Britain 2 Day Itinerary (No Tourist Traps)
Two days is enough for exactly one overnight out of London, and Edinburgh is the trip that proves why this family exists: the direct LNER run from Kings Cross takes 4 hours 11 to 4 hours 30 each way, so trying it as a day trip loses 8-plus hours to trains alone. Add a day at a time with our 3-day through 7-day versions of this same trip.
Book these before you go:
- An Edinburgh hotel : one night, book before the cheap rooms near the Royal Mile go
- Edinburgh Castle entry : GBP 21.50 online, GBP 24 at the gate
- LNER advance fares on lner.co.uk : from around GBP 34.40 booked weeks ahead versus GBP 150-200 walk-up
| Day | Focus | Travel time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Edinburgh, Old Town and the Royal Mile | ~4h11-4h30 direct, Kings Cross to Waverley |
| 2 | Edinburgh Castle, Arthur’s Seat or Holyroodhouse | Based in Edinburgh, no new travel |
Day 1: Arrive in Edinburgh
An early LNER departure from Kings Cross gets you into Edinburgh Waverley early-to-mid afternoon. Drop your bag and walk the Royal Mile down to the Grassmarket, then loop back through the closes and wynds that run off it, the real texture of the Old Town is in these side alleys, not the main drag. Overnight near the Old Town keeps everything on Day 2 within walking distance.
Is 2 days enough for Edinburgh?
For a genuine first taste, yes: the castle, the Royal Mile and one big view fit comfortably. It is not enough for the Highlands or Loch Ness, that needs a full extra day on its own, which is exactly what our 3-day version adds.
Day 2: Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat
Book Edinburgh Castle for the morning, GBP 21.50 online versus GBP 24 at the gate, and set aside real time for the Great Hall and the Honours of Scotland. In the afternoon, climb Arthur’s Seat for free if the weather holds, or tour Holyroodhouse if it doesn’t. Catch an evening LNER train back to Kings Cross, or see visitscotland.com for what a later Caledonian Sleeper departure would buy you instead.
Before you go
Neither day needs a car. Edinburgh’s Old Town is steep and cobbled in places, pack shoes that can handle both. If your return train is genuinely the last realistic option of the evening, check nationalrail.co.uk before you commit to a late castle slot, missing the last direct service turns a 2-day trip into an unplanned 3-day one.