>>Does EasyJet ever do their really cheap advance fares any more.<<

yes

But in case you didn't realize it you could only use Gatwick, Stansted or Luton so your transport London to/from airport will be more expensive.

>>A train would also work if they have reduced fares. There will be two grandparents and 3 children ages 8, 10 and 12<<

It is too early to book but yes, the trains also do cheap advance bookings. Be sure to look at the senior and family railcard discount schemes.

Virgin Atlantic start operating some domestic UK routes soon, called Little Red, Heathrow/Edinburgh is one of the routes which will be in operation by August. No idea of the fare levels but you might want to take a look and compare to Easyjet and train fares.

http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en.html

The train along England's East Coast passes some beautiful scenery.

There is a limited, that takes about 4 hours from London to Edinburgh.

Thank you everyone. I'll check the flights and trains nearer the summer.

Flybe also go this route.

Edinburgh, August, Cheap are three words that don't go together.

Currently cheap train tickets are available up to the end of May. If you go to the eastcoast website cunningly called eastcoast.co.uk there is a booking window date on the right hand side. It normally updates once a week

Oh didn't notice it was August, as it Festival time you may want to book hotels waaaaay in advance.

Checking the trains and flights nearer the summer is risky. If you find a good fare book it sooner rather than later.

Just book a train, centre to centre in 4h30 from as little as £18 at www.eastcoast.co.uk.

If you fly, a train ticket from London to Luton Airport or Heathrow Airport or Stansted will cost £13 one-way on its own, even before you add the cost of the flight, then it's £5 for the bus from the airport into Edinburgh!

By train, it's lovely and scenic north of Newcastle where it goes along the Northumberland coast and over the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick into Scotland.

Plus the train is less stressful and more relaxing than airports and a flight, and far far better for the environment too.

Oh, and booking for trains opens around 12 weeks in advance.

www.thetrainline.com and as the person above said; 3 months before. As for Easyjet,as far as I can work out the cheapest fares are when they first go on sale and they only go up from that point. the time and hassle and price just to get to and from the airport, you may as well take the train or if pricy, maybe even hire a car. The trains may even offer senior fares. I know the coaches do but please, don't even go there....

Note that with the train the price varies dramatically depending on what time of day you go. Avoid departing before 9:30am and during evening rush hour as trains charge more as they know they can charge all the business folks whatever they want as they will charge them to their company. Fair ain't it?!