Edinburgh, Scotland's Capital - 2 day tour
Edinburgh, Scotland’s Capital
2 day / 1 night
Fancy a short break in Edinburgh? Then is the tour for you. Speed between London and Edinburgh by express train. Discover Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, including Edinburgh Castle. Stroll through the grand squares of the New Town, then explore more of the city on a hop-on, hop-off tour. Relax in a comfortable city centre hotel, specially chosen to be close to all the key attractions. There’s no better way to discover Scotland’s elegant capital city.
High Speed Train - travel from London to Edinburgh in just under 4.5 hours
Edinburgh Castle - see the Scottish Crown Jewels and admire the views over the city
Old Town - explore the ancient Royal Mile with its cobbled streets, narrow closes and hidden courtyards
New Town - discover the wide tree-lined streets, magnificent gardens and elegant squares
Hop-on, Hop-off Tour - get a different perspective on Edinburgh from the top deck of an open-topped bus
Movie locations - Trainspotting, Outlander and The Illusionist
Hotel accommodation included
Full Tour Itinerary
Select Day:
Day 1 - London - Edinburgh - Edinburgh Castle
The whistle blows, and your fantastic two-day Scottish adventure to Edinburgh, Scotland’s Capital City, is underway!
The high-speed Azuma train will take you to the Viking city of York, then onwards to Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
At Berwick-upon-Tweed cross the border into Scotland and follow the coastal route towards Edinburgh’s Waverley Station.
On arrival, make the short walk to your city centre hotel. Once you’ve checked in, it’s time to explore the city’s many attractions.
Hop aboard an open-top bus to discover the secrets of the historic Old Town.
As you tour through the Grassmarket, hear stories of the many public executions that took place here. You could hop off to enjoy a drink in “The Last Drop” Pub before taking a stroll up colourful Victoria Street, said to have been the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter books.
The tour includes a visit to Edinburgh Castle. Head across the drawbridge to see St Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest building in the city and Mon’s Meg, a fine example of a siege gun.
At the top of the Castle, enter Crown Square to see the Great Hall and the Royal Palace. See the Scottish Crown Jewels, known as the “Honours of Scotland”, containing the Crown, Sceptre and Sword. Also on display is the Stone of Destiny on which the Scottish Monarchs were crowned.
Later take a walk along the historic Royal Mile, which connects the Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, HM The King’s official residence in Scotland. This atmospheric thoroughfare is packed full of historic buildings and mysterious closes (alleyways) that are just waiting to be explored.
Tonight, enjoy dinner in one of the city’s excellent restaurants, followed by a wee nightcap in a historic whisky pub.
Overnight: Edinburgh
Day 2 - Edinburgh Sightseeing Tour - Free time - London
Start the day with a hearty breakfast, then head out to continue your sightseeing.
Today why not explore the New Town, where you’ll find sweeping crescents and grand squares. Princes Street offers shopping with a unique view of the castle overlooking delightful gardens.
Stately, George Street boasts designer label shops aplenty as well as a wide range of bars and eateries. At the west end, stroll into elegant Charlotte Square, where you will see fine examples of Georgian architecture.
Edinburgh has a wealth of museums and art galleries to discover.
Trace the development of Scotland as a nation from roman times to Dolly the sheep at the National Museum of Scotland.
The National Portrait Gallery is devoted to displaying paintings of famous Scots from Mary, Queen of Scots to Sean Connery!
The National Galleries complex is conveniently located at the foot of The Mound and contains exquisite old masters and impressionist works. It also plays host to many touring exhibitions.
Later this afternoon, head back to Edinburgh Waverley Station to catch your train. You’ll return to London by mid-evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Freestyle Train Tour?
This carefully planned semi-independent tour will stretch your holiday time to the max without making you feeling rushed. A unique combination of travel by train, comfortable accommodation and sightseeing will give you extra time to explore this amazing city in greater detail. All the documentation you need, including your rail tickets, will be emailed to you. They are in electronic format, so all you need to do is show them on your smart device. If you prefer, you can print your documents, so you have hard copies. Any questions or if you need your documents early - just email or call us. We’re here to help. On tour, you’ll travel independently by train to and from London. We’ll make sure you have a reserved seat, and we’ll send you a comprehensive itinerary so you know what’s planned day by day. Accommodation is provided in comfortable 3-star hotels that are just a short walk from the railway station and convenient for sightseeing and the tour departure points. A buffet breakfast is included in the cost of the tour. |
What type of room should I choose?
There are different bedrooms types to choose from, here is what you can expect:
Single room - one person sleeping in a single bed
Twin room - two people sleeping in two separate beds
Double room - two people sharing one large bed
Family room - three people sharing a room sleeping in one large bed (2 people) and one single bed (1 person)
Please note that a family room can be a standard double room with either a sofa bed or a rollaway bed.
How much luggage can I bring?
There are no restrictions on the amount of luggage that you can bring on this tour.
Please bear in mind that luggage storage on the train is limited and you will be required to lift your case onto a shelf unaided.
How and when will I get my train tickets?
All your documentation will be emailed to you approximately 7 days before your tour starts. If you require your documentation earlier, just let us know, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.
All the vouchers and tickets will be in electronic format, so all you need to do is download them onto your smart device, and you’re good to go.
If you don’t have a smartphone or prefer hard copies, the documents we send are printer-friendly.
Can I cancel or alter this tour?
We are sorry but once booked it is not possible to cancel or change this tour without incurring 100% cancellation charges.
We strongly recommend that you have travel insurance coverage in place.
Inclusions
Accommodation
- 1 nights hotel accommodation
- Location: Edinburgh (1)
Meals
- Scottish/Continental breakfast (1)
Visits, Admissions and Experiences
- Admission to Edinburgh Castle
- Hop-on, Hop-off tour of Edinburgh
Tour Essentials
- Return standard class train tickets between London and Edinburgh with seat reservations
- Customised tour itinerary & Official Edinburgh Guide
- Service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- Admission charges unless otherwise stated above
- Mealls, snacks or items of a personal nature
Departure information
From Kings Cross Railway Station
Euston Road
London N1 9AL
Check-in: 06:30 hrs
Tour Departs: 07:00 hrs
Tour Returns: 20:55 hrs
Child details
Child discount applies to children aged 5 to 15 years inclusive.
We can make special travel arrangements for children aged under 5 years of age please contact us for details.
Photo-ID may be requested to confirm discount entitlement.
Price Notes
IMPORTANT: Once booked this tour cannot be changed or cancelled
Accommodation
The price of this tour includes hotel accommodation with en-suite bathroom.
Train Times
The times shown above are for guidance only. The train times for your journey will be shown on your tickets and itinerary.
FAQs
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
RT 00216
Blogs and Guides - discover insider tips and ideas
Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
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Rating: (5 /5) 19 Aug 2022
Edinburgh is a dream for a history buff like me. And my mother (and I) loved visiting Scotland since my mom’s mom ( my Grandmother, may she Rest In Peace ) was from Glasgow before immigrating to America a looong time ago. The hostel(?) in which we stayed overall wasn’t bad. The breakfast Buffett was awesome the next morning. 🏴💕
Patrick from Cleveland , US
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Rating: (4 /5) 01 Oct 2019
It was the kind of tour we wanted. Everything was in order, all the information, instructions, vouchers were clear and we did not have any issue.
Tanya from London, GB
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Rating: (5 /5) 13 Sep 2019
The features offered were exactly what was delivered. I had a beautiful train ride without any problems. The hotel room was very dated and there was no air conditioning. However since it was only one night, I was fine. The staff was very nice.
Pamela from Henrico, US
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