top Carriersoperating between Edinburgh and Leicester
Airlines
Aer Lingus
Train operators
East Midlands Railways
First ScotRail Service
Bus companies
Airports near Leicester
The following major airports near Leicester offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.
East Midlands Airport (EMA)
- Distance
- 25km (15 miles) from Leicester
Birmingham Airport (BHX)
- Distance
- 45km (28 miles) from Leicester
Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA)
- Distance
- 94km (59 miles) from Leicester