Advice on train vs plane from Heathrow to Edinburgh?

Why not take one of the many British Airways flights from Heathrow (LHR) to Edinburgh? You’ve not written when your specific travel date is, but there are several 90-minute flights from LHR to Edinburgh on some Saturdays this month starting at $159. No need to go to a different London airport or King’s Cross train station. For your return to London, you could take the train from Edinburgh. ( You should be aware that there currently is a strike through Sunday, April 9 affecting LHR, and it is the only London airport targeted during the strike. There currently are no further announced strikes affecting LHR). London City Airport ( LCY) is the most close-in to London and is a very small and convenient airport should you decide to return on a flight.
www.Skyscanner.com will show your options.

The bast option, IF you haven’t booked your flight yet, is to book the flight to Edinburgh as Kenko suggests. British Airways makes it easy, with a layover to change planes at Heathrow, but there may be other airline options.

On Each Saturday in April the British Airways flights from Heathrow cost between £200 and £300 +. I've just looked

If you are travelling on a Saturday this month then we already know that there are no train strikes on 8, 15 and 22 April. Even if one was announced on 29 April LNER will still be running trains until a last one at about 1.30 pm.

On a Saturday trains run every 30 minutes and the maximum you can pay, at the station, is £87. The last is at 1827.

So cost and convenience train wins hands down, as you don't have to book anything ahead of time, but can just go with the flow.

Timewise for any flight add on an extra hour to the airport, 2 hours at the airport, 90 minutes flying time, then at least 45 minutes from EDI into the city, and there is nothing between rail and air.
It would be different if it had been booked as a through ticket.

Don't forget to add the check in time and then transfer into Edinburgh - you need to be adding a few hours for that. But if you are starting at LHR and can get the optimum connection, flying will be quicker. If you head to any of the other airports you would be as well taking the train as they will all take time to get to and then you need to be there prior to the flight

If you can you'd be better off buying a ticket that bounces out of LHR (or CDG or AMS) so at least the flight connection is the airlines issue

I never cease to be amazed by people who want to be in Edinburgh and plan to fly to somewhere 400 miles away.

@Kenko and @Lola, I very much appreciate your feedback. Our arrival time is around 8am on Saturday and the direct flights from Heathrow to Edinburgh are currently $400+.

I forgot to factor in potential strikes affecting trains and planes, many thanks for that reminder.

Well on 29 April the flight from Stansted is at 2145 and costs £75.13 exclusive of baggage. Although it scarcely matters with so much time to spare you need to allow 2 hours to get there from Heathrow.
Arriving at 2255 is not afternoon.
The only flight from Luton is at 0705 that day which is £70 exclusive of baggage, so no use. Again that is much closer to 2 hours from Heathrow.
The only flight to Edinburgh from London City is at 0825 so that is no use to you either.

The airport you haven't mentioned is Gatwick which has easyjet flights at 1620 and 1845, which cost £78 and £67 respectively, exclusive of baggage.

So if your TA flight was anything like on time the train from Kings Cross is the cheapest option, by a country mile.
Even the BA flight which arrives at EDI at 1305- that is more like 1400 arriving into central Edinburgh.
And what happens if you miss that flight, given that it has not been booked as a connection?
If you were on the 1130 train out of King's Cross you arrive at Edinburgh at 1614, before either of the two easyjet flights, at a cheaper price, and only 2 hours later than if you have spent £350 more on a BA flight.

To me the choice is obvious. As stated above you can buy train tickets at the railway station at a maximum cost of £87. So there is zero risk there. Any other source which says you HAVE to book in advance is plain wrong. Even if you booked in advance now for a specific train the savings are not large.

By the way it is immigration you go through. Customs should not be any kind of problem.

@isn31c thank you! the way you laid it out makes me feel good about deciding on traveling by train.

this is a very popular topic on Youtube among travel vloggers, check them out.

They often stage a "race" to see who "wins"

This close in might cost a lot, but it might be worth asking your airline if they can change your ticket to make EDI the final destination. With plenty of notice, these changes can be the most efficient solution. No harm in asking.

(Depending on the airline/alliance this may mean you don't connect through LRH at all.)

Video of train from London to Edinburgh.

I agree with Scudder - look at your ticket and see what the cost would be to change with Edinburgh as your final destination for the flight going and leave your departure airport back home the same. Basically make your ticket open jaw. That is what I did when I wanted to start in Edinburgh. I did have to transfer at Heathrow, but depending on your airline and start city, you may avoid Heathrow.

RE BA flight: Our flight from Heathrow to Edinburgh was one of the worst flights I can remember. I was in the very back row, the AC wasn't working, we were delayed in taking off, and they ran out of the water they sell in coach.

This may or may not work for you, but have you considered the overnight sleeper train? www.sleeper.scot

I’m afraid the sleeper trains to Scotland don’t run on Saturday nights.