Elaine

Hi ! My family of 6 will be in England/Scotland in August. 2 questions: <BR>1)Do we need advanced reservations ( if yes, how far in advance ?) to travel by train from York to Edinburgh? How long a trip is this and are there several trains per day ? <BR>2) In edinburgh, I have reservations at two hotels (its during Festival time, and was very difficult to get accomadations): Holiday Inn Garden Court on Queensferry Rd or Travelodge on St. Mary's Rd. Which would be better to enjoy our brief visit? <BR>Thanks !

Tony

There is at least one fast direct train per hour from York to Edinburgh, and the journey time is two and a half hours approx. <BR>Reservations should'nt be necessary, but maybe advisable if all 6 of you want to sit together. If First Class don't bother reserving. <BR>Can't help with the hotels, sorry.

Nancy

We took the exact trip last year. I would recommend making reservations to ensure that you will have seats. Otherwise, you may not sit together, and you may even have difficulty getting seats all the way through to Scotland. We made the reservations when we arrived in York. Sorry. I don't know about the hotels.

Schuvy

Don't know about the hotels. But I can say with some confidence that reserving train seats into Edin. during Festival is a very good idea and worth the small extra charge. Festival is a zoo, lots and lots of people...many of whom get there by train. But its worth it. Several trains per day from Yrok (two hours) but some go direct to the major station (waverly) and others stop at Haymarket. If your hotel is near Haymarket, be sure you are on a train that stops there.

Ben Haines

Fodors <BR> <BR>The weekday trains that run fromYork to Edinburgh Hsaymarket are likely to be those that leave at 0734, 1227, 1401, 1550, and 1750. Each has a buffet car, and all but the first have a restaurant car. <BR> <BR>Welcome to Britain. Please write if I can help further <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR> <BR>

Julian

Buying on the day is generally the most expensive way of doing it - if you visit http://www.gner.co.uk or http://www.thetrainline.com you might be able to get one of the reduced fares. It looks very complicated but stick at it, as you might save a lot of money and actually get to sit together. <BR>Holiday Inn Garden Ct is more upmarket than Travelodge. If I recall correctly there is a Travelodge near the centre which is very good value (near the Exhibition Halls, whatever they're called), and one a long way further from town. Check which one they mean!

Sheila

The Travel lodge in Morrison Link is much more central than the Garden Court (I stayed couple of weeks ago and it was very hot- it does noot have air conditionsing and might be iffy in August, but it is £40/night cheaper than the Garden Court) <BR> <BR>Location good, accommodation better than adequate, price keen. <BR> <BR>But I don't know where St mary's Road is and if it's in Duddingston where St Mary's Loch is, it's not so central.