Getting to Edinburgh

Q: What would be the cheapest way of getting from Heathrow or Gatwick airports to Edinburgh? - Ingrid Boag

A: There are three ways of getting to Edinburgh from the two airports you have specified in London, by plane, bus and train. Plane is by far the most convenient and quickest way to travel. You can get to Edinburgh within 90 minutes and the fares can be surprisingly affordable if you book early. The two main airlines operating on this route from Heathrow are British Airways and bmi (British Midland International). The cheapest seats I could find was 39 British pounds on bmi and 54 pounds on BA.The cheapest flight from Heathrow was on British Midland International (bmi) at 39 GBP return. From Gatwick Airport the cheapest fares I could find were on easyjet (31 GBP) and British Airways (38 GBP). The next choice would probably be the train, although it does mean travelling into central London first. From Heathrow you need to catch the underground to King's Cross station, where there are regular departures to Edinburgh Central station. The cheapest fare for the six-hour journey is roughly 46 GBP. From Gatwick you would also catch the train at Kings Cross, but your journey from the airport would involve a train change at Victoria Station. The bus service is an unlikely choice due to the long travelling time. From both airports it takes 10-13 hours and you need to change in Birmingham. The cheapest fare is around 35 GBP. If you are really concerned about cutting your costs to the bone, you could consider trying to get a cheap fare on the Megabus service, which operates from central London to Edinburgh. Fares can be as low as 5 GBP if you book far enough in advance. (21/8/11)