Train travel
in Australasia
If you select E-ticket you can show the ticket on your phone or laptop.
If you prefer, you can collect your tickets from the self-service machines: Touch collect tickets on the screen, insert your credit card, enter the reference & tickets will print. You need the original credit card.
Route of the Flying Scotsman
An LNER train links London & Edinburgh at up to 125mph almost every 30 minutes through the day, 393 miles in 4 hours 20 minutes, city centre to city centre with zero check-in. Flying takes 4 hours, by local train to the airport, airport security, flight, then a tram - the train is less hassle, cuts CO2 emissions by 84%, and is a genuine travel experience. This page helps you buy the cheapest tickets and get the most from the journey.
Lo-cost Lumo trains: In addition to the frequent LNER service, lo-cost Lumo trains started in October 2021, Lumo run up to 5 trains per day each way from �19.90.
Train times
How much does it cost?
How to buy tickets
What are the trains like?
London Kings Cross station
What to see on the journey
Travel tips, WiFi, luggage.
A bit of history
A tale of two Edinburgh hotels
Short breaks to Edinburgh by train
The scenic West Highland line
The scenic Settle & Carlisle line
Train times
- LNER trains leave London Kings Cross for Edinburgh Waverley almost every half-hour 07:00-19:00. Fastest journey 4 hours, typical journey time 4h20.
- Lo-cost Lumo trains run up to 5 times per day each way, typical journey time 4h32.
- Check train times for both operators at any train operator website such as www.lner.co.uk or use www.thetrainline.com. Booking for British trains usually opens up to 3 months ahead. There's also an overnight sleeper between London & Edinburgh, see the Caledonian Sleeper page.
- Route map:See map of the UK train network. The East Coast Main Line from London to Edinburgh goes via Peterborough, York, Newcastle & Berwick-Upon-Tweed. One or two trains link London Euston with Edinburgh via Milton Keynes, Crewe & Carlisle, but these take longer.
- Station location maps:London Kings Cross. Edinburgh Waverley.
How much does it cost?
- Advance fares, no refunds, specified train only Lumo starts at �19.90 each way, standard class. LNER starts at �32.80 each way, standard class. LNER starts at �80.60 each way in 1st class. Advance fares are only good for the specified train, no refunds, limited changes, price varies depending how far ahead you book & how popular that date, day or time is, just like air fares. Tip: As soon as Advance fares approach or exceed �90, see my workaround below.
- If you want a flexible fareAnytime fare good for all operators = �199.60 each way, good for any train you like. Anytime fare only good for Lumo = �88 each way, any day, any date, good for any Lumo train. Anytime tickets have unlimited availability & a fixed price, they cannot sell out. You can use them with or without a reservation on any train on which they are valid Tip: Unfortunately, there is no longer any flexible off-peak fare between London & Edinburgh, but if you'd like flexibility at a more affordable price, see the workaround below.
- LNER have abolished the Super Off-Peak fare In February 2024, LNER abolished the popular �91.20 semi-flexible Super Off Peak fare, which was refundable, was good for any off-peak train on weekdays and any train at all at weekends, good for any operator or permitted route, and allowed stopovers.
- They've replaced it with a far more restrictive Advance 70 minute flex fare They replaced it with a restrictive '70 minute flex' fare, only good for the specific train you book or another LNER train up to 70 minutes before or 70 minutes after it. No refunds, no stopovers allowed, only valid on LNER trains. It's becoming clear that this means higher prices and vastly reduced flexibility. The 70 minute flex fare is dynamic like other Advance fares, and at short notice or on busy dates it's often more expensive than the Super Off-Peak fare it replaced. Regular Advance fares have become more expensive as a result, too. On a Monday next month, I'm seeing �101 Advance fares and �121 Advance 70 minute flex fares (no refunds, limited validity, no break of journey etc) on trains where an �91 Super Off-Peak fare would always have been available (and refundable, stopovers allowed, good for any off-peak train, and so on). If LNER fares between London & Edinburgh get anywhere neat �90 one-way, I suggest using the workaround below.
