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How to take a rail journey from Edinburgh to London
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Edinburgh to London by train
There are two options available for taking the train from Edinburgh to London
- A train operated by LNER...
- ...A more basic, and much less frequent service operated by Lumo
- OR travelling overnight on one of Europe's smartest night trains.
Routes you can take to go from Edinburgh to London
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
Choose one of the following options:
Looking for connections?
Route Information
Option 1: travel during the day with LNER
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
4hr 20 min - 4hr 45min (approx)
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
Monday to Saturday = 2 x trains per hour
Sunday = 25 x trains (1 - 3 x trains per hour from 09:00)
The timetable is typically arranged so that the fastest trains depart at 30 mins passed each hour (these trains are typically non-stop from York to London); with the slower services departing at 00 passed each hour
Though at weekends maintenance work on the railway line can also cause trains to be diverted on to longer routes.
Purchase Tickets
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. On longer-distance journeys within the UK it automatically offers a split ticket option if it will be cheaper. Plus it sells tickets for all train operators on each route.
Other Ticket Providers
LNER Guide
LNER offers a couple of services which offer additional benefits to how tickets are usually sold for long-distance journeys:
They are:
- a https://www.lner.co.uk/tickets-savings/your-ticket/price-promise/ service, which enables its customers to claim refunds for the differences in price between LNER and other booking agents for journeys by LNER trains.
- LNER Perks is a useful service for those who regularly travel by LNER trains.
- Seatfrog is a service by which those who have book Standard Class tickets can 'bid' to upgrade to First Class seats.
In effect you can set the additional price you will be willing to pay to travel in First Class and if your price matches the winning bid, you'll be able to upgrade.
National Rail Guide
In Great Britain each Train Operating Company provides its own booking service for journeys by its trains, but many of their websites also sell tickets for nationwide journeys, regardless of which company operates the trains on the routes you wish to travel by.
The National Rail website is plugged into all of the train operator's booking services, so when more than one of these companies offers tickets for a route, it in effect offers a price comparison service.
It isn't a ticket agent, so you will be connected to the website of your choice in order to make a booking.
Travel Information
Final Destination: London King's Cross
Some trains also call at: Doncaster and Peterborough
The Edinburgh to London King's Cross rail service has been transformed - on Mondays to Fridays there will now be 2 x trains per hour during the day and after 41 years of service, the 125 trains have ceased operating on the East Coast main line!
Aside from environmental considerations there are two very good reasons for opting to take the train from Edinburgh to London
(1) Edinburgh Waverley station has a fabulous location in the heart of the Scottish capital, so you will be departing from the city centre,
(2) Much of the Edinburgh to London train journey is glorious.
The alternative overnight train:
Travel by these daytime trains and you won't arrive in London until at least 09:40, but the overnight train is scheduled to arrive in the capital at 07:07.
The overall journey time will be around three hours longer, but you will be travelling on Europe's newest overnight train service.
Though note that the overnight train arrives at Euston station and not at King's Cross station.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
There are also up to seven trains per day, which are operated by Avanti West Coast, which take an alternative route and arrive at London Euston station.
But it's best to avoid those trains as the journey time to London is around two hours longer and there isn't a particular advantage to be had in arriving at Euston station instead of King's Cross.
Journey description:
The route from Edinburgh to London by train is a journey of three phases:
(1) Until Darlington for the first two hours of travel it's an epic journey, with coastal views and numerous other highlights.
However all of the best of the views are on the left hand side of the train (when facing the direction of travel).
(2) Between Darlington and Hitchin the train predominantly travels through pleasant, but unremarkable countryside; though if you are in a forwards facing seat on the left, look out for a view of York Minster as the train nears the station.
(3) For the final 20 -25 minutes the train is travelling through the London suburbs and the commuter towns which surround the capital - though look out for the view from Welwyn Viaduct around 15 before journey's end.
