Travel between London and Edinburgh
 

Any opinions on either taking a train from London to Edinburgh, or flying?

Where will you be traveling from? Central London, one of the airports, or somewhere else?

If from central London -- the train from Kings Cross makes most sense (or the sleeper from Euston). It is right in the center of the city and you arrive in the very center of Edinburgh 4+ hours later.

If you are already out at LHR for instance -- then flying makes most sense.

Do you wish to see the England and Scotland in between London and Edinburgh or just airport tarmacs and terminals - if the latter fly - if not take the train - the part of the route from Newcastle to Edinburgh is quite scenic as the train tracks right along the coast much of the way - a rugged coast.

Go to www.nationalrail.co.uk for fares and schedules - deep discounts exist if you book a non-changeable non-refundable train weeks in advance as those tickets are sold in limited numbers. Fare full can be dauntingly steep so book some kind of advance fare if possible.

We recently flew BA from London to Edinburgh. It was ~a 9:30 AM flt, was less than an hour in duration and they served a FULL breakfast to every passenger. When (in my jet-lagged stupor) I declined the meal, the FA tried to cajole me into having at least a little something. I have never seen such friendly, efficient service on a flight before. She later told me that they always serve breakfast on all the morning flts to Scotland.

Don't pick because of 1) scenery or 2) the meal.

The scenery is really nothing much except for a short distance between very norther England and Edinburgh.

And re a meal on the flight, <i>some</i> airlines do serve a full cooked meal. (and they serve full meals in first class on the train). That hour flight is actually more like 4+ hours if you are starting out in London zone 1 or 2. A hour to the airport, 90 minutes check in, 1+ hour flight, 30 mins into central Edinburgh. Same as for the train - but w/ more schlepping..

So again it mostly depends on WHERE one is starting from. Purchasing in advance, either one can be most economical - not much in it.

I have done both many times - which mode depends on where I am . . . and to an extent how far in advance I buy the tickets.

Janisj is right: If you're at the airport already, it's OK to fly. But, if you're already in central London, and Edinburgh is your destination (not just a jumping off point), it's definitely the train simply for the point of origin and terminal issues. There's only 20 minutes or so of scenery that is more than mildly interesting on the train, so don't choose it for that reason.

The scenery is really nothing much except for a short distance between very norther England and Edinburgh.>

For folks not so jaded by multiple trips to the UK the scenery the whole way can be fun - you never realized so many sheep doted the British landscape and the stretch - not a small stretch of railway between Newcastle and Edinburgh was actually voted Britain's most scenic rail line (it is really scenic but I would not get it that nod) - yes what do you come to Britain for - to see the countryside - as ordinary as that may be to Brits or wannabe Brits - but to a newcomer very very nice - seeing the lay of the land is a great reason to take the train.

Sorry if I made it sound like breakfast was an attraction.....My real point is that the flt is under an hour and so it is a really quick way to get to Edinburgh. The fact that they served a meal on such a short flt was just a fact that blew me away and so I mentioned it.

And of course, where you are starting from is key. We were starting from Heathrow as we had just landed from Boston.

If you're not interested in the scenery (and it is better the further north you get) there is also the night train, which saves a hotel night.

See: http://www.seat61.com/CaledonianSleepers.htm

I've had some very annoying experiences with overcrowding on the train from London to Edinburgh. The ride itself isn't that bad, though.

<i>That hour flight is actually more like 4+ hours if you are starting out in London zone 1 or 2. A hour to the airport, 90 minutes check in, 1+ hour flight, 30 mins into central Edinburgh. Same as for the train - but w/ more schlepping..</i>

Flying from London City would shave an hour or more from that time.

I'm not the least bit 'jaded' and spend more time in the UK countryside than a lot of visitors. But the rail lines go through some less than attractive places. Some because they are less attractive to begin with, and some which became less attractive <i>because</i> of development along the rail lines over the centuries.

Much of it is not at all 'very nice'

North of Newcastle there is some pretty bits and the north sea, Lindesfarne, etc. But otherwise just a lot of meh. I do take the train between London and Edinburgh - most recently in May. It is restful and comfortable. Scenic - not so much.

We are flying into London and staying 4 nights, then going to Edinburgh for 5 nights, so our starting point will be central London. We're looking for convenience more then time or scenery but as this will be our first trip to England I'm sure all the scenery will be interesting.

From - central London -- take the train. A no brainer. Book well ahead . .

. . . and IF you are over 60, book senior rail card discounted tix. The savings is so much it makes 1st class a bargain. 1st has free food free drinks free alcoholic beverages, free newspapers, etc.

You don't need the senior card to buy the tickets but you do need it before boarding the train. So you can buy the tix 12 weeks out and then collect the senior railcard after you are in London

(Ignore the above if you are under 60 :) )

I endorse janis' enthusiastic endorsement of first class on this train - vast difference between it and an oft mobbed Standard Class so scour the sites for discounted first-class tickets - much bigger seats - often lots of empty seats to sprawl out on, etc. and lots of free food and drink.

Consider breaking your journey at York for a few hours - puts bags in station locker and stroll the short distance to the town center and famous Minster (cathedral) - York to me is along with Bath Britain's most gorgeous large city - take advantage of getting off the train halfway and stretching your legs and seeing one of England's finest and most historic towns.

>>Consider breaking your journey at York for a few hours. . .<<

. . . Not unless you buy two separate tickets London > York and York > Edinburgh.

York definitely is lovely - but it really isn't a large city. The scenic central bits (basically from the Railway Museum to the Castle Museum) are very compact and easily walked from one end to the other.

>>York to me is along with Bath Britain's most gorgeous large city <<

York isn't large relative to most places. The entire urban area has maybe 200,000. Bath has less than 90,000 population - not large at all.

Well janis I was separating larger cities from villages - York I guess to put it right is one of England's prettiest cities - whether or not it is a large city is subjective - I have been there many times and to me it is a large city - don't matter it is well worth a stop - yes you'd need two tickets unless you have a railpass or a full-fare ticket - a ticket that would cost a fortune.

So yes you'd buy two separate tickets that would probably cost more than one discounted one but the chance to see York to me is worth the time and money - also breaks up a 4.5 hours journey.

York is worth more than a couple of hours. 4.5 hours isn't long enough to be worth breaking the journey - and you can always eat lunch on the train if you need a distraction.

Yes everyplace deserves more than a few hours but York's true gems - the Minster and environs are all in a compact area - if never getting a chance to see York at least for a few hours hop on the chance. anyway just a suggested options and that's what folks are often looking for - option B, C, etc.

janisj,
What is the senior card? I am a US citizen.

http://www.senior-railcard.co.uk/eli...s/eligibility/

Not clear whether the valid passport is a UK passport or any passport.