The BEST Train from London to Edinburgh in 2026 (Review)

Wondering what’s the best train from London to Edinburgh? Read my review comparing all the main train operators which serve the London to Edinburgh route.

I break down the costs, duration and what it’s like onboard based on my own experience travelling by LNER, Avanti West Coast, Caledonian Sleeper and Lumo.

So, which train should you take from London to Edinburgh? Here’s what I found out.

Why I Chose to Travel by Train 

I visited Edinburgh on a brief weekend city break a few days before Christmas. Time was of the essence, so I took a flight, thinking it would be cheaper and quicker… Or so I thought. 

I was wrong, of course, and both my flights ended up being delayed, and it looked like there was a real danger that I would spend Christmas Day in Edinburgh Airport. I didn’t, luckily!

So, when the opportunity arose to take a second trip to Edinburgh, I was determined to do things differently.

Edinburgh is my favourite city in the UK, but it’s far – not travelling internationally, but still a trek in its own right.

Even so, flying was not an option for me. I couldn’t justify it. Not with the possibility of reliving unapologetic delays and the needless negative impact on the environment. 

Up until recently, flying has reigned supreme in being the most cost-effective and convenient way to travel from London to Edinburgh.

Historically, trains were expensive and time-consuming, and when you’ve only got a small amount of time to spare on your mini-break, the last thing you want to do is spend most of it travelling to and from the destination. 

The LNER Azuma trains promised travellers a cheaper, faster and more convenient way to travel to the Scottish capital.

Since I was already planning to go, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to test it and see if it really was the best train from London to Edinburgh and how it stacked up against other operators.

READ MORE: One Week in Scotland Without a Car: The Ultimate Itinerary

Train Ticket Prices 

I bought my ticket directly from the LNER website to keep things simple.

If booked well in advance (about 4 weeks), LNER promises that you can get as much as 47% off, and a standard single ticket from London to Edinburgh could cost you about £55.70. The cheapest I found was £57 for a single ticket.

I didn’t manage to get quite such a bargain; instead, I paid £96.85 for a standard return with a railcard included. It was still a reasonably good deal, and as a bonus, there were no added booking fees. 

For luxury travellers, an advance upgrade can cost you around £114.60 for a first-class single, and for that, you can get super comfy seats, hot food, drinks, booze and snacks galore. 

It’s worth noting that LNER often runs sales, where you can get as much as 50% off tickets for selected routes if you travel within a certain timeframe.

Find out more about the LNER Azuma and book your tickets.

What It’s Like to Take the Train from London to Edinburgh

The journey from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley was a scenic one. The train raced through the country in record time (about 4h 20m) as it headed northeast.

The best views were saved until last as we sped past the historic city of Durham and spotted the cathedral and castle rising above the rooftops.

Next, we snaked through Newcastle and caught a glimpse of the city’s famous Tyne Bridge before getting a close-up of Newcastle Castle on the way out.

Skirting the east coast of England, we made it to the picturesque town of Berwick-Upon-Tweed, the final frontier before our journey up into the Scottish Borders and onwards to Edinburgh.

With less than 5 hours spent travelling, the journey could not have gone better. I sat back and relaxed with a book in hand and a cup of tea in the other as the world sped by my window. 

You could argue that a flight is quicker in the air (about 1 hour), but once you’ve factored in the commute to and from the airports, the time waiting before your flight and the stress of luggage allowances, a fraction of time more if indeed at all just doesn’t seem worth it. 

Save this infographic to compare the different train operators from London to Edinburgh

READ MORE: 17 Best Towns to Visit in Scotland Without a Car

Alternative Trains and Routes from London to Edinburgh

The LNER Azuma was a game-changer for me, but it’s not the only choice on the tracks. So, is it the best train from London to Edinburgh? Here are 3 other popular services listed below to compare: 

The Caledonian Sleeper 

The Caledonian Sleeper nods to the romantic age of slow travel. It’s more of a luxury experience than your average train journey.

The journey from London to Edinburgh is a fair bit longer (about 8 hours), but if you’re taking the Caledonian Sleeper simply to get from A to B, then you’re doing it wrong. 

