Launching autumn 2026 · you can plan a journey now · times are typical, not live departures · nothing is booked here

Route

London to Edinburgh

Four and a half hours by train from King’s Cross to Waverley, or a short flight with a long tail.

Every way we know of

Network last written 14 September 2026

4 ways we know of, about 533 km apart. Times are typical ranges, door to door, including airport time.

Option 1F
Fly
Direct flights operate between London and Edinburgh; airport time is included.
Time
4h 17m to 5h 22m
Changes
0
CO2e
~107 kg
Fare band
££
- Fastest
- Fewest changes
- Lowest fare band
1. F
  Flight London to Edinburgh
  1h 12m to 1h 27m · 533 km · scheduled airlines · direct services operate
  Airports: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton, London City to Edinburgh Airport.
  Estimated · Indicative · last verified 9 September 2026 · about 107 kg CO2e
  How we know this
  Source
  Pro Travel Net curated network, version 1
  Kind
  estimate
  Checked
  9 September 2026
  Coverage
  United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, the Nordics, central and western Europe, Türkiye, the Gulf and Pakistan, valid from 9 September 2026
  Figure
  estimated: a model from distance or a hand estimate where nothing is published
  Booked on the operator’s own siteThis does not look right
Access, airport and connection time counted in the total: 3h 5m to 3h 55m. Derived by the engine from its own models.
Option 2T
Train
Train London to Edinburgh, hourly or better.
Time
4h 30m to 5h 10m
Changes
0
CO2e
~22 kg
Fare band
££
- No flying
- Train leg (LNER): carry-on only, 3 cabin bags, see operator
- Sending luggage ahead? Compare parcel prices at ShipPortal
1. T
  Train London to Edinburgh
  4h 20m to 4h 50m · 533 km · LNER, Lumo · hourly or better
  Baggage rules on the operator site, read 11 September 2026
  Curated · Indicative · last verified 9 September 2026 · about 22 kg CO2e
  How we know this
  Source
  Pro Travel Net curated network, version 1
  Kind
  estimate
  Checked
  9 September 2026
  Coverage
  United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, the Nordics, central and western Europe, Türkiye, the Gulf and Pakistan, valid from 9 September 2026
  Figure
  curated: written by hand from a published timetable or an operator page
  Booked on the operator’s own siteThis does not look right
Access, airport and connection time counted in the total: 10m to 20m. Derived by the engine from its own models.
Option 3C
Coach
Coach London to Edinburgh, several coaches a day.
Time
9h 15m to 10h 25m
Changes
0
CO2e
~17 kg
Fare band
££
- Lowest emissions
- Coach leg (National Express): one checked bag up to 20 kg included, one cabin bag up to 10 kg, no assembled bikes, see operator
1. C
  Coach London to Edinburgh
  9h to 10h · 533 km · National Express, FlixBus, Megabus · several coaches a day
  Overnight services exist.
  Baggage rules on the operator site, read 11 September 2026
  Curated · Indicative · last verified 9 September 2026 · about 17 kg CO2e
  How we know this
  Source
  Pro Travel Net curated network, version 1
  Kind
  estimate
  Checked
  9 September 2026
  Coverage
  United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, the Nordics, central and western Europe, Türkiye, the Gulf and Pakistan, valid from 9 September 2026
  Figure
  curated: written by hand from a published timetable or an operator page
  Booked on the operator’s own siteThis does not look right
Access, airport and connection time counted in the total: 15m to 25m. Derived by the engine from its own models.
Option 4D
Drive
About 682 km by road.
Time
9h 2m to 10h 50m
Changes
0
CO2e
~116 kg
Figure
Estimated
1. D
  Drive London to Edinburgh
  9h 2m to 10h 50m · 533 km · your own or a hired car · whenever you leave
  Road time along the bridges and tunnels the drive has to use; tolls, traffic and stops not included.
  An estimate range from road distance. No price is shown for a drive or a taxi; ask the driver or the hire company.
  Estimated · Indicative · last verified 9 September 2026 · about 116 kg CO2e
  How we know this
  Source
  Pro Travel Net curated network, version 1
  Kind
  estimate
  Checked
  9 September 2026
  Coverage
  United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, the Nordics, central and western Europe, Türkiye, the Gulf and Pakistan, valid from 9 September 2026
  Figure
  estimated: a model from distance or a hand estimate where nothing is published
  Your own arrangementThis does not look right

Times are typical ranges from published timetables and distance, not live departures. Nothing is booked here.

Engine: 1.0.0
Network: net-7dc478427c8498ef
Network written: 14 September 2026
Answer for: 16 September 2026

The fastest way, step by step

The fastest way in full, leg by leg. The time spent moving is separated from the time spent getting to it and away from it, because both are part of the journey and only one of them is a timetable.

London to Edinburgh

Flight

Moving: 1h 12m to 1h 27m
Getting there and waiting: 1h 55m to 2h 25m
Getting away: 1h 10m to 1h 30m

Source: Pro Travel Net curated network, version 1. Estimated

What matters on this route

The East Coast Main Line puts you in the centre of Edinburgh in about four hours twenty minutes from King’s Cross. Count the airport runs and security into a flight and the two come out within an hour of each other; the train is the calmer of the two and the far lower emitter.

Two operators run the line, and the newer one is often markedly cheaper when booked ahead. Advance fares for both are released about twelve weeks out.

The coach takes nine to ten hours and is by far the cheapest way; overnight services let you sleep through most of it.