Cost to drive from London to Edinburgh
Driving from London to Edinburgh covers 649 km (403 miles) and takes about 7h 51min without stops. At the latest average price in each country along the way, the fuel for the trip costs about £79 in a typical petrol car — here's the full breakdown for petrol, diesel and electric.
Where the petrol money goes
The 45 L a typical petrol car burns on this drive, priced where it is burned.
Where to fill up
This route is already close to the lowest-cost option — refuel whenever it suits you.
- 1.Any station in United Kingdomat 286 km25.4 L at £1.75/L
Assumes a 50-litre tank that starts half full. Your car will differ — plan it with your own numbers.
Tolls and vignettes: not included — we hold no verified toll tariffs for United Kingdom, and we don't guess them.
Petrol, diesel or electric — priced for your car
Pick the kind of car you drive and whether you are coming back. Prices are the average across every country on the route.
Driving London → Edinburgh in a family car, electric costs £50.99 less than petrol — 64% of the bill.
London vs Edinburgh: which end is cheaper?
Both ends of this route draw on the same regional averages — the comparison below shows what that means at the pump.
What if fuel prices move?
Booking this drive for later in the year? Pump prices swing with crude, season and tax changes — here is the same 649 km in a typical petrol car at four price levels.
Your car's mpg, tank and fuel level — plus tolls, route options and the cheapest stops.
How this cost is calculated
We take the real driving route between London and Edinburgh (649 km) from OpenStreetMap routing, work out how far it runs in each country, and price the fuel a typical car burns in each one at that place's latest published average. The petrol figure assumes 7 L/100km · 34 MPG; diesel and EV use 6 L/100km · 39 MPG and 18 kWh/100km. Your real cost depends on your car, traffic, driving style and the stations you pick — use the trip planner for your exact numbers, or check prices on the United Kingdom fuel prices page.
Related routes
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to drive from London to Edinburgh?
The drive is 649 km (403 miles) and takes about 7h 51min without stops. Fuel costs roughly £79.31 in an average petrol car, £77.63 in a diesel, and £28.37 in an electric car, using the latest average price in each country along the way.
How far is it from London to Edinburgh in miles and km?
About 403 miles or 649 kilometres by road — roughly 7h 51min of driving.
Is it cheaper to fill up in London or Edinburgh?
Both ends use the same regional prices on this route.
How many times will I need to fill up between London and Edinburgh?
None on the way. The drive needs about 45.4 L of petrol and a typical 55 L tank covers roughly 786 km, so one full tank at the start does the whole trip.
Is it cheaper to drive or fly from London to Edinburgh?
On fuel alone the drive costs about £79 one way, and that cost splits across everyone in the car — with £20 each for four people, which is where driving usually wins. Against that, the drive takes 7h 51min without stops, and a fair comparison also counts tolls, parking, wear and any overnight stay.
What will this trip cost if fuel prices change?
At today's prices the petrol is about £79. A 10% rise takes it to £87, a 25% rise to £99, and a 10% fall to £71. Prices here refresh as each source publishes, so this page always reflects the latest figures.
How do I get the exact cost for my car?
Set the vehicle type on this page for an instant estimate, or open the FuelWide trip planner with your car's fuel economy, tank size and how full it is — it prices the drive state by state and suggests where refuelling is cheaper (state averages in the US, individual forecourt prices where a country publishes them).
Driving distance via OSRM / OpenStreetMap. Fuel prices are the latest published averages for each country on the route (sources named on each price page); efficiency and electricity rates are typical estimates, and tolls are not included unless listed above. Your figure will vary — use the planner for an exact result.