If you haven't lucked out and have been assigned a seat(s) on the right-hand side when making a booking, when boarding see if you can find available seats on the left hand side of the train.
If you move to a different seat(s) it won't affect the validity of your ticket.
For most of the part of the journey between Edinburgh and Newcastle the railway lives up to its name of the 'The East Coast Mainline'.
The trains take a route on which the coast can be seen before the train has even left Edinburgh behind; and the sea views initially continue until south of Dunbar.
To the north of Berwick-upon-Tweed the train will travel across the clifftops as it crosses the border into England, these are the most dramatic coastal views on the journey.
Minutes after the train has passed through Berwick-upon-Tweed, the next highlight is the view from the majestic Royal Border Bridge.
Between there and Alnmouth there are views on the left over the dramatic Northumberland coast.
The next highlight of the journey is the passage over the River Tyne, as the train departs from Newcastle Central station and heads over the King Edward VII Bridge.
Looking to the left, five other bridges that span the river can be seen; and there are also some great views of the Tyne Bridge as the train arrives in Newcastle station.
Around 15 mins after leaving Newcastle comes the final highlight of the journey, the stunning views over the city of Durham.
Over on the left before and after the station, the town's stunning castle and cathedral can be clearly seen in all their glory.
How to choose seats with sea views
When booking on the LNER website it will automatically assign seats, but there is the option use a seating plan to check the position of the seat(s) you have been placed in - and more crucially you can select alternative seat(s).
The trick is to take up the option of using the 'Manage your seat reservations' tool.
This is an example of a seating plan on a train being used for an Edinburgh to London departure, so if you want to choose seats on the side of the train with the sea views, ignore the seating layout as it will differ between coaches and trains etc.
The crucial piece of information to take note of is the direction of travel arrow - and this is consistent, no matter the train which will be used for the departure you have chosen.
The trick is to choose seats on the opposite side of the train to the arrow.
Please support ShowMeTheJourney
This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.
Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.
So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please go here to say thank you.
Tickets
Travelling after February 10th:
LNER is undertaking a trial for a new approach for long-distance rail tickets on the London to Edinburgh route instead of Advance, Off Peak and Anytime tickets travellers can choose between
1: Fixed Tickets - like Advance tickets they can only be used on the specific departure selected when booking, hence the new name.
This type of ticket can't be refunded from two hours after booking, if you subsequently change your travel plans, or miss the train in circumstances not to do with a connecting train.
A £10 admin fee will be payable if you want to exchange your ticket to a different departure to the same destination, to that which you selected when making your booking PLUS you will ALSO be charged any price difference with the new ticket you'll then have to purchase.
2: Semi Flexible aka 'the 70 Min Flex tickets:
When booking you will choose a specific departure, but can then swap the ticket to an alternative departure leaving 70mins before or after the chosen train, without incurring additional charges.
If you instead want to choose a different departure outside of those 70 min windows, you will need to pay the £10 admin fee and the price difference if the alternative train you select is more expensive.
This type of ticket can't be refunded from two hours after booking.
3: Fully Flexible
When booking you will choose a specific departure, but can then swap the ticket to an alternative departure leaving at anytime on your travel date, or on the day before, or after.
The tickets are refundable up to 28 days from your ticket’s expiry date, but if you don't choose another journey you will be charged a £10 admin fee.
Travelling before February 10th:
If you want to travel at the cheapest possible price, look for the 'Advance tickets', though the two key things worth knowing about booking and using 'Advance' tickets are:
(1) This type of ticket can't be refunded if you subsequently change your travel plans, or miss the train in circumstances not to do with a connecting train.
(2) A £10 admin fee will be payable if you want to exchange your ticket to a different departure to the same destination, to that which you selected when making your booking PLUS you will ALSO be charged any price difference with the new ticket you'll then have to purchase.
Also what is unusual about booking with LNER is that Advance tickets are now available online up to only 5 mins before departure.
