Edinburgh and Outlander TV Series filming locations 3-day rail tour from London

King’s Cross Station, Euston Road, London, UK

Begin your Scottish adventure at London King's Cross Station. Board your train and get ready for departure. Enjoy fantastic views of the British countryside on your way up to Scotland, including stunning panoramic vistas and a dramatic coastline.

In a little over four and a half hours, you'll arrive in the Scottish capital ready to begin a day of exploration. Known by locals as 'Auld Reekie' ('Old Smokey'), Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful and memorable cities in Europe - a city full of charm and character with history around every corner.

You Rail Tour includes entrance to the mighty Edinburgh Castle, a 1,100-year-old fortress built on Castle Rock, a long-extinct volcano. Explore the long, bloody history of the castle, from its time as a military fortress, royal residence and prison of war.

Walk in the footsteps of famous Scottish kings and queens as you ascend Castle Hill, and see the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone. This sacred object has been used for centuries in the coronation of Scottish and later British monarchs.

Board your Hop-on, Hop-off Guided Bus Tour and journey around some of the finest and culture-rich destinations in Edinburgh. The Tour takes you to 14 fantastic locations, including Grassmarket, a historic marketplace with incredible views of Edinburgh Castle, John Knox House, a magnificent medieval building dating back to the 15th century and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, The King’s official residence in Edinburgh. The ticket is valid all day, so you can hop on and hop off as many times as you like.

As we leave the capital we learn about the Old and New Town of Edinburgh as we head towards our first stop of the day, Midhope Castle* – the real-life ‘Lallybroch’ and home of Jamie Fraser.

We then visit Doune Castle*, one of Scotland’s best-preserved medieval castles used as the filming location for ‘Castle Leoch’ in Outlander. The castle is also featured as Winterfell in Game of Thrones, Monty Python, and the Holy Grail.

Our journey takes us to the Kingdom of Fife, an area of great historical importance and the ancestral home of Scottish monarchs. We spend time for lunch in Culross, the fictional village of ‘Cranesmuir’ where Claire was accused of witchcraft. This charming village is the complete example of a 17th and 18th-century burgh in Scotland today.

After lunch, we continue to the village of Falkland, which was used for filming 1940’s Inverness. With over 28 listed buildings it gives a good representation of this period.

Our final Outlander filming location of the day is the impressive Blackness Castle, featured as Fort William in the series. The castle also treats us to awe-inspiring views of the iconic Forth Bridge, inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We arrive back in Edinburgh in the early evening.

We return to Edinburgh early evening at approximately 5.30 pm.

You'll have until late afternoon to explore the higgledy-piggledy medieval streets and courtyards of Old Town, admire the beautiful Georgian architecture found in New Town or head to Carlton Hill for stunning panoramic views of the city.

Ascend Castle Hill as you walk in the footsteps of famous Scottish kings and queens and see the 'Stone of Destiny' - a sacred object that has been used for centuries in the coronation of Scottish monarchs.

If your Hop-on / Hop-off guided bus tour ticket was not used on day one, it can still be used on day three without needing a date change.

Enjoy this time for last-minute shopping, visit the attractions on your "must-see" list, or stroll through the city centre—it's your day!