Train from Stratford Upon Avon to Edinburgh

Go to the UK National Railway website. It will provide a schedule, price, number of changes, etc.

estowb, Deutsche Bahn is the German railway system, so while their website is a very good resource for looking at schedules, They can't sell tickets for railroads in other countries that they don't run.

The National Rail website https://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/ shows two changes taking 7h 45m and costs 166.60 pounds.

Or you could use a fare splitting site and pay around 50 pounds (obviously depending on day and time). eg try www.mytrainpal.com

DB Navigator is German, so use the British National Rail website. Don’t book through the Trainline website as you will pay more.

I have just looked on the National Rail website and picked a random midweek day in May. No train takes over 7 hours and the cost is £166.60 if you buy a flexible use any train option. On the aforementioned website, I see trains taking between 5.25 and 6.75 hours, most around 5.5 hours. You will need to make 2 or 3 changes as there are no direct trains. Adding in travel to and from the stations is going to mean a door to door travel time of 7-8.5 hours. If you opt for a non flexible train time, the price reduces to £63.30, assuming you only need a single ticket. You must use the trains at the times specified on the ticket with these cheaper fares.

This is from memory (used to work these trains) so double check the prices, and if given the party details I will double check - these are pretty close.

Stratford-upon-Avon is at the end of a branch-line... Services are provided by the local commuter trains operated by West Midlands Trains. Change at Birmingham Moor Street or Birmingham Snow Hill and walk the short distance (from Moor Street you can walk through the shops and stay under cover all the way, eventually there will be a direct passage) into Birmingham New Street and connect onto the Avanti West Coast to Scotland. The train you get at New Street will be a fast conventional (125 mph) train which originated at London Euston and will be headed either to Glasgow Central station or Edinburgh Waverley.

"Advance" tickets are the way to go on long distance trains to save money, and save even more with a Railcard (costs £30, valid for a year, gives 1/3 off pretty much all tickets, you say "we" - who is we? How many adults (any seniors?) and how many kids (and ages) and I can help you get the best Railcard if it is suitable).

Buy the two (or three) legs separately and save money.

No Advance fares exist on the Stratford-upon-Avon to Moor St/Snow Hill part. £9.10 Off Peak Single if after 9AM M-F or all weekend, only £9.30 Anytime. Railcards valid, depending on time and card. No First Class available on these trains.

The run from New Street to Scotland is where the real savings can be made. Get a Railcard if it will save enough, and Advance tickets and you can save a whole bucket of money over the walk-up fares.

Some of the trains from Stratford-upon-Avon use the Hatton North Curve and come north via Solihull. They will be 10 or more minutes faster than the trains via Shirley.

You need to allow enough time (15 is official, I'd say 30 or more if you don't know the stations or wish to ogle the shops in the Bull Ring Centre or Grand Central Centre on the walk - loads of restaurants/shops/snack bars to slow your progress) to get from Moor Street/Snow Hill to the platform in New Street.

Do you want or need First Class?

Its only a 5 minute walk from Moor Street to New Street Station but you need a few more minutes to find your platform
However the last time i did the trip to Edinburgh ( actually Dunfirmline) i changed at Smethwick Galton Bridge and Wolverhampton
The fare for this was £11.55 with Rail Card discount back 2018 but appears the days of real cheap fares are over
Don't where all the other fares were got from. I am seeing an Advance Single from Stratford upon Avon (SAV) to Edinburgh (EDB) in May at £63.30, you may find better
As indicated it may be cheaper to buy an Advance Single from Birmingham
Suggest you consult www.seat61.com for information on rail travel in UK including how to book tickets from abroad

Thanks to everyone for all the very useful information! I was able to get our 2 adult tickets for a fairly reasonable price, with two changes, as you have mentioned in your comments.