They will have sold out sooner on the most popular trains, and the earlier you can book the cheaper they will be - but before buying walk-up Off Peak or Anytime tickets at a station, just prior to departure, it's worth checking on your phone to see whether Advance tickets are still available, before heading to the ticket counter or machines.
Travelling on Monday - Friday:
Tickets are usually available 12 weeks ahead of the travel date.
However, when you look up a journey you may see dates further ahead on the calendar, but you'll be informed that tickets aren't yet available for those dates.
On the LNER website you'll be prompted to sign up to a Ticket Alert service - if you will be using a PC, over on the right on the screen you'll be taken to, you'll see the furthest date ahead that tickets can be booked for.
Travelling on Saturday-Sunday
Tickets are usually available 12 weeks ahead of the travel date, but maintenance work on the route is periodically undertaken at weekends and if it is scheduled on your travel date, it can affect when tickets will be released for sale.
If you're looking up a journey less than 12 weeks ahead and tickets aren't available, it can be a good indication that works will be impacting on your travel date.
It can be worth checking this on the National Rail website - enter LNER as the operator.
Making an end-to-end journey will still be possible, so it can be worth signing up to LNER's ticket alert service, though you MAY ultimately have to take a substitution bus service for part of the trip.
It's the confirmation of these alternative travel arrangements which can hold up the release of the tickets for sale.
Reservations:
When you book an Advance ticket for a London to Aberdeen train journey, you will be automatically assigned a seat(s), but if you book the other types of ticket ahead, you can request a complimentary reservation - more info on this
Seat reservations aren't automatically included when booking Off Peak or Anytime tickets online, but you can add the complimentary reservation, once you've made choice of departure, either when booking or afterwards.
When booking walk-up tickets at a station ticket counter, if the Advance tickets aren't available for the next departure, confirm whether a seat reservation has been added to the booking of an Anytime or Off Peak ticket, in theory reservations will be available until around 5 mins pre-departure.
If you will be using a rail pass, including a Britrail or Eurail pass, you should be able to obtain a reservation, at no charge, from a ticket counter up until 5 mins before the departure; keep this in mind as it is not the norm when using rail passes in Britain.
Receiving Your Ticket(s) booked with LNER
The four options for receiving your ticket(s) are:
(1) You will receive a booking reference number on your order confirmation email and you can use this reference number to collect ticket(s) from a ticket machine.
Some stations will have dedicated ticket collection machines, but standard ticket machines will also have an option for collecting pre-booked tickets.
You will need to enter your reference number into the machine, so make sure you'll have easy access to it when you are using the machine.
You will also need to insert the specific credit or debit card you used when making the booking, so have that with you too.
Showing the email you have received to staff at the ticket gates won't get you on to the train, nor will this be valid if you can only show the email to the conductor when you are on the train.
If you forget to bring your ticket(s) with you to the station, but do have the card with you that you used when booking, you can use the machines to collect your ticket(s).
Take your time and take care that you have picked up all your ticket(s) and seat reservations.
(2) Print off the tickets you receive before heading to the station - the instructions for doing this are available here.
(3) Opt to pay an additional charge to have your tickets posted to you; not available when booking tickets from outside the UK.
(4) Mobile tickets - if you select this option when making a booking you will need to download the LNER Travel Buddy app so that you can 'Activate' your ticket.
The LNER website states that 'Advance' tickets will be automatically activated, but there's no suggestion on the LNER website that it will be OK to save the ticket(s) you will receive as a PDF to your mobile device.
So download the app to be sure that you can use a mobile ticket.
The potential to save by splitting tickets on Trainline
It can be worth looking up this journey on Trainline.
It can be possible to save money by using split ticketing, with the booking process being no more complicated than booking conventional tickets - find out more.
Route Information
Option 2: travelling overnight
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
7hr 27min (Mon to Fri); 7hr 52min (Sunday)
Frequency
Not Every Night
Travel Info
There is no departure on Saturday evenings.
