Edinburgh is renowned for being a hub of culture and a hands-down favourite place to visit for many UK visitors. If you’re planning to travel from London to Edinburgh, you have a wide range of travel options at your fingertips, but if you plan to make it a budget journey, you might have to get smart with your choices. Planning ahead, travelling at the right time, and understanding your options are all crucial to help you make your money go further.
You should first think about how long your trip will be and how long you can budget for the journey to and from Edinburgh. If you haven’t got a huge amount of time to spend on travel, you might want to choose one of the speedier options like flying or renting a car. If time is no issue for you, you can save significant money by getting a coach or ride-sharing with other travellers. All of the transport options have their upsides and downsides, so you’ll need to look at them all to find what’s right for you.
Consider A Last Minute Flight
Last-minute deals are every traveller’s best friend. The only issue is that it doesn’t allow for much forward planning, and if you can’t travel at the drop of a hat, this might not be the choice for you. If you do have enough flexibility, then consider looking at last-minute flights regularly, around when you want to go to Edinburgh. You can then jump on the cheapest flight deals when they occur and build your trip around those flights. With it taking just over an hour to travel to Edinburgh from London by plane, this is one of the best options for anyone who wants to minimise their travel time.
Invest In A Rail Card
If rail seems like the right option for your travel, there are things you can do to cut down on the overall cost; the best option is a railcard. There are plenty of railcards you can get that will give you discounted fares on the various rail companies in the UK. This includes railcards for veterans, couples, certain younger age groups, and seniors. Most of these will get you a third off of rail tickets and will last for a year from the date of purchase – well worth it if you’ll be travelling the UK frequently.
Look Into Buses And Coaches
Buses and coaches will normally be your cheapest option to get from London to Edinburgh. They can take some time – as much as nine hours each way. At the best times, though, you can often get returns for just £20 or less, so it is worth considering as a simple and cheap travel choice. Most coaches and buses in the UK are safe and relatively comfortable, so you can have peace of mind as you travel.
Go Bikepacking
One of the cheapest options when travelling is cycling – provided you already have a decent-quality bike. Bikepacking is becoming increasingly popular with travellers in the UK. This is where you carry all you need in your backpack for camping along a longer journey. You can find plenty of compact tents and sleeping bags, along with panniers to carry them effortlessly on your bike. Of course, the initial outlay on equipment could be significant, but if you plan to bikepack a lot in the future, it’ll be worth it. The journey from London to Edinburgh by bike is not a short one – it’ll take as much as 40 hours non-stop to get there. Still, it is increasingly popular for young travellers, allowing you to see the country as you bike along.
Hire An EV
If you want to drive to Edinburgh from London, you’ll need a reliable and efficient vehicle to make your money go further. Renting a fuel-powered car can be cost-effective, but you’ll need to refuel as you go – and this will get pricey. An excellent alternative could be to lease or rent an EV; they cost a fraction of the amount of fuel-powered vehicles to reach full charge and make a green and eco-conscious choice for the modern traveller. If you decide to get an EV, make sure you know everything you need to get the most out of the experience. You can find out how long it takes to charge an EV and where to find a quality lease from the experts over at LV ElectriX.
Buy Travel Food And Snacks At The Supermarket
Shops at train stations, motorway services and airports are always at a premium – always avoid buying food, snacks and other necessities there when you can. People often forget, until they’re already at their transport hub, that they need food or other necessities, so make sure you plan for this ahead of time and don’t end up getting ripped off. You’ll almost always be able to find a supermarket near to one of the major transport hubs in London where you can stock up for your trip. The only exception is trying to take liquids on a flight, but you can normally fill up an empty water bottle for free when airside at one of the many bars or cafes.
Travel At The Right Time
Like any other travel destination, the cost of going from London to Edinburgh will change depending on when in the year you travel. Costs will be higher in the peak season during the summer and at any time there are school holidays. If you want to get the best deals, no matter how you plan to travel, you should look at the off-peak seasons to access the best prices.
Get An Edinburgh Bus Pass
Once you’re in Edinburgh, it’s a good idea to know how you’ll get around while you’re staying there. There are plenty of options to consider, but often the bus will be the cheapest for midrange journeys. Of course, if you plan to stay close to the city centre, the cheapest choice is definitely to get around on foot. Before you leave, take a look at what kind of short-term bus passes you can get for while you’re visiting Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.
Look Into Hostel Accommodation
Transport isn’t the only thing you need to keep an eye on if you want to stretch your pounds further – once you arrive in the Scottish capital, you’ll need to find a place to stay. Hostels are the best bet if you want the cheapest possible option, but you’ll need to be prepared to stay in dorm-style accommodation to access the cheapest rooms. Going with a group of friends can make this much more enjoyable, rather than sharing a living space with strangers.
Summary
Choosing the right way to get to Edinburgh from London can be tricky, and often you’ll need to weigh up your choices closer to your holiday to find the most cost-effective option. Prices for transport will vary significantly based on when and how you travel, but it is always worth shopping around to find the best deals. You should also factor in how much your time is worth to you – taking a nine-hour coach can often be the most cost-effective choice, but it will eat up an entire day travelling there and back. Do what you can to compromise between cheap and speedy transport, helping you make the very most out of your journey to Edinburgh.
