How to travel from Swanage to Edinburgh, United Kingdom

The distance between Swanage and Edinburgh is around 660km (410 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the bus, then take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 30m.

9 routes found

We've found 9 different ways to get from Swanage 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 EdinburghSwanage if you're planning a return trip.

1
train
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train
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plane
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Train and Plane

Take the train to Southampton Central and then to Bristol Temple Meads then fly from Bristol (BRS) to Edinburgh (EDI).

  • Duration5h 15m
  • Flight time1h 15m
  • Typical cost
    £140($165)
Operated by

Multiple operators

4 similiar routes

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

2
train
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train
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Train

Take the train to London Waterloo and then to Edinburgh.

  • Duration6h 55m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    £175($210)
Operated by

Multiple train operators

3
3 x bus
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Bus

Take the bus to Cardiff University then Abington and then to Edinburgh Princes Street.

  • Duration8h 50m
  • Departsonce a week
  • Typical cost
    £52($62)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

1 similiar route

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

4
car
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Drive

Drive to Edinburgh.

  • Duration8hrs
  • Distance708km (440 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Swanage and Edinburgh

There are several options for getting from Swanage to Edinburgh by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around £28 ($33) and will take around 15h 55m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the bus, then take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 3h 30m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately £230 ($270).

The distance between Swanage and Edinburgh is around 660km (410 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 600km (373 miles)

It takes around 6h 55m to get from Swanage and Edinburgh by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 8hrs to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Swanage to Edinburgh is to take the bus, then take the train and then fly which takes around 3h 30m and will set you back approx £230 ($270).

The cheapest way to travel between Swanage and Edinburgh, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around £28 ($33) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Swanage and Edinburgh. It typically takes around 6h 55m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Swanage to Edinburgh. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Bournemouth, London Waterloo, Euston station and King's Cross St. Pancras station. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 6h 55m.

South Western Railway, LNER and Greater Anglia run train services between Swanage and Edinburgh. Trains depart hourly and will take around 6h 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 Swanage and Edinburgh. It typically takes around 8h 50m and departs once a week.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Swanage to Edinburgh. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Poole Bus Station, Cardiff University and Abington. These services run once a week and will take a minimum of 8h 50m.

Megabus UK, Stagecoach West Scotland and National Express run regular bus services between Swanage and Edinburgh. Buses run once a week and take around 8h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Swanage to Edinburgh. We recommend that you take the bus to Bournemouth Station then take the train to Southampton Airport Parkway then fly from Southampton (SOU) to Edinburgh (EDI). instead which will take 3h 30m.

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 Swanage and Edinburgh. The distance is around 708km (440 miles) by road and it will take around 8hrs in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Swanage to Edinburgh is to take the train which takes, on average, 6h 55m and will usually cost around £175 ($210).

How do I get from Swanage to Edinburgh

Compare travel optionsbetween Swanage and Edinburgh

Transport options from Swanage to Edinburgh
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane + 4 similar
5h 15m
£140($165)
hourly727km (452 miles)
Train to Clapham Junction, Fly5h 25m
£190($225)
hourly814km (506 miles)
Bus, Train and Plane3h 30m
£230($270)
hourly660km (410 miles)
Bus to Bournemouth Station, train and plane4h 10m
£240($285)
hourly751km (467 miles)
Bus to Bournemouth Station, train and plane5hrs
£210($245)
hourly731km (454 miles)
Train
6h 55m
£175($210)
hourly846km (526 miles)
Bus + 1 similar
8h 50m
£52($62)
once a week848km (527 miles)
Bus via Birmingham Coach Station, Digbeth15h 55m
£28($33)
once daily875km (544 miles)
Drive
8hrs
£125($145)
on demand708km (440 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Swanage and Edinburgh

Train operators

Airlines

Bus companies

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