The cheapest and fastest trains from Leicester to Edinburgh
Cheapest price
£143
Average price
£184
Fastest journey
4 h 51 m
Average duration
4 h 58 m
Trains per day
5
Distance
392 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Leicester to Edinburgh is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Leicester to Edinburgh will cost around £184 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £143.
To travel from Leicester to Edinburgh you need to make at least one change.
C23360+
Y23424
C23323+
Y23421
Y07219+
C23652
Y07225+
C23655
Y07214+
C23650
Y07225+
C23655
Y07214+
C23650
Y07219+
C23652
C23360+
Y23424
C23323+
Y23421Travel Information
Compare train, coach and flight for Leicester to Edinburgh
Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Leicester to Edinburgh among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the coach with prices starting from £22. For those with little time consider booking a flight which can get you there in 1h 17m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.1 - 0.4kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £22, and a train costs an average of £59.
Distance: 392 km
Compare train with
| Train | Most popular Coach | Flight |
|---|---|---|
£112 Average Price | £38 Average Price Cheapest | £82 Average Price |
5h 16m Average total duration 4h 46m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 8h 52m Average total duration 8h 22m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 17m Average total duration Fastest 1h 17m Onboard + 3h 0m Additional time* |
0.1 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.4 - 1.0kg CO2 emissions | 1.2 - 2.4kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Leicester to Edinburgh train times
The table below shows live departures for Leicester to Edinburgh trains for tomorrow, Friday 28 November. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Y07214+ C23650 | On time 08:09 Leicester station (LEI) | 4h56 | 13:05 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 1 change | |
C23323+ Y23421 | On time 08:18 Leicester station (LEI) | 5h04 | 13:22 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 1 change | |
Y07219+ C23652 | On time 09:09 Leicester station (LEI) | 5h00 | 14:09 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 1 change | |
C23360+ Y23424 | On time 09:14 Leicester station (LEI) | 5h01 | 14:15 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 1 change | |
Y07225+ C23655 | On time 10:10 Leicester station (LEI) | 4h51 | 15:01 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB) | 1 change |
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Leicester to Edinburgh by train, coach or flight
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.
28 Nov
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How far in advance should I book train tickets from Leicester to Edinburgh?
Journey information
Overview: Train from Leicester to Edinburgh
Trains from Leicester to Edinburgh run on average 6 times per day, taking around 4h 46m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £59 but you can travel from only £22 by coach.
The earliest train runs at 05:29, the last at 23:32. The fastest train covers the 392 km distance in 4h 55m.
Distance 392 km |
Average train duration 4h 46m |
Cheapest ticket price £59 |
Trains per day 6 |
Fastest train 4h 55m |
First train 05:29 |
Last train 23:32 |
Train companies: LNER, CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast, east_midlands_trains from Leicester to Edinburgh trainsLNER, CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast, east_midlands_trains trains will get you between Leicester and Edinburgh from £22. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
LNER
CrossCountry
Avanti West Coast
east_midlands_trains
Trains from Leicester to Edinburgh
Although there are no direct trains from Leicester to Edinburgh, it is possible to make the journey with just one change. The first departure is a CrossCountry service leaving around 6:15 a.m. connecting with a Virgin East Coast Trains service at Peterborough. There are hourly East Midlands Trains departures from Leicester throughout the day, requiring a change to a CrossCountry train at Chesterfield. The final connection is around 18:00 p.m. Journey times are roughly 5 hours.
What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Leicester to Edinburgh?
Departure Station: Leicester Leicester's main station is situated south-east of the city centre, about 10-minutes on foot from the main shopping streets. City buses stop outside on London Road, and there is a taxi rank on the northern side of the station concourse.
Arrival Station: Edinburgh Waverley Waverley station is located in the city centre, with tram and bus connections nearby on Princes Street. Night buses and airport shuttle buses depart from Waverley Bridge. The station taxi rank is located on the concourse close to the platforms.
