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London to Edinburgh: England & Scotland’s Best in a Week – A Vagabond Life

London to Edinburgh: England & Scotland’s Best in a Week

Seven days that take you from the British capital to the Scottish capital via some of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes. This itinerary covers the Roman and Georgian elegance of Bath, the honey-stone villages of the Cotswolds, the medieval splendour of York, the lakeland fells and literary heritage of the Lake District, and Edinburgh’s dramatic castle-to-cobbles cityscape. It’s the ultimate one-week UK sampler — and every leg of the journey is by train. Budget: £900–1,400 per person.

7-Day Itinerary Overview

Route: London (1) → Bath (1) → Cotswolds (1) → York (1) → Lake District (1) → Edinburgh (2)

Best for: Comprehensive first-time UK tour, train travellers, lovers of history, countryside, and cities

Budget: £900–1,400 per person (excluding international flights)

Direction: London → Bath (train 1.5h) → Cotswolds (day trip) → York (train 3h) → Lake District (train 2.5h) → Edinburgh (train 2.5h). Open-jaw flights: London in, Edinburgh out.

Getting There & Around

Arriving

London Heathrow or Gatwick. Depart from Edinburgh Airport. Use Luggage Shipping (Luggage Pony, £40) to send a suitcase ahead to Edinburgh — travel with a backpack for the middle section.

Getting Around

BritRail Pass (8 days, £179) — covers ALL trains including London-Bath, York-Lakes, and Lakes-Edinburgh. Essential for this itinerary. Stagecoach Explorer (£9/day) for Lake District buses. All cities walkable.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: London — British Museum, South Bank & Borough Market

☀️ Morning

British Museum (free). Walk to Covent Garden for street performers. Then National Gallery (free, Trafalgar Square) for Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.

🌆 Afternoon

Borough Market for lunch. Walk the South Bank to Tower Bridge. Book ahead for the free Sky Garden viewpoint.

Accommodation: London near Paddington (for morning train to Bath).

Day 2: Bath — Roman Baths, Royal Crescent & Elegance

☀️ Morning

Train from London Paddington to Bath Spa (80 min). Drop bags. Visit the Roman Baths (£19, book ahead). Bath Abbey (free).

🌆 Afternoon

Royal Crescent lawn (free). No. 1 Royal Crescent museum (£12). Walk the Bath Skyline (free, 6-mile circular). Pulteney Bridge and the weir.

Where to eat: Sally Lunn’s buns (£8-12). Dinner at The Raven (£14-20).

Accommodation: Bath (B&B £65-150).

Day 3: Cotswolds & Train to York

☀️ Morning

Bus or tour from Bath to the Cotswolds: Castle Combe, Bibury (Arlington Row), and Bourton-on-the-Water. Return by 2 PM.

🌆 Afternoon

Train from Bath to York via Bristol and Birmingham (3h 30min, change at Birmingham New Street). Or quicker: Bath to London Paddington (80 min), then London Kings Cross to York (2h). Arrive by 8 PM.

Accommodation: York near the city walls (B&B £65-140).

Day 4: York — Minster, Walls & Shambles

☀️ Full Day

York Minster (£16, tower climb £6 extra). City Walls walk (1.5 hours, free). The Shambles (free). National Railway Museum (free). Bettys Tearoom for afternoon tea (£10-15). JORVIK Viking Centre (£13.50) if you have time and energy. Evening: York Ghost Tour (£8-15).

Where to eat: Lunch at The Shambles Kitchen (£7). Dinner at The Star Inn the City (£16-24).

Accommodation: York (B&B £65-140).

Day 5: Lake District — Catbells & Keswick

☀️ Full Day

Early train from York to Oxenholme (1h 45m), then Windermere branch line (20 min). Take the 555 bus to Keswick (1h). Catbells hike (3 hours). Derwentwater launch. Bus back to Windermere. Evening pub dinner.

Where to eat: Packed hike lunch. Dinner at The Angel Inn, Bowness (£14-20).

Accommodation: Windermere (B&B £65-150).

Day 6: Edinburgh — Castle, Arthur’s Seat & Royal Mile

☀️ Morning

Train from Windermere to Edinburgh Waverley via Oxenholme (2h 45m). Arrive 11 AM. Drop bags. Lunch on the Royal Mile.

🌆 Afternoon

Edinburgh Castle (£19.50, 2 hours). Walk the Royal Mile downhill. Arthur’s Seat hike (1 hour up, 45 min down). Evening: whisky tasting on the Royal Mile.

Where to eat: Lunch at Oink (£5-8). Dinner at The Oak Bar (£12-18).

Accommodation: Edinburgh (B&B £65-150).

Day 7: Edinburgh — National Museum & Departure

☀️ Morning

National Museum of Scotland (free, rooftop terrace). Victoria Street shopping. Last-minute cashmere and whisky.

🌆 Afternoon

Tram to Edinburgh Airport (30 min, £7.50). Depart.

Pro Tip: The BritRail Pass (£179 for 8 days) covers ALL train journeys in this itinerary and saves approximately £200-300 over buying separate tickets. Book it before you arrive in the UK — it’s not available for purchase in the country.

Practical Information

Visas

UK visa/waiver (not Schengen). Open-jump flights OK.

SIM

EE from £10 (best for Lake District).

Currency

£. Scottish notes legal throughout UK but harder to spend in London.

Luggage

Send a bag ahead with Luggage Pony (£40+). Pack carry-on only — trains have limited luggage space. Laundries available at each stop.

Best Time

May-September. For Edinburgh Festival (August), book accommodation 6+ months ahead. June has the longest daylight.

Health

No vaccinations. Tap water safe. Mountain weather in Lake District changes fast.

Budget Summary: 7-Day UK Grand Tour

Estimated Total: £900–1,400 per person

  • Accommodation (6 nights): £250–550
  • BritRail 8-day pass: £179 (covers ALL trains)
  • Edinburgh Castle + Roman Baths + York Minster: £55
  • Lake District bus pass (3 days): £27
  • Meals: £150–280

Money-Saving Tip: The BritRail pass is non-negotiable for this itinerary — it pays for itself by day 3. Free attractions: National Museum of Scotland, British Museum, National Gallery, York city walls, Arthur’s Seat, Bath Skyline Walk.

Disclaimer: Prices vary significantly by season. BritRail passes must be purchased before arriving in the UK. Open-jaw flights (London in, Edinburgh out) save time and money. Verify UK visa requirements separately from Schengen.