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One-Way Car Hire London to Edinburgh
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Drive to Edinburgh by car

One-Way Car Hire London to Edinburgh

Driving from London to Edinburgh gives you the unique opportunity to explore the whole length of Britain, stopping wherever you choose and taking as much time as you need - or have! As the respective capitals of England and Scotland, the drive between these two stunning cities showcases the diversity of the counties in between. With hundreds of miles of scenic countryside, innumerable sites of historic interest and a host of culturally and socially important cities to stop at, there is no shortage of things to do along the way. Pick your car up at one of SIXT's car rental branches in London, including at Heathrow, Gatwick, and then drop it off at Edinburgh Airport, or one of our branches in Edinburgh city centre.

Find out how to drive from London to Edinburgh

The distance between these two animated capital cities is just over 400 miles and the journey can be made in under 7 hours (when the roads are clear), but its a much better idea to take your time and split the journey up. With our one-way car rental you don't even have to worry about making the return journey, so don't hesitate to start your trip from London to Edinburgh with SIXT!

The Quick Route: Dart from London to Edinburgh using the M1 and M6

For those in a hurry, its best advised taking the M1 and M6 route. There are no tolls on this route and it takes you directly north. If you were hoping to catch a little break from the road, you can use the opportunity to explore Birmingham, England's second city, and just a short detour from the route will take you to Manchester.

How to drive to Edinburgh from London:

  • The M1 from London takes you northward out of the city, before curving west up past Milton Keynes. Just as you approach Birmingham, you will need to switch onto the M6, which will take you all the way to the Scottish border. Once you have crossed into Scotland you can use the A74(M) and A702 for the remainder of your journey.
  • Without any hiccups, this route will take you from London to Edinburgh in 6 hours and 51 minutes
  • The exact distance from London to Edinburgh is 405 miles
  • The estimated fuel cost for this journey is £77.54
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