Edinburgh to Leeds Trains From £30.70*

It takes precisely three hours to get from Edinburgh to Leeds with CrossCountry.

As you travel to Leeds, you’ll head south from Edinburgh through the romantic Scottish Borders and wild Northumberland, passing through County Durham where, if you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of Durham’s distinguished cathedral. From there, you’ll continue into North Yorkshire, enjoying its delightful farmland, rolling moors, and traditional country pubs on your way to Leeds.

CrossCountry offers an extensive rail network linking numerous towns and cities across England, Scotland, and Wales. This enables fast and convenient travel to major British cities such as Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Birmingham.

Departing from Edinburgh Waverley

Edinburgh Waverley is an excellently placed station from which to depart. It’s situated right in the middle of the ‘old’ town of Edinburgh with its cavernous Medieval alleyways and dwellings and the gallant, stocky and stately buildings along the Royal Mile, like Edinburgh Castle. While the ‘new’ town comprises light and airy 18th-century neoclassical townhouses and ornate 19th-century Victorian architecture.

Its central location makes it an excellent departure point, as buses and Edinburgh’s tram network can drop you near the station on Princes Street. Taxis can also drop you off directly at the station.

If you’ve arrived from Edinburgh Airport, you can take a tram from Edinburgh Park station that will take you directly to Princes Street as well.

LNER, CrossCountry, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express, Caledonian Sleeper, ScotRail and Lumo run from Edinburgh Waverley.

Main stops

There are six stops from Edinburgh Waverley to Leeds:

• Berwick-upon-Tweed
• Morpeth
• Newcastle
• Durham
• Darlington
• York

Although these may change due to scheduling, engineering work, poor weather, or train faults, it’s best to check before you travel to avoid disappointment.

If you want to buy cheap train tickets, it’s best to use sites like TrainPal to find the cheapest fares. Plus, if you add a Railcard you can bag yourself an extra discount.

Arriving at Leeds

Arriving at Leeds Station puts you right in the heart of the action. The station is south of the city centre, beside many public transport options and exciting ways to explore the city. It is located on New Station Street, south of City Square and nearby Bishopgate Street.

A taxi rank can be found outside the Aire Street entrance, and plenty of local bus routes operate around Leeds City and the rest of West Yorkshire beside the station.

Leeds is a city with so much going for it. It has a whole flask of exciting bars, restaurants, pubs and clubs to choose from to suit anyone’s tastes and budget. There’s the Royal Armouries Museum and Leeds City Museum if you’d like to dabble in some history, or Trinity Leeds is only a short walk from the station if you need some retail therapy.

Leeds station is the fourth busiest station in the UK outside of London, behind only Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly, and Glasgow Central. This is because it’s a central hub on the UK’s rail network, linking the west and east. It’s also the terminus of the Leeds branch of the East Coast Mainline. Accordingly, LNER, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express, and Northern all run services through Leeds.

CrossCountry train classes

• Standard Class: Onboard Wi-Fi, charging points, and tables. Snacks and drinks are available from the onboard shop.
• First Class: A CrossCountry Edinburgh to Leeds First Class ticket provides a more spacious and comfortable journey with larger seats and complimentary refreshments.

CrossCountry train travel advice

• Luggage: A maximum of three items: one small item, one medium-sized bag, and one large suitcase.
• Pets: Dogs, cats, and other small pets are free of charge. They must be well-behaved and do not disturb other passengers. Two pets per passenger.
• Bicycles: Bicycle reservations are required before travelling.
• Children: Children receive cheaper tickets. The Family & Friends Railcard offers up to 1/3 off family ticket costs.
• Passenger Assist: Provide assistance at stations and on trains, or during transfers, help with luggage, offer discounts for disabled passengers, and other services.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip.