Birmingham is an exciting city with lots of fun activities, great restaurants, awesome pubs, and plenty more to explore.
If you’re planning a trip from Edinburgh to Brum, there are many transportation options to choose from.
Here’s a quick overview:
| Travel Method | Approximate Journey | Cost | Best For |
| Train | 5 hours and 5 minutes (on average) | From £19.70 one-way | Cheapest route |
| Bus | 9 hours 25 minutes | From £21.70 one-way | Cross-country road trip route |
| Flight | 1 hour and 12 minutes | From £36 one-way | Fastest route |
| Car | 5 hours and 29 minutes | From £56.38 | Make your own schedule |
| Related Articles: Here are the Most Convenient Ways to get from London to Birmingham (by train, coach, and car.) Planning a trip to Birmingham? Here are some Fun Activities You Must Try during your stay in the city. |
This Article Covers:
- Edinburgh to Birmingham by Train
- Edinburgh to Birmingham by Bus
- Edinburgh to Birmingham by Flight
- Edinburgh to Birmingham by Car
- FAQs On Travelling From Edinburgh To Birmingham
Edinburgh to Birmingham by Train: Cheapest Route
With about 37 direct trains travelling from Edinburgh to Birmingham, this transportation method is convenient, fast, and cheap.
Edinburgh to Birmingham By Train: Quick Facts
| Travel Time | 5 hours and 5 minutes (on average)Fastest train: 4 hours and 6 minutes |
| Ticket Price | From £19.70 |
| Distance | 245 miles |
| First Train | 05:06 |
| Last Train | 23:45 |
| Departure Stations | Edinburgh Waverley |
| Arrival Stations | Birmingham New Street |
| Changes | Direct trains are available |
| Train Operators | CrossCountry, Virgin Trains, West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, National Rail |
Note: Train times may vary on weekends and holidays, so make sure to check the timetable for your travel dates.
Also, ticket prices may vary based on the train provider (for detailed pricing and ticket offers, check the official sites of CrossCountry, Virgin Trains, West Midlands Trains, Avanti West Coast, and National Rail.)
All trains depart from Edinburgh’s Waverley station and arrive at Birmingham New Street, located in the city’s centre. So, you can just hop off the train and start exploring Birmingham’s main attractions right away!
Here are a few more handy tips before you book your Edinburgh Birmingham train ticket:
- Booking an advance ticket: It’s always a good idea to make seat reservations in advance to get the best possible prices. Otherwise, the price will be substantially higher if you’re booking at the last moment. You can check and compare ticket prices and train times online on the site of your train operator.
- Buy two one-way tickets: Surprisingly, it is cheaper to buy two separate tickets than a round trip.
- Opt for a Railcard or Season ticket: If you’re frequently travelling, you can buy a Rail pass, which can save you ⅓ of rail fares (prices start at £30 per year.) Or, if you’re going to take the same train route in the span of a week or a month, you can opt for a season ticket.
Edinburgh to Birmingham by Bus: Comfortable Road Trip Route
Travelling by bus is a great option if you have some free time and you’d love to take a comfortable and exciting road trip. The Edinburgh Bus Station is located in the city centre (near St Andrew’s Square.) The final stop of the bus is Digbeth, which is also conveniently located in Birmingham’s city centre.
Edinburgh to Birmingham By Bus: Quick Facts
| Bus Company | Flixbus | National Express |
| Distance | 244 miles | |
| Travel Time | 12 hours and 30 minutes | 9 hours 25 minutes |
| Ticket Price | £15 | £26 |
| First Bus | 7:20 | 22:30 |
| Last Bus | 17:45 | 22:30 |
| Departure Station | Edinburgh Bus Station | Edinburgh Bus Station |
| Arrival Station | Birmingham (Dudley Street) | Birmingham Coach Station |
You can book a National Express ticket if you’re looking for a comfortable and fast bus route. This bus company offers three alternative routes.
180 with the following stops:
- Edinburgh
- Newcastle
- Leeds Coach Station
- Sheffield Coach Station
- Nottingham
- Leicester, St Margarets Bus Station
- Birmingham Airport
- Birmingham Coach Station
182 with the following stops:
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Hamilton
- Carlisle
- Penrith
- Manchester Coach Station
- Manchester Airport
- Birmingham Coach Station
183 with the following stops:
- Edinburgh
- Newcastle
- Leeds Coach Station
- Nottingham
- Leicester, St Margarets Bus Station
- Birmingham Coach Station
No matter which service you choose, all coaches are equipped with free WiFi, charging outlets, and plenty of seating spaces.
