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Newcastle to Edinburgh - best plan?

We're heading to England in May/June. We are likely renting a car at Newcastle Airport at the beginning of our trip, and would like to return the car before heading to our last stop in Edinburgh. Rather than returning the car in Edinburgh, we thought it would be less costly to return it at Newcastle Airport and then take the train to Edinburgh (Waverly) where we'll have a couple of days before flying home from Edinburgh.

I'm confused by the train options, and whether we can get a train from the Newcastle airport to Edinburgh or if we need to get into Newcastle city to the train station.

Anyone with knowledge of the area who can recommend an itinerary for us from Newcastle to Edinburgh, with specific steps? I'd really appreciate the local knowledge and recommendations! This area is entirely new to us.

(Just to add, our last stop in England is actually Lindisfarne. We'll need to get off the island and to a place where we can drop the car and pick up the train to Edinburgh. So if there's a better plan than what I wrote above, I'd love to hear that too.) Thank you!

Posted by
1627 posts

Have you checked to see if there is a place in Newcastle you can return the car too?? It may not be necessary to go to the airport.

Posted by
7393 posts

If you're up at Lindisfarne why not drop the car at Berwick on Tweed, a stop on the Newcastle to Edinburgh rail line. Most trains stop there.
Enterprise used to have an office at the Station- not sure if it's still there. Enterprise and Europcar also have offices at Newcastle Central station.
Berwick, with it's complicated history as an England/Scotland border town is a great place to visit anyway, even use as a base to explore the Northumberland coast.
Great castles like Bamburgh and Alnwick.
From Seahouses there are boat trips out to the Farne Isles (of Grace Darling fame) and wonderful for their bird life.
Further north in Scotland on a branch railway there's the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick (but just as easy in the car from Berwick).
From a base in Berwick there's also lots of nice towns in the Scottish Borders which are easily accessible.
From Newcastle to Edinburgh there are 4 companies run trains-
LNER (the main operator), Lumo, Cross Country and Trans Pennine but any one website will give the relevant fares and allow you to book. Be aware that Trans Pennine have a reputation for unreliability.
From Newcastle Airport you have to take the Tyne and Wear Metro (very frequent) to Newcastle Central station.
i'm sure you know about the tidal causeway to Lindisfarne, and not to get caught out by the tides.

Posted by
2585 posts

You need to take the local Metro from Newcastle airport to Newcastle Central station for trains to Edinburgh. Dead easy.

But if you're driving north from Newcastle and exploring Northumberland then you're halfway to Edinburgh airport so best drop the car there. Any additional costs would be eliminated by returning to Newcastle and buying train tickets.

Posted by
1293 posts

So much to see in Northumberland. You’ll have a great time. Linda’s farmer is quite a long drive back to Newcastle airport so Berwick would be more convenient. If you do have to go to Newcastle it’s extremely easy to get from the airport to the central train station using the local Metro trains.

Newcastle is a great Northern city with a fantastic atmosphere and proud locals who will love to show it off to you.

Posted by
6113 posts

Years ago, I rented a car at Newcastle train station - Europcar appear to still be there. The coast between Newcastle and Edinburgh is stunning and it would be a pity to miss it by taking the train.

Posted by
1336 posts

Keilder observatory is a great place to visit and run very popular lectures.