London to Edinburgh Flights from £31

Open live London → Edinburgh flight results

Structured fare picks from recent Aviasales / Travelpayouts snapshots are in the comparison table below. Use the buttons for live all-in totals, bags and airport transfers.

Compare more Search on Expedia

Fare snapshot

Cheapest recent fares by month

London (all airports) → Edinburgh — lowest fares seen per month (round-trip preferred, one-way where return inventory was empty; bar height relative to £31).

Sep from £39

Oct from £31

Nov from £34

Dec from £33

Jan from £38

Feb from £59

Mar from £61

Apr from £67

Fares shown are a guide based on Aviasales data and may not be available at booking. Prices change with availability, demand and exchange rates. Guide figures are refreshed about every 3 months — last generated 3 Sep 2026.

Fare comparison

London → Edinburgh — structured fare picks

Cheapest, better-value and direct-only snapshots from recent Aviasales / Travelpayouts data. Not a live quote — compare bags, seats and airports on the partner site.

Pick	When	From	Why this one
Cheapest fare	Oct	£31	Lowest return month in the recent Aviasales / Travelpayouts calendar (7-night stay). Not a live quote.
Best-value pick	Sep	£39	A more typical month than the absolute floor — often a better all-in bet once bags and peak-week demand are in.
Direct-only	Usually non-stop	£31	Direct flights are typical (~1h block). Filter for non-stop on partner results — calendar floors can mix connections.

Based on cached Travelpayouts / Aviasales return fares already used on SkyStayTravel. Prices change with availability, bags and exchange rates.

When to fly

The honest month-by-month

Green = generally a comfortable window. Red = we'd usually skip it.

Jan–MarQuieter midweek

Apr–MayLonger days

Jun–AugHoliday rush

Sep–OctSteady demand

NovDarker evenings

DecFestive peaks

Weather & season

Edinburgh — what to expect

UK weather does not pick a month for you — compare total door-to-door time against the train.

Winter (Dec–Feb)Dark arrivals; a city-centre hotel beats an out-of-town fare.
Spring (Mar–May)Longer days for a short break.
Summer (Jun–Aug)Busy Friday and Sunday banks; mid-week is calmer.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)Still workable for weekends if you watch the last return.

Straight talk

What we'd tell a mate before they book

Compare the train before you assume the flight wins. City-centre to city-centre often beats airport time on this hop.
One cabin bag is usually enough. Hold-bag fees can make a cheap flight more expensive than rail.
Don't cut the connection at the other end too tight. Domestic last-bag and taxi queues still eat an evening.
Friday evenings and Sunday nights are the expensive hours. Shift a day if you can.

Route overview

A staple UK route where arrival time shapes a short break.

London to Edinburgh suits festival weekends, castle views and Old Town walks. The best option depends less on headline fare and more on which London airport you use, whether a train suits your bags and schedule, and whether August festival dates push both flights and hotels higher.

How to think about this route

For travellers staying close to central London and central Edinburgh, trains can sometimes compete on total journey comfort, especially if you travel with one bag and want to avoid airport transfers. Flying usually gives the widest choice of departure times and can win on price for some weekend peaks.

Before choosing, compare the full journey: travel to the airport or station, security or boarding time, baggage costs, tram or taxi into Edinburgh and arrival time at your accommodation.

London airport choices

Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW) and Stansted (STN) all appear on this route — prices vary sharply by airline and time slot. Luton (LTN) may show lower headline fares, but ground transport time matters.

If the fare difference is small, a closer airport with a better arrival time can be better value than the cheapest-looking ticket.

London airports — quick compare

Airport	Best For	Main Advantage	Main Drawback
Heathrow (LHR)	West London; full-service	Frequency / connections	Peak queues; often dearer headlines
Gatwick (LGW)	South / south-east	Strong leisure short-haul	Awkward from north of the river
Stansted (STN)	North-east / Essex; low headlines	Often cheapest ticket	Express + cross-London time
Luton (LTN)	North / M1 corridor	Regular low-cost schedules	Early starts; DART/coach hops

Airlines on this route

easyJet, British Airways, Ryanair and others appear on UK–Edinburgh schedules. Trains can compete door-to-door from some English cities.