Edinburgh to Birmingham by Flight: Fastest Route
There is a direct flight route from Edinburgh to Birmingham. So, if you want to travel fast and cheap, getting a direct flight ticket is your best option.
| Flight Time | 1 hour and 12 minutes (non stop flight) |
| Ticket Price | £23 (cheapest) and £46 for a round trip |
| Departure Airport | Edinburgh Airport (EDI) |
| Arrival Airport | Birmingham Airport (BHX) |
| Airline companies | Flybe, EasyJet |
There are about 22 flights from Edinburgh to Birmingham per week. Generally, there are cheap flights all year round, but it’s cheapest to fly in June. If you’re booking your ticket in advance, you can also get cheap flight deals in other months.
For accurate flight time schedules from Edinburgh Airport to Birmingham Airport, check the flight route options on the airline website.
To get from Birmingham Airport to the city centre, you can take a train from the Birmingham International train or the Birmingham Intl tram stop.
Edinburgh to Birmingham by Car: Make Your Own Schedule
You can go from Edinburgh to Birmingham in your own vehicle.
The road trip by car is 292 miles (470 km) via route M6. You just have to go on A74(M) in South Lanarkshire, enter M6, and follow it until you reach Corporation Street in Birmingham.
This would take about 5 hours and 5 minutes, but travel time might vary depending on traffic conditions.
Fuel costs are about £56-57, but they can range based on your vehicle type and fuel consumption. Also, you should check if you’ll need to pay Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone or any other fees.
FAQs On Travelling From Edinburgh To Birmingham
Here are answers to some FAQs that will help you on your trip:
1. What’s the distance between Edinburgh and Birmingham?
2. What to do in Birmingham?
3. Is there a direct train from Edinburgh to Birmingham?
4. How long does it take to get from Edinburgh to Birmingham? (by flight, train, and coach)
5. How many flights are there a week from Edinburgh to Birmingham?
6. When is the cheapest time to fly from Edinburgh to Birmingham?
7. Which airlines fly directly from Edinburgh to Birmingham?
8. What is the fastest train journey from Edinburgh Waverley to Birmingham New Street?
9. How much does the train ticket from Edinburgh to Birmingham cost?
10. What time does the first and the last train from Edinburgh to Birmingham leave?
11. How much are the bus tickets from Edinburgh to Birmingham?
12. What time does the first and the last coach from Edinburgh to Birmingham leave?
13. How long does the coach take from Edinburgh to Birmingham?
1. What’s the distance between Edinburgh and Birmingham?
Edinburgh is 245 miles (or 395 kilometres) away from Birmingham.
2. What to do in Birmingham?
Birmingham is one of Great Britain’s most colourful and interesting cities. If you arrive in the daytime, you could visit some of the city’s famous galleries, museums (Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery), and cathedrals. Or, if you feel like it, go for a shopping spree at the Grand Central or the Bullring.
If you’re up for some nightlife activities, there are also plenty of pubs and bars that offer a unique atmosphere. And if you’re up for trying Birmingham’s rich local and international cuisine, you could visit some of the best brunch places and other restaurants.
3. Is there a direct train from Edinburgh to Birmingham?
Yes, every day up to 37 direct trains depart to Birmingham from the Waverley station in Edinburgh.
4. How long does it take to get from Edinburgh to Birmingham? (by flight, train, and coach)
The average Edinburgh Birmingham journey time is:
- By flight: 1 hour and 12 minutes
- By train: 5 hours and 5 minutes
- By coach: 9 hours and 25 minutes
5. How many flights are there a week from Edinburgh to Birmingham?
There are 22 nonstop flights between Edinburgh and Birmingham.
6. When is the cheapest time to fly from Edinburgh to Birmingham?
The cheapest flight options are available in June.
7. Which airlines fly directly from Edinburgh to Birmingham?
The two main airline companies that fly Edinburgh-Birmingham are EasyJet and Flybe.
8. What is the fastest train journey from Edinburgh Waverley to Birmingham New Street?
The fastest train journey between the two cities is 4 hours and 7 minutes.
9. How much does the train ticket from Edinburgh to Birmingham cost?
Train ticket prices vary from as little as £19.70 to £130.10 (for any-time single tickets.)
10. What time does the first and the last train from Edinburgh to Birmingham leave?
The first train that leaves Edinburgh is at 05:06, and the last train is at 23:45.
11. How much are the bus tickets from Edinburgh to Birmingham?
Bus tickets prices start from £15 and vary based on the ticket type.
12. What time does the first and the last coach from Edinburgh to Birmingham leave?
The first available coach departs from Edinburgh Bus Station at 7:20, and the last is at 22:30.
13. How long does the coach take from Edinburgh to Birmingham?
Coach trips take between 9 hours and 25 minutes to 12 hours and 30 minutes based on how many stops there are and if you need to transfer buses.