BlaakLane.com books an Edinburgh Waverley chauffeur at a fixed fare approved before you confirm. Add your LNER, Lumo, Avanti, CrossCountry, ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper train number and destination. The chauffeur is timed to the real arrival and meets you at the designated street-level pick-up area, because general traffic is no longer allowed into the station, then drives on to the airport, St Andrews or the Highlands.
Booking a car from Waverley
Choose Edinburgh Waverley as the pickup, enter the train number from your ticket and your destination, and pick a class. You see the whole fare before confirming; there is no meter running while you queue for a lift up to Princes Street. Add names, a UK-reachable mobile and any child seats (free on request).
The BlaakLane.com reservations desk in Toronto operates 24/7. In Scotland, a vetted affiliate from the LimousineWorldwide.Directory network drives your trip under City of Edinburgh private-hire licensing and our written standard. For Waverley pickups, the confirmation names the operator, chauffeur and car.
Which operators run into Waverley?
- LNER from London King's Cross via York and Newcastle, typically about 4 h 20 on the fastest trains.
- Lumo low-cost trains from King's Cross.
- Avanti West Coast from London Euston and the north-west.
- CrossCountry from Birmingham, Bristol and the south-west.
- TransPennine Express from Manchester and Newcastle.
- ScotRail to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Fife and the Borders.
- Caledonian Sleeper overnight from London Euston.
Street level, not the station floor
Waverley sits in the valley between the Old Town and the New Town, below Princes Street and the North Bridge. For many years taxis drove down the ramps to a rank inside the station; since 2014 general vehicle access has been removed for security, and the ramps are now for pedestrians and authorised vehicles only. Passengers walk up to street level. The main exits are the Waverley Steps to Princes Street, the Waverley Bridge entrance, the Market Street exit towards the Old Town, and the New Street / Calton Road side. Taxi ranks and pick-up points are around these streets, and we message the one your chauffeur will use before the train arrives.
Meeting the chauffeur
The standard service is curbside at the designated pick-up point. The chauffeur does not come into the station by default. A concourse meet is an add-on and add-ons are only available in selected locations; the booking engine shows whether it can be added. See meet and greet.
Your train number sets the timing, so a late LNER from King's Cross simply moves the pickup. Included waiting is 15 minutes from the actual arrival; after that, waiting is charged in 15-minute blocks.
Luggage and the climb out
Waverley's exits involve ramps, escalators and lifts rather than stairs alone, but the Waverley Steps are steep and busy. With heavy cases, use the lifts or escalators to Princes Street or the ramp to Waverley Bridge. A Luxury Executive Sedan takes two passengers and two bags; golf travellers going to St Andrews with clubs are better in a Standard Black SUV or Executive Black SUV (six passengers, six bags).
Drive times from Waverley
| Destination | Distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh Airport (EDI) | about 13 km | 25-40 minutes |
| Edinburgh International Conference Centre | about 2 km | 10 minutes |
| Leith and Ocean Terminal | about 4 km | 15-20 minutes |
| Murrayfield Stadium | about 4 km | 15-20 minutes |
| Gleneagles | about 75 km | 1 h - 1 h 15 |
| St Andrews | about 80 km | 1 h 20 - 1 h 40 |
| Glasgow city centre | about 75 km | 1 h - 1 h 20 |
Flying next? See our Edinburgh Airport page. For Glasgow flights, the Glasgow Airport page applies.
Hotels, festivals and the city
The Balmoral stands directly above the station at the east end of Princes Street, and the Caledonian and other West End hotels are about ten minutes away. In August the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the International Festival and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo bring road closures and heavy traffic around the Old Town, so leave extra time. Edinburgh also runs a Low Emission Zone in the city centre, enforced since June 2024; licensed vehicles used for our trips meet the standard. Rugby internationals at Murrayfield and concerts at the Castle Esplanade have similar effects on their own dates. Business travellers mostly head to the Exchange financial district around the EICC or to Edinburgh Park and the Gyle.
Intercity alternatives by car
Scotland's most sought-after destinations are poorly served by rail from Waverley, and a car removes the changes. St Andrews is about 1 h 30 across the Queensferry Crossing, Gleneagles about an hour, Stirling about 50 minutes, and Loch Lomond about 1 h 30. The Cairngorms and Aviemore are around 2 h 45, Inverness about 3 h 15 and the Isle of Skye over 5 hours. North Berwick and the East Lothian golf coast are about 45 minutes. See intercity transfers and, for touring days, city tours and day trips.
Choosing a vehicle class
- Standard Sedan: one or two people to the airport.
- Luxury Executive Sedan: a meeting in the Exchange district.
- Executive First Class Sedan (Maybach): a VIP arriving on the Caledonian Sleeper.
- Standard Black SUV / Executive Black SUV: golfers with clubs, up to six passengers and six bags.
- Sprinter Van: a group of 12 heading to a wedding at a country house.
- Sprinter Luxury Jet Van: seven guests with carry-on only for a whisky tour.
- Luxury Stretch Limo and Party Bus: Hogmanay and wedding celebrations for 8 or 14.
Full capacities are on fleet; fare structure on rates. Hourly bookings need 3 hours minimum.
Company travel and events
Firms and conference organisers use corporate accounts for invoicing and traveller profiles. Multi-car movements for festivals and golf events are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing; see event transportation. All services and industries are listed on their pages.
Cancellation
Plans change. Cancel your Waverley car more than 72 hours out and you pay nothing; at 72 hours or less you pay 10 %, at 48 hours or less 50 %, and at 24 hours or less, or on a no-show, 100 %.
More on the city is on our Edinburgh chauffeur service page. Official sources: Network Rail, ScotRail, LNER and VisitScotland.
