British Rail Tours Know which side to sit
Edinburgh Christmas Market by Steam
Steam trainCentral Scotland

Edinburgh Christmas Market by Steam

London King's Cross → Edinburgh
Sit on the right 1 upcoming date Photos
Photo: LordTaldo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • SeasonFestive
  • RunsThursday 26 to Sunday 29 November 2026
  • DurationFour days, three nights
  • Distance393 miles
  • TractionSteam, locomotive varies, with diesel assistance on some legs
  • OperatorSteam Dreams Rail Co

Four-day Steam Dreams tour from London to Edinburgh's Christmas market, including a Forth Bridge lunchtime run.

Steam Dreams' Edinburgh Christmas Market tour is a long weekend rather than a day trip. The train leaves London King's Cross on Thursday and works north up the East Coast Main Line over the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick to Edinburgh, where passengers stay in the city for three nights.

The programme includes free time for the Christmas market in Princes Street Gardens, the castle and the Royal Mile, plus an optional Forth Bridge Lunchtime Tour on the Saturday, which takes the train over the Forth Bridge and back. The return south is on the Sunday.

Accommodation is booked separately or through Steam Dreams' partners. On board, Pullman Style Dining, First Class and Standard seating are available.

Which side to sit

London King's Cross → Edinburgh

Durham Cathedral, the Tyne bridges, the Northumberland coast, Holy Island and the Bass Rock are all on the right heading north.

Sit on the right2 sights on the left · 5 on the right
  1. 0mi
    StationLondon King's Cross
  2. 5mi
    LandmarkAlexandra PalaceThe Victorian 'Ally Pally' on its hill
  3. 22mi
    Viaduct · on the lineWelwyn ViaductDigswell Viaduct, 40 arches, about 100 ft over the Mimram
  4. 76mi
    StationPeterborough
  5. 100mi
    Summit · on the lineStoke SummitTop of Stoke Bank, where Mallard set the steam speed record in 1938
  6. 105mi
    StationGrantham
  7. 156mi
    StationDoncaster
  8. 188mi
    StationYorkSteam takes over for the run north
  9. 254mi
    CathedralDurham Cathedral and CastleSeen from the viaduct above the city
  10. 268mi
    BridgeTyne Bridges, NewcastleHigh Level, Swing and Tyne bridges downstream
  11. 303mi
    CoastAlnmouth and the Aln estuaryFirst sea views of the Northumberland coast
  12. 325mi
    CoastHoly Island (Lindisfarne)Across the sands near Beal
  13. 335mi
    Viaduct · on the lineRoyal Border Bridge, Berwick28 arches, 121 ft over the Tweed
  14. 368mi
    WildlifeBass RockGannet colony offshore in the Firth of Forth
  15. 391mi
    MountainArthur's SeatExtinct volcano above Holyrood on the approach
  16. 393mi
    StationEdinburgh Waverley

Sides are given facing the direction of travel. Miles are approximate from the start of the journey.

Upcoming dates

DateFromTractionStatus
Thu 26 Nov 2026 London King's Cross
Four-day tour, 26 to 29 November; steam from York northbound, steam Edinburgh to Carlisle on the return.		 — On sale

On board

  • Dining
  • Premier dining
  • First Class
  • Afternoon tea
  • Multi-day

Highlights

  • East Coast Main Line to Scotland
  • Royal Border Bridge at Berwick
  • Forth Bridge lunchtime tour
  • Edinburgh Christmas market

Classes of travel

StandardFirst ClassPullman Style Dining

Photos of the Edinburgh Christmas Market by Steam

3 photos · tap to enlarge
An East Coast HST crossing the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick
An East Coast HST crossing the Royal Border Bridge at Berwick
The Forth Bridge across the Firth of Forth
The Forth Bridge across the Firth of Forth
Edinburgh Christmas market in Princes Street Gardens at night
Edinburgh Christmas market in Princes Street Gardens at night
Before you book: charter trains depend on locomotive availability and Network Rail engineering work. Steam can be swapped for diesel at short notice, so check the operator’s terms for what happens then. When you book, ask for a seat on the side we recommend: most operators allocate seats but will note a preference.

Frequently asked questions

Is the hotel included?

Check the booking page; Steam Dreams offers rail-only and packaged options on multi-day tours.

Can I do only the Forth Bridge tour?

Yes, the Forth Bridge Lunchtime Tour on 28 November is sold separately from Edinburgh.

Is it steam all the way?

Steam is used on the main legs, with diesel support where operating conditions require.

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