UK Travel Story: Changing of the Guard London & Train to Edinburgh

Day 2: From London to Scotland

Day 2 was a mix of a classic London experience and a full travel day heading north into Scotland.

We started the morning with the Changing of the Guard London, then spent the afternoon making our way from London to Edinburgh by train before continuing on to our hotel in Bo’ness.

This is one of those days that looks simple on paper but actually involves multiple steps and transitions.

Changing of the Guard London (What to Expect)

We booked a walking tour for the Changing of the Guard instead of standing in one place—and I would recommend doing it this way.

Most people go straight to Buckingham Palace and stay there, which is where the largest crowds are. What you don’t always realize is that the ceremony moves through different areas, and you can actually see more of it by following the route.

On this tour, we saw the Changing of the Guard from three different locations, including the Horse Guards.

Why this approach works better:

You’re not stuck in one crowded spot
You see more of the full process
You get context for what’s actually happening

It’s a much better overall experience than just waiting at the gates and hoping for a good view.

London to Edinburgh Train Travel (What It’s Really Like)

After the tour, we headed out for the next part of the day—traveling from London to Scotland.

We took the LNER train from London to Edinburgh, which is one of the main rail routes connecting England and Scotland.

From there:

We transferred to a ScotRail train from Edinburgh to Linlithgow
Then took a taxi to Bo’ness where our hotel was located

What to know about UK train travel:

Train travel in the UK is efficient, but it’s not always as simple as “get on and go.”

You need to factor in:

Getting to and navigating large train stations
Watching departure boards (platforms aren’t always posted far in advance)
Managing luggage between connections
Allowing buffer time between trains

This wasn’t a difficult travel day, but it was a multi-step process, and timing matters.

Travel Tip: Build in Buffer Time

If you’re planning a London to Edinburgh train day, don’t schedule anything tight on either end.

Even if the train ride itself is smooth, you still have:

Station navigation
Transfers
Final transport to your hotel

That time adds up quickly.

Arriving in Scotland (First Impressions)

By the time we reached Bo’ness, it had been a full day between sightseeing and travel.

We checked into the Richmond Park Hotel, which was straightforward and practical for what we needed. We stayed in the annex building, which had three single beds—useful for traveling as a group.

Dinner was at the hotel’s pub/restaurant, which made things easy after a long day of moving around.

The staff was friendly, and it was a good place to settle in before starting the next part of the trip.

End of Day Thoughts

Day 2 is a good example of how UK travel often works—you’re combining experiences with transportation.

It’s not just about distance on a map. It’s about how long it actually takes to move between places and how much you want to fit into a single day.

This day worked well, but it was full.

Ready to Start Planning Your Own UK Trip?

If you’re thinking about London and Scotland, there are a lot of moving parts—trains, hotels, tours, and making sure the flow actually makes sense.

This is exactly what I help with.

If you want help putting together a trip that works (without spending hours trying to piece it all together), you can schedule a consultation here: Schedule a Free Consultation