Edinburgh Rail Day Trip from London with Castle Entry and Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
by Evan Evans Tours
Choose from 3 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.£478Overview
This independent day trip lasts about 16 hours and includes a return train journey from London to Edinburgh with reserved seats. The outbound train leaves London Kings Cross at 7:02 AM and arrives in Edinburgh at 11:02 AM. Upon arrival, guests can use the hop-on hop-off bus tour to explore the city at their own pace. The tour includes entry to Edinburgh Castle, where visitors can see the Scottish Crown Jewels and learn about the fortress's long history atop Castle Rock. The hop-on hop-off bus provides access to major landmarks such as the Royal Mile, St Giles' Cathedral, Princes Street Gardens, Princes Street, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Visitors can spend time wandering through Edinburgh's Old Town, enjoying the mixture of shops, pubs, and museums along the Royal Mile. The tour also passes the Scott Monument and the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre. At the end of the day, the return train departs Edinburgh at 5:13 PM and arrives back in London at 10:10 PM. This trip is unescorted, allowing guests to explore Edinburgh independently with the flexibility provided by the hop-on hop-off bus and included castle entry. Electronic tickets and vouchers are sent by email one week before the trip (or within 24 hours if booked less than a week ahead).
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a historic fortress located on Castle Rock, overlooking the city skyline. Archaeological evidence shows human presence on the rock since the Iron Age, though details of the early settlement remain unclear.
60 min
St Giles' Cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral, also called the High Kirk of Edinburgh, serves as the main place of worship for the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. Its crown-shaped steeple is a notable feature on the city skyline, situated about one-third down the Royal Mile.
20 min
Princes Street Gardens
Princes Street Gardens consists of two adjacent public parks in central Edinburgh, located beneath Edinburgh Castle. The gardens were developed in two phases during the 1770s and 1820s after draining the Nor Loch and constructing the New Town starting in the 1760s.
15 min
Edinburgh Old Town
The Old Town is a busy area filled with historic buildings and narrow alleys. Edinburgh Castle sits atop an extinct volcano at its center, housing Scotland’s crown jewels. The Royal Mile runs from the castle to the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, lined with pubs, shops, and small museums.
30 min
Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is a series of connected streets forming the main route through Edinburgh's Old Town. The term was first used in 1901 and gained popularity with a 1920 guidebook. It links Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
40 min
Princes Street
Princes Street is a major shopping street in central Edinburgh, about 1 mile (1.6 km) long, running from Lothian Road to Leith Street. The south side has no buildings, providing panoramic views of the Old Town, Edinburgh Castle, and the valley between. Most of the street is limited to trams, buses, and taxis, with only the east end open to all traffic.
45 min
Holyrood Park
Holyrood Park surrounds the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, currently Queen Elizabeth II.
National Museum of Scotland
Formed in 2006 by merging the Museum of Scotland and the Royal Museum, this museum features collections on Scottish antiquities, culture, history, science, technology, natural history, and world cultures.
Meeting point
Please do not wait to meet our staff at the train station as we do not conduct in-person departures. This tour is unescorted.
End point
Please do not wait to meet our staff at the train station as we do not conduct in-person departures. This tour is unescorted.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Additional info
Edinburgh Rail Day Trip from London with Castle Entry and Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
by Evan Evans Tours
Choose from 3 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.£478Overview
This independent day trip lasts about 16 hours and includes a return train journey from London to Edinburgh with reserved seats. The outbound train leaves London Kings Cross at 7:02 AM and arrives in Edinburgh at 11:02 AM. Upon arrival, guests can use the hop-on hop-off bus tour to explore the city at their own pace. The tour includes entry to Edinburgh Castle, where visitors can see the Scottish Crown Jewels and learn about the fortress's long history atop Castle Rock. The hop-on hop-off bus provides access to major landmarks such as the Royal Mile, St Giles' Cathedral, Princes Street Gardens, Princes Street, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Visitors can spend time wandering through Edinburgh's Old Town, enjoying the mixture of shops, pubs, and museums along the Royal Mile. The tour also passes the Scott Monument and the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre. At the end of the day, the return train departs Edinburgh at 5:13 PM and arrives back in London at 10:10 PM. This trip is unescorted, allowing guests to explore Edinburgh independently with the flexibility provided by the hop-on hop-off bus and included castle entry. Electronic tickets and vouchers are sent by email one week before the trip (or within 24 hours if booked less than a week ahead).
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a historic fortress located on Castle Rock, overlooking the city skyline. Archaeological evidence shows human presence on the rock since the Iron Age, though details of the early settlement remain unclear.
60 min
St Giles' Cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral, also called the High Kirk of Edinburgh, serves as the main place of worship for the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. Its crown-shaped steeple is a notable feature on the city skyline, situated about one-third down the Royal Mile.
20 min
Princes Street Gardens
Princes Street Gardens consists of two adjacent public parks in central Edinburgh, located beneath Edinburgh Castle. The gardens were developed in two phases during the 1770s and 1820s after draining the Nor Loch and constructing the New Town starting in the 1760s.
15 min
Edinburgh Old Town
The Old Town is a busy area filled with historic buildings and narrow alleys. Edinburgh Castle sits atop an extinct volcano at its center, housing Scotland’s crown jewels. The Royal Mile runs from the castle to the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, lined with pubs, shops, and small museums.
30 min
Royal Mile
The Royal Mile is a series of connected streets forming the main route through Edinburgh's Old Town. The term was first used in 1901 and gained popularity with a 1920 guidebook. It links Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
40 min
Princes Street
Princes Street is a major shopping street in central Edinburgh, about 1 mile (1.6 km) long, running from Lothian Road to Leith Street. The south side has no buildings, providing panoramic views of the Old Town, Edinburgh Castle, and the valley between. Most of the street is limited to trams, buses, and taxis, with only the east end open to all traffic.
45 min
Holyrood Park
Holyrood Park surrounds the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, currently Queen Elizabeth II.
National Museum of Scotland
Formed in 2006 by merging the Museum of Scotland and the Royal Museum, this museum features collections on Scottish antiquities, culture, history, science, technology, natural history, and world cultures.
Meeting point
Please do not wait to meet our staff at the train station as we do not conduct in-person departures. This tour is unescorted.
End point
Please do not wait to meet our staff at the train station as we do not conduct in-person departures. This tour is unescorted.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.