Train versus plane from the English to the Scottish capital: travel experts film a fascinating race between a 200 km/h LNER Azuma and an easyJet Airbus A320 from London to Edinburgh
- Edinburgh has been named the “Best City in the World 2022” by Time Out
- The competition to get people from Greater London there is fierce
- The train journey between cities was romanticized by the Flying Scotsman
- Today, regular hopper flights compete with high-speed electric trains
- At the Tower of London, the travel experts started their race to Edinburgh…
London to Edinburgh has long been one of Britain’s classic rail journeys, greatly glorified by the Flying Scotsman and now a 400-mile route served by state-of-the-art 125-mile electric trains.
They are understandably a popular option for reaching the capital of Scotland – Time Out’s ‘Best City in the World 2022’ – from the capital of England. Your hottest competition? Undoubtedly the plane with hopper flights taking southern passengers across the border in about an hour once airborne. Both modes of transport have their supporters – but which is the fastest?
Travel experts from The Points Guy UK wanted to find out and filmed a fascinating race between an East Coast Main Line LNER Azuma train and an easyJet Airbus A320. The race started at the Tower of London, with the checkered flag at Edinburgh Castle.
Travel experts from The Points Guy UK – Nicky Kelvin and Liam Spencer – filmed a fascinating London to Edinburgh race between an East Coast Main Line LNER Azuma train and an easyJet flight. Liam and Nicky are pictured at the top of the ‘starting line’ – the Tower of London
AIRPLANE
The plane was piloted by Nicky Kelvin, Head of The Points Guy UK, who spent £144 on an easyJet flight to Edinburgh from Luton Airport Parkway.
His journey began with a tube to Farringdon, where he boarded a Thameslink train (£28) to the airport.
After disembarking in Edinburgh, he spent £6.50 on a tram into the city centre.
He told MailOnline Travel: “This was by no means the cheapest way to get to Edinburgh, especially as we were traveling in the middle of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. But because of the distance, a flight to Scotland would take a beating.
At the controls of the plane was Nicky, who spent £144 on an easyJet flight from Luton Airport Parkway to Edinburgh (above).
Nicky, above, revealed the easyJet flight left on time and arrived in Edinburgh early
Pictured above is the view from Nicky’s window as his plane pulled into Edinburgh Airport
“The easyJet flight took off on time and arrived in Edinburgh early which was a bit surprising but an excellent bonus. The tram was also a cheap and quick way to get from the airport straight to the heart of the city.
“The journey from central London to Luton Airport Parkway was quick and efficient, but a real downside to this experience is the airport terminal shuttle which takes time, effort and money. A Direct Air-Rail Transit (DART) system is being built between the station and the terminal and it can’t come soon enough.’
TRAIN
Liam Spencer, who paid £84 for his Standard Class ticket, held the flag for LNER
Liam (above right) told MailOnline Travel: “The whole trip couldn’t have been more efficient and easier.”
Liam said there’s something magical about train travel
Liam Spencer, who hoisted the flag for the train, paid £84 for his Standard Class ticket.
He told MailOnline Travel: “The whole trip couldn’t have been more efficient and easier. I got to the train station just minutes before departure and there were no delays during the four hour journey.
“The train offers unrivaled views of the British countryside. And there’s something magical about passing through multiple towns and villages on the way to your final destination.’
During the drive, Liam put LNER’s food and drink ordering service to the test – and it passed with flying colors. His hot bacon roll and chips came in less than five minutes.
On the downside, however, he spent part of the journey in the anteroom after a passenger with a reservation for his halfway seat boarded. And he added that the train was “extremely crowded with lots of kids running around screaming for most of the ride.”
WINNER
The plane in 40 minutes – enough time for Nicky to grab an ice cream before Liam arrives.
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This is a wrap: Liam and Nicky at the finish line – Edinburgh Castle