FAQs: Leicester to Edinburgh train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Leicester to Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Important Stations and Airports in Leicester and Edinburgh
- Opening hours: Monday - Friday 05:20 - 22:30 Saturday 05:20 - 22:30 Sunday 07:15 - 22:30
- Car Park: Short stay car park
- Staff help available: Yes
- Step free access coverage: Yes
- Step free access note: This is a Category A access station. There is step free access to the main entrance and lifts to all platforms. Customers with wheelchairs who require assistance on graduated slopes should press the ticket gate 'assistance' button located at the bottom of the stairs near the self service ticket machines. To ensure availability of staff to assist, it is imperative that customers book assistance in advance. This station has tactile paving at the edge of all platforms and at the bottom of all staircases.
- Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station
- 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: Yes
- Toilets Location: The toilets are located on the Main Concourse, Platform 1/2 and Platform 3/4. The National key toilets are located on Platform 1/2 and Platform 3/4; these toilets are operated by a radar key. The radar key is available from the Duty Manager located on the end of Platform 3/4.
- National key toilets: Yes
- Baby changing facilities: Yes
- Storage sheltered: Yes
- Storage location: Cycle hub situated on the lower floor (old Red Star parcels area) which can be accessed via the lift located to the left of the Customer Information desk. Stands also available in main car park and station front near short stay car park.
- Storage CCTV: Yes
- Information available from staff: Yes - from information point,Yes - from ticket office
- Helpline Contact: 08000 11 33 23
- Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens
- Location for Rail Replacement Services: Coaches leave from the Station front
- Opening hours: Monday - Friday 06:30 - 21:25 Saturday 06:30 - 21:25 Sunday 08:10 - 21:25
- Type of shops available: M&S Simply Food
- Car Park: No
- 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
- Toilets Location: The toilets are located on Platform 1, the Concourse and near the entrance from Haymarket Terrace.
- Baby changing facilities: Yes
- Waiting rooms location: Inside the station - one on platform 4 and one on platform 2 and 3
- Storage sheltered: Yes
- Storage CCTV: No
- 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
- Location for Rail Replacement Services: Buses pick up/drop off from the layby in front of the station
- Mon - Sat: 05:00 - 23:59
- Sun: 07:00 - 23:59
- Free public Wi-Fi available.
- You can leave luggage at Excessive Baggage Company on Platform 2.
- Type of shops available: Wide range of shops Passport Photo Booth
- Car Park: New Street: Long Stay
- Bagel Factory
- Burger King
- Caffè Nero
- Costa Coffee
- JD Wetherspoon
- The Pasty Shop
- The Beer House
- M&S
- Pret a Manger
- Taxi: Nearest Taxi Ranks are on Market St and Waverley Bridge outside the station.
- Accessible taxis: Taxi ranks are located on Waverley Bridge and also Market Street. Market Street can be accessed step free via available lifts.
- 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.
- National key toilets: Yes
- National key toilets location: At entrance to Public Toilets
- Baby changing facilities: Yes
- Baby changing facilities location: Female toilets,Male toilets,
- Old Waverley Hotel
- Jurys Inn Edinburgh
- The Scotsman Hotel
- Mon - Sat: 05:00 - 23:59
- Sun: 07:00 - 23:59
- Storage sheltered: Yes
- Storage location: Cycle storage can be found in the station: by the lift at Platform 2 (37 spaces) Platform 3 (68 Spaces) and adjacent to Platform 19 (86 Spaces). Additional cycle spaces are available in New Street car park (32 spaces).
- Storage CCTV: Yes
- Information booths are located on the concourse.
- Bus lines: 22, 30, 33, X22, X25, X37
- Train lines: Avanti West Coast, Caledonian Sleeper, CrossCountry, LNER, ScotRail, Transpennine Express
- Location for Rail Replacement Services: Buses pick up/drop off on Waterloo Place, pick up across from Apex Hotel and drop off outside the Apex Hotel.
- Metro: No metro available.
- Car Park: No
- Storage sheltered: No
- Storage CCTV: No
- Information available from staff: Yes - from help point
- 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
- Location for Rail Replacement Services: Buses pick up/drop off from the bus stop on Slateford Road at Platform 2 stair exit
Most popular train connections from Leicester
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