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Information about flights from London to Edinburgh
Airlines flying between London and Edinburgh
The main three airlines that fly between London and Edinburgh are:
- British Airways: London City (LCY), London Heathrow (LHR)
- easyJet: London Gatwick (LGW), London Luton (LTN), London Southend (SEN), London Stansted (STN)
- Ryanair UK: London Stansted (STN)
These flights are usually non-stop and can be booked on any day from a range of times, with the option for one-way or return tickets. Once you search for tickets to Edinburgh from London, our comparison engine will allow you to compare different flights with the option to include hotel deals so you can find the best deal for you.
Airports in London
London has six major airports, the busiest being Heathrow Airport. There are several public transport routes to each airport to and from Central London, commonly via the Tube or by train. Some rail services and coaches may travel to some main airports in London from other cities in the UK, though you should always allow plenty of time between your arrival at the airport and your flight departure, particularly in case of any delays.
London City (LCY): London City Airport is the closest airport to Central London, approximately 7 miles away. To travel from the city centre to LCY, you can take the DLR Underground from Canning Town. This service runs around every 8 to 15 minutes.
London Gatwick (LGW): Located south of London, Gatwick is the second busiest airport in the UK. There are regular train services between Central London and Gatwick, including the Gatwick Express running every 30 minutes to London Victoria station.
London Heathrow (LHR): Heathrow is in the west of London and has frequently running connections to and from Central London via the Piccadilly Line. This Underground line runs at least every 10 minutes.
London Luton (LTN): Luton Airport is located in the north-west of London and has regular train and coach services, including East Midlands Railway, Thameslink and National Express, which come and go from Central London every day.
London Southend (SEN): Southend is one of London's smaller airports just east of the centre of London. To get to Southend Airport from Central London, you can take the train from Liverpool Street or Stratford.
London Stansted (STN): London Stansted is located near the M11 motorway just north-east of London. The Stansted Express rail service, the main public transport option going to and from Central London. This service runs around every 15 to 30 minutes.
If you wish to explore the surroundings of the city at your own pace, you can always rent a car in London with Opodo.
Airports in Edinburgh
There is one main airport in Edinburgh and it has one terminal. Edinburgh Airport (EDI) works with 40 airlines travelling to over 150 countries. It's Scotland's busiest airport, and the 6th busiest in the UK.
You can reach Edinburgh city centre from the airport by trams which run around every 7 minutes during the day, and around every 15 minutes overnight. Edinburgh Airport is located just 8 miles from the city centre, so journeys by tram take only half an hour on average. Combined tram and train tickets can be bought online or in person at the airport or rail station.
If you would rather take the wheel yourself, Edinburgh Airport has a car rental service close to the terminal and is near the M8 and M9 motorways.
If you wish to explore the surroundings of the city at your own pace, you can always rent a car in Edinburgh with Opodo.
Edinburgh Airport services and facilities
The services and facilities available at Edinburgh Airport include the following:
Banking and Currency Exchange Services: there are Travelex stores and ATMs which will allow you to exchange cash for British pounds or euros.
Dining: there are some coffee shops and a kitchen/bar which you can visit before security, though there are more options including several bars, cafes and restaurants after security.
Shopping: Various shops covering cosmetics, food, electronics, fashion and more. Luggage-Point serves as both a shop for travel essentials and a contact point for any lost luggage in the airport terminal.
Car Rental: You can reserve or get a quote on Edinburgh Airport's website, or visit the car rental centre in person once you arrive.
Edinburgh Airport also provides free Wi-Fi access, three different lounge areas and a prayer room on the terminal ground floor.
The best time to fly to Edinburgh
The best time to fly to Edinburgh will depend on your needs and preferences. While the weather will be warmest between June and August, these are also the peak season for visitors and it can get quite busy. If you want to avoid large crowds and snatch up the cheapest tickets, you may have better luck during the winter months (aside from the holiday season over Christmas and New Years).
Scotland is the coldest region of the UK during winter and can dip into sub-zero temperatures, though Edinburgh is still stunning in the snow and the festive markets light up the city. If you want to find some cheaper deals as well as the milder weather then you can find some middle ground during spring, with May being the driest month of the year.
What to do in Edinburgh
No matter what your priorities are when planning your itinerary and what season you visit, there are plenty of things to do and see during your stay. Here, we will list just a few of the top attractions you can experience in Edinburgh in 1 day.
If you want to take a look at some of the city's rich history and beautiful architecture, you may like to visit Scotland's National Museum, National Gallery and the Royal Botanical Garden if the weather is nice. Aside from the garden's glasshouses, each of these locations alongside St Giles Cathedral are free to visit.
Alternatively, you can take part in an hour-long, tutored tasting session with the Scotch Whiskey Experience or book a ticket to look around Edinburgh Castle, which claims to be one of the oldest fortified structures in Europe. If your Edinburgh getaway falls during nicer weather, you may also like to pay a visit to the royal Holyrood Park just one mile from the castle, which is free of charge to enter.
FAQs about flights from London to Edinburgh
Which airlines fly directly to Edinburgh?
The main airlines flying between London and Edinburgh are British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair, all of which provide direct flights.
How can I find last-minute flights from London to Edinburgh?
If you enter your travel dates and destinations into our search engine and search for last-minute flights departing close to your date of booking, you can often find cheaper deals and Prime members will be able to access exclusive discounted prices for last-minute trips, though details for each ticket may be subject to change and availability and may not be the final price on offer.
What are the cancellation fees and policies of my flight?
Cancellation penalties may differ depending on the airline you have booked your flight with, alongside other factors such as your ticket class and any additional fare rules or terms and conditions. With the exception of flights labelled Free rebooking, Opodo may charge a service fee separate from those charged by the airline or hotel services for changes and cancellations.
What is the distance between Edinburgh Airport and the city centre?
Edinburgh Airport is only 8 miles away from the city centre, making it very easy and convenient to travel between. There are frequent public transport links and the tram runs at least every 7 minutes, taking half an hour each way.
Can I change or cancel my flight from London to Edinburgh?
This depends on the type of ticket you bought and individual airline cancellation policies. Generally, the cheaper your ticket, the less likely it is that you will be able to change or cancel your flight. However, if you selected the flexible options when booking then you may be able to change the day you travel up to 24 hours before your original flight time. Only tickets with the ‘Cancel for Any Reason Guarantee’ can be refunded, though in some cases a 20% excess fee may apply.
Which month is the cheapest to fly from London to Edinburgh?
The cheapest months to fly to Edinburgh from London fall during the winter between November and March (not counting the busy holiday period) as flights are on low demand.