Purchase Tickets
Travel Information
Final Destination: London Euston
Note that this is a different station to King's Cross, where the daytime trains arrive.
The train also call at: Watford Junction where connections are available into a train which serves multiple destinations in West London including Shepherd's Bush, Kensington Olympia, West Brompton (connect for Earl's Court) and Clapham Junction.
The daytime trains take a completely different route so do not call at this station.
On Board - summary:
More information is available by clicking the 'train guide, but if you make this journey you will be travelling on Europe's most modern overnight trains.
You can opt to choose from three different types of sleeping cabin, one of which offers the opportunity to travel in a double bed, OR you can travel in reclining seats.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
On Mondays to Fridays the train is scheduled to depart Edinburgh at 23:40, with boarding available from 23:00; on Sunday the train is scheduled to depart at 23:15, with boarding available from 22:30
The train is due to arrive in London at 07:07, though passengers can remain in the cabins and leave the train at 07:30.
The earliest arrival into London by daytime trains is at 09:40.
Tickets
Unusually for UK train tickets, you can book journeys on the Caledonian Sleeper up to twelve months ahead.
If you want a full choice of accommodation in the summer months or around holiday times, it's best to book at least a month in advance.
When making a journey by these Caledonian Sleeper trains, you can choose from three types of sleeping cabin, or you can opt to travel in reclining seats - If you want to travel in the reclining seats, you will in effect only be paying the journey costs.
In common with how tickets are sold to travel in sleeping cabins on other European night train services, there are two elements to the total cost of the sleeping cabin ticket price;
- the cost of making the journey, and
- the accommodation costs of travelling in the cabin.
On these Caledonian Sleeper trains the sleeping cabins have a fixed price, so how the total costs are calculated is dependent on how the sleeping cabins will be occupied.
If you will be making an individual booking you will have sole occupancy of a Club Room or Classic Room - booking a Caledonian Double isn't an option for solo travellers.
Although the total cost per person is more expensive if you will be travelling individually, because if you travel solo you pay the cost for the Club Room or Classic Room, plus a cost for making the journey.
But two people travelling together pay the same charge for the Club Room and Classic rooms, and the additional cost comes from having to purchase two journey tickets.
Paying a higher price for single occupancy of a sleeping cabin is the norm on European night trains, but this particular pricing methodology makes the sleeping cabins on a Caledonian Sleeper service, a comparatively expensive option for solo travellers.
Travelling as a family group:
The costs of adults and children travelling together will be calculated during the booking process - here is the relevant information.
Using Rail Passes:
If you will be using a valid rail pass you can travel in a reclining seat at no additional charge, but you must reserve a place prior to boarding, by calling the Guest Service Centre on 0330 060 0500.
If you want to travel in a bed in a Club Room sleeping cabin, you need to pay a 'Room only supplement' of £170 if you will be travelling solo, or £200 if two people will be travelling together.
If you want to travel in a Classic Room sleeping cabin, the supplement is £120 for solo travellers and £140 if two people are travelling together.
These 'Room only supplements' can be booked online.
Route Information
Option 3: travelling during the day with Lumo
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
4hr 30min - 4hr 40min (approx)
Frequency
Monday to Friday
Travel Info
Monday to Friday = 4 x trains per day
Sat/Sun = no service (for the moment)
Purchase Tickets
Travel Information
Lumo is a relatively new rail operator which offers a more-basic alternative to travelling on LNER's trains.
If you want to travel in Standard Class and...
- are happy to take your own food/drink on board with you
- want access to WiFi during the journey
- won't be travelling with more than one medium suitcase per person
- won't be taking a bike
- and aren't that bothered by seeing the view from the windows (comparatively few of the seats on Lumo trains line up well with the windows)
...then travelling with Lumo seems to compare well with travelling with LNER.
