Travel from London to Scotland

Catching a train from London to Scotland allows you to sit back and soak up the scenery in comfort. Why not start your holiday the moment you get on the train with a Scottish book or movie - until it's time to gaze out the window at the stunning Scottish countryside of course!

Train services from London to Scotland are run by LNER, Avanti West Coast and Lumo.

Or you can take the Caledonian Sleeper train which departs every night from London Euston (not Sat). Book your tickets far in advance for the cheapest fares. Read Hannah and Charloe's blog – better known as @thattravelcouple – as they share their ultimate six-day island-hopping adventure across Scotland, beginning with the Caledonian Sleeper and exploring the Hebrides with CalMac ferries.

Trains to Edinburgh

• From London Kings Cross in 4 hours 30 minutes
• From London Euston in 6 hours

Trains will arrive at Edinburgh Waverley, though many services also stop first at Edinburgh Haymarket. Both of these stations are central with Waverley on the east side of the city centre and Haymarket on the west side - they are around 25 minutes walk apart. 

Trains to Glasgow

• London Euston in 4 hours 30 minutes

The train from London runs to Glasgow Central, Scotland's biggest railway station.

Trains to Stirling

There is a direct route from London Euston to Stirling by Lumo.

Trains to Inverness

• London Kings Cross in 8 hours

Your train will arrive at Inverness Station in the heart of Inverness.

Trains to Aberdeen

• London Kings Cross in 7 hours

Your train will arrive at Aberdeen Rail Station which gives you easy access to the city centre.

Trains to Dundee

• London Kings Cross in 6 hours

You will arrive at Dundee Railway Station which is around five minutes from the city centre.

Trains to the rest of Scotland

Scotland's well-connected rail network means that you can get to many other destinations such as Perth, Stirling and Fort William quickly and easily. 

There are frequent bus services from London to Scotland, often with cheap ticket prices.

How often are buses?

There are buses travelling to Edinburgh or Glasgow from London throughout the day, including overnight services. You can check the latest bus routes and timetables on the Traveline website.

Which bus service?

Bus services to Scotland are operated by National Express, Megabus and FlixBus including routes to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Inverness and Perth.

How long do buses take?

• London to Edinburgh - 9 hours
• London to Glasgow - 8.5 hours
• London to Dundee - 11.5 hours
• London to Aberdeen - 12.5 hours
• London to Inverness - 15 hours

Coach tours

You might also consider a coach tour of Scotland, beginning in London. Check out these Scotland tours & trips from London.

Budget airlines put on regular flights from a variety of London airports, including London Gatwick, London Stansted and London Luton.

Check a price comparison site to find flight options.

• SkyScanner
• Expedia

London to Edinburgh flights

Direct flights from London to Edinburgh take between 60 and 90 minutes. You will arrive at Edinburgh Airport and you can take a short tram, bus or taxi ride into the city centre.

Flights to Glasgow

Flights to Glasgow from London take between 60 and 90 minutes. Your flight will arrive at Glasgow Airport and it is just a short bus, train or taxi ride into the city centre or beyond. 

Flights to Inverness

Your flight to Inverness will take just over 90 minutes. Inverness Airport is accessible by bus, train or taxi.

Flights to Dundee

Direct flights from London to Dundee take just over 90 minutes. You can fly from London Heathrow and will arrive at Dundee Airport, just five minutes' journey from Dundee city centre.

Flights to Aberdeen

A direct flight to Aberdeen will take just over 90 minutes. Arriving at Aberdeen International Airport on the outskirts of Aberdeen, you will be just a 30 minute bus journey to the city centre.

Other destinations

Scotland has several other smaller airports spread across the country, most of which you will have to get a connecting flight to if you are travelling from London.

It is around a 400-mile drive between the two capital cities, London and Edinburgh. The trip is likely to take 8-10 hours on average including rest stops and any traffic issues.

Check out the AA's handy route planner and the Traffic Scotland website for real time and future information on roadworks, traffic incidents and more.

Find practical information on driving in Scotland

Quickest route

There are 2 main routes into Scotland - the A1 up the east coast, or the M6 up the west coast. Both routes are straightforward and will take you across the border and to one of Scotland's two biggest cities.

Electric cars and charging points

Why not hire an electric car? There are EV charging points right across Scotland and the UK.