Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus
Traveler rating
4.1/5
Based on 230 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus worth booking?
Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus is a 16-hour experience in London, United Kingdom, from $325 per person. It scores 54 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.1/5 rating across 230 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 54 / 100
- Rating
- 4.1/5 (230)
- Duration
- 16 hours
- From
- $325 per person
See the best of the Scottish capital on this independent day trip from London to Edinburgh. Travel by train through England’s countryside and jump aboard your hop-on hop-off city tour in Edinburgh. Wander along the Royal Mile — a UNESCO World Heritage site — and marvel at the Scottish Crown Jewels inside Edinburgh Castle. Gaze up at the Scott Monument and visit the Scotch Whisky Heritage Center. With your rail travel, hop-on hop-off bus tour (if option selected) and entry to Edinburgh Castle all included, you’re free to explore Edinburgh at your leisure.
What you get
About this experience
See the best of the Scottish capital on this independent day trip from London to Edinburgh. Travel by train through England’s countryside and jump aboard your hop-on hop-off city tour in Edinburgh. Wander along the Royal Mile — a UNESCO World Heritage site — and marvel at the Scottish Crown Jewels inside Edinburgh Castle. Gaze up at the Scott Monument and visit the Scotch Whisky Heritage Center. With your rail travel, hop-on hop-off bus tour (if option selected) and entry to Edinburgh Castle all included, you’re free to explore Edinburgh at your leisure.
What's included
Included
- Hop on Hop off tour of Edinburgh
- Entrance to Edinburgh Castle
- Return train journey with reserved seats
Not included
- Guide (Unescorted tour)
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Food and drinks, unless specified
What you'll see and do
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a historic fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position on the Castle Rock. Archaeologists have established human occupation of the rock since at least the Iron Age, although the nature of the early settlement is unclear.
60 minutes here · Admission included
St Giles' Cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral, also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, is the principal place of worship of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. Its distinctive crown steeple is a prominent feature of the city skyline, at about a third of the way down the Royal Mile which runs from the Castle to Holyrood Palace
20 minutes here
Princes Street Gardens
Princes Street Gardens are two adjacent public parks in the centre of Edinburgh, Scotland, lying in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. The Gardens were created in two phases in the 1770s and 1820s following the long draining of the Nor Loch and building of the New Town, beginning in the 1760s.
15 minutes here
Edinburgh Old Town
Visitors pack the Old Town, a bustling area of centuries-old buildings and narrow alleys. At its heart, perched on an extinct volcano, Edinburgh Castle is home to Scotland’s crown jewels. The Royal Mile, a steep street lined with traditional pubs, casual eateries, souvenir shops and small museums, runs from the castle to the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s Scottish residence.
30 minutes here
Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is a succession of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city of Edinburgh in Scotland. The term was first used descriptively in W M Gilbert's Edinburgh in the Nineteenth Century (1901), "...with its Castle and Palace and the royal mile between", and was further popularised as the title of a guidebook, published in 1920.
40 minutes here
Princes Street
Princes Street is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland, and the main shopping street in the capital. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1 mile (1.6 km) from Lothian Road in the west, to Leith Street in the east. The street has virtually no buildings on the south side, allowing panoramic views of the Old Town, Edinburgh Castle, and the valley between. Most of the street is limited to trams, buses and taxis with only the east end open to all traffic.
45 minutes here
Holyrood Park
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, Queen Elizabeth II.
Pass by without stopping
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, Queen Elizabeth II.
Pass by without stopping
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland, was formed in 2006 with the merger of the new Museum of Scotland, with collections relating to Scottish antiquities, culture and history, and the adjacent Royal Museum, with collections covering science and technology, natural history, and world cultures.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
London
Please do not wait to meet our staff at the train station as we do not conduct in-person departures. This tour is unescorted.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Please do not wait to meet our staff at the train station as we do not conduct in-person departures. This tour is unescorted.
Options you can book
Standard class train
Standard-class rail trip includes Edinburgh Castle ticket
First class train
First Class train: First-class rail trip includes Edinburgh Castle ticket
Edinburgh - Overnight
Edinburgh - overnight: Edinburgh - The Royal City with Overnight Stay Standard Class
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- ru, pt, cmn, ja, en, it, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
- Group size
- Up to 6 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Evan Evans Tours
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Outbound: Train departs London Kings Cross: 07:02 / train arrives in Edinburgh: 11:02
- Return: Train departs Edinburgh: 17:13 / train arrives at London Kings Cross: 22:10
- Your electronic tickets and vouchers will be sent to you one week prior to your scheduled departure date via email (or, if booked within one week then within 24 hours of booking). We recommend arriving at Kings Cross Station 30 minutes before your scheduled train departure time
- This tour is unescorted
- Child age: 3-11 yrs
- We will make every effort to fulfil any train seating requests, however, this cannot be guaranteed
- Please do not wait to meet our staff at the train station as we do not conduct in-person departures
Photos
Traveler reviews
230 verified traveler reviews for Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Train to Edinburgh
We arrived too early for our castle tour so we needed to wait. The weather wasn’t great so we skipped this part. Enjoyed visiting a Pub and we walked a bit. It’s very hilly. The train ride was nice.
