History and Architecture
Edinburgh Waverley Station — usually just called Waverley Station — is the principal railway station serving Edinburgh, Scotland, and the second-busiest station in Scotland as of 2025. The North British Railway opened Waverley station on 22 June 1846, naming it after Walter Scott's Waverley Novels, and the station was later rebuilt in 1902 following its amalgamation from three separate railway lines in 1866.
Uniquely, Edinburgh Waverley Station is the only principal station in the UK located entirely below street level, sitting in a narrow valley between Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town. This distinctive position, combined with the station's Victorian iron and glass design, creates a famous gateway for tourists and locals arriving into the heart of the city.
Waverley station was originally constructed to address the needs of the railway boom in the 1840s, a period of rapid rail expansion across Britain, and its 1902 rebuild — coinciding with the opening of the North British Hotel (now the Balmoral Hotel) right beside the station — gave Waverley much of the grand structure still visible today. The modern structure includes significant historical ironwork while improving its facilities for contemporary passengers, and Edinburgh Waverley remains vital to Scotland's economy, supporting new rail services well over a century after it first opened.
Location, Platforms, and Trains
Waverley station sits in a narrow valley between Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town, with Princes Street, Waverley Bridge, North Bridge, Market Street, Jeffrey Street, and York Place all forming the streets and landmarks surrounding the station above. It's about a 10-minute walk to reach Edinburgh Castle from Waverley, and the historic Royal Mile is similarly close by for anyone exploring Edinburgh's Old Town on foot.
Because the station is set below street level, several of these surrounding streets effectively form a ring around Waverley, with entrances and escalators giving access from various points around the city centre above.
Waverley station has 20 numbered platforms for train services, connecting Edinburgh directly to London King's Cross, Glasgow, and Aberdeen. LNER operates five daily services to and from Waverley along the East Coast Main Line, and Lumo started services to Waverley in October 2021, adding another train operator to the mix alongside LNER and other train operators serving Scotland and the rest of Great Britain. As the second-busiest station in Scotland, Waverley handles a significant volume of both long-distance and regional trains, with a train company or railway company operating almost every platform at some point throughout the day.
Edinburgh EH1 1BB, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Popular questions
Yes. A staffed left-luggage facility operated by Excess Baggage is located near Platform 2, close to the Calton Road entrance. Traditional self-service lockers are generally not available. Opening hours are typically 07:00–23:00.
Yes. Waverley has step-free access to all platforms via lifts, ramps, and accessible routes. Passenger assistance can also be arranged in advance.
Yes. Toilets are available near the main concourse, and shower facilities are also available within the station.
Yes, "Waverley Station," "Edinburgh Waverley Station," and "Edinburgh Waverley" all refer to the same building — the principal railway station serving Edinburgh, Scotland.
Yes, Edinburgh Waverley is the principal railway station serving Edinburgh, sometimes referred to simply as "Edinburgh Station" in casual conversation. Haymarket is Edinburgh's other main station, but Waverley remains the larger and busier of the two.
Yes, Waverley station has a First Class Lounge for eligible passengers, alongside other class lounges and a separate Family Lounge for travelers with children.
Yes, Waverley station connects directly to London King's Cross via LNER services along the East Coast Main Line, with five daily services currently operating between the two stations.
North Bridge is one of the streets and bridges surrounding Waverley station, spanning the valley above the station and connecting Edinburgh's Old Town to the New Town, with entrances and views down into the station below.
Yes, bus services stop near Waverley station, giving travelers onward connections across Edinburgh in addition to the station's train, taxi, and walking routes.
Yes, the Royal Mile is within easy walking distance of Waverley station, making it simple to head straight into Edinburgh's historic Old Town after arriving by train.
Waverley station is open from 05:00 to 23:59 daily, covering both early morning departures and late evening arrivals.
Yes, Waverley station sits directly in Edinburgh's city centre, in a valley between the Old Town and New Town, making it one of the most centrally located major stations in the UK.
Luggage storage at Waverley is primarily handled through the staffed Excess Baggage facility near Platform 2, rather than traditional self-service lockers, so travelers should plan to use this staffed option rather than looking for standalone lockers elsewhere in the station.
Canal Street Station was an earlier Edinburgh station that existed before the three separate railway lines were amalgamated to form Waverley in 1866. It is not the same as today's Waverley station, though it forms part of the same early history of Edinburgh's railway network.
Yes, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) operates several daily services connecting Waverley station to London King's Cross along the East Coast Main Line, making it one of the key operators serving Edinburgh Waverley station.
Waverley station accepts a range of first class ticket types, including a first class anytime ticket valid for flexible travel, a first class season ticket for regular commuters, and other first class tickets valid on specific services. Some first class restricted tickets carry conditions on which trains they can be used on, so it's worth checking ticket restrictions before travelling.
