As a Destination Management Company considering Responsible Tourism in all aspects of our operations, we actively use public transport, specifically the train, whenever we are travelling for work. On a recent trip to London, our Sales and Marketing Director Kirsten and Operations Director Jacqui headed South by train using the convenient LNER service from Edinburgh to London Kings Cross station. In around 4.5 hours, they were in the heart of London and ready to tackle the schedule of appointments they had lined up for the next few days. For the journey back to Scotland, they decided to travel on the Caledonian Sleeper.
We have multiple clients each year travelling between London and Scotland, always looking for new and interesting ways to get themselves from the serenity of the Scottish countryside to the hustle and bustle of London’s city centre. Since we are huge advocates of recommending activities, experiences, and businesses to our overseas visitors, we wanted to give the Caledonian Sleeper a go having never tried this journey before.
Guest Lounge Experience
The Caledonian Sleeper train departs from London Euston station which is centrally located and easy to access from anywhere in London. Kirsten and Jacqui booked Club en-suite rooms which allows access to the Guest Lounge prior to boarding the train. This also allows priority boarding.
The Guest Lounge is signposted within the station and can be found towards the bottom end of the platform, where the train departs. Access to the lounge for our Edinburgh journey was at 20:45, giving us over an hour to enjoy the facilities. The lounge includes a selection of complimentary hot drinks, soft drinks, and light snacks with additional options available to purchase. The facilities at Euston station also include showers and hairdryers. As a small business ourselves, it was impressive to see the emphasis on working with small food and drink suppliers for their lounge and onboard menu choices. Many of the suppliers are located in areas close to where the Caledonian Sleeper serves. A selection of teas from The Wee Tea Company, a Fife-based company like Best of Scotland Holidays, smoked salmon from the Belhaven Smokehouse and Lammermuir smoked cheddar cheese.
Accommodation
The Club en-suite twin rooms were cosy and comfortable, especially given that they are on a moving train. There are some double rooms and an accessible room, providing larger floor space to support additional mobility needs. On arrival in the room, there were a few nice touches including a Mackies chocolate bar, an eye mask and ear plugs – very handy while sleeping on the moving carriage! Kirsten thoroughly recommends these, especially for light sleepers. A form for ordering breakfast was also there, which you can leave hanging outside of your room on the door; however, Kirsten and Jacqui recommend handing it directly to one of the team members in the Club Car while booking your breakfast time slot.
The Club Car
Guests staying in a Club Room or Caledonian Double are given priority access to the Club Car. This carriage provides the perfect place to unwind as the train starts its long journey back to Scotland. It has a good selection of drinks, both alcoholic and soft, and food to purchase. On arriving to the Club Car, Kirsten and Jacqui were shown to a table by a friendly team member and from there, settled in and relaxed. As the journey is overnight travel, they chose to have a few drinks before heading off to their rooms but did note that a few of the meals they saw heading to other tables looked like the perfect midnight snack! For breakfast, you can choose to have your breakfast in the Club Car or brought to your room. If you eat your breakfast in the Club Car, you can enjoy some of the stunning morning scenery while heading North!
The Overall Experience
Travelling between London and Scotland on the Caledonian Sleeper is certainly unique, combining accommodation and train travel, allowing you to take full advantage of the day on arrival to your destination. Although in a bunk bed, they found the beds much more comfortable than expected and were surprised to find the movement of the train strangely soothing. Overall, a unique and enjoyable experience.
At Best of Scotland Holidays, we have over 40 years of creating personalised itineraries for our overseas clients visiting the UK and Ireland. Perhaps two of the most popular destinations with our clients are Edinburgh and London, and the Caledonian Sleeper allows you to board in the heart of one city in the evening and wake up the next morning refreshed and ready for a full day of exploring the other city. Not to mention the famous Scottish hospitality and the countryside scenery you’ll take in along the way. If you’d like to incorporate a journey on the Caledonian Sleeper into your next visit to the UK, then contact us today with your requirements and one of our friendly team will be happy to help you.
