Edinburgh
Edinburgh has been the historical, cultural, and political capital of Scotland since the 15th century. Throughout its history many great thinkers, politician, poets, and artists have called Edinburgh home. A trip to Edinburgh will provide a nice slice of Scottish culture to any student.
Standing to the side of the Edinburgh castle, you can see the entire city and Arthur’s seat in the distance
How to get to Edinburgh from London:
By Train: The average travel time between London and Edinburgh is 5h13 minutes. There is an average of 28 trains a day between London and Edinburgh, leaving approximately every 21 minutes.
If you plan to make multiple train journeys within the UK, you might consider getting a BritRail GB Pass (includes train travel in England, Scotland, & Wales) which can save you money if you plan to travel around the UK by train. Furthermore, it also includes trains to the airport. If you book far enough in advance, the cheapest ticket from London to Edinburgh will cost you in the region of £25 to £30 or a single standard ticket. If you book closer to the time, you’re looking in the region of £50 to £150 for a single in standard.
By Bus: This is going to be one of the slower options. Buses leave from Victoria Station and take around 8-11 hours to arrive in Haymarket Square which is in central Edinburgh. The best advice would be to take an over night bus.
If you are booking last minute, a bus is likely your best option if you are on a tight budget. Average prices are between £10 to £30 per person, making this one of the most cost-effective options
I would recommend booking from either Megabus or National Express. Both have over night options and put you in the center of Edinburgh. Furthermore, I have been lucky enough to find a bus option for only £5.
By Plane: Direct flight times from London to Edinburgh are usually between 60 minutes to 90 minutes. However, factor in the time it takes to get to the airport in London, the requirement to check-in, and getting from Edinburgh airport to the city, which will take between 20 to 30 minutes.
Most of the flights from London to Edinburgh are with budget carriers so they are not usually very expensive. If you book well in advance and don’t need to check luggage, you could probably find a flight for £35 one way with a budget airline! However if you are not booking well in advance and/or have luggage, expect to pay in the region of £70 to £200 per person.