How to travel from London to Edinburgh, United Kingdom

The distance between London and Edinburgh is around 553km (344 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to fly which takes around 2h 10m.

11 routes found

We've found 11 different ways to get from London 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 EdinburghLondon if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
plane
+

Fly

Fly from London City (LCY) to Edinburgh (EDI).

  • Duration2h 10m
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    £150($180)

5 similiar routes

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

2
train
+

Train

Take the train to Edinburgh.

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

LNER

2 similiar routes

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

💰 Cheapest
3
bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Edinburgh Bus Station.

  • Duration9h 15m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    £25($29)
Operated byMegabus UK+ 1 others
4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Edinburgh.

  • Duration6h 50m
  • Distance608km (378 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between London and Edinburgh

There are several options for getting from London to Edinburgh 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 10m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £150 ($180).

The distance between London and Edinburgh is around 553km (344 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 534km (332 miles)

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

The quickest way to get from London to Edinburgh is to fly which takes around 2h 10m and will set you back approx £150 ($180).

The cheapest way to travel between London and Edinburgh, 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 London and Edinburgh. It typically takes around 4h 20m and departs hourly.

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

LNER, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express Service, East Midlands Railways and CrossCountry run train services between London and Edinburgh. 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 London and Edinburgh. It typically takes around 9h 15m and departs once daily.

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

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

Flights and Airlines

Yes you can fly from London and Edinburgh. Flights depart from London City (LCY) and arrive at Edinburgh (EDI). The flight takes around 1h 15m.

Yes there is a direct flight between London and Edinburgh with no stop-overs required. Flights typically take around 1h 15m.

British Airways, Aer Lingus, easyJet and Loganair fly between London and Edinburgh. Flights depart from London City (LCY) and and arrive into Edinburgh (EDI). These flights usually take around 1h 15m.

The flight from London to Edinburgh typically takes around 1h 15m. Flights depart from London City (LCY) and and arrive into Edinburgh (EDI).

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 London and Edinburgh. The distance is around 608km (378 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 London to Edinburgh is to take the train which takes, on average, 4h 20m and will usually cost around £63 ($75).

How do I get from London to Edinburgh

Compare travel optionsbetween London and Edinburgh

Transport options from London to Edinburgh
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Fly + 5 similar
2h 10m
£150($180)
every 15 mins564km (351 miles)
Fly to Edinburgh (EDI)2h 15m
£165($195)
every 15 mins568km (353 miles)
Fly to Edinburgh (EDI)2h 40m
£100($115)
every 30 mins580km (361 miles)
Train to Luton Airport Parkway, Fly2h 30m
£105($125)
every 15 mins553km (344 miles)
Train and Plane2h 45m
£110($130)
every 15 mins627km (390 miles)
Plane and Train2h 50m
£190($225)
every 30 mins668km (415 miles)
Train + 2 similar
4h 20m
£63($75)
hourly628km (390 miles)
Train via Carlisle4h 45m
£155($180)
every 4 hours641km (398 miles)
Train via Sheffield5h 50m
£185($220)
every 2 hours690km (429 miles)
Bus
9h 15m
£25($29)
once daily723km (449 miles)
Drive
6h 50m
£69($82)
on demand608km (378 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between London and Edinburgh

Train operators

Airports near Edinburgh

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

EDI
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
International Airport
Distance
11km (7 miles) from Edinburgh
DND
Dundee Airport (DND)
Domestic Airport
Distance
57km (35 miles) from Edinburgh
GLA
Glasgow Airport (GLA)
International Airport
Distance
78km (48 miles) from Edinburgh