Getting to Scotland

Getting to Scotland is refreshingly easy, whether you’re arriving from within the UK or travelling in from overseas. Scotland is well connected by air, rail, and coach, so choose your preferred mode of travel and we’ll provide helpful tips to make your journey as smooth as possible.

Arriving by Air

Scotland has five main airports, all served by a growing network of UK, European, and long-haul routes:

• Edinburgh Airport
• Glasgow Airport
• Aberdeen Airport
• Inverness Airport
• Prestwick Airport

No matter which airport you land at, public transport links are clear and reliable, and taxis, pre-booked transfers, and car hire are all widely available.

Edinburgh Airport – onward travel made simple

Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s busiest international gateway with good onward transport links.

• Airlink Service 100 runs directly to Edinburgh city centre, operating 24/7 uof
• Citylink Air Express provides a direct coach service to Glasgow city centre, running 24/7 up to every 30 minutes.
• Citylink 978 operates to Oban with onward connections to Fort William and the Isle of Skye
• Lothian Buses services 17 & 18 serve the East and South of Edinburgh
• Jet 747 and 787 link the airport to destinations in Fife
• Fly Dundee provides a direct coach service to Dundee

Glasgow Airport – gateway to the west

Glasgow Airport is well placed for western Scotland, Loch Lomond, and onward travel to the islands.

• Service 500 links the airport with Glasgow city centre, stopping at Glasgow Central, Queen Street Railway Station, and Buchanan Bus Station.
• Services run 24/7, up to every 10 minutes.

Aberdeen Airport – northeast and whisky country

Aberdeen Airport is ideal if you’re heading for the northeast coast, the Cairngorms, or Speyside.

• Stagecoach Service 727 links the airport with Aberdeen city centre, operating 24/7 up to every 10 minutes.

Inverness Airport – straight into the Highlands

Small, friendly, and efficient, Inverness Airport is perfect if the Highlands are your main focus.

• Stagecoach Service 11 runs frequently between the airport, Inverness, and Nairn, with services up to every 30 minutes.
• Inverness Airport Railway Station is a 15/20 minute walk from the passenger terminal and sits on the Inverness to Aberdeen rail line.

Prestwick Airport – rail straight from the terminal

Prestwick Airport is unique in Scotland for having its own railway station.

• Trains run up to four times per hour Monday to Saturday, and twice per hour on Sundays.
• Services are operated by ScotRail, and it’s worth checking timetables in advance.

If you’ve booked an escorted tour with airport transfers included, your tour documentation will explain where to meet your representative in the arrivals area once you’ve collected your luggage. International arrivals will need to clear immigration and customs first.

Flying to Scotland from the UK and Europe

Scotland is easy to reach from within the UK and Europe, with a wide range of direct and connecting flights.

Low-cost airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair operate numerous direct routes from UK and European airports.

By connecting through major hubs such as London, Amsterdam, Dublin, Frankfurt, Keflavík, or Paris, you can reach Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Inverness with airlines including:

• British Airways
• Aer Lingus
• Air France
• Brussels Airlines
• Finnair
• Iberia
• Icelandair
• KLM
• Lufthansa

Flying from the USA and Canada

Scotland has strong and growing links with North America, particularly to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

There are nonstop flights to Edinburgh from Boston, Chicago, New York (JFK and Newark), Philadelphia, Toronto, and Washington Dulles. Glasgow is served directly from Halifax, New York, Orlando, Toronto, and Vancouver.

Airlines operating these routes include:

• Air Canada
• Air Transat
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• United Airlines
• WestJet

Flying from Australasia and the Middle East

Travellers from Australasia and the Middle East usually connect via major hub airports, with excellent onward links to Scotland.

• Qatar Airways operates services to Edinburgh via Doha
• Emirates flies to Edinburgh and Glasgow via Dubai

These routes make Scotland surprisingly accessible from across the world.

Travelling to Scotland by Train

Rail travel in Scotland is not just practical – it’s often part of the experience. Trains connect more than 350 stations, link all seven Scottish cities, and run through some of the most scenic landscapes in Europe, including the West and North Highland lines.

For travellers with mobility issues, assistance can be provided to navigate stations as well as boarding and alighting from trains. 

Most services within Scotland are operated by ScotRail. Fares can vary depending on the operator and time of travel, so it’s always worth checking ticket conditions before booking. If you’re planning extensive rail travel across the UK, a BritRail Pass can offer good value.

From London and the South East

There are three main ways to travel by train from London to Scotland:

• LNER runs fast services on the east coast route from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh, York, Durham, and Newcastle. Through services continue to Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Inverness. The fastest trains complete the London–Edinburgh journey in around four hours.
• Avanti West Coast operates the west coast route from London Euston via Birmingham, Preston, and Carlisle to Glasgow.
• The Caledonian Sleeper runs six nights per week, linking London with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, and Fort William. It offers both seated accommodation and sleeping berths, including some en-suite cabins.

From Manchester and the North West

TransPennine Express provides direct services linking Liverpool, Manchester Airport, Manchester city centre, and Preston with Edinburgh and Glasgow.

From Birmingham and the West Midlands

Avanti West Coast operates frequent services from Birmingham and Wolverhampton to Edinburgh and Glasgow, making rail a convenient option from central England.

Cross-country services

The UK’s longest rail journey runs from Aberdeen to Penzance, and CrossCountry trains serve destinations including Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, York, Leeds, Bristol, Exeter, and Plymouth.

Travelling by Coach

While journey times are longer than flying or taking the train, coach travel can be excellent value and surprisingly convenient.

In Scotland, long-distance services are primarily operated by Scottish Citylink and Ember, whose modern electric coaches connect cities, towns, and rural regions nationwide.

From England, National Express runs regular services to Scotland from London, Manchester, and Birmingham, including some overnight routes that suit travellers short on time.