How to travel from Edinburgh to London, United Kingdom

The distance between Edinburgh and London is around 554km (344 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 2h 25m.

10 routes found

We've found 10 different ways to get from Edinburgh to London 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 LondonEdinburgh if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+

Fly

Fly from Edinburgh (EDI) to London Heathrow (LHR).

  • Duration2h 25m
  • Flight time1h 40m
  • Typical cost
    £165($195)

6 similiar routes

We’ve grouped similar routes together, click the arrows to see the other options.

2
train
+

Train

Take the train to London Kings Cross.

  • Duration4h 20m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £63($75)
Operated by

LNER

+ 1 others
💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to London Victoria Coach Station.

  • Duration9h 15m
  • Departstwice daily
  • Typical cost
    £25($29)
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to London King's Cross.

  • Duration6h 50m
  • Distance598km (371 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Edinburgh and London

There are several options for getting from Edinburgh to London by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £25 ($29) and will take around 9h 15m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can fly and arrive in approximately 2h 25m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £165 ($195).

The distance between Edinburgh and London is around 554km (344 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 534km (332 miles)

It takes around 4h 20m to get from Edinburgh and London by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 6h 50m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Edinburgh to London is to fly which takes around 2h 25m and will set you back approx £165 ($195).

The cheapest way to travel between Edinburgh and London, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £25 ($29) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Edinburgh and London. It typically takes around 4h 20m and departs hourly.

Yes there is a direct train service that runs between Edinburgh and London with no changeovers required. The train runs hourly and takes 4h 20m.

LNER run train services between Edinburgh and London. Trains depart hourly and will take around 4h 20m, 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 London. It typically takes around 9h 15m and departs twice daily.

Yes there is a direct bus service that runs between Edinburgh and London with no changeovers required. The bus runs twice daily and takes 9h 15m.

Megabus UK run regular bus services between Edinburgh and London. Buses run twice daily and take around 9h 15m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

Yes you can fly from Edinburgh and London. Flights depart from Edinburgh (EDI) and arrive at London Heathrow (LHR). The flight takes around 1h 40m.

Yes there is a direct flight between Edinburgh and London with no stop-overs required. Flights typically take around 1h 40m.

British Airways, Aer Lingus, KLM, easyJet and Ryanair fly between Edinburgh and London. Flights depart from Edinburgh (EDI) and and arrive into London Heathrow (LHR). These flights usually take around 1h 40m.

The flight from Edinburgh to London typically takes around 1h 40m. Flights depart from Edinburgh (EDI) and and arrive into London Heathrow (LHR).

The closest major airport to London is London City Airport (LCY) (LCY) which is approximately 12km (8 miles) from London. Heathrow Airport (LHR) (LHR) and Gatwick Airport (LGW) (LGW) 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 London. The distance is around 598km (371 miles) by road and it will take around 6h 50m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Edinburgh to London is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 20m and will usually cost around £63 ($75).

How do I get from Edinburgh to London

Compare travel optionsbetween Edinburgh and London

Transport options from Edinburgh to London
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly + 6 similar
2h 25m
£165($195)
every 15 mins568km (353 miles)
Fly to London City (LCY)2h 35m
£150($180)
every 15 mins564km (350 miles)
Fly to London Stansted (STN)2h 55m
£100($115)
every 30 mins580km (360 miles)
Fly to London Luton (LTN), Train2h 30m
£105($125)
every 15 mins554km (344 miles)
Plane and Train2h 40m
£110($130)
every 15 mins627km (390 miles)
Fly to Southampton (SOU), Train3h 10m
£240($285)
hourly702km (436 miles)
Train and Plane3h 10m
£190($225)
every 30 mins668km (415 miles)
Train
4h 20m
£63($75)
hourly628km (390 miles)
Bus
9h 15m
£25($29)
twice daily724km (450 miles)
Drive
6h 50m
£68($81)
on demand598km (371 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Edinburgh and London

Train operators

Bus companies

Airports near London

The following major airports near London offer regular flights to various popular destinations within United Kingdom and internationally.

LCY
London City Airport (LCY)
International Airport
Distance
12km (8 miles) from London
LHR
Heathrow Airport (LHR)
International Airport
Distance
23km (14 miles) from London
LGW
Gatwick Airport (LGW)
International Airport
Distance
40km (25 miles) from London