Photo: Bob Harvey, CC BY-SA 2.0
Yorkshire YRK
York
York by train: minster, medieval walls, Vikings and the National Railway Museum, all walkable from a station that is under two hours from King's Cross.
Independent travel guide to every LNER route
The East Coast, station by station
From London King's Cross to Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness: all 10 LNER routes, 54 stations and 223 places worth stepping off the train for — written and checked independently.
Ticket buttons take you to the official LNER website or Trip.com. We don't sell tickets.
Robert Stephenson's Royal Border Bridge carries the East Coast Main Line high over the Tweed, just south of the stationPhoto: Simon Cobb, CC0
Where to go
Destinations to start with
Photo: Martin Dawes, CC BY-SA 2.0
Scotland EDB
Edinburgh Waverley
Edinburgh by train: arrive at Waverley between the Old and New Towns, steps from Princes Street, the Royal Mile and the castle. From about 4 hours from London.
Photo: Sebastian Mierzwa, CC BY-SA 4.0
North East England DHM
Durham
Durham by train: a cathedral and castle World Heritage Site on a river peninsula, a short walk downhill from the station.
Photo: Howardgannaway, CC BY-SA 4.0
East Midlands LCN
Lincoln
Lincoln by train: a hilltop cathedral and Norman castle with Magna Carta, the Usher Gallery and Bomber Command memorial, under two hours from London.
Photo: Brian Deegan, CC BY-SA 2.0
Yorkshire HGT
Harrogate
Harrogate by train: an elegant spa town with Victorian Turkish baths, the sulphur-well Pump Room, Valley Gardens, Bettys and RHS Harlow Carr.
Photo: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0
North East England NCL
Newcastle
Newcastle by train: a city-centre station steps from the castle, with the Quayside, BALTIC and free museums close by. About 2 hours 40 minutes from London.
Photo: don cload, CC BY-SA 2.0
Scotland INV
Inverness
Inverness guide: the Inverness Castle Experience, Culloden battlefield and the River Ness – the end of the Highland Chieftain's 581-mile run.
Photo: DeFacto, CC BY-SA 4.0
Scotland STG
Stirling
Stirling guide: Stirling Castle, the National Wallace Monument and the Old Town, on LNER's daily Highland Chieftain from King's Cross.
Routes
Every LNER route from King's Cross
London King's Cross to Edinburgh
The East Coast Main Line's headline run: London to Edinburgh via York and Newcastle, with the quickest trains taking just over four hours.
London King's Cross to Leeds
London King's Cross to Leeds via Peterborough, Doncaster and Wakefield Westgate, with the fastest trains taking a little over two hours.
London King's Cross to Bradford Forster Square
Direct trains from London King's Cross to Bradford Forster Square via Leeds and Shipley, roughly every two hours.
London King's Cross to Harrogate
Direct LNER trains between London King's Cross and the spa town of Harrogate, via Leeds and Horsforth, about every two hours.
London King's Cross to Skipton
A single daily LNER through train links London King's Cross with Skipton, the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, via Leeds and Keighley.
London King's Cross to Lincoln
Direct trains from London King's Cross to the cathedral city of Lincoln via Peterborough, Grantham and Newark Northgate, in under two hours.
London King's Cross to Hull
LNER runs a daily through train between London King's Cross and Hull, leaving the main line at Doncaster and calling at Selby and Brough.
London King's Cross to Middlesbrough
A weekday LNER through train links London King's Cross with Teesside, calling at York and Thornaby before reaching Middlesbrough.
London King's Cross to Aberdeen
LNER's through trains to Aberdeen follow the full East Coast Main Line, then cross the Forth and Tay bridges and run up the North Sea coast.
London King's Cross to Inverness
The Highland Chieftain: LNER's longest route, running 581 miles from London King's Cross over the Highland Main Line to Inverness once a day.
Tickets & savings
Four things worth knowing before you book
Book Advance tickets early
Advance tickets are for one specific train and are sold in limited numbers, so the cheaper ones tend to go first. LNER releases tickets up to about three months ahead and offers free ticket alerts.
A Railcard can pay for itself in one trip
Most national Railcards cost £35 a year and take a third off eligible fares (as of September 2026). Check the time restrictions for your card before you book.
No contactless pay-as-you-go
As of September 2026, contactless and Oyster pay-as-you-go are not valid on any LNER train, including from King's Cross. Buy a ticket before you board.
Delayed 30 minutes or more? Claim
LNER's Delay Repay scheme pays compensation when you arrive 30 minutes or more late, and claims must be made within 28 days.
Fares and rules checked September 2026. Always confirm on the official site before you buy.
Plan the journey
Travel guides
Guide
LNER tickets and fares explained
Advance, 70min Flex, Off-Peak and Anytime tickets on LNER routes, how far ahead you can book, refunds and split tickets, explained in plain English.
Guide
LNER Perks explained, plus £10 credit with my link
What LNER Perks gives you: £5 joining credit, 2% back on LNER journeys and member offers, plus £10 Perks credit each when you join with my referral link.
Guide
Railcards for LNER journeys
Every national Railcard compared: who can buy one, the discount, the price and the time restrictions to know before a long East Coast journey.
Guide
LNER Delay Repay: claiming compensation
LNER Delay Repay explained: compensation for delays of 30 minutes or more, how much you get, the 28-day claim deadline and One-click Delay Repay.
Guide
On board LNER trains: Azuma, classes and facilities
What to expect on board LNER: the Azuma fleet, Standard and First Class, food and drink, free Wi-Fi, the quieter coach and the new Serenza trains on order.
Guide
Luggage, bikes and pets on LNER
LNER's luggage allowance, maximum bag sizes, compulsory bike reservations, e-bike and e-scooter rules and taking pets on board, as of September 2026.
Guide
Accessible travel and Passenger Assist on LNER
How to book Passenger Assist for LNER journeys, wheelchair spaces and sizes, accessible toilets on Azuma trains and what to do if booked help fails.
Guide
A short history of the LNER and the East Coast route
From the original LNER of 1923–1947, Flying Scotsman and Mallard's 1938 record to British Rail, privatisation and today's publicly owned LNER.
Found somewhere to go?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.