By train from Berlin to Edinburgh – a very good chance for great places on the route
Part of ECS Scotland's Green Travel Series, where students share how they reached Edinburgh without flying.
The journey begins
I started my journey at Berlin Main Station at 7am on a Friday. My first train took me via Cologne to Brussels Midi, where I changed onto the Eurostar, the train that travels under the English Channel (la Manche) to London.
The check-in area for the Eurostar was a little hidden, with few signs, but after a few minutes of orientation I joined other passengers and found my way. Allow around one hour for the security and ticket checks — and leave your pocket knife at home!
The train from Brussels Midi to London St Pancras International took about two and a half hours. I arrived at 4.30 pm local time (one hour behind Berlin). St Pancras is an amazing building — part railway station, part neo-Gothic hotel — and right next door to King’s Cross Station and the British Library.
A weekend in London
I stayed two nights in London, in the Bloomsbury area — about 15 minutes’ walk from St Pancras. It’s a lively neighbourhood full of restaurants, museums, and university buildings.
On Saturday I had breakfast at Camden Garden Market, visited Nelson’s Column and Trafalgar Square, went to the Trafalgar Theatre, and wandered through the vibrant West End.
London to Edinburgh by train
On Sunday morning, I boarded my train at King’s Cross Station, which is directly beside St Pancras. The route to Edinburgh passes through York, Newcastle, and Berwick-upon-Tweed — beautiful towns I’d love to stop and explore next time.
After around 4½ hours, I arrived at Edinburgh Waverley Station. From there, I took the tram to my accommodation and spent the afternoon visiting Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden — one of my favourite quiet spots in the city.
Studying at ECS Scotland
My course at ECS Scotland ran from Monday to Friday — a week of inspiring, well-structured learning. It was my second time studying with ECS, and I once again appreciated the small classes, excellent teachers and welcoming atmosphere.
Leaving Edinburgh on Friday afternoon, I felt I could easily have stayed longer. But I made the most of the journey home, stopping again in London for two nights before returning to Berlin.
Back through London
In London, I walked the Queen’s Walk along the River Thames, enjoyed views from several bridges, and went up The Shard for a panoramic view of the city. I even stumbled upon the BFI Film Festival, where I chatted to a friendly London couple near the red carpet.
On Sunday morning, I took the 9am Eurostar from St Pancras back to Brussels Midi. Remember: there’s another security check before boarding, so arrive at least one hour early. From Brussels, the train went to Cologne and then on to Berlin, where I arrived around 9 pm.
All trains in the UK ran perfectly on time — a pleasant surprise!
Booking the journey
I booked my tickets around three months in advance and paid €398.03 for the full round trip (Berlin → London → Edinburgh → London → Berlin). The earlier you book, the cheaper it gets.
I used Trainline, a helpful website that connects more than 270 rail and coach operators across 45 countries. It automatically accounts for transfer times and security checks (for example, in Brussels). There’s a small service fee, but I found it worthwhile. My ticket was also flexible — I could cancel and reuse the value for another route if needed.
Getting around London and Edinburgh
Contactless travel is the easiest way to use public transport. In both cities, you can simply tap your credit card or smartphone when you board a bus or enter/exit the Underground or tram.
- TfL Go – London’s official transport app
- Citymapper London – for routes and timings
- Edinburgh Bus & Tram App – local journey planner
The system automatically caps your fares so you never pay more than the price of a day ticket (around £5.50 in both cities).
If you prefer physical cards:
- In Edinburgh, the Ridacard costs £24.50 for one week of unlimited bus and tram travel.
- In London, buy a Visitor Oyster Card before you travel.
And don’t forget your ETA (electronic travel authorisation) before entering the UK!
Reflections on green travel
Yes, travelling by train takes longer than flying — around 10 hours from Berlin to London and 4½ hours from London to Edinburgh — but it’s worth it.
You see so much more: Brussels, London, York, Newcastle, Berwick-upon-Tweed… even Wales or Cornwall could be added to a future trip. And when you consider travel to and from airports, waiting times and baggage delays, the total time isn’t so different.
For me, the biggest advantage was the journey itself — watching the landscapes change and meeting people along the way. The price felt reasonable, and of course, the environment benefits too.
- Christine from Berlin
🧳 Free Download: Train Travel Checklist
Download our printable Green Travel Checklist to help you plan your next low-carbon journey to Scotland.
Find your own learning route
If this story inspires you to combine English language learning and travel explore our adult English courses in Edinburgh:
- General English Course – small group learning focused on fluency and confidence
- Experience Edinburgh Course – English through culture, connection and conversation
🌿 About the Green Travel Series
Every year, ECS Scotland welcomes students who choose to travel to Edinburgh without flying — by train, ferry or bike. Their stories remind us that sustainable journeys can be full of discovery.
🎥 From beer to the Eurostar: the fascinating story of St Pancras Station
If you’d like to learn more about one of the most memorable stations on this route, watch this short BBC feature about St Pancras International in London.
Once built to move beer from the Midlands, the station became a Victorian engineering marvel — saved from demolition by poet John Betjeman and reborn as today’s Eurostar terminal.
As you watch, try these mini language tasks:
- Note any adjectives used to describe the station (e.g. splendid, revolutionary, magnificent).
- Listen for verbs connected with travel or construction (built, transported, saved, transformed).
- Practise summarising the video in 3–4 sentences: What makes St Pancras special?
