The Caledonian Sleeper is one of the UK's most iconic train journeys — an overnight service connecting London Euston with Edinburgh, Glasgow, and destinations across the Scottish Highlands.
Rather than wasting a full day travelling, you board the train in the evening, settle into your cabin, and arrive in Edinburgh Waverley refreshed and ready to explore — with an extra night's accommodation effectively built into your journey. It runs Sunday to Friday, six nights a week, making it a practical option for both leisure travellers and those heading north on business.
This guide covers everything you need to know before you book: the routes, cabin types, prices, timetables, and tips for getting the most out of the experience.
The Caledonian Sleeper is not a single train but a network of overnight services, split into two main routes.
London → Edinburgh & Glasgow
Departs London Euston at 11:45pm (11:30pm Sundays)
Arrives Edinburgh Waverley ~7:30am
Arrives Glasgow Central ~7:30am
Journey time: approx. 7.5 hours
The train splits at Carstairs — one portion to Edinburgh, one to Glasgow via Motherwell.
London → Inverness, Aberdeen & Fort William
Departs London Euston at 9:15pm (9:00pm Sundays)
Calls at Birmingham International en route
Arrives Inverness ~8:45am
Arrives Aberdeen ~7:50am
Arrives Fort William ~10:00am
Also calls at Stirling, Perth, Aviemore, Dundee and Carnoustie.
The Caledonian Sleeper does not run on Saturday nights, or on 24–25 December and 31 December. Always check current timetables at sleeper.scot before booking.
All sleeping cabins are sold as private rooms — you will never share with a stranger. This means solo travellers pay the full cabin price, but couples and families get much better value by splitting the cost. There is also a Seated Coach option for budget travellers.
cabin-price From £50 per person (from ~£33 with railcard)
Reclining seat, not a bed
Lights remain on overnight
Access to Club Car
Best for very tight budgets
Not recommended for a full night's sleep
From £140–£210
per room (solo) / ~£170–£290 shared
Twin bunk beds (190cm × 63cm)
Washbasin in room
Shared shower facilities
Power sockets & USB ports
Free WiFi
Best value for couples or families
From £205–£375
per room (solo ~£205 / shared ~£375)
Twin bunk beds with luxury Glencraft mattresses
Private en-suite shower, toilet
Priority access to Club Car
Breakfast included
Access to station lounges
Power sockets, USB & WiFi
From £335–£425
per room (solo ~£335 / shared ~£425)
Double bed (not bunk beds)
Private en-suite shower, toilet & sink
All Club Room benefits included
The closest thing to a hotel room on rails
Ideal for couples
Book well in advance — prices rise as the train fills, similar to airline
Travel mid-week; Fridays and Sundays tend to be the most expensive nights
Share a cabin — the per-person cost halves when you travel with a partner or friend
amilies with a Family & Friends Railcard can find excellent value (the cheapest family option can work out around £47.50 per person)
The Lowland Sleeper (Edinburgh/Glasgow) is typically 15–30% cheaper than the Highland routes. Not all railcards are accepted — check compatibility at sleeper.scot before assuming a discount applies
Prices listed are guide starting prices and vary significantly by date and demand. All fares are one-way; a return is simply two singles. Confirm current pricing at www.sleeper.scot
Tickets can be booked directly through the official Caledonian Sleeper website at sleeper.scot which is the most reliable and comprehensive option. Tickets are available up to 12 months in advance — booking early is the single most effective way to secure lower prices and your preferred cabin type.
You can also book via National Rail, Trainline, and some other rail booking platforms, though availability of cabin types can sometimes be more limited on third-party sites.
If you need to bring a bicycle, you'll need to call the Caledonian Sleeper Guest Services Centre on 0330 060 0500 (open 8:30am–6:00pm daily) to reserve a bike space, as these cannot be booked online. Pets can also be brought on board for a £30 fee.
The Caledonian Sleeper's carriages were fully replaced in 2019 as part of a £50 million upgrade, so the on-board experience is considerably more comfortable than its older reputation might suggest. All sleeping cabins have power sockets, USB charging, and free WiFi.
The Club Car is the social heart of the train — a dining and lounge car where you can order food and drinks throughout the evening. It's a genuinely enjoyable space, and worth visiting even if you have breakfast included in your cabin class.
Northbound on the Lowland route, you can board the train from 10:30pm, giving you time to get settled before departure at 11:45pm. On the Highland route, boarding opens 45 minutes before the 9:15pm departure. Club Room and Caledonian Double passengers can also use the station lounges at London Euston from 6pm.
For Edinburgh, the train arrives at Edinburgh Waverley — right in the heart of the city, a short walk from the Royal Mile, Princes Street, and most central hotels. There's no need to factor in any onward transport from a peripheral airport.
The sleeper makes most sense when you factor in the full cost of alternatives. A flight from London to Edinburgh may appear cheaper upfront, but add airport transfers, baggage fees, and the cost of a hotel room for the night you'd otherwise spend travelling, and the comparison shifts considerably. The sleeper effectively combines your transport and accommodation into a single cost.
It's particularly well suited to couples, families, and anyone who enjoys the experience of train travel. Solo travellers on a tight budget may find the cabin prices hard to justify, since rooms are priced per cabin rather than per person — in that case, the Seated Coach or a daytime LNER service may be more economical.
If you're visiting Edinburgh for a weekend break and want to maximise your time in the city — arriving Saturday morning with a full day ahead of you — the Caledonian Sleeper is a genuinely excellent way to trave
Tickets are available up to 12 months in advance. Book directly with Caledonian Sleeper for the best availability and pricing.