Edinburgh arrival airports

Edinburgh Airport (EDI) sits west of the city with tram, bus and taxi links into the centre. Morning flights help you maximise a two-night weekend; late arrivals may favour a central stay with easy transfer.

The tram from the airport reaches the city centre in under forty minutes off-peak — match arrival time to your hotel area before booking.

Edinburgh airports — quick compare

Airport	Best For	Transfer to centre / resort	Main Drawback
Edinburgh (EDI)	All city arrivals	Tram / Airlink toward centre ~25–40 min	Festival weeks fill both flights and trams

Airport transfers — quick guide

Heathrow: Elizabeth line or Piccadilly; Express is faster and dearer. Allow peak security time.
Gatwick: Gatwick Express or Thameslink. Clean from south London; slower if you start north.
Stansted: Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, then Tube. Price that before a “cheap” fare wins.
Luton: DART to Parkway, then rail into London. Fine with a cabin bag; slower with two hold cases.
EDI: Tram and Airlink cover Princes Street well. Old Town hotels mean hills and cobbles with bags.

When to compare and book

August festival dates push prices up — book early or visit in May–June for calmer streets. UK school holidays, Christmas and Hogmanay lift demand on both flights and central hotels.

For ordinary weekend trips, start comparing roughly three to six weeks ahead. For festival weeks and fixed event dates, look earlier and consider flexible travel days.

Baggage and fare details

UK domestic low-cost fares may only include a small personal item. Train luggage rules differ — compare total door-to-door time, not only headline price. If you need a cabin suitcase, checked bag or seat selection, add those costs before deciding.

Also check whether your ticket allows changes. A slightly higher flexible fare can be worth it when festival tickets or hotel dates are not fully fixed.

Edinburgh planning after you land

If Edinburgh is your final stop, choose your neighbourhood before booking activities. Old Town and New Town stays reduce walking time for first visits. For Highlands day trips, check tour pickup times before locking the hotel.

Use the Edinburgh stays guide for neighbourhoods, then compare Edinburgh experiences. Car hire helps for wider Scotland trips but is rarely needed for a city-focused break.

Plan around the flight

Make the route useful, not just cheap.

These links should stay as simple planning cards. Use cards here — not for every paragraph of the guide.

Where to stay in EdinburghChoose between Old Town and New Town bases.Edinburgh experiencesCastle timing, Old Town walks and day trips.Car hireUseful for Highlands trips, not central Edinburgh sightseeing.Late checkout luggage storageHotel desks and city lockers before a late train or flight.

London to Edinburgh FAQs

Is flying or the train better?

Flying often wins on schedule choice; trains can compete if you travel light and value city-centre to city-centre travel.

When are fares lower?

May–June and mid-week dates often face less demand than August festival peaks — compare live results.

How do I reach the city from EDI?

Tram, bus or taxi — the tram reaches the centre in under forty minutes off-peak.

When should I start comparing prices?

Three to six weeks for routine weekends; August festival weeks need earlier searching.

What is the biggest hidden cost?

Baggage and seat fees are often the biggest difference between headline fares.

How long is the flight from London to Edinburgh?

Non-stop block time is usually about 1 hour 15–1 hour 30 minutes (UK domestic / short-haul). Door-to-door is longer once you add departure-airport transfers, security and the hop into Edinburgh after landing.

Which airlines fly to Edinburgh?

easyJet, British Airways, Ryanair and others appear on UK–Edinburgh schedules. Trains can compete door-to-door from some English cities.

What fees should I add before comparing Edinburgh fares?

Add cabin bag, hold bag, seats and payment fees, then the hop to your departure airport and the transfer after you land. Personal-item-only fares often look cheapest until those extras are included.

When should I book flights to Edinburgh?

For ordinary dates, start comparing about three to eight weeks ahead. School holidays, events and peak leisure weeks need earlier searching — confirm on live partner results.

How do I get from the airport into Edinburgh?

Tram and Airlink cover Princes Street well. Old Town hotels mean hills and cobbles with bags.

Ready to compare London → Edinburgh?

Open live partner results, then check the full fare conditions before booking: baggage, seats, airport, arrival time and cancellation rules.

More options Search on Expedia

Affiliate links may earn SkyStayTravel a commission at no extra cost to you.