This blog post was updated on July 28, 2021.
If you’re hoping to experience the bright lights and big city sights of both London and Edinburgh (as indeed you should!) during your upcoming vacation in Great Britain, and you’d like to maximize your time on the ground and not have to worry about finding accommodation for at least one night in each city, consider booking a trip on the famous Caledonian Sleeper overnight train.
Leaving Central London round midnight from the easily accessible Euston Station and arriving right in the heart of the Scottish capital city at Waverly Station in the wee hours of the morning (and, of course, vice versa), the sleeper train is an excellent way to get from one historic city center to the other while avoiding a whole lot of hassle along the way.
You can book your ride on the Caledonian Sleeper up to 12 weeks in advance via the Scotrail website, so plan ahead if you’re currenty looking for cheap flights to London. You can choose between reclining seats or berth accommodation. Both are comfortable and quiet but if you can afford the berth, you’ll probably sleep much more soundly. And rest assured (literally!), all Caledonian Sleeper services are smoke-free and super safe. And if you are able to buy your tickets far enough in advance you might cinch yourself a really sweet price for your ride.
Bargain Berth tickets start as low as £19 (roughly $30) for each leg, subject to availability. Also when you reserve your tickets, you should also be given the option to purchase a discount daily travel passes saving you a bit of money without taking away from your precious fun time in both towns.
Obviously, the downside to taking this overnight train is that you miss out on the countryside views that driving or a daytime train might grant you. But combining your night’s stay with your transportation while having enjoying the convenience of leaving from and arriving in the midst of all the action definitely has its benefits. On the London side of the ride, Euston Station is close to the British Library, the British Museum, the Wellcome Collection and plenty more.
And Waverly Station in Edinburgh is but a mere walk away from the shopping mecca of Princes Street as well as the Royal Mile and the magnificent Edinburgh Castle. In both cities the stations are near a wide range of quality hotels including the newly renovated and gorgeous St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London and the world renowned and historic Balmoral in Edinburgh.
Flickr: Kai Hendry
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