Response from the operator: Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the pub visit, exploring the area, and especially the train ride. We’re sorry that the weather affected your plans and that you had to spend some time waiting for your castle tour. We understand that the hilly terrain and limited time can make it challenging to fit in everything, including photos and comfort breaks. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with an even more enjoyable experience on a future visit. Warm regards, EvanEvansTours Team
via Viator
Solo Trip to Scotland.
This was a great trip. I just wish I had done my homework a little better because I did not realize that 8 hours of this trip would be on the train to and from Edinburgh. That did not leave nearly enough time in the castle or in the town.
Response from the operator: Dear Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed the trip overall. We appreciate your comments regarding the travel time and the amount of time available to explore Edinburgh Castle and the town. As this itinerary involves a significant journey from London, we understand that some guests may prefer additional time at the destination, and we will share your feedback with our team. Thank you for travelling with us, and we hope to welcome you on another Evan Evans tour in the future. Kind Regards, Evan Evans Team
via Viator
Edinburgh in a day
Great trip and worth it even though fast paced! The train ride was comfortable and 1st class is the way to go!!!!!
Response from the operator: Dear Chere_G Thank you for your great feedback! We’re delighted you enjoyed the trip and found it worthwhile, even at a fast pace. It’s also great to hear you found the first-class train experience comfortable—definitely a popular choice! We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another Evan Evans Tours experience soon. Kind regards, The Evan Evans Tours Team
via Viator
Great day trip to beautiful Edinburgh
Very well organised and easy to access all my tickets and vouchers. Much easier than having to do it all myself. I had a fantastic day!
Response from the operator: Dear Nicky_M, Thank you very much for your feedback. We’re delighted to hear that the organisation of your tour and the ease of accessing your tickets and vouchers made your day stress-free and enjoyable. It’s wonderful to know that everything ran smoothly and contributed to a fantastic experience. Your kind words will be shared with the team at Evan Evans Tours — they will be greatly appreciated. We hope to welcome you on another tour soon! Kind regards, The Evan Evans Team
via Viator
Great trip
This was just a touch of Edinburgh. It was a great train ride. And then you have half a day to see the city.
Response from the operator: Dear Kari_C, Thank you for sharing your thoughts on your recent Edinburgh experience with us. We’re glad you enjoyed the scenic train ride, and we appreciate your feedback regarding the time available to explore the city. Our Edinburgh tours are designed to offer a glimpse of this beautiful city, and we understand that half a day provides a brief but memorable introduction. Should you wish to explore Edinburgh in greater depth, we offer a range of tours and itineraries that allow for more extensive time in the city. Thank you for choosing Evan Evans Tours. We hope to welcome you on another tour soon. Regards, Evan Evans Tours
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 16 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat
- Price range
- $325 to $379
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 81
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Evan Evans Tours, who run 86 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 61.0 and 4 in the 90+ Club.
See everything Evan Evans Tours runsWhy this scores 54
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for London.
How much does Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus cost?
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Prices start at $325 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in London usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus take?
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Plan for about 16 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in London is not rushed.
Is Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 54 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.1/5 across 230 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable culture & history in London, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 16-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus?
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Around 81 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in London can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in London and add a light layer if any part of the 16-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central London within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in London?
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London's best attractions split cleanly: the museums are free and need no booking, so the paid market is about views, theatre and getting out of the city for a day. That makes value scoring unusually important here, and the Outty Ranking penalises anything charging premium prices for access you could get for nothing. On Outty we rank every London experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour, Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour, London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit London?
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May to September for long evenings, December for the Christmas markets. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in London?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus?
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Included: Hop on Hop off tour of Edinburgh; Entrance to Edinburgh Castle; and Return train journey with reserved seats. Not included: Guide (Unescorted tour); Hotel pickup and drop off; and Food and drinks, unless specified. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus?
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Please do not wait to meet our staff at the train station as we do not conduct in-person departures. This tour is unescorted. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus offered in?
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It is offered in Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, English, Italian, French and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; and Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in London. Standard cancellation terms apply.
What booking options are available for Edinburgh Rail Trip from London with Castle entry and Hop-on Hop-off bus?
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There are 3 options to choose from, including Standard class train, First class train, Edinburgh - Overnight. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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