Self-guided itinerary

One week in the United Kingdom: a multi-city route

London, Bath, York, and Edinburgh by train, from a Roman bath to a hilltop castle.

At a glance

Cities4

Covered by Wayside1

RouteStart in the capital → Georgian spa town → The walled medieval stop → The castle and the Royal Mile

Day budgetOfficial 2024 figures put average inbound visitor spending at £111 per night and £763 per visit. For this route, budget roughly £1,300 to £1,800 per person before international flights, with mid-range hotels, advance rail tickets, and one paid entry per city.

The route

How do you spend a week in the United Kingdom?

A one-way rail route from London to Edinburgh that takes in Bath and York along the way. It works entirely without a car, and the train legs are short enough to leave most of each day for walking. Book advance singles on the relevant operators and the whole intercity hop can cost less than a rental car for a single day.

Days 1 to 4
Start in the capital
Start in London. The city carries seven Wayside walking tours, so your first morning can run the power route from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, then you can add the Square Mile, Bankside, Spitalfields, Greenwich, Holborn, Covent Garden and Soho, or the Notting Hill Caribbean walk as your schedule allows. Stay in zone 1 near a Tube stop. Most of the big museums are free, and the Thames Path links the south bank stops without a bus.
- TransitThe direct train from London Paddington to Bath Spa takes around 1 hour 12 minutes on the fastest services, with advance singles from about £13.30.SourceTrainline
London one-day itinerary London walking tours
Days 4 to 6
Georgian spa town
Wayside tour coming soon
Bath is the short westward detour. The Roman Baths are why the city exists, and the Georgian crescents are why it looks the way it does. Walk from the abbey to Pulteney Bridge, then climb to the Royal Crescent and the Circus. Advance online tickets to the Roman Baths are £2 cheaper than the on-the-day price, so book before you arrive. A Wayside tour is coming soon.
- TicketsAdvance online tickets to the Roman Baths are £2 cheaper than on-the-day tickets, so buy before you arrive.SourceThe Roman Baths
- TransitBath Spa to York usually needs one change and takes about 4 hours on the fastest services, with advance singles from around £38.30.SourceTrainline
Days 6 to 8
The walled medieval stop
Wayside tour coming soon
York is the medieval pivot. The center is flat, walled, and small enough to walk in an afternoon: follow the walls, duck into the Shambles, and spend the serious time inside York Minster. Climb Clifford's Tower at the end of the day for the view back over the roofs. The rail station sits just outside the walls, so you can roll a suitcase straight to your hotel. A Wayside tour is coming soon.
- TransitThe direct LNER train from York to Edinburgh Waverley takes about 2 hours 30 minutes, with advance singles from around £32.40.SourceLNER
Days 8 to 10
The castle and the Royal Mile
Wayside tour coming soon
Edinburgh closes the route on its volcanic rock. Buy a castle ticket online before you go; adult entry is £21.50 online against £24.00 at the walk-up window. From the castle, walk the Royal Mile downhill to Holyrood, then leave one evening for Calton Hill or Arthur's Seat. Waverley station sits in the middle of the city, so the arrival itself drops you into the center. A Wayside tour is coming soon.
- TicketsEdinburgh Castle adult admission is £21.50 online and £24.00 walk-up in 2025.SourceEdinburgh Castle

Short on time?

Less time?

Short on time? Drop Bath and ride the direct LNER service from London King's Cross to Edinburgh, with York as a lunch stop on the way. You keep the capital and the castle and lose the westward detour.

Itinerary questions

Planning your route

How do I get from city to city on this route?

Take Great Western Railway from London Paddington to Bath Spa, then a service with one change from Bath Spa to York, then direct LNER from York to Edinburgh Waverley. The fastest London to Bath trains run about 1 hour 12 minutes, the Bath to York leg about 4 hours, and York to Edinburgh about 2 hours 30 minutes.

SourceTrainline London to BathTrainline Bath to YorkLNER York to Edinburgh

Should I book train tickets in advance?

Yes. Advance singles are usually released up to 12 weeks ahead and cost far less than walk-up fares, so book direct with the operator to avoid booking fees. The London to Bath fare starts near £13.30, and York to Edinburgh starts near £32.40.

SourceTrainlineLNER

Do I need a BritRail pass for this route?

Probably not. The pass covers unlimited National Rail travel across England, Wales, and Scotland, but on a fixed three-train route advance point-to-point tickets are usually cheaper. Buy a pass only if you plan several extra day trips.

SourceBritRail

Can I do this trip without a car?

Yes. Every leg is on National Rail, and all four cities are walkable once you arrive. London and Edinburgh have good local transit, York's center is small, and Bath's main sights are a short walk from the station.

Keep exploring

More of the United Kingdom

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Provenance · last verified August 20, 2026

Researched and routed by Wayside, with inter-city detail checked against the source.

SourcesOffice for National Statistics / VisitBritain BritRail LNER Trainline The Roman Baths Trainline LNER Edinburgh Castle

Photo by Sander Crombach on Unsplash