Passing through the night, it’s designed to be a chance for passengers to really relax and indulge. You have a choice of sleeping arrangements from cabins with a double bed and ensuite to reclining seats with a personal locker each. 

The Caledonian Sleeper is slow travel at its core, so don’t try to rush. WiFi and charging sockets are available throughout the train, and passengers have a choice of menus offering a selection of seasonal Scottish dishes to tuck into.  

Read More: Caledonian Sleeper Review: Is This Train Worth The Hype?

Accommodation and Ticket Prices 

Prices are based on booking a single ticket 1 month in advance and are subject to change: 

Ticket price changes depending on what month and date you travel. For example, February is cheaper than May, and Sundays are cheaper than Fridays. No trains run on Saturdays.

Find out more and book tickets for the Caledonian Sleeper. 

Avanti West Coast

Avanti West Coast is the other popular train service that can take you from London to Edinburgh.

After replacing Virgin Trains, the operator promised to introduce a range of passenger improvements. I’ve yet to see it. Between you and me, I find them the least reliable!

A single ticket from London to Edinburgh starts from £36.50 if you book it a month in advance. 

A slower train than the LNER Azuma, it takes about 4h 42m with departures from Euston every 2 hours at normal operating times. Note: the last train is 23:45 on weekdays and 20:56 on weekends.

Comfort is very much how you make it on board an Avanti train. Passengers can either go fancy in First Class or pick Standard Class with the option of the Quiet Coach if necessary. 

Food and drink services are available throughout the train as well as free WiFi.  

However, I find that Avanti West Coast trains are often delayed, cancelled or overcrowded in my experience. I’m yet to be convinced – sorry, Avanti!

Accommodation and Ticket Prices 

Prices are based on booking a single ticket 1 month in advance and are subject to change: 

Find out more about travelling with Avanti West Coast and book your tickets.

Lumo

Brand new, fully electric train service on the scene, Lumo, follows the East Coast mainline but at a fraction of the cost of Avanti West Coast and other rivals.

Launched in October 2021, Lumo started with two services a day and now pushes it up to five. Trains depart London King’s Cross at 5.45, 10.15, 12.14, 14.15 and 20.30 during the week.

Lumo promises to be the low-cost, eco-friendly answer to plane travel.

Trains are 100% electric, the food menu is 50% plant-based, and staff uniforms are recyclable. But I think its most important sustainability message is reflected in the price.

Train travel in the UK is, on the whole, more expensive than flying, but Lumo wants to change this and make it an affordable choice for everyone.

So where do these swish new trains go? It’s only a handful of stations so far. These are London King’s Cross, Stevenage, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Morpeth and Edinburgh Waverley. As of 2026, there are new routes from London to Glasgow and Stirling.

I took the Lumo train from London to Edinburgh and back again for the first time in September. It was very busy and a little bit cramped on board. I got a ‘Ryanair of train travel’ vibe.

There are some luggage restrictions to consider. Passengers are allowed to bring a “maximum of ONE Small bag OR Holdall and ONE Medium suitcase (63 x 41 x 27cm).“

There are luggage racks at either end of the carriage for larger items, an overhead rack for medium bags and a small space underneath the seat. I recommend not bringing a lot of luggage as you’ll have a stressful time storing it when the train is busy.

Accommodation and Ticket Prices

Prices are based on booking a single ticket 1 month in advance and are subject to change. The best way to get the lowest price is to book a month or two in advance.

If you’re flexible, the best-priced trains are the earliest and latest ones!

Find out more about Lumo and book your tickets.

Train from London to Edinburgh Comparison 

So, now that you’ve seen what each train offers, here’s a quick comparison below to help you decide which is the best train from London to Edinburgh based on speed, comfort and price: 

As you can see, LNER Azuma stands out as one of the fastest trains, but it’s not the most reasonably priced. Lumo is now the most affordable train service, so it’s the best train from London to Edinburgh if comfort isn’t your main priority.

