Trains to Edinburgh (Waverley)

Edinburgh Waverley is one of the UK’s best and most scenic stations. A jewel in the crown of sorts, it squats in between the ‘old’ and ‘new’ towns of Edinburgh on the site of a former loch, which was drained to build the station. The station is named ‘Waverley’ after Scotland’s literary great, Sir Walter Scott’s first novel. It’s no surprise, then, that immediately after you leave the station at the Princes Street exit, you’ll find the Walter Scott Monument, the second largest monument dedicated to a writer in the world, nearby.

Located between the Medieval ‘old’ town and the 18th-century ‘new’ town, the station is super convenient for travellers who want to do some sightseeing, giving you the benefit of choosing which section of the city to explore first. If you’re heading to Edinburgh Waverley, it’s easy to get to from whichever corner of the city you’re coming from. Plus, the station is served by brilliant public transportation, including trams, buses, and taxis.

While Edinburgh Waverley isn’t as busy as its siblings like Manchester Piccadilly, London Kings Cross, or Glasgow Central, Waverley actually spans twenty-five acres and is the second largest railway station in the UK.

Edinburgh Waverley offers a range of amenities, including:

• A ticket office (opening times: Monday to Saturday: 6.00am – 10.00pm; Sunday: 7am – 10.00pm). You can book train tickets as well as monthly and annual season tickets at the ticket office.
• Self-service ticket machines and accessible ticket machines. Plus, you can collect tickets you have bought online from the self-service machines.
• First class lounge (opening times: Monday to Friday: 6.30am – 9.00pm; Saturday: 9am – 5pm; Sunday 9.45am – 7.00pm).
• Step-free access to all platforms.
• Boards to check the real-time train timetable.
• ATMs, shops, and hospitality.
• Public telephones, public Wi-Fi, and post boxes.
• 223 bicycle storage stands and lockers.

Edinburgh Waverley is located in the centre of Edinburgh, making it an ideal spot to begin your journey in the Scottish capital.

Local buses and trams can be found along the Princes Street exit. Meanwhile, the closest taxi ranks are outside the station on Market Street and along Waverley Bridge. A frequent express shuttle bus stops outside the station if you need to get to and from the airport, and a tram service also runs from Edinburgh Airport via Edinburgh Park station to Waverley Station.

If you’d like to explore Edinburgh as soon as you arrive, then both the ‘old’ and ‘new’ towns are explorable on foot right from Edinburgh Waverley.

Edinburgh Waverley train station is the northern terminus of the East Coast Mainline, although a few stations continue onto other parts of northern Scotland. The station’s connectivity links Edinburgh with Glasgow in the west and English cities like Newcastle, York, and London in the south.

Edinburgh Park to Edinburgh Waverley

It only takes nine to ten minutes to reach Edinburgh Waverley with ScotRail. Trains run every ten minutes or so. You can get from Edinburgh Airport to Waverley by taking a tram to Edinburgh Park and then changing onto ScotRail services.

London Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley

On average, it takes around four and a half hours to travel up the East Coast Mainline from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley. This is travelling with either LNER or Lumo.

During peak times, three trains per hour leave Kings Cross for Edinburgh with LNER. Lumo offers five services per day between the two capitals.

Newcastle to Edinburgh Waverley

It takes around one hour and a half to get from Newcastle to Edinburgh Waverley with either LNER or Lumo. Sometimes the LNER ran trains stop at Berwick-upon-Tweed, however they may also skip this stop due to scheduling changes. It’s best to check before you book train tickets.

During peak times, three trains per hour leave Kings Cross for Edinburgh with LNER. Lumo offers five services per day.

North Berwick to Edinburgh Waverley

Getting from North Berwick to Edinburgh Waverley can take up to thirty-three minutes with ScotRail. There are around thirty-eight trains per day between the two destinations.

Due to its location as the northern terminus of the East Coast Mainline, many UK rail operators run their services through Edinburgh Waverley. These are: ScotRail, Lumo, LNER, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, CrossCountry and Caledonian Sleeper.

Because the station is nestled between the Medieval ‘old’ town with its cavernous alleyways, stately buildings, and a generous assortment of pubs and whisky bars, and the 18th-century neoclassical ‘new’ town, Edinburgh Waverley is packed with things to do. The station serves as a brilliant launchpad for any trip around the city.

For instance, if you choose to visit the ‘old’ town, there’s the Royal Mile, a processional route between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace packed with exciting restaurants, bars, and pubs such as the famous World’s End pub and The Ensign Ewart, as well as ghost tours. There’s also the aforementioned Edinburgh Castle, alongside St Giles Cathedral, and the Edinburgh Vaults. The famous Edinburgh Dungeons are also outside the station on Market Street.

The ‘new’ town has plenty of excellent places to shop, drink, and be merry. There’s St James’ Quarter, Jenners department store, and Waverley Market, to name but a few. If you’re in the mood for something to eat or drink, try The Dome for something sophisticated, or if a pint of ale or a dram of whisky is more your thing, head to the Café Royal or The Guildford Arms.

Edinburgh isn’t without its share of grand, bougie hotels that sport a delectable old-world charm. Try the Witchery by Edinburgh Castle, The Scotsman, which opened in 1905, or the splendidly regal Balmoral Hotel, where J K Rowling wrote the final book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, in 2007.

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Is Edinburgh Waverley the same as Edinburgh?

Edinburgh Waverley is the main train station in Edinburgh and is located in the city centre. Its station code is EDB.

Is Edinburgh Waverley open all night?

Edinburgh Waverley is open between 4am – 12.45am Monday to Saturday, and 6am – 12.45am on Sundays.

Although individual vendors may open at different times, it’s best to check with the vendors themselves to avoid disappointment, as their opening times may differ from the station’s.

Where is the entrance to Waverley station in Edinburgh?

Waverley Station can be accessed from Princes Street to the north, Market Street to the south, and via Waverley Bridge to the west.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip.