The Perfect Itinerary for 7 Days in London and Edinburgh (2024)

FAQs

The Perfect Itinerary for 7 Days in London and Edinburgh? ›

If you're short on time, we recommend spending at least 2-3 days in this historic city, so you have time to experience the delectable dining, legendary castles, and picturesque beauty found in this great city.

If you're short on time, we recommend spending at least 2-3 days in this historic city, so you have time to experience the delectable dining, legendary castles, and picturesque beauty found in this great city.

I think 5-7 days in London would provide enough times to see your highlights, then maybe 7 days in Scotland to maybe spend a couple of days in Edinburgh and 5 days elsewhere. I'd say at least a week for London (we had 10 days on our first trip and didn't cover it "completely"). Scotland could take forever, I think.

The top cities between Edinburgh and London are Liverpool, Blackpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Windsor, Stratford-upon-Avon, Milton Keynes, Chester, Keswick, and Stoke-on-Trent. Liverpool is the most popular city on the route. It's 4 hours from Edinburgh and 3 hours from London.

London is a super one-week getaway. Its sights can keep even the most fidgety traveler well entertained for seven days. You won't be able to see all of London's worthwhile tourist destinations in one visit, so don't try. With any luck, you'll be back in London.

When is the best time to visit Edinburgh? The best time to visit Edinburgh is during the summer (June to August) when the weather is warmer, there's less rain (although this is Scotland, so don't bank on it!), and the days are longer.

We all want to put our best foot forward, and in Edinburgh it's easy. With one dormant volcano, seven hills, clusters of cobbled streets and tantalising vistas waiting around every bend, the capital is a fabulous place for a wander.

There is so much to see and do here, which is why I made this perfect itinerary for 7 days in London and Edinburgh. This itinerary takes you to two of the largest cities in the U.K., London and Edinburgh, and is itinerary is pretty jam-packed, making it best for solo travelers, couples and active groups!

The best time to visit the United Kingdom is in spring (late March to early June) and autumn (September to November), when it's usually warm and dry. You'll see beautiful spring flowers or the leaves changing hue in autumn, and avoid the much busier summer period.

WHAT IS THE QUICKEST WAY FROM LONDON TO SCOTLAND? The quickest way is to take the train from London to either Edinburgh or Glasgow in around 4 hours.

Is the train ride from London to Edinburgh beautiful? ›

Without a doubt, one of the best bits of travelling by train from London to Edinburgh are the views along the way. Even regular travellers glance up from their screens from time to time to take in the sights. The stops the train makes will vary, but almost all trains will stop at York, Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

On average, you can expect the journey from London to Edinburgh by train to take around 5 hours and 46 minutes. The fastest train from London to Edinburgh can take as little as 4 hours and 11 minutes. There are direct trains available so no need to change – just sit back, relax and enjoy the journey.

The journey time from London to Edinburgh depends on which mode of transport you opt for. By train, you can get there in 4 hours and 10 minutes, whereas plane will get you there in around 60 – 90 minutes, without factoring in check-in, security, baggage control and getting to/from the airport.

We recommend budgeting around £105 plus (about $130 in US dollars) per day, per person, after paying to get there. You can of course spend a lot more, or a little less, but our recent trip revealed this figure to be a good starting point.

If London is your only stop and you have the time, stay a week or at least five days. You won't be sorry. We've included a busy five-day itinerary below. If you can stay an extra couple of days, spend the time exploring London's many neighborhoods, like Notting Hill and Kensington.

For first time visitors, we recommend spending at least two or three days in Edinburgh, which will give you enough time to explore the city centre and see the main sites.

Visiting Edinburgh in two days is possible, if you make the most out of your time. You will not have time to visit every little corner of the city, but with a well planned route, you will be able to visit all the more important landmarks in the Scottish Capital.

Three days is the minimum amount of time to spend in Edinburgh. Of course, more is better, but any less and you'd miss out on too much. With three full days in Edinburgh you can see all the highlights in Old Town the first two days and then explore New Town on the third day.

So, you've got three days in Edinburgh, you lucky thing. Much of the city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and there's no shortage of brilliant museums, dramatic vistas, fascinating historical attractions, and stunning architecture to soak in.