traveling in the UK

If you are pressed for time and don't plan on doing any sightseeing on the way down from Scotland then EasyJet would be the way to go. Don't put in the exact date you want to travel put in a few days before or after, you'll always be able to see the other days either side and prices which always seem to be cheaper! .
We used Easyjet Edinburgh to Bristol in Nov and found they were quite good. Everyone in the UK complains about Ryan Air and they do have a bad track record so I would avoid them.

You can catch the Eurostar from Ashford, Kent. Just book far in advance for lowest price.

OK, Sarah, where in Kent? More detail = better answer, with specifics.

Kent is South East of London near M20. Thanks, Sarah

Well, in the absence of more detail I shall use Bat & Ball which is south of the M20, southeast of London for my comparisons. Flying is likely the most expensive, but possibly fastest. Easyjet can get you from Edinburgh airport in 90 minutes at 6:20, arriving Gatwick at 7:50 for about £40 pp plus any extras such as checked luggage or reserved seats or food. Shall we say £200 plus taxi to the airport very early and taxi from the airport to Bat & Ball? Figure a round £300, and you could be at Bat & Ball by around - let's give the cab 45 minutes for a 30 minute run because the A23 can ball up in morning rush hour - maybe 8:45. Train, you can sleep in longer an early departure from Waverley which maybe you could walk to might be the 8:30 East Coast service to London Kings Cross arriving Kings Cross 12:51, time for a very quick bite in either KX or St Pancras before hopping the 13:30 First Capital Connect to Sevenoaks, arriving Bat & Ball at 14:40, total duration 6 hours and 5 minutes at £42.50 per adult (you don't share how your group of 4 is made up), total price £170 for Advance non changeable non refundable tickets. Driving? 7 and a half hours to 8 hours depending on traffic and chosen route, about 450 miles. Cost, depending on the car, a day's car rental whatever that might be plus any drop charges plus insurance plus fuel. In my car, an older diesel Honda at today's prices I would be on the good side of £80.00 for fuel. Which is best? dunno. More information = better answers. To Paris, Bat & Ball to St Pancras via First Capital Connect, as above (about 70 minutes, minimum 30 minute check in, leave an hour and have a bite before departure, and just over 2 hours on the Eurostar. You don't say if you are coming back - return through fares from Bat & Ball will be cheapest, purchased ahead.

Hi Sarah, Nigel knows where Kent is, Kent is a large area, he was asking where in Kent are you going. You could be going to Ashford, Headcorn, Smarden, Maidstone, Sissinghurst, etc....... Having a little more information would help us to help you.

I would take the train from Edinburgh to London King's Cross. As the others have said we to know where in Kent you intend to go.

Hello. I believe we are going to Sevenoaks, Kent Thank you. Sarah

Well I guess I wasn't far off with Bat & Ball LOL. Sevenoaks is only 1 stop further out!! Service from Sevenoaks to London is considerably better though. There are express trains which hardly take half an hour. They do go to Charing Cross though, via London Bridge and Waterloo East so there is very easy access to many of the Underground lines (Northern(both Charing Cross branch and Bank branch),Circle, District, Bakerloo, Jubilee, and Waterloo & City) as well as the First Capital Connect system. For access to St Pancras International you can either take the trains I mentioned earlier from Bat & Ball but 3 minutes longer or take the express towards Charing Cross and change at London Bridge to either the northbound Northern Line (Bank Branch) 5 stops to Kings Cross St Pancras or onto the First Capital Connect (4 stops, less frequent).