I'm looking for the cheapest option to get from Edinburgh to London. I was thinking of going to Lake District from Edinburgh then straight into London. Is there a direct train from Lake District to London?
Which do you think is cheaper and is there a website I can check on prices and timetables?
Thanks.
Check http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ for rail options.
Air may well turn out to be the cheaper. Even if it isn't, if you are returning from Edinburgh to catch a flight out of London, don't forget to account for the cost and time involved in getting from the station to the airport.
For flights, check out easyjet, BMI and, yes, British airways. Many of the European biggies are offering similar fares on routes where they're in competition with the low-cost airlines,...and their schedules may be more convenient. As well, if you happen to be departing for home on this leg, BA and BMI can get you from Edinburgh right into Heathrow. For the absolute cheapest way, Lake District stop or not, try the bus...also the longest. nationalexpress.com has one-way rates as low as 15 pounds on their express run...about 10 hours Edin-Ldn.
Depending on when you are traveling...Prebooking Edinburgh to manchester on megatrain can be as low as $4,and Manchester to London VIA Sheffield can be as low as $14.Thats all by train.Singles on some journeys on NationalExpress bus are about$30
You might find relatively cheap single fares on the virgin train site for the Man--london leg,travelling off peak.
Megatrain, also run buses city-to city
4
Greetings
I agree that Virgin is the best way to go if you want to stop in the Lake District. Otherwise, GNER has been advertising fares as low as £10-12 for Edinburgh to London.
Flying (only if you are skipping the Lake District) can be cheap, but like the train, you have to buy well in advance to get the cheapest fares. Also, you should take into account the time it will take to get to/from the airport and through security. Might be faster on the train. Also there are no weight limits for luggage on the train and you don't have to worry about the one carry-on item limit.
BMI is good, but I would avoid British Airways if at all possible. And Heathrow - it's a nightmare for luggage and for just about everything else. You can get cheap flights on EasyJet or FlyGlobespan etc. into other airports.
Kate
If you want to stop in the Lake District, take a Virgin train from Edinburgh to Oxenholme Lake District and a Transpennine Express train from there to Windemere. To go on to London, return to Oxenholme Lake District and take a Virgin train from there.
If you decide to go directly from Edinburgh to London, check out the Caledonian Sleeper: http://tinyurl.com/g9ehd. Bargain Berths start at £19.
if you decide to overnight train it I don't recommend a sleeping compartment. You can save quite a lot in a regular seat that reclines, with a blankie, nightshades and some headphones. over night trains I think are over rated, expensive and uncomfortable in my opinion.
