5 Best Day Trips By Train from Edinburgh
Last updated: 14 October 2021
There are a multitude of wee towns and cities close by Edinburgh that are great for day trips. As we don’t have a car, we’ve done all of our day trips from Edinburgh by train (and bus, if applicable)! Here we break down, in no particular order, five of the best day trips by train from Edinburgh!
1. North Berwick
North Berwick is a lovely little seaside town in East Lothian just over 30 minutes by train from Edinburgh. It’s a very quaint town to the east of Edinburgh, perfect if you’re looking for just a day of relaxing and not doing much.
There is Milsey Bay Beach, which is great to sit around at if the weather and temperature allow!
Address: North Berwick EH39 4LE
Northeast of North Berwick, out on the water, is Bass Rock, an uninhabited volcanic rock that is home to a large colony of gannets (a type of seabird). Boat trips are available to Bass Rock though they do not come cheap (over £100 per person)! You can also view the birds through the remote cameras at the Scottish Seabird Centre.
Address: The Harbour, North Berwick EH39 4SS
Hours: Daily from 10.00 - 16.00 (November to January), 10.00 - 17.00 (February, March, September and October), 10.00 - 18.00 (April to August)
Price: £11.95 per adult (16-65), £9.95 per concession (65+, disabled with ID, student with ID, and unemployed), £7.95 per child (3-15)
2. St Andrews
Located northeast of Edinburgh in the Kingdom of Fife, St Andrews is about one hour by train (to Leuchars Train Station) and then a 15-minute bus ride into St Andrews. There are a few main attractions in St Andrews, all within walking distance of each other.
The first is St Andrews Castle, a ruined castle that has an underground mine and countermine, previously used in sieges. It also has a ‘bottle dungeon’, an infamous airless chamber prison cut out of solid rock.
Address: The Scores, St Andrews KY16 9AR
Hours: 09.30 - 17.00 (01 April to 30 September); 10.00 - 16.00 (01 October to 31 March)
Price: Free for Historic Scotland members and Explorer Pass holders, £7.20 per adult (16-64), £5.70 per concession (65+), £4.30 per child (5-15)
The second is St Andrews Cathedral, another place that is now ruined, that was built in 1158. It used to be one of Scotland’s most magnificent medieval churches.
You can climb up 33 metres (108 feet) to the top of St Rule’s Tower for great views of St Andrews and beyond.
Address: The Pends, St Andrews KY16 9QL
Hours: Daily from 10.00 - 16.00
Price: Free for Historic Scotland members and Explorer Pass holders, £4.80 per adult (16-64), £3.80 per concession (65+), £2.90 per child (5-15)
Note: Currently closed until further notice
As St Andrews is a seaside town, it does have West Sands Beach, great again if the weather and temperature allow you to relax on it!
Address: St Andrews KY16 9XL
3. Falkirk
Falkirk is a town northwest of Edinburgh with a few different attractions to keep you busy. By train, it is about 35 minutes from Edinburgh and it is most cost effective to also buy the PlusBus ticket with your train ticket. As the attractions are all located in different areas, you’ll need the bus to get around.
The Falkirk Wheel is the world’s only rotating boat lift that connects the Union Canal with the Forth & Clyde Canal.
You can take the Original Tour, which is a 60-minute boat ride to experience the rotating boat lift along with a short ride on the aqueduct, but most of your time is spent in the rotations, so there is not much actual ‘boat’ time. It is cool to try once if it’s something you’re really interested in though. There is also a Revolution Tour, where you spend 35 minutes just on the rotating boat lift.
Address: Lime Road, Tamfourhill, Falkirk FK1 4RS
Hours: Daily from 10.00 - 17.30
Price: Original tour (60 minutes): £13.50 per adult (16-59), £11.50 per concession (60+ or full-time student), £7.50 per child (5-15); Revolution tour (35 minutes): £9.95 per adult (16-59), £8.50 per concession (60+ or full-time student), £6.95 per child (5-15)
A nice modern green area to walk around or cycle in and is ‘Home of The Kelpies’ (more about that below) is Helix Park. It was created for the communities of Falkirk and Grangemouth to come together.
Address: The Helix Park, Falkirk FK2 7ZT
As mentioned above, Helix Park is home to The Kelpies, which are horse-head sculptures that were created by artist Andy Scott.
If you don’t know, kelpies are mythological shape-shifting beasts with the strength and endurance of ten horses. It is meant to celebrate the horse’s role in developing the Scottish industry and economy.
Address: The Helix Park, Falkirk FK2 7ZT
Hours: 24/7
4. Perth
We have an entire blog post dedicated to Perth as it was our most recent day trip from Edinburgh, so you can read all about it here.
5. Linlithgow
About 20 minutes west of Edinburgh by train is the quaint town of Linlithgow. It is home to Linlithgow Palace, another ruined place, which was also the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. (She is well-known because at six days old, her father, King James V, died and she was given the throne.)
The Palace used to be used by royals as a rest stop when they travelled between Edinburgh and Stirling Castles. It’s always fascinating walking around ruined places and finding its little nooks and crannies.
Address: Kirkgate, Linlithgow EH49 7AL
Hours: 09.30 - 17.30 (01 April to 30 September); 10.00 - 16.00 (01 October to 31 March)
Price: Free for Historic Scotland members and Explorer Pass holders, £7.20 per adult (16-64), £5.40 per concession (65+), £4.30 per child (5-15)
Note: Currently closed until further notice
Have you taken any of these day trips from Edinburgh? Are there any others that you like? Let us know in the comments!
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