Rail strikes on 4th October may impact travel. See here for details.

Skip to contentTrainline logo
My Bookings

Trains from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London

from £24.40

Save 61% on average when you buy in advance†

Book travel across Europe

TrainlineTrainline is Europe’s leading platform for train and bus tickets

Low prices found by our customers
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
23Today5 Oct67891011121314151617181920212223242526272829
Each fare above is the lowest adult ticket fare found by our customers. Discount cards and coach journeys excluded, prices exclusive of booking fee. Limited availability.

Edinburgh (Waverley) to London by train

It takes an average of 5h 39m to travel from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London by train, over a distance of around 332 miles (534 km). There are normally 61 trains per day travelling from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London and tickets for this journey start from £24.40 when you book in advance.

First train

04:36

Last train

23:40

Departure station

Edinburgh (Waverley)

Arrival station

London

Journey time

From 4h 0m

Distance

332 miles (534 km)

Frequency

61 trains per day

Changes

Direct trains available

Price

From £24.40

Train operators

Avanti West Coast, Caledonian Sleeper, London North Eastern Railway, Lumo

Edinburgh (Waverley) to London train times

Check out the next trains departing from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London for Wednesday 4th October 2023 using our handy timetable below, including platform and live travel information. You can view the full day timetable or search for a different date here.
DepartsArrivesTrainDuration
16:13 On timeedinburgh (waverley)20:44 On timelondon kings crossPlat. 8W estimatedlumo Get tickets4h 31m, direct
16:30 On timeedinburgh (waverley)21:06 On timelondon kings crossPlat. 6 estimatedlondon north eastern railway Get tickets4h 36m, 1 change
16:30 On timeedinburgh (waverley)21:36 On timelondon kings crossPlat. 6 estimatedlondon north eastern railway Get tickets5h 6m, direct
19:58 On timeedinburgh (waverley)01:07 On timelondon kings crossPlat. 8W estimatedlumo PeakGet tickets5h 9m, direct

Travelling from Edinburgh to London by train

Want to find out more about taking the train from Edinburgh to London? Look no further.

The train from Edinburgh to London usually takes around 5 hours and 43 minutes but can take just 4 hours on the fastest services, with around 46 trains running on this popular route per day. Once you're on board, you can sit back and relax, as you won’t need to make any changes along the way.

You'll be travelling with London North Eastern Railway (LNER), Lumo, or Avanti West Coast on this route. LNER and Lumo trains arrive into London Kings Cross, while Avanti West Coast services arrive into London Euston station. Want to travel in style? Find out more about travelling from Edinburgh to London in First Class.

How to get cheap train tickets from Edinburgh to London

Want to snap up the cheapest fares? Read our top tips for finding cheap train tickets from Edinburgh to London below or check out the latest train deals and discounts:

  • Get a Railcard: Save up to 1/3 on eligible journeys for a whole year
  • Book in advance: Most train companies in the UK usually release tickets 12 weeks in advance
  • Travel Off-Peak: Tickets are usually cheaper during quieter times on weekdays and weekends compared to Peak times
  • Use GroupSave: If you're travelling in a group of 3-9 people, you can save up to 34% on eligible journeys at Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak times
  • Split your train tickets with SplitSave, our new split-ticketing app feature.

Keen to book your train tickets from Edinburgh to London? No need to wait, start a search with us today! If you want to learn a bit more about the journey first, you can find our train timetable below, tips on booking cheap tickets and our FAQs including first and last train times.

Journey details

Want to know more about your journey from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.

How long does the train from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London take?

The average journey time by train between Edinburgh (Waverley) and London is 5 hours and 39 minutes, with around 61 trains per day. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.

What's the fastest journey time between Edinburgh (Waverley) and London by train?

The fastest journey time by train from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London is 4 hours and 0 minutes.

How much does the train from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London cost?

Train ticket prices from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London can start from as little as £24.40 when you book in advance. The cost of tickets can vary depending on the time of day, route and class you book and are usually more expensive if you book on the day.

