Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh (Waverley) Trains From £11.50*

You can travel from Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh Waverley in about 5 hours with CrossCountry's direct service.

It's a spectacular journey, too. Trains go past the Peak District National Park, through the Yorkshire Dales and along Scotland's coast before arriving into Edinburgh's city centre. It's popular with tourists wanting to explore this famous city and the wider Highlands area.

CrossCountry provides fast train services from Birmingham to major cities across the region, including Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh.

Departing from Birmingham New Street

Birmingham New Street's central location means it's easy to reach from anywhere in the city and the surrounding areas. You can walk there from the main shopping areas like the Bullring, or take a bus or Midland Metro - the stops are close by.

As Birmingham's main station, there are departures to cities across the country. Avanti West Coast runs fast trains to London Euston and up to Scotland, while CrossCountry has services to Manchester, Cardiff and the South West.

West Midlands Railway handles local services around the region, and Chiltern Railways offers an alternative route to London Marylebone from Birmingham Moor Street station — this is about a 10-minute walk away.

Main stops

This service from Birmingham to Edinburgh stops at some of the North's biggest cities, including Derby, Sheffield, Leeds, York and Newcastle.

Arriving at Edinburgh Waverley

Edinburgh Waverley is right in the heart of Scotland's capital, making it a breeze to explore the city or connect to onward travel. The station is located between the historic Old Town and Georgian New Town, just off Princes Street. Edinburgh Castle is only a 10-minute walk away, while the famous Royal Mile and main shopping streets are all within easy reach.

The station has 4 main exits, so pick the right one for where you're heading - Princes Street for the New Town shopping area, or Market Street if you're exploring the Old Town and Royal Mile.

It's one of Scotland's busiest stations, with services run by ScotRail, LNER, CrossCountry and TransPennine Express. From here you can catch direct trains to London King's Cross, Glasgow Queen Street, Inverness, Aberdeen and Newcastle. There are also long-distance services to Birmingham, Bristol and Plymouth, plus overnight sleeper trains to London.

CrossCountry train classes

CrossCountry trains generally have 2 main classes on their Voyager trains to Scotland.

• Standard Class: Comfy seating, free Wi-Fi and plug sockets are some of the features of Standard Class. Food and drinks are available to buy on most of CrossCountry's Voyager trains, either at an on-board shop or via a trolley service.
• First Class: Offers larger reclining seats with extra space in quieter carriages. Each seat comes with a table, extra Wi-Fi allowance, and complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks on select services.

CrossCountry train travel advice

• Luggage: You should only bring 1 bag with maximum dimensions of 30 x 70 x 90 cm as space is tight on CrossCountry services. Some Voyager trains have a dedicated luggage space on coaches D and J - be sure to double-check before booking.
• Bikes: CrossCountry trains have 2 reservable bike spaces, plus 1 space for an unreserved bike on Voyager trains. This is available on a first come, first served basis, so it's a good idea to reserve a space in advance. It's free.
• Families: With a Family & Friends Railcard you could save 1/3 on adult fares and even more on kids' fares. Without a railcard, kids under 5 travel for free while young ones between 5 and 15 get 50% off.
• Pets: You can travel with 2 pets for free on trains as long as you follow a few rules: small animals will need to be in a container and dogs on a lead, neither can occupy a seat.
• Passenger Assistance: If you need help with things like boarding, or would like to book a wheelchair space, you can reserve these at least 2 hours in advance.

On Avanti West Coast's direct trains, it takes just over 4 hours to travel from Birmingham New Street to Edinburgh Waverley. Trains generally depart every 2 hours towards Scotland.

You're in for scenic views on this route, too - the line goes through the Southern Uplands, over Beattock Summit and between the Lake District and Pennines - it's one of Britain's most scenic rail journeys with dramatic landscapes between Motherwell and Lancaster.

Avanti West Coast operates long-distance services on the West Coast Main Line, linking cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Main stops

On this route, Avanti West Coast stops at Wolverhampton, Stafford, Wigan, Crewe and Preston (Lancs).

Avanti West Coast train classes

Avanti West Coast offers 3 classes on their trains:

• Standard Class: Gives you free Wi-Fi, plug sockets at select seats and access to the onboard shop where you can buy snacks and drinks.
• Standard Premium: Offers all the perks of Standard with extra legroom, a guaranteed table and plug sockets at every window seat.
• First Class: Treats you to larger seats with more room to stretch out, guaranteed tables and complimentary food and drink (on select services). Passengers can also unwind at the Avanti West Coast lounge in Birmingham New Street before their departure (be sure to check opening times before you travel).

Avanti West Coast train travel advice

• Luggage: It's best to bring only small cases on board Avanti West Coast - as trains are optimised for speed, space can be limited. Bags shouldn't be bigger than 30 x 70 x 90 cm in size.
• Bicycles: You can travel with a bike for free on Avanti West Coast trains; you'll just have to make a reservation. Where your bike goes depends on the train, so be sure to arrive at Birmingham New Street 10 minutes ahead of departure for directions from station staff.
• Children: Children under 5 are free, and 5-15 year olds get 50% of the adult fare. If you have small children, prams and pushchairs are allowed. The Friends & Family railcard is also valid on Avanti West Coast services to Edinburgh.
• Pets: Good news - you can bring up to 2 pets without paying extra. Just keep smaller animals in carriers and dogs on leads, and make sure they don't take up seats.
• Passenger Assistance: You can reserve help through the nationwide Passenger Assistance app or website up to 2 hours before you travel. This covers things like boarding and reserving a wheelchair space. 

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