Waverley station itself has 617 parking spaces on-site, and nearby options such as a street car park or new street car park in the surrounding city centre offer further parking for anyone unable to find a space at the station directly.
There's no direct train from Waverley station to Edinburgh Airport, but the Edinburgh trams and airport bus services both connect the two locations, with the tram journey taking around 35 minutes from the city centre near Waverley.
The North British Railway was the original railway company responsible for building Waverley station in 1846. Today, the train company operating the majority of services is ScotRail, alongside LNER and other train operators using the station's platforms.
A customer information point is available on the main concourse, and station open times, along with updated train information, are displayed on departure boards throughout Waverley station. Staff at the information point can also help with route planning or general enquiries.
Yes, Market Street runs alongside Waverley station, connecting to one of the main entrance points and offering another route into the station besides the entrances on Waverley Bridge and Calton Road.
Yes, a taxi rank is located just outside the main concourse, giving travelers a quick option for onward travel without needing to walk to the surrounding streets.
Yes, the Balmoral Hotel — originally opened as the North British Hotel in 1902 — sits directly beside Waverley station, reflecting the station's Victorian-era expansion and its long association with hospitality right at the station's main entrance.
The welcome host service and travel centre are both based near the main travel hall at Waverley station, offering assistance with directions, tickets, and general journey planning for anyone unfamiliar with the station.
Edinburgh Waverley handles a high volume of trains daily as the second-busiest station in Scotland, with services connecting the city to destinations across Scotland, London, and the rest of Great Britain via multiple train operators sharing the station's 20 platforms.
Yes, alongside the Balmoral Hotel directly adjacent to the station, several other hotels are located within a short walk of Waverley, giving travelers a range of options depending on budget and how close they want to stay to the station itself.
Yes, the route from Waverley station connects travelers to Edinburgh's city centre on foot, alongside train routes reaching Glasgow, Aberdeen, London, and other cities across Scotland and the rest of the country, making Waverley a genuine crossroads for both local and long-distance journeys.
Edinburgh Waverley station, sometimes still referred to by its full name Edinburgh Waverley Station, remains one of the busiest hubs for trains in Scotland, with operating services running from early morning through to late at night. Edinburgh Waverley's ticket hall handles a first class anytime ticket valid across most operating services, and a first class anytime ticket valid on London North Eastern Railway trains also covers connections toward London Kings Cross (sometimes written without the apostrophe as London Kings Cross rather than London King's Cross).
Concourse located signage helps travelers find their way between limited locations for check-in and general information, and updated departure boards, alongside station staff on both a Friday and any other day of the week, keep travelers informed about their trains. On a quiet Friday morning or a busy Friday evening alike, Edinburgh Waverley Station's trains keep running to schedule, with trains departing toward Glasgow, trains heading south toward London, and trains connecting north across Scotland all sharing the same platforms. Princes Street, just south and north of the station respectively depending on which entrance you use, connects Edinburgh Waverley Station to shops, restaurants, and the wider city centre, with more shops found a little further along the street.
The North British Railway's original vision for what became Edinburgh Waverley shaped much of the layout still used by today's trains, tickets, and operating services more than a century and a half later. Anyone arriving on one of the many trains calling at Edinburgh Waverley each day will find Princes Street just a short walk north of the main concourse, with further shops lining the street to the south as it continues toward the New Town. However you're travelling — on a first class anytime ticket valid for a single trip, or simply passing through Edinburgh Waverley Station on the way to catching more trains elsewhere — the station's central position keeps every part of the city within easy reach.
Waverley station offers a First Class Lounge along with other class lounges for eligible passengers, plus a separate Family Lounge for travelers with children. A ticket hall and main travel hall handle ticketing and general enquiries, while a customer information point and travel centre are available for more detailed journey planning. National Rail's welcome host service is on hand at the station concourse to help travelers who need directions or general assistance. Luggage storage is available at the station, and toilets and meeting rooms are located near the main concourse for travelers who need them. The station is open from 05:00 to 23:59 daily, giving a long window for both early departures and late arrivals.
Waverley station provides step free access to all platforms via lifts, ramps, and accessible routes, with 10 lifts available throughout the building. A mobility assistance office helps coordinate passenger assistance, which can also be arranged in advance for anyone who needs extra support. Escalators giving access between the concourse and street level are available at several entrances, and assistance dogs, along with other well behaved dogs, are welcome throughout the station.
Waverley station has 617 parking spaces available, along with 223 sheltered cycle stands and additional cycle spaces for cyclists. A taxi rank sits just outside the main entrance, and bus services stop nearby for onward travel across Edinburgh. The station's main entrance connects directly to the streets above, making it straightforward to reach the city centre, Old Town, or New Town on foot within minutes of stepping off your train.