Edinburgh Rail Day Trip From London: A Detailed Review

Why Edinburgh for a Day? A Quick Getaway

Okay, so the idea of zipping from London up to Edinburgh and back in a single day might sound rather mad, perhaps a bit ambitious, very possibly even a touch bonkers. That said, don’t discount it so quick. Edinburgh is, you know, brimming with things that capture your interest, from its mighty old castle sitting there high on a rock to the super twisty streets of the Royal Mile, so too it’s calling your name for a swift change of pace. Lots of individuals think about doing trips there for a number of days, but let’s be honest, sometimes that’s just really not possible. You get only a little window. Edinburgh presents such an opportunity to cram loads into a condensed time-frame and what’s more, you get a very pleasant train ride with comfortable seats, rather than what could be an uncomfortable bus ride.

Booking the Train: Tickets and Timing Tips

The secret is booking your train tickets well in advance – like, really early if you can. That’s usually when you snag the very best deals, actually. You could save a fair amount of money for sure, plus you’re much more likely to get a seat at a time that suits you. The main train companies that travel from London to Edinburgh are LNER (that’s, like, short for London North Eastern Railway) and Avanti West Coast. Both provide loads of options, yet you’ll want to compare prices on various sites just to ensure you’re really bagging that best price. Try using Trainline or even direct on the train operating company’s own website, to get a handle on the very latest options for you, right now.

The Onboard Experience: Making the Most of the Ride

Oh, the train ride itself is absolutely half the delight, isn’t it? Rather than having to be white-knuckle flying, or grinding along congested motorways, very early morning trains provide an awesome way to, you know, watch Britain’s glorious landscape roll by from a place of snug comfort. Lots of trains now offer Wi-Fi (though the strength varies quite a bit) so if you want to do work, you typically can. Or settle back and, actually, simply enjoy the view while taking advantage of the refreshment services – or take your own goodies to nosh on too. You’ll be amazed by just how soon you are in the fair lands of Scotland.

Edinburgh in a Day: What to See and Do

With only a short space of time to explore Edinburgh, your choices will need to be kind of very deliberate, so too you have the opportunity to experience everything that you want, or thought about beforehand. Without doubt Edinburgh Castle comes highly recommended, so too is the Royal Mile and, in the case that weather is conducive, consider climbing up to Arthur’s Seat to admire expansive scenic views – just make sure that, physically, you are good to go on this. The National Museum of Scotland is certainly there if you want culture; Holyrood Palace presents just a little slice of royalty. Have your comfy shoes prepared; it’s, you know, largely footwork!

Food, Drink, and Souvenirs: Quick Bites and Mementoes

When it’s time for some food, maybe bypass those overly familiar chains and find somewhere typically very Scottish. Loads of places are serving haggis (if that is something you desire, that is). Alternatively go traditional and go for the very awesome and simple Fish and Chips. Lots of spots round the Royal Mile cater directly to visitors, yet, wander just slightly off it, actually, to come across authentic eateries frequented by those who are very local to the area. Also, do watch out for the plentiful little tourist shops round the Old Town; there is usually a wee trinket for you that might tempt you, you’ll, perhaps, wish to pick up. So, very soon, you won’t forget your awesome brief encounter with the capital of Scotland.

With only hours to experience and, what’s more, the entire train ride to get you there and back, planning your day is utterly essential so as to extract the very most benefit from the travel day. Ensure you are getting your timetables absolutely right, and take into account enough time in transit from station to place you intend seeing or engaging in an activity with, and vice versa.

Edinburgh truly is an awesome town to explore and a place full of amazing landmarks.

Enjoy the journey, take time to really absorb what you are looking at, doing, engaging with.