- Must visit
The Silk Museum
Town museum covering Macclesfield's silk heritage, local history and changing exhibitions in a restored industrial setting.
Cheapest price on 05 Sept
£84
Average ticket price on 05 Sept
£145
Fastest journey on 05 Sept
4 h 6 m
Average journey duration on 05 Sept
4 h 35 m
Trains on 05 Sept
3
Distance
307 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Edinburgh to Macclesfield is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Edinburgh to Macclesfield will cost around £145 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £84.
On Sat 05 Sept, we found 3 trains from Edinburgh to Macclesfield, including 3 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 307 km distance in an average of 4 h 35 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 6 m .
The slowest trains will take 4 h 53 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.






Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Edinburgh to Macclesfield among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £26 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 3h 12m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £26, while a train costs an average of £57.
Distance: 307 km
Most popular Train | Flight | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|---|
£57 Average Price | £50 Average Price | £26 Average Price Cheapest | £94 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
4h 23m Average total duration 3h 53m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 12m Average total duration Fastest 1h 12m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* | 6h 48m Average total duration 6h 18m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 50m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Edinburgh to Macclesfield:
A coach is £24 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Edinburgh to Macclesfield costing on average £50.
A coach is £31 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Edinburgh to Macclesfield costing on average £57.
Other travel options to Macclesfield take longer:
Train takes on average 3h 53m.
Coach takes on average 6h 18m.
The journey is about 57m faster (3h 53m by train vs 4h 50m by car) and roughly £37 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls (£57 vs £94). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Edinburgh to Macclesfield trains for today, Friday 4 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 8:12 Edinburgh | 4h05 | 12:17 Macclesfield | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 11:12 Edinburgh | 4h05 | 15:17 Macclesfield | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train, coach and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Edinburgh to Macclesfield run on average 6 times per day, taking around 3h 53m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £42 but you can travel from only £20 by coach.
The earliest train runs at 05:48, the last at 23:52. The fastest train covers the 307 km distance in 4h 6m.
Distance 307 km |
Average train duration 3h 53m |
Cheapest ticket price £42 |
Trains per day 6 |
Fastest train 4h 6m |
First train 5:48 |
Last train 23:52 |
Cheapest Month Jul |
Cheapest Day Wed |
High Season Apr - Jun |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Thu |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Best time to book 14 days |
Discover the best of Macclesfield — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Macclesfield trip today.
Town museum covering Macclesfield's silk heritage, local history and changing exhibitions in a restored industrial setting.
Working Jacquard silk mill with looms and guided visits that show how Macclesfield became a centre of silk production.
Small local museum and archive space preserving the history of Macclesfield's once busy bus and transport network.
Popular hilltop country park on the edge of town with woodland walks, panoramic views and links to local history.
Historic market area with independent shops, civic buildings and regular markets at the heart of Macclesfield.
Peaceful canal-side walking route with locks, mills and waterside views that reveal the town's industrial heritage.
A crumbly Cheshire cow’s milk cheese with a fresh, tangy taste. It is one of the county’s best-known traditional foods and long associated with local farming.
A strong, salty blue cheese traditionally made in Cheshire. It reflects the county’s dairy heritage and is a classic regional cheese board choice.
A rich fruit cake from nearby Eccles, often eaten across Greater Manchester and Cheshire. It is packed with currants and commonly served sliced with tea.
Modern British dining in a polished town-centre setting. Known for seasonal menus, careful cooking and a relaxed but smart atmosphere.
Popular Indian restaurant serving classic curries, tandoori dishes and grills in a lively, dependable setting close to the town centre.
Casual Italian spot serving pizza, pasta and straightforward comfort food. Friendly and family-oriented, it is a well-known local choice.
Moderate for England: hotels and dining are usually cheaper than Manchester or London, while local buses and cafés remain fairly affordable for visitors.
Tipping is modest. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is common if service is not included. Round up for taxis. Café tipping is optional, usually just small change.
Official public transport app
Macclesfield Railway Station -> Macclesfield Town Hall, Macclesfield
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Edinburgh to Macclesfield by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Macclesfield, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Edinburgh to Macclesfield trains use the Edinburgh Waverley to Macclesfield station pair. Use this guide to compare Edinburgh and Macclesfield train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Edinburgh Waverley has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food options include: Bagel Factory, Burger King, Caffè Nero, Costa Coffee, JD Wetherspoon, The Pasty Shop, The Beer House, M&S, Pret a Manger
Free public Wi-Fi available. ATMs are there are a few ATM machines around the station.
The ticket office is open Mon - Sat: 05:00 - 23:59, Sun: 07:00 - 23:59. Information desks are information booths are located on the concourse. .
Luggage storage is you can leave luggage at Excessive Baggage Company on Platform 2. . Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Edinburgh Waverley: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Edinburgh Waverley: Bike Parking, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Edinburgh Waverley: Entrances are step free. Station is equipped with an elevator. Staffed with guide communicators for the deaf. Tactile warning strips are on the platform edges for the blind.
Nearby hotels include Old Waverley Hotel, Jurys Inn Edinburgh, The Scotsman Hotel.
Haymarket is 1 km from Edinburgh city centre. Public transport options include:
Haymarket has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Haymarket.
Wi-Fi is available at Haymarket. ATMs are available at Haymarket.
Ticket office support is available at Haymarket. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: Tel: 0800 046 1634 and 18001 0800 046 1634 (Deaf and customers who are hard of hearing), Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Haymarket: Parking, WC.
Available at Haymarket: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Haymarket: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: This is a Category A station. This station has step-free access to all platforms. The Passenger Assist meeting point is at the automatic ticket gates Blue Badge parking bays: 2, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Macclesfield has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, Accessibility, WC, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office and Bike Parking.
Food and drink options are available at Macclesfield.
Wi-Fi is available at Macclesfield.
Ticket office support is available at Macclesfield.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Macclesfield: Parking, WC.
Available at Macclesfield: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Macclesfield: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: This station has step-free access to all platforms / the platform, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users can use car park equipment at this station unaided, Accessible ticket machines: There are no accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need