Is there a direct train from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London?

Yes, it is possible to travel from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London without having to change trains. There are 61 direct trains from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London each day. Though there may be fewer direct services available depending on your exact departure date.

What time does the first train from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London leave?

The first train from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London leaves at 04:36. Times and services may vary during weekends and holidays.

What time does the last train from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London leave?

The last train from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London leaves at 23:40. Trains that depart in the early morning hours or very late evening may be sleeper services, time and services may also vary during weekends and holidays.

What's the distance between Edinburgh (Waverley) and London by train?

Trains travelling from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London cover a distance of around 332 miles (534 km) during the journey.

Looking for more information?

If you’re looking for the return train journey, check out trains from London to Edinburgh (Waverley). If you’re looking for other options, you can also catch the bus from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London.

Cheap train tickets from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London

Train tickets from Edinburgh (Waverley) to London start at £24.40‡ one way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance. As most UK train companies increase their prices as the departure date approaches, we’ll help you find the cheapest tickets.

Book in advance

Look out for Advance tickets – they usually come out up to 12 weeks before the departure date and can be cheaper than buying on the day. If you’re here a tad early, sign up for our Advance ticket alert today to get notified when your tickets are released.

Consider a Season Ticket

If you catch this train more than 3 times per week, you could save money with a Season Ticket. With annual, monthly and weekly options available, find out if a season ticket for Edinburgh (Waverley) to London is right for you.

Use your Railcard

National Railcards offer a 1/3 off eligible train tickets in the UK and can be a great investment if you travel a few times or more in a year. Find out how you can save with a National Railcard here.

Split your tickets

Download our app to find split tickets — courtesy of SplitSave, our handy feature which 'splits' your train tickets where possible to find you a better deal. Learn more about the clever tech behind split tickets, and how to spot SplitSave discounts in our app.

For more money-saving tips on UK and European train travel, read our cheap train tickets guide.

‡Advance adult single fare. Excludes booking fee. Prices seen by Trainline customers in the last 30 days. Availability limited.

Tips and tricks from our Trainline team blog

We love helping our customers find inspiration for their next train journey. We also believe about taking those journeys and sharing our experiences with you, so you can sit back, relax and get the most out of your trip.

Travelling from Edinburgh to London with LNER

Review by Paola Labib

Getting to Edinburgh Waverley station

After spending a great weekend in Edinburgh, we walked back to Edinburgh Waverley station to go home. The station sits below Princes Street in the narrow valley between Edinburgh’s old and new towns. We arrived 10 minutes in advance, so we grabbed a bite before heading to the platform from which our train was due to depart.

Boarding the train

We boarded a modern LNER train after showing our etickets to a member of staff at the ticket gates and headed to our two forward-facing seats in Standard Class – we had already booked them online with Trainline.

The journey

It took us about four and a half hours to get from Edinburgh to London. The train whisked us from the Scottish coast down to England’s farmland and woodland, stopping at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Newcastle, Darlington, and York before reaching London Kings Cross station.

Despite being quite a long journey, we didn’t get bored at all thanks to the amenities available on the train, from the free onboard WiFi to the onboard café, from which we got some soft drinks and snacks. Also, we really enjoyed the views of the Scottish coast after leaving Edinburgh and the Tyne bridges when approaching Newcastle. Make sure you grab a window seat on the left if you don’t want to miss them!

Once we got off at London Kings Cross station, we followed the signs to the underground station entrance and took the Piccadilly line to go home. All in all, taking the LNER train is probably one of the fastest and most direct ways to travel between Edinburgh and London, a journey we wouldn’t mind taking again!

About Paola

Paola is one of our trusted, hand-picked travel writers. The information for this article was recorded first-hand, based on her own genuine experience of the journey.

Continue reading
†Average savings on fares booked prior to day of travel vs full price fares on day of travel in the UK. Subject to availability. Excludes coach.

Europe’s leading train and coach app

We help customers across Europe make more than 172,000 smarter journeys every day.

Get a link