By air

Edinburgh International Airport receives daily flights from more than 20 UK and 40 European airports, as well as daily transatlantic flights. Flights from international destinations are also scheduled throughout the week.

The airport is about 12 kilometres from the city centre. The 30-minute journey can be easily made using the frequent airport bus or tram services, or by taxi.

Edinburgh International Airport

Airlink airport buses

Edinburgh Trams

By rail

Edinburgh has excellent rail links throughout the UK.

The East Coast mainline, which links Edinburgh and London King’s Cross, is the UK’s fastest intercity railway: you can travel between the cities in around 4 hours.

Or, if you prefer to travel overnight, a sleeper service runs between London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley 6 nights a week.

There are great links to other cities too. The journey to Glasgow only takes 45 minutes, while York, Newcastle, Inverness or Aberdeen can be reached in about 2 hours.

All trains arrive at Waverley Station in the centre of the city, although some trains also stop at Haymarket, which is a smaller station in the West End.

National Rail enquiries

First Scotrail

By bus

If you are travelling on a budget, buses are often your best bet. Edinburgh is well placed on the Scottish motorway network so getting here is easy with regular bus services from all major UK cities.

Buses and coaches arrive at St Andrews Square bus station in Edinburgh’s city centre.

Citylink

National Express

Megabus

By car

Travel times by road are less than you might think. From the south: Birmingham is about 5 hours away; Manchester and York, 3 hours; Newcastle, 2 hours. From the north: Inverness is about 3 hours away; Aberdeen, 2 hours.

Route information for drivers can be found on the RAC or AA websites.

RAC Route Planner

AA Route Planner

City of Edinburgh Council: parking in the city

 

Getting to Edinburgh