Train from Heathrow to Edinburgh

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

We're thinking of taking a train to Edinburgh after we land in Heathrow. I did a little research and totally confused myself with the options.

I've been told it's a great trip, but I could use some help. We'll be landing around 11 AM on a Sat. in July. I know I'll have to have to take the tube to somewhere else to pick up the train. I don't know what class to buy. I hesitate to make reservations in advance because I don't know how long it will take to get luggage, get through immigration, etc. One other thing, we intend to do a fair bit of train travel once we get to Scotland because we'll be staying at Duchally, halfway between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Is there a discount ticket we should be buying? How should we get one, if needed?

We're thinking of train one way and a discount airline back the following week. Any tips on how to do that? Or should we just fly both ways?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Sue

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

I've taken the trip twice to Edinburgh from London, but never Heathrow. Took the tube into London and departed from the tube station to Edinburgh.

Took the overnight sleeper (what fun !) and the fast express train during the day on the two occasions.

I'm assuming that you've spent time on Official BritRail Web Site - The Most Celebrated Way to Travel Britain ? This will tell you what trains depart what station and if they're an express, local or overnighter.

Ryan Air and Loganair Scotland's Airline can be of service.

B

[hope54 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hope54]

I took that train ride many years ago and I remember how breathtakingly beautiful it was.

Hope

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

When we did the London to Edinburgh train trip, we stopped overnight in York. If you have time, it's a great town to visit. Lots of b&b's to stay at.

[Dancingfish Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dancingfish]

I didn't even know this was an option!! We are going to Scotland in October and are still working on the details of getting to and from!! This sounds like alot of fun and relaxation!

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

Additional help requested

We're planning to pick up a car in Edinburgh to aid us in our travels. However, in order to get in to Edinbugh and Glasgow, we're planning on driving to a train station and then taking the train into those cities. Would it be cost effective to get a 7 or 8 day British rail pass and use it to get to and from Edinburgh to Heathrow, and use it for the relatively short trips in Scotland or should we just buy daily tickets? Other options are also welcome!

Thanks,
Sue

[Beaglemom3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beaglemom3]

We're planning to pick up a car in Edinburgh to aid us in our travels. However, in order to get in to Edinbugh and Glasgow, we're planning on driving to a train station and then taking the train into those cities. Would it be cost effective to get a 7 or 8 day British rail pass and use it to get to and from Edinburgh to Heathrow, and use it for the relatively short trips in Scotland or should we just buy daily tickets? Other options are also welcome!

Thanks,
Sue

Sue,
I have a Britrail book if you'd like it. Email me with your address.
You can call Britrail and ask them as well. They can piece together a trip for you and advise you re: what ticket plan is best.
J.

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

Thanks for the help

I didn't realize I could call Britrail to get help.

Thanks for your offer of the book. You have a pm.

Sue

[oldlad Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close oldlad]

Sue, try this web site Official BritRail Web Site - The Most Celebrated Way to Travel Britain

[TimeshareVon Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close TimeshareVon]

Have you considered just renting a car and driving it?

We were in the UK (Scotland first, and then England) and originally planned on taking the train from Edinburgh to London, but when we priced it out for three adults, we found that renting a car was cheaper. We did a rental car pickup in Edinburgh and return at Bradford/Leeds to mirror our airline arrangements.

[heleneshaw Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close heleneshaw]

Heathrow to Duchally

Hi I live very near to the timeshare. Its very peaceful, The leisure facilities are good although quite small.
Travelling from Heathrow to Gleneagles station ( the nearest british rail Station) takes a long time. good views though.
You might be lucky to get a train to go there direct fron either Kings Cross Station or Paddington? A train does go from Heathrow to London, then tube between stations, then probably onto Glasgow or Edinburgh followed by train to either Dunblane 16miles south of Duchally(half the cost) or Gleneagles.

Have you considered flying to Dundee or Glasgow or Edinburgh?
Also how are u planning to move around once at Duchally I dont think its on a bus route or near anything apart from walking and fishing?

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

We're flying into Heathrow. I had been thinking of taking the train one way and flying one way. BeagleMom suggested Britrail. We can get an 8 day consecutive pass. I think we'll be getting those passes to do some scenic tours and to get in and out of Edinburgh, as well as roundtrip to London. The first day, after flying from the US, we'll be tired so we can look at scenery or snooze. We'll be picking up a rental car in Edinburgh on day 2 so we'll have some local transportation and to get to places we can't get to by train. The car will also take us to and from the train station.

So far, I have the air tickets, the hotel reservations for the first and last nights, the week at Duchally and the British Heritage pass. I've had a lot going on so I haven't booked the car or the Britrail pass yet.

Sue

[camachinist Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close camachinist]

I just looked at this today for some gigs we may be following in October. All I can say is UK rail is d@mned expensive and they have this dorky "guest pass" that a foreigner can buy for a discount, when traveling with a companion, but, wait, that companion has to be British.... otherwise, it's full bore; 232.00 for a 4 day (consecutive) pass in economy class, IIRC. A one-way ticket from Paddington to Manchester (about 180 miles IIRC) is over 100.00 USD. BMI's economy airfares are much better, but then there's dealing with LHR/LGW security/luggage, etc.

England is just expensive....I think we'll go to Marbella on an A/C instead and rent a cheap Spanish car and drive it into the Med


Pat

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

We're looking at the 8 day for $331. We'll just take the train more than we'd originally plan. Like taking a scenic route on the train one day instead of by car. It's a lot less expensive than getting a 1 way from Heathrow to Edinburg and then buying daily tickets into Edinburgh from Duchally.

BTW, that "deal" that you saw wasn't a restriction on you, it was a way for a British friend to get a discount that isn't available in the UK so that you can travel together. At least that's the way I read it.

With the exchange rate so poor, UK and England is very expensive this year, no doubt about it.