Lumo doesn’t have a First Class as it’s cheap and cheerful. It wins on price and sustainability. It’s competitive in speed, too. Avanti is second in terms of affordability, but like I said, I don’t find them as reliable, and I’m yet to be convinced.

The Caledonian Sleeper is in a league of its own. As one of the top luxury train experiences in the UK, it can’t really compare.

Ride the Caledonian Sleeper FOR the journey itself. Plus, you have the added benefit of travelling through the night. However, I don’t actually recommend this train if you’re just travelling between London and Edinburgh.

It gets to Edinburgh in the middle of the night, and you’re turfed off. It waits at the station for a few hours or joins with another service before continuing north to Aberdeen or the Highlands.

READ MORE: Visiting Scotland Without a Car in 2025: the Ultimate Guide

Best Ticket Providers and How to Use Them 

You can, of course, book your tickets directly via each website – I recommend it if you choose the Caledonian Sleeper. But, if you want to find competitive rates, there are three main ticket providers I use: 

Trainline

Trainline is one of the most popular train ticket services that gives you an overview of the best train routes and prices.

You can download your tickets directly onto your phone if you want to go paper-free or get a code to collect your tickets via the machine at the airport. 

Trainline is useful if you want to get train tickets for the UK and mainland Europe, but it’s best if you book them well in advance if you want the benefit of saving a few pennies.

Booking fees are also an unavoidable fact of Trainline, charging you £0.56 to £2.79 when you book, depending on the price of your train ticket.  

Book your tickets on Trainline here or download the app for both iPhone and Android. 

National Rail Enquiries

Much like Trainline, National Rail Enquiries gives you a breakdown of train times and prices, offering the cheapest routes.

Once you’ve chosen your tickets, it redirects you to the train service website so you can carry out your purchase there. 

You can go online at National Rail Enquiries or download the app for smartphones. 

TrainPal

TrainPal is a similar service to the first two, but it’s by far my favourite one to use. You can always find a cheap ticket, and there are no extra booking fees to deal with if you use the app.

Owned by Ctrip, the parent company of the fan-favourite flight booking platform Skyscanner, TrainPal also has another trick up its sleeve: the ability to calculate and provide split ticketing options.

This means that passengers will be able to save money by booking separate tickets for different sections of their journey, rather than just one ticket, even if they don’t need to change trains. 

Book your tickets on TrainPal here or download the app for both iPhone and Android. 

Editor’s Tip: If your train is cancelled or delayed by 15 minutes or more, always claim compensation through the train operator, NOT ticket booking platforms like Trainline. All train operators have a Delay Repay system. Trainline will just charge you an admin fee.

London to Edinburgh by Train: Verdict 

If you’re travelling from London to Edinburgh, it’s time to say adios to air travel. It’s no longer the fastest, cheapest or most convenient way to travel now that LNER’s high-speed Azuma trains have entered the ring. 

If I compare both my journeys to Edinburgh, it’s fair to say the train won, but it would be wrong to say it was completely perfect.

There were slight delays on the return journey, but it was more favourable in comparison to being stuck for 4 hours at Edinburgh Airport the night before Christmas Eve (now THAT’S a fun story for another time). 

The Caledonian Sleeper is a bucket list train journey. You get your travel and your hotel rolled into one, and the pleasure of waking up in another part of the country. It’s pretty pricey, though, unless you’re prepared to spend the night in a seat. I prefer to take it if I’m travelling up to the Highlands.

Lumo’s prices are competitive, but it makes the service very busy. If you don’t mind the Ryanair vibes and the stricter luggage policy, you should book well in advance if you want your chance before it sells out.

But if we’re talking about fast, convenient and comfortable, then the LNER Azuma is by far the best train from London to Edinburgh. Its prices are much higher than Avanti West Coast’s, but the overall experience is much better. So, with that, which one would you choose?

Your train adventure to Scotland doesn’t have to stop in Edinburgh. Read my guide to the most scenic railways in Scotland, from iconic viaducts on the West Highland Line to views of the Cairngorms on the Highland Main Line.

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Looking for more train travel guides? Check out these posts!

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• Caledonian Sleeper Review: Is This Train Worth The Hype?