My adult daughters and I will be leaving Edinburgh by train and heading to London. We can either leave late afternoon and still be able to enjoy the view out our windows or we can leave very late and experience a caledonian sleeper train. The sleeper has a bit of an allure to it I have to admit, and it gives us more time on a two day stay in Edinburgh. Are we fooling ourselves though about the "allure" of the sleeper experience and is the countryside window watching a better experience??
Posted by
Pittsford, NY, USA
64 posts
This is a tough one....There is no right answer & you will be fine either way. Although I have not taken the overnight train in the UK, I have done so in other European countries and was underwhelmed by the experience. Riding in a sleeper train can be downright uncomfortable. Even though I prefer cities to the countryside, having recently traveled through Scotland, I would suggest your visit there is not complete without seeing a bit of the countryside...castles, a variety of houses, sheep, picture pretty villages and lots of green. Regarding your time in Edinburgh, leaving in late afternoon or at night is probably not going to make that much difference in terms of what you can see/accomplish there. Have a great trip!
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32350 posts
I'd suggest travelling during the day as it's only about a 4.5 hour trip and it's very pleasant. Keep in mind that if you plan to spend most of the day touring around Edinburgh, you'll have to find some place to store your luggage. I can't recall if Edinburgh has a left luggage office, but you'll have to allow extra time to retrieve your bags.
Posted by
Tunbridge Wells
6113 posts
The sleeper is hideous and needs a refurbishment. Travel during the day.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
To answer your original point "We can either leave late afternoon and still be able to enjoy the view out our windows", it depends on the time of year.
In winter it gets dark at about 4:30, so a "late afternoon" departure will be in the dark all they way. In June, it is light until past 9 pm, so a 5pm departure will get you countryside views all the way.
Some people take to sleepers, some people can't sleep on them and hate them. Until you try you won't know which category you are in. They is no "allure", it is not the Orient Express, it is a mundane cramped sleeping compartment.
I would recommend a daylight train. The countryside is nice. I would also recommend a stop off on York, always worth a few hours or an overnight stop.
Posted by
San Antonio TX, United States
2393 posts
I love sleeper trains but if I were you I'd take the faster day train. This is only 7 1/2 hrs - by the time you get settled in and have time to wake up you will be lucky to get 5 - 6 hrs sleep - likely less as the excitement of the new experience will keep you awake. This train departs late 11:30 pm and arrives early 7 am - so you then have to see about storing your bags before you can do anything.
Wait and save the night train for a longer route when you can really relax and enjoy.
Posted by
824 posts
I have only been on the day service between Edinburgh and London so I can't really comment on the overnight service. But, I will say, the scenery wasn't all that captivating because for most of the journey, the train is either in a fairly deep trough cut through the countryside or the view was blocked by hedges and/or trees. The far-off vistas were only sporadically available...
But, on the plus-side, the day train was comfortable and the coach service was nice. The train also had WIFI which makes the 4.5 hour journey a productive time to catch up on communications, blog entries and on-line reviews.
Considering that you must do something with your luggage once you arrive London, I would opt for the day service.
Posted by
3123 posts
I concur that an expectation of "allure" is probably not going to be fulfilled. The beds are small and narrow. The noise and motion of the train may make it very difficult to get a decent night's sleep, depending what kind of sleepers you are.
Also, some people (that would be me) are nervous because of stories of robberies on overnight trains where the robbers spray gas into your compartment to put you "out" while they grab your belongings.
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
Also, some people (that would be me) are nervous because of stories of robberies on overnight trains where the robbers spray gas into your compartment to put you "out" while they grab your belongings.
That sort of thing did happen on Italian trains some 30 years ago. Not so much anymore and not on that particular line.
But rest you will not. Take the day train or fly. Flying would actually be the time equivalent of the regular train. Better scenery and less hassles on the train.