drive from London to Central Scotland during Easter with DS for site visit and property viewing? or should I take train?

[graceandmercy]

as title above. not a skilful driver, worry if I can handle the whole drive by myself. it takes 7.5 hours one way non-stop. it takes 4.5 hours train one way but the fact that it would be less efficient when I go for property viewing. I can only take train from point to point. Is there any uber service in Scotland? I travel with my DS who has no dl. drive or train? thx for your sharing.

Where are you going exactly? Is this to view a university? You can always hire a car locally if you don't want to rely on taxis.

If you are not a skilful driver I wouldn’t as it’s a long drive. Take the train and hire a car here.

I’ve done the drive numerous times and it’s absolutely exhausting. Can you take the train and hire a car when you’re there?

Take the train and hire a car. You will be hazard attempting such a long drive if you are not confident.

Yes we have Ubers and other taxi services. Where exactly in Central Scotland are you going? You could also fly to Edinburgh or Glasgow then hire a car?

7.5 hours if you’re lucky! Take the train, the drive in exhausting.
Where do you need to go when you get to Scotland? There’s trains and buses and taxis that would save you having to drive to a lot of places.

No need to hire a car. Plenty ubers/taxis etc

Definitely take the train

I will drive to Stirling, possibly to nearby train reachable places like Alloa, Falkirk, Dunblane if I take train. If I hire car in Scotland, where is the best place to pick the car? and which company you will suggest?

I did drive once from London to Scotland but I had another family joining us so we took turns and it was okay. This time only me, really not confident...

There's the usual generic UK car hire companies at Glasgow airport (and other airports but I only know Glasgow!). I prefer to get the train but flying is usually cheaper and quicker (well from London anyhow) and then the car rental places are right there when you get there.

I live in Stirling and when I do the journey the opposite way I find flying quicker and not necessarily more expensive than the train (although work are usually paying).

In Stirling I think we just have Enterprise and Europcar. I think you can get Europcar to meet you at the train station.

There's car hire near Edinburgh Waverley station. Iirc they got office in station
Think it might be Sixt

Falkirk and Dunblane both have good train links.

I’d fly, into either Glasgow or Edinburgh airports. Stirling, Dunblane etc are easy on the train from either or get hire car at the airport. Last two times I’ve travelled up we’ve been stuck for hours due to accidents (once stuck in the car for 11 hours) so any option apart from car is the one for me!

Enterprise car hire have a place in the city centre, walking distance from Glasgow central train station.

I would take the train. You'll get from London to Edinburgh direct then Edinburgh to Stirling. At Stirling you can get Europcar meet and greet. There are trains Stirling to Alloa / Falkirk etc but bit of a hassle so would rent a car once I got to Stirling. www.europcar.co.uk/en-gb?gclsrc=aw.ds&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3IqSBhCoARIsAMBkTb1KZ9PVn1ae2eobRTrz3l6BgY0LMiuWi9gr2eaXn-XKCbTHoIgZE-saAsN5EALw_wcB

@patritus

There's car hire near Edinburgh Waverley station. Iirc they got office in station Think it might be Sixt

If you're a nervous driver do not hire a car from Waverley!! It's a minefield of roads to get out of the city. I wouldn't do it and I'm a confident driving resident! There are direct trains from London to Stirling, or it might require a change at Edinburgh. Likewise there are trains to Falkirk, Alloa and Dunblane. If you hire a car then Arnold Clark always get good reviews. They have a branch at Edinburgh airport which is opposite Ingliston park & ride tram station so that would be an easy point to collect from as you're straight onto the A8 dual carriageway to the motorways and don't need to navigate the city centre. They also have a branch at Sighthill which is opposite Edinburgh Park tram stop and station.

Take the Caledonian Sleeper train!
It's expensive but probably no more so than the petrol for such a long trip.
Plus it's super fun. You can hang out in the bar and then have a lovely sleep in a proper bed. The train literally rocks you to sleep!
Then you arrive refreshed and ready to go.

The train literally rocks you to sleep!
hmmm, not the reviews I've heard of it! I think it depends if you're one of those people who can sleep anywhere and everywhere or not! One of our senior managers literally fell asleep standing up in a meeting once when he travelled up on it

I live in central Scotland and travel to London twice a month and always fly. I would consider the train but my connection to Edinburgh isn't great. Not a chance that I would drive.

You won't drive non stop OP you will need 1 to 2 breaks so allow another hour or two to your journey.

Uber isn't really a thing up here yet. But trains between the cities are good. Or you could hire a car. But parking in the cities is expensive.

Take the train then hire a car. I've been to Edinburgh recently it was 4.5 hours on Lumo, we paid about £40 each. Yes, there's a SIXT office in the station. It's too far to drive all that way.

Train/plane to and from edinburgh really takes exactly the same time. The decider is whether you’re closer to kings cross or to a London airport. Or whether you want to carry liquids in your bag (checking in luggage makes flying take longer).
And obviously there’s the environmental factors in support of train.
Driving to the stirling area is pretty easy from Edinburgh or glasgow, both of which have lots of car hire. Just use sat nav in the cities and you’ll be fine.

If you are not a confident driver - don’t drive or hire a car. There is nothing worse than driving a car you are not used to in places you don’t know well.
If I were you I’d get to Scotland by either plane or train - whichever is cheaper/more convenient then use public transport or taxis.
Whichever you choose will be expensive but by not driving yourself you won’t have the hassle of navigating roads you don’t know well or finding carparks

I'd fly and hire a car.

7.5 hours would mean driving on completely empty roads.

I once got stuck on the M6 from Stoke on Trent to Wolverhampton, it took me 3 hours.

Public transport isn't really great in the smaller towns, Alloa especially so you could end up spending a fortune on taxis or hours waiting around for public transport.

I live 1/2 an hour drive from Stirling and it would take DD 2 1/2 hours to get to uni with about 3 changes. If you are used to London public transport then you might get a shock by how bad it is here.

Book a train 12 weeks in advance for best ticket deals and have a look at Scotrail website for local services. Have only travelled the opposite direction but it is a good journey - the sleeper is also good - we had a cabin.