Route guide

Edinburgh → London

534 km · United Kingdom to United Kingdom · Fastest: 3h by train · Cheapest: €22+ by bus

How to travel from Edinburgh to London

There are 4 ways to travel between Edinburgh and London — compare duration, price and operators below.

🚄Train

€47–136

Duration: 2h 58m

via LNER, Avanti West Coast, GWR

~7.0 kg CO₂ per passenger

🚌Bus

€22–57

Duration: 7h 37m

via FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, National Express

~15 kg CO₂ per passenger

✈️Flight

€56–184

Duration: 3h 13m

via Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways

~83 kg CO₂ per passenger

🚗Car

€64–117

Duration: 5h 56m

~91 kg CO₂ per passenger

Where they are on the map

Edinburgh and London highlighted among the 50 European cities we cover. Map is schematic, not to scale.

Travel tips for this route

At 534 km this is a comfortable weekend trip — train or flight both work.
Both train and flight options exist. Trains often beat flights door-to-door under 600 km once you count airport overhead.
Both Edinburgh and London are in United Kingdom — no border crossing, single currency, single rail network.
Long-distance coaches (FlixBus and similar) are typically 30–50% cheaper than train, but 2–3× slower.

Edinburgh to London — every option in detail

Edinburgh to London by train

Trains between Edinburgh and London run within the United Kingdom national rail network. The typical end-to-end journey is around 2h 58m.

Operators on this corridor include LNER, Avanti West Coast, GWR.

Train fares are dynamic — typical range is €47 to €136. Advance-purchase tickets (1–2 months ahead) almost always beat walk-up prices.

On routes under 600 km like this one, train often beats flight door-to-door once you factor in airport check-in and transfers.

Climate footprint: about 7.0 kg CO₂ per passenger by train vs roughly 83 kg by flight — taking the train saves ~76 kg on this distance.

Edinburgh to London by bus

Long-distance coaches connect Edinburgh and London with a typical journey of 7h 37m. Buses are usually the slowest mode for this corridor but consistently the cheapest.

Operators include FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, National Express.

Fares start from around €22 when booked in advance, rising to €57 for last-minute travel.

Most modern coaches offer Wi-Fi, USB charging and reclining seats. Overnight services exist on longer corridors and can save a hotel night.

Edinburgh to London by flight

Flights between Edinburgh and London take around 1h in the air, but plan on roughly 3h 13m door-to-door once you add airport transfers, check-in and security.

Airlines on this route include Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways.

Typical fare range is €56–184. Low-cost carriers offer the cheapest base fares but charge separately for bags and seat selection.

Climate footprint: approximately 83 kg CO₂ per passenger for this flight.

Edinburgh to London by car

The driving distance from Edinburgh to London is approximately 614 km. At motorway speeds, plan on around 5h 56m of driving plus stops.

Fuel-only running cost is in the €64–117 range for a typical car. Toll roads may apply, especially in France, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland — budget extra accordingly.

Climate footprint: approximately 91 kg CO₂ per passenger assuming 1.5 occupants per car.

About this route

The distance between Edinburgh and London is approximately 534 kilometres. Direct or connecting trains link the two cities through the European rail network. Both cities have international airports with regular flight service. Long-distance coaches offer a budget-friendly alternative on this route. Estimates below reflect typical operator schedules and fare ranges; book in advance for the best prices.

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