- The workaround: Buy a Super Off-Peak ticket from/to Finsbury Park instead of London. Super Off-Peak fares no longer exist between Edinburgh & London, but they still exist between Edinburgh and local stations in the London area such as Finsbury Park. So if you want a Super Off-Peak fare for its superior flexibility, refundable if your plans change and often a cheaper price, you can buy one between Finsbury Park & Edinburgh and use it between London & Edinburgh (no need to go anywhere near Finsbury Park!) 1. Go to www.lner.co.uk. 2. Northbound, run an enquiry from Finsbury Park to Edinburgh. Southbound, run an enquiry from Edinburgh to Finsbury Park. Tip: Use station code EDB for Edinburgh and FPK for Finsbury Park, saves typing. 3. In the search results, click Filters, click Route options and under Go via enter London Kings Cross. You'll then see journeys between Finsbury Park & Edinburgh involving a Finsbury Park-London train and a London-Edinburgh train. If you click to see journey details, you can see the timings of the London-Edinburgh train that you'll get a seat reservation for, that's the only bit that matters. 4. Go head and buy a Super Off-Peak fare for �91.20. Break of journey is allowed with this ticket type, so it is perfectly legitimate, I repeat, perfectly legitimate to book from Finsbury Park to Edinburgh and get on in London, or buy from Edinburgh to Finsbury Park and finish in London. Absolutely no need to go anywhere near Finsbury Park! Whichever train you buy the ticket for (and get a reserved seat for), you can use that same ticket freely on any other train that day which has the same �91.20 Super Off-Peak fare shown against it. Far more flexible than LNER's restrictive Advance 70 flex! All clear? The �91.20 price doesn't vary, availability is unlimited, you can always buy at this price and use any off-peak train. So if LNER want �125 for a restrictive non-refundable London-Edinburgh Advance fare, simply buy a flexible, refundable, Super Off-Peak to/from Finsbury Park for �91.20 instead and use it between London & Edinburgh. Simples! Super Off-Peak tickets are good for any off-peak train (meaning any train all day at weekends), good for any operator, by any permitted route. The refundability alone could save you hundreds of pounds if your plans unexpectedly change compared to LNER's new fares. On Mondays-Fridays these Super Off-Peak tickets are good for any northbound train except those due to leave London before 09:06 or from 14:59 to 18:59 (18:15 on Fridays). They are good for any southbound train except those due to arrive in London before 11:17. You can use this fare with or without a reservation on any train on which it is valid (time restriction correct when written, check when you buy). Incidentally, LNER have discontinued Off-Peak fares between London and all stations Newcastle-Edinburgh inclusive, not just Edinburgh. This workaround works for any such journey, such as London-Newcastle or Berwick-London.
How to buy tickets
- Buy tickets at any train operator site such as Tip: For faster booking, enter KGX to EDB. International payment cards no problem. Select E-ticket to show the ticket on your phone, tablet or laptop. Or collect from ticket machines at Kings Cross, Edinburgh & most other British stations. You'll find train seating plans here. Train operators' own websites such as You can also buy at independent retailer www.thetrainline.com, with small booking fee, international credit cards no problem.
- Tip: If you see no fares under �190 and you're looking 8-12 weeks ahead, wait! The 8-12 week trap explained. To see how far ahead booking for LNER is currently open, and to set up an email alert when booking opens, see www.thetrainline.com/ticketalert.
What are the trains like?
LNER's Azuma trains
Train operator LNER introduced new 125 mph Azuma trains in 2019-2020, replacing older Mk4 carriages from the 1990s. The Azumas are electric, although some are hybrids with diesel engines so they can run on unelectrified lines such as Edinburgh to Aberdeen & Inverness See Azuma video. LNER is the main government-contracted operator between London & Edinburgh.
 at London Kings Cross" width="774" height="240" /> |
LNER Azuma train at London Kings Cross.
