I am traveling with my husband and two kids this summer and don't have enough time to spend in Scotland, but a friend suggested not missing it entirely by taking a high scpped train from London to Edinburgh. She did this about 20 years ago. Wondering if it's a good way to spend maybe one day/overnight? Also, cost to get there and how long does it take these days? Any info would be helpful!
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
Depending upon the time of day, National Express East Coast trains make the London Kings Cross-Edinburgh Waverly run in 4 1/2 - 5 hours. Walk-up fares can be as high as £105 each way. Booked well in advance online at www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com, you can get fares as low as £12 each way. You could take a morning train to Edinburgh, spend the night, and take an evening train back to London.
If you sleep well on trains, you could save the cost of two nights in a hotel by taking the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to Edinburgh Waverly, spending the day and into the evening in Edinburgh, and taking the sleeper back to London that same night. Booked well in advance, you can get Bargain Berths. For a information on this route, including photos, go to http://www.seat61.com/CaledonianSleepers.htm.
Or take the sleeper one way and a day train the other, spending one night in Edinburgh.
Posted by
Edmonton, AB, Canada
668 posts
If you go, do not go on a Sunday. This is when they do maintenance and your "highspeed" may become very slow indeed.