About this journey to Edinburgh?

[Sweetpea302]

More of an "Am I being ridiculous" rather than AIBU...

We have been invited to a wedding in Edinburgh over the winter and need to start booking travel for it from the West Country (near Bristol). I have a grand romantic idea that this would be a really lovely journey to make on the train - kick back, eat lots of snacks and watch beautiful countryside and interesting cities as we swoosh past.

I've just looked into travel costs though and its considerably cheaper to fly rather than travel by train, and also takes a fraction of the time. I'm now wondering whether I'm just being a bit ridiculous to even think about spending MORE money for a longer journey? I'm also starting to have visions of endless journeys, train delays and uncomfortable seats...

It would just be me and my fiancé; no children.

Has anyone else done this (or a similar) journey? What would you guys do?

Oh, and if you've made it this far then tips on what to see when we're in Edinburgh would be great!

This may be an unpopular view, but I would give the Edinburgh Christmas market a miss. It was lovely in its early days, really magical and special. These days it's a massively crowded nightmare of the same overpriced tat you get everywhere with mile-long queues thrown in. After you've queued for the best part of an hour in the cold and wet for your gluhwein you'll stand elbow-to-elbow trying to drink it while being jostled from all angles. Don't do it!

I agree survey, the east coast is beautiful from further south than Newcastle, just suggested there as it's fairly easy to fly to and where I'm most familiar with!

Flying one way and train/combo the other is a great idea!

Oh and the Magnum on Albany Street has lovely grub.

Edinburgh to London is just about bearable when it's an express but there's always delays.

Ha, another good lesson in taking everyone's experience as just one among many I suppose. I've never been delayed by more than 10 mins on that train journey, and that only rarely, but flying out of London City I have been delayed every single time. It is a total pain.

I think you would be on Cross Country trains if going directly to Edinburgh. They aren't exactly the Orient Express and are pretty minging by the time they get to their destination, so perhaps not the lovely experience you are after (first class is marginally better)
Plenty to do in Edinburgh as others have said. Castle, the National Museum of Scotland is awesome (and free).

Not RTFT so don't know if others have already suggested these but Victoria Street, the Grassmarket and William Street are all good for little independent shops.
Walk along the beach at Portobello and go for a (pricy but lovely) bacon roll at The Beach House or a pint and a music session at the Dalriada.
Climb Arthur's Seat and go down the other side past Duddingston Loch and into The Sheep Heid for a pint.
Walk up the Royal Mile (including walking down some of the closes to see what Old Edinburgh architecture was like, and then down the Mound steps across Princes Street and down to walk along Heriot Row (where RL Stevenson amongst others lived) and look at some of the New Town architecture.
One of my personal favourites is the Covenanters Prison in Greyfriars churchyard, (very central - just across from the museum) just because it's such a grim (openair!) place to have been imprisoned in

I find this so strange because I literally just got back from Edinburgh a few days ago! I flew from Bristol airport and all was lovely, no delays or hold ups at all. The tram also stops at the airport and can take you all the way into the city. It was so quick and easy on the plane I'd definitely recommend it!

I have taken the train many times from London, never had a delay or overcrowding, though I avoid main commuter times. The scenery is beautiful in the later stages, particularly if you sit on the coast side, though remember it will get dark early in winter! Advance fares can be pretty cheap, and compare favourably to flights once you add in travel to home airport, luggage costs etc., though bus from Edinburgh airport to city centre is very easy and quick. If you can get a couples railcard it will make a big difference and probably pay for itself immediately.
The National Museum is great and very central, good loos! Also very nearby is Greyfriars churchyard, which apart from the Bobby connection also has lots of Harry Potter references and great views of the castle and rooftops. You can walk straight through it to Grassmarket for the aforementioned fab ice cream.

I do the train from Leeds to Edinburgh. I always travel first class so I get leg room, comfort and a free meal and drinks for the journey. I book early too so first class is only slightly more expensive than a normal return would be. Much more relaxing for me just jumping on at Leeds station rather than dragging to the airport

The train is ok but if you're only there for a few days I would fly and make the most of your time in the city. If you like walking and the outdoors, climbing Arthur's seat is a good shout if it isn't too cold, and walking through Holyrood Park to Duddingston village and treating yourself to a pint at The Sheeps Heid was one of our favourite Edinburgh pastimes! The Water of Leith is also lovely to walk along through Dean Village. For food, there is a lovely Californian style restaurant called Calistoga which is a bit hidden away but good food and good wine. I've not been but a few friends have said good things about Purslane in Stockbridge. I also love cocktails at Bramble or Montieths. But loads of options around, you can't go too far wrong! Have a great trip.

This thread has got me planning my next trip to Edinburgh!

You are booking too early for cheap train prices. Set up an alert on the website.

I'm now looking at going via London, standard class there and First Class Virgin from London. If we can't do that then we might just fly. This thread has been SO helpful, thank you!

GoodMorning1 Glad to have helped 😊 (Well, not helped, but got the ball rolling). I'm looking forward to the trip more than the wedding now...!

I'd fly, its easy enough getting from the airport to the city centre.

Good thinking OP, Bristol to London then London to Edinburgh is by far the best option for the train journey.
I second what mornington said about the Christmas markets, they get hideously busy, especially at the weekend.

We have just come back from Edinburgh. Taxis aren't much too and from airport £17 with über. Castle was good. Royal yacht Britannia really worth a visit.

Just to correct survey's otherwise excellent post - you don't need to go through customs or passport control when you fly from England to Scotland, we're still the same country

I get your romanticism!

We have also done Bristol to Edinburgh by train - overnight in a bed, not sure that service runs now.

Just wanted to check you are looking at the super advanced prices. If you buy a "2 together" rail card and are flexible about time of day you travel you should get a good price. I think 12 weeks ahead is the optimum time. You can usually recoup the rail card price on the first journey as they save you 30% on the total. It lasts a year so you can use again and again whenever you travel together.

There is nothing quite like arriving in Edinburgh by train IMO and I have arrived by plane several times. Don't forget to factor in the cost (time and money) from airports to and from the cities though of course flying will be faster.

I have a grand romantic idea that this would be a really lovely journey to make on the train

Hahahahahaha. Have you been on a train in the last couple of decades?