Train journey to Edinburgh

Edinburgh is our favourite place to visit in the UK, and thankfully it is really easy to get there from our home in London. Whilst it is only just over an hour’s flight to Edinburgh from London, we have always preferred to take the journey of about 5 hours by train. Taking the road was never a good option for us, mainly because the journey is quite long, and with one and then two little kids in tow it would be quite tiring.

Why we prefer the Train:

1. Time overall taken by the train journey isn’t really much longer:

Most people prefer taking a flight over other modes of travel mainly because that is the quickest way to their destination. But we had figured that flying into Edinburgh as opposed to taking the train only cuts the journey by about an hour at max, from home to hotel. That is because firstly, one needs to factor in the 2 hours that you need to arrive at the airport before the flight. Then, factor in a minimum of half hour that you would spend at baggage reclaim and exiting the airport. The airport is about 25mins away from the city centre by car and about 30mins by tram.

Whereas when we take the train, we arrive at King’s Cross station very comfortably and we are straight on the train. On the other end, we hop off at Waverley Station and our hotel is always literally a few minutes’ walk away. So strictly in terms of time, there is no major difference.

2. More options to choose travel time:

There are so many trains that run between London and Edinburgh each day, thereby so many options to choose the most convenient time for the journey.

But there are so many other perks….!

3. Cheaper than taking a flight:

It is much more inexpensive to take the train. We try and book our tickets as much in advance as possible, and hence we always get the first-class train tickets quite cheaply.

4. Scenic journey:

Whilst most journeys are a means to an end, I love the travel itself in most cases, and especially so when on the train between London and Edinburgh. The views are spectacular! Whizzing past the city of London, in just a few minutes are scenes of lush fields dotted with farm animals. The different hues of green are beautiful, and my kids love spotting and counting the different animals they see. As the train snakes around the coast, looking at the water is mesmerising, and the coastal scenes are just as beautiful as the earlier farm ones.

5. Comfortable:

Though the time of over 5 hours may sound long, our time in the train is really quite comfortable. You can walk about to stretch your legs or recline over on the seat next to you if it is empty and take a nap.

We play games and munch on the snacks (almost continuously!) that we have packed with us, and then some more curtesy of the trolley lady. I am always on an agenda to get the kids to take a nap somewhere in the middle of the journey, so they are recharged and refreshed once we get to the other side. For myself, I like nothing better than curling up with my book, a cosy shawl over me, occasionally looking up at the beautiful scenes flashing past.

6. No luggage limit:

Going by train, you can take as much luggage as you like, in whatever bags you want – no one will weigh or measure. Of course, you need to be sensible, because you will need to handle it all yourself, as well as be able to store it safely on the train. While there is adequate space for reasonable amounts on the train, there will also be other people with their luggage, and the space is ‘reasonable’, not ‘infinite’.

Where to take the train from?

From Kings Cross Station, London. Very frequently, in fact, sometimes every half hour! Going all the way to terminate at Waverly Station in Edinburgh.

(Train times would be different due to Covid-19, make sure you check the latest timetables)

The standard class is pretty comfortable enough. But as I mentioned earlier, if you book in advance, 1st class tickets can be bought quite cheaply. There is more legroom in 1st class. On weekends, there are complimentary snacks of biscuits and sandwiches plus tea and coffee, while on weekends a full hot meal plus drink is provided. Don’t forget to choose your seat in advance as well. In 1st class, there is the added seating configuration of two or four seats facing each other, which is rather convenient for families or couples. Also, 1st class is usually quieter with less families and more businessmen and women

From our trips, and from other people’s experiences, we’ve learnt that it’s best to sit on the right side on your way to Edinburgh, and on the left side on the way back to London. This is to get the best views, especially of the coast.

Large bags and suitcases can be stored on the racks at the end of each carriage, where the doors are. Anything like handbags, briefcases and backpacks can be easily stored in the overhead racks, above your seats.

Sitting down, train starting to move, settling in and getting comfortable sees us safely out of kings cross and beyond, and we see the Emirates Stadium on the right, famous for being the home of Arsenal Football Club – my son’s ‘team’!

Slowly the city scenes fade away to reveal the countryside, and that’s when the fun starts with spotting the farms and the animals. That’s also about the time when the kids will suddenly be starving as well and in need of the yummy snacks they know we’ve got for the journey.

In time the trolley lady also comes by and depending on the day we are travelling and the time, food will be served.

The board games eventually come out and things get competitive…

The halfway point between London and Edinburgh come before we know it, and is actually marked by a sign, that says (to no surprise) ‘London Edinburgh Halfway’. You will miss it if you blink, and even if you don’t blink you will most likely miss it anyway with the high speeds of the train…

It’s probably time to get up and stretch those legs. This will probably come thanks to the kids’ needing a toilet trip (if you are not very lucky you may actually have done this already, maybe more than once!)

A little bit of reading or colouring perhaps. The bellies are full, the bladders empty, and the energy levels dipping - usually we like taking the early morning trains so we arrive in good time, so the kids would’ve had quite an early start. Hence the coaxing for a nap commences, and eventually there are deep breaths and fuzzy snores.

A good time to relax ourselves – have a peaceful, uninterrupted conversation, curl up with a book or catch up on the phone. This is the ‘Me time’, and its lovely.

Once we see the characteristic bridges spanning over the River Tyne, we know we have arrived in Newcastle, much before it is announced on the train’s PA system or the call of the train driver. We always say ‘oh look! We’ve just got to Newcastle!’ excitedly to each other every time! And every time I take a picture of the beautiful 7 bridges – the scene from the window as we cross the river is always too temptingly beautiful!

Our next favourite milestone is ‘Berwick upon Tweed’, the charming little town situated over the River Tweed. It feels a world away from the frenzy of big, bold London, and even through the train window one can sense the laid-back pace and simpler life style. Every time I look and imagine what if we were to exchange Notting Hill and Oxford Street for this lovely town life…

Berwick upon Tweed is the Northernmost town in England, and 2 1/2miles later the train is officially in Scotland! The River Tweed has flown into the North Sea, and the train is snaking along the Northumberland Coast with the waves rolling into the rocks at the bottom of the clifs, and the sea views are beautiful and mesmerising.

A sign of entering into Scotland is the many tall wind turbines dotted over the green farms. Wind power is the fastest growing renewable source of energy in Scotland, and the turbines are iconic.

Time to pack up and get ready. We are almost there. Coming into Edinburgh, the train often stops at Haymarket – the other train station for Edinburgh, before its terminus at Waverly Station. Remember to check if your hotel is closer to Haymarket or Waverly. We always disembarked at Waverly Station. Remember to cast a final glance at your seats, under them and at the overhead compartment, just to make sure nothing is being left behind (as is the norm with little children!).

Waverly station is located just off Edinburgh’s main street, ‘Princes Street’. It is connected to the street via lifts and escalators. As you step out of the station, onto Prince’s street and breathe deeply the fresh Scottish air, glance around and see the Castle and feel the majestic peace, you remember why it was that you made that journey to come to Edinburgh…