London to Cotswolds to Edinburgh

Within the Cotswolds area, there is limited public transportation. As you already know, the train goes from London to Moreton-on-Marsh. After that, there is no train network going out to the various Cotswolds destinations, it's buses, private tours, or rental car.

Hopefully the train experts will chime in. I took at a look on the Scotrail site and leaving at 9AM and four trains and nearly 7 hours later you arrive in Edinburgh. The route that comes up does not take you through Oxford. It's close to 6 hours just from Oxford to Edinburgh, and it's still multiple changes so unless you are going to Oxford to tour, I don't think it makes sense to go to Oxford.

Pam

Also consider Cheltenham as your nearest railhead to the Cotswolds. Although direct trains (Cross Country is the train company) run to Edinburgh from Cheltenham, they take the (1 hour) longer route via York. The alternative is to change at Birmingham (New Street) to Virgin Trains which use the west coast route via Carlisle. If you did do this, at least you would be going up to Edinburgh via the west coast route (you won't see the coast) and could then return via the east coast route (you will get glimpses of the coast between Edinburgh & Newcastle) to London. If returning on the east coast route, consider stopping over for 1 night in York. (It might even work out cheaper buying Edinburgh > YRK & YRK > KGX).

See www.nationalrail.co.uk for schedules / prices but book with say www.virgintrains.co.uk for your trip or perhaps with www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk (Pre book around 10 weeks out for specific trains in order to get cheapest deals).

For getting to the Cotswolds, you should take the Railair bus to Reading from Heathrow and then train to MIM. (Disruption likely on Sundays due to electrification work on the Great Western routes).

The best Advance-discount train fares are for sale now for September travel for specified departures on your two longer routes. Don't lock in advance tickets for the first day, when you're dependent on the vagaries of flight arrival.

A Two-Together Rail Card to buy at Reading or London Paddington station (not at Heathrow) can get you ticket discounts with less advance notice (but not on peak-hour morning trains). The National Rail site displays these fares under "More options, railcards , and passengers."

Or for maximum flexibility on 3 travel days within one month, a BritRail Pass costs $276 per person (or less if you're under age 26). On your arrival day, that could cover the Heathrow Express train to Paddington station, then direct train from there to Moreton-in-Marsh (total travel time is 2 h 15 min).

Hello Libby. For the Cotswolds area, I think I would have overnight accommodation at Cheltenham. Rental cars are available at Cheltenham. And a bus goes from Cheltenham toward the east for visiting two or three towns in Gloucestershire. Ride in a train from Cheltenham to Edinburgh. And train from Edinburgh to London. Traveling between Edinburgh and London, I recommend stopping at York for two nights, if that is possible. For transportation from Heathrow airport to Cheltenham, I would be willing to ride in the Heathrow Connect train from Heathrow airport to Paddington station in London (25 minutes), and ride in a train from London to Cheltenham.

I've been looking at that route also. Reviews I've seen of the direct Crosscountry service from Cheltenham lead me to think that Virgin is worth the transfer quite apart from the hour gained (price being roughly the same). Would that be consistent with the experience base here?

But, if Crosscountry service isn't of the quality of Virgin does it at least run on time since all I see is a Crosscountry connection to Virgin. And, a missed connection could certainly amount to more than an hours difference in time of arrival.

In response to greg regarding Cross Country v Virgin trains: both companies use Voyager trains = 125 mph diesels which are not that popular in the UK though people would not say don't travel on them. Virgin also use electric Pendolino trains - again travelling at up to 125mph with the facility to tilt on the bends to maintain high speeds. (The 'Super' Voyagers also tilt). I have not been on a Pendolino but people who have dislike the smallish windows.

Some of the Cross Country Trains on the Plymouth > Bristol> Cheltenham > Birmingham > York> Newcastle>Edinburgh run are the older 125mph diesel High Speed Trains - which many people prefer to the newer Voyagers.

It can sometimes pay to buy split tickets. Try split at Birmingham.
www.splityourticket.co.uk

Thanks for everyone's responses . . . I'm checking them out and trying to see what works for us.

Any recommendations on reasonably priced places to stay in Edinburgh?

Hi Libby,
you've had lots of good advice but IMO I think Keith above has nailed it - do you really have to go to the Cotswolds? A simpler trip would have London and Edinburgh, flying to Edinburgh from Heathrow, with stopover in York on the rail trip back to London.
If you really have to go to the Cotswolds there are day trips from London by various bus tour companies - never personally taken any so couldn't advise on a particular provider.

Looking on London Walks website - www.walks.com - they do a day trip every Wednesday combining the Cotswolds with Oxford - they take the train to MIM and are met by a bus. Can recommend London Walks in general. You'd get a taste of the Cotswolds on this trip and could save a longer trip for a future visit.
Katy