Edinburgh (GLA) to London (LON) Flights

The simple facts on flying from Edinburgh to London

With flights that take under 1 hour 30 minutes to cover the 330 air miles from Edinburgh to London, it’s never been easier to find time to enjoy a short break in the UK capital. Hop on a direct flight after lunch and you’ll be sipping cocktails in Soho by nightfall. Whether you bag a budget bargain from EasyJet or Ryanair, hook a last-minute deal on Flybe or splash out on British Airways business class, you can use your time in the air profitably to plan your itinerary.

How can I find the best cheap flights to London from Edinburgh?

London sparkles with life all year round, so there’s really no downtime. The best way to pick up cheap tickets is to book well in advance and be flexible about when you travel. Conventionally busy times such as Christmas and school holidays are liable to hike up demand and prices, so avoid peak periods if saving pennies is your priority. Choose flights at less popular times of the day – or night – for even bigger savings. Travelling midweek might work out more cost-effective than waiting till the weekend exodus.

How do I get to Edinburgh Airport?

Situated 8 miles west of the city centre, Edinburgh Airport is easily accessible from the M8 and M9 motorways, with plenty of on-site parking options – if you’re planning to take your own car, book in advance on the airport’s official website to save as much as 68 per cent off the regular rate. Alternatively, pre-book a taxi for door-to-door convenience, or hop on the Airlink 100 express bus from Waverley Bridge – the journey takes around 25 minutes in normal traffic. Trams depart for the airport from various central stops, including Princes Street, Haymarket, Murrayfield Stadium and Edinburgh Park.

How do I reach central London once I land?

Edinburgh-London flights serve all five of the city’s airports, so getting into central London will depend on where your particular carrier lands. The Stansted Express runs every 15 minutes or so into Liverpool Street station, while both Gatwick and Heathrow have speedy direct rail links into Victoria and Paddington stations respectively. Book online in advance to save money on single or return journeys. London City Airport, centrally located in the atmospheric docklands, is linked to the public transport network by the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), on which pre-paid Oyster cards are valid. Finally, if you land at London Luton, a shuttle bus will whisk you from the terminal to Luton Parkway for the 30-minute train ride into St Pancras station.

Where to start?

There’s so much to see and do in London that it’s hard to know where to start. Hit the Oxford Street shops with your mates, wander hand in hand through romantic Hyde Park, or find inspiration among the dusty bookshelves of Charing Cross Road. Queue at the Leicester Square Box Office for discounted tickets to the latest smash hit musical, or head over Hungerford Bridge to the South Bank, home of the National Theatre and Royal Festival Hall.