The core differences between the Lumo trains and the Azuma trains used by LNER are:
First Class:
LNER = available
Lumo = not available
Bar/bistro car:
LNER = available
Lumo = not available
At seat catering:
LNER = available
Lumo = available, but more substantial items such as sandwiches need to be pre-ordered up to 10 hours prior to departure
Large suitcases:
LNER = yes
Lumo = no
Non-folding bicycles:
LNER = yes, spaces can be reserved
Lumo = no
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final destination: London Kin's Cross
All trains also call at Newcastle
Lumo trains do not call in York
The Lumo trains take the same route as the LNER trains.
Journey description:
The route from Edinburgh to London by train is a journey of three phases:
(1) Until Darlington for the first two hours of travel it's an epic journey, with coastal views and numerous other highlights.
However all of the best of the views are on the left hand side of the train (when facing the direction of travel).
(2) Between Darlington and Hitchin the train predominantly travels through pleasant, but unremarkable countryside; though if you are in a forwards facing seat on the left, look out for a view of York Minster as the train nears the station.
(3) For the final 20 -25 minutes the train is travelling through the London suburbs and the commuter towns which surround the capital - though look out for the view from Welwyn Viaduct around 15 before journey's end.
If you haven't lucked out and have been assigned a seat(s) on the right-hand side when making a booking, when boarding see if you can find available seats on the left hand side of the train.
If you move to a different seat(s) it won't affect the validity of your ticket.
For most of the part of the journey between Edinburgh and Newcastle the railway lives up to its name of the 'The East Coast Mainline'.
The trains take a route on which the coast can be seen before the train has even left Edinburgh behind; and the sea views initially continue until south of Dunbar.
To the north of Berwick-upon-Tweed the train will travel across the clifftops as it crosses the border into England, these are the most dramatic coastal views on the journey.
Minutes after the train has passed through Berwick-upon-Tweed, the next highlight is the view from the majestic Royal Border Bridge.
Between there and Alnmouth there are views on the left over the dramatic Northumberland coast.
The next highlight of the journey is the passage over the River Tyne, as the train departs from Newcastle Central station and heads over the King Edward VII Bridge.
Looking to the left, five other bridges that span the river can be seen; and there are also some great views of the Tyne Bridge as the train arrives in Newcastle station.
Around 15 mins after leaving Newcastle comes the final highlight of the journey, the stunning views over the city of Durham.
Over on the left before and after the station, the town's stunning castle and cathedral can be clearly seen in all their glory.
How to choose seats with sea views
When booking on the LNER website it will automatically assign seats, but there is the option use a seating plan to check the position of the seat(s) you have been placed in - and more crucially you can select alternative seat(s).
The trick is to take up the option of using the 'Manage your seat reservations' tool.
This is an example of a seating plan on a train being used for an Edinburgh to London departure, so if you want to choose seats on the side of the train with the sea views, ignore the seating layout as it will differ between coaches and trains etc.
The crucial piece of information to take note of is the direction of travel arrow - and this is consistent, no matter the train which will be used for the departure you have chosen.
The trick is to choose seats on the opposite side of the train to the arrow.
Please support ShowMeTheJourney
This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.
Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.
So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please go here to say thank you.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open 24 weeks ahead of the travel date.
Lumo only offers two types of tickets for sale: Anytime and Lumo Fixed, which are its equivalent of discounted Advance tickets.
The prices of Lumo Fixed tickets will be cheaper the further ahead that they are booked and in common with Advance tickets they are departure specific, so include complimentary seat reservations.
They can be changed right up to the time of departure for any future without any admin fees, though any price difference to travel by the different departure will be payable.
Something to look out for is that the cheapest price of Lumo Fixed tickets are lower than cheapest prices of Advance tickets sold by LNER for Edinburgh journeys, but these cheapest prices will sell out at different rates on each operator..
So it's worth comparing prices on your travel date(s), particularly if you won't be booking months ahead, you may find cheaper prices available on some LNER departures.
This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.
Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.
So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you.
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