Home Routes Edinburgh to London
Edinburgh to London overland: route, cost and stops
Edinburgh to London, overland all the way, across 1 country, with every leg costed. This is the planner's own output for the corridor — 4 stops, 5 legs, 13h on the move.
Modelled estimates, not live fares. Last rebuilt 2026-09-23.
This is one version of the corridor. Change the budget, the pace, the dates or the bed type and the route rebuilds around them.
Open this route in the plannerThe route, leg by leg
Each row is the mode the planner picked as the best balance of time and money. Alternatives on every leg — including night trains and coaches — are in the planner itself.
| Leg | Mode | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh → York | Coach | 4.8h | €10–€25 |
| York → Leicester | Coach | 3h | €5–€15 |
| Leicester → Birmingham | Coach | 1.5h | €4–€5 |
| Birmingham → Coventry | Coach | 1h | €4–€5 |
| Coventry → London | Coach | 2.8h | €5–€15 |
What it costs
| Component | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | €28 | €39 | €65 |
| Beds | €186 | €219 | €280 |
| Daily spending | €470 | €587 | €792 |
| Total per person | €738 | €905 | €1,206 |
Dorm beds, two people sharing where a room is cheaper than two dorm bunks. Daily spending is food and local transport, modelled per city rather than averaged across the trip.
Where you stop
Edinburgh, Scotland
Worth the time: Castle, Arthur's Seat, Old Town closes
Eating: Pub lunch deals before 3pm
Beds near the centre:
CODE - THE COURT · hostelSt Christopher's Inn · hostelEdinB&B · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Tron Kirk Market · marketGrassmarket Market · marketBonnie and Wild · market
York, England
Worth the time: Minster, city walls, the Shambles
Eating: Pub lunch €12
Beds near the centre:
The Fort · hostelSafestay · hostelLil's on the Waterfront · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Tasca Frango · portuguesePranzo · italianWagamama · asian
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Beds near the centre:
YMCA · hosteliQ Studios 51 · hostelThe Wellington · guest house
London, England
Worth the time: British Museum, South Bank, Borough Market
Eating: Museums free; markets beat restaurants
Beds near the centre:
London Central YMCA · hostelHelen Graham House · hostelLSE Northumberland House · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Market Place Food Hall Leicester Square · marketSoho Vegan Market · marketSeven Dials Market · market
Worth a detour
Places just off the corridor, priced against the route you already have — the extra time and the extra money each one actually adds.
| Place | Fits | Extra time | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield, United Kingdom | after York | +12m | +€82 |
| Derby, United Kingdom | after York | +12m | +€82 |
| Liverpool, England | after York | +1h | +€80 |
| Leeds, United Kingdom | after York | +56m | +€83 |
Common questions
How long does the Edinburgh to London trip take?
Moving time is about 13h spread over 5 legs. Allowing 2 nights in each of the 4 stops, the whole corridor works as a 9-day trip. You can compress it by skipping stops, but the travelling time itself does not shrink much.
How much does it cost?
About €905 per person for 9 days in dorms, sharing with one other. That splits into roughly €39 of transport, €219 of beds and €587 of daily spending. The realistic range is €738 to €1,206 depending on how early you book and how much you eat out.
Can you do it without flying?
Yes. An all-surface version runs about 13h of travel and €905 in total — €-0 less than the version above. Switch on avoid flying in the planner to see it.
Which countries does it cross?
United Kingdom — 1 in total. Check visa requirements for your own passport before you commit to the route; this planner does not model them.
What transport does it use?
Coach. Every leg is costed with a walk-up fare and an advance fare, so the range on each row is the booking-window spread, not uncertainty about the route.
Adjust it for your own dates, budget and party size.
Plan Edinburgh → London