Edinburgh Waverley train station is a living piece of history in Edinburgh’s heart.
Adjacent to the Royal Mile and in a steep and narrow valley between the city's medieval Old Town and 18th-century New Town, this busy Scottish train station lets you step off the platform and right into the enchantment of Edinburgh. Here’s what you need to know before your arrival at Edinburgh Waverley railway station.
Image Credit: Getty Images, ewg3D. Image Location: Edinburgh Waverley station, Scotland, UK
Everything you need to know about Edinburgh Waverley
Wave hello to Edinburgh Waverley railway station, a railway hub in one of Scotland’s most magical cities.
What’s the main train station in Edinburgh called?
Edinburgh’s main train station is called Edinburgh Waverley. Opened in 1866, Edinburgh Waverley train station is one of the largest train stations in Scotland. You’ll find it one block north of the Royal Mile.
Are Edinburgh and Edinburgh Waverley the same station?
Yes, Edinburgh Waverley has a handful of nicknames, including simply “Edinburgh train station” or “Waverley train station”. The only other train station near Edinburgh city center is Haymarket railway station, roughly one mile west of Edinburgh Waverley.
Is Edinburgh Waverley station open 24 hours?
No, Edinburgh Waverley railway station is not open 24 hours a day, but it welcomes passengers for quite a long portion of the day. Edinburgh Waverley train station closes at 00:45 every day, so you’re welcome to roll in on a midnight train. The station then reopens at 4:00 AM, with the exception of Sunday when it opens at 6:00AM.
Image Credit: Getty Images, David Madison. Image Location: Edinburgh Waverley station, Scotland, UK
How to get to Edinburgh train station from airport?
When you arrive at Edinburgh Airport (EDI), you can skip the taxi and speed off to Edinburgh’s train stations via tram service. 7 is your lucky number: trams depart every 7 minutes between 7AM and 7PM (and every 10 minutes for the other hours between 6:26 and 22:48). You can either get off at the St. Andrew Square tram stop and walk to Edinburgh Waverley, or, you can hop off early and jump on one of the trains to Waverley Station Edinburgh departing from Edinburgh Gateway, Edinburgh Park Central, Edinburgh Park Station, or Haymarket.
How to get from London to Edinburgh Waverley train station?
Trains to Waverley station in Edinburgh depart from Kings Cross station in London. Yes, Potterheads, the very station housing Platform 9 ¾. The average travel time for London LNER and LUMO high-speed trains to Waverley station in Edinburgh from London Kings Cross is 4.5 hours. Prefer an overnight train? The Caledonian Sleeper departs from London Euston every night, for those hoping to wake up with the Scottish countryside speeding by outside their window.
Image Credit: Getty Images, joe daniel price. Image Location: Edinburgh Waverley station and North Bridge, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Inside Edinburgh Waverley’s historic train station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is one of the major train stations in Scotland so it’s got everything you need. Smelling less than magical after an overnight sleeper train from London? There are showers available for £5. Need to leave your luggage before you check into your hotel? Left luggage storage is available and can be prebooked.
When it comes to food, drink, and shopping, the basics are covered. Beer? The Beer House, of course, or you can down a few pints in J.D. Wetherspoon. Caffe Nero is your Starbucks alternative in Scotland, but Costa is fresh brewed as well. The Bagel Factory, Burger King, Pret A Manger, and The Pasty Shop round out the menu of restaurants while Boots, The Bookshop, and WHSmith cover the stores available.
Options seem limited? That’s because Edinburgh Waverley railway station is right in the center of the city. Step outside and you’ll have your choice of pubs, restaurants, shops, and chippies where you can get nearly anything edible deep fried.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Neil Bussey. Image Location: Waverley Bridge and The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Hotels near Waverley station Edinburgh
If you’re spending even a single night in the Scottish capital, the hotels near Waverley station in Edinburgh will make you fall in love with this truly enchanting city.
- The Balmoral: A five-star spectacle, The Balmoral is something of a legend in these parts. Afternoon tea and evening drinks are unrivaled here.
- The Scotsman: We won’t bury the lede about The Scotsman. This hotel in the former Scotsman Newspaper building has some rooms with stunning views of Edinburgh Castle and the Firth of Forth.
- Hilton Edinburgh Carlton: Housed in a century-old building, this Hilton hotel near Waverley station in Edinburgh invites you to dine at the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill.
Scottish adventure
Edinburgh is a must-visit city whether you’re spending a few days in Scotland or a few weeks in the UK. Rain or shine, there’s always more than enough to explore in Edinburgh no matter the season. Day trips from Edinburgh include searching for a certain monster near Inverness, checking out the castle that inspired Disney’s Brave, or reliving scenes from Netflix’s A Castle for Christmas. Download the Trainline app to start your magical train journey from Edinburgh Waverley railway station today.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, John Lawson, Belhaven. Image Location: Edinburgh Waverley station, Scotland, UK
