The Caledonian Sleeper Train is a fantastic overnight service that runs between London and Scotland. Travelling overnight saves on hotel bills and allows you to reach your destination first thing in the morning, to allow you to make the most of your time away. The scenery as you travel through Scotland is breathtaking, and all the better in the knowledge that you are travelling in style and comfort.
The Caledonian Sleeper Train
The Caledonian Sleeper operates six days a week (not Saturdays), linking London with the North West of England and Scotland. The service offers passengers cosy air-conditioned cabins and a lounge car serving snacks and drinks.
Pets may be brought onboard, provided that the owner has paid for sole occupancy of a cabin, and is willing to pay for a cleaning charge after each journey. Pet spaces must be booked in advance, either by telephone (08457 55 00 33) or at a station no less than 48 hours in advance of travel. Guide dogs may travel for free (no cleaning charge), but will not be permitted in the seating carriage. You can still book a seated ticket however, and you will be given a free upgrade to a private berth.
First Class / Single Berths:
First Class compartments have just one bed, and include a continental or hot breakfast in the morning. First Class passengers are offered a selection of light snacks and drinks from the room service menu, and a complimentary toiletry pack is included in the fare.
First Class cabins include all bedding, a bedside light, private sink and towel, and shaver point. There are no on-board showers, although shower facilities are available at some stations. Fort William station has good showers and luggage lockers.
First Class Single ticket holders are also given a free refreshment voucher for the Lounge Car, as well as a Zone 1 and 2 London Underground ticket for onward travel.
Click here for more information and to view an online tour.
Standard Class / Twin Berths:
Second class compartments have two berths (single passengers may have to share the compartment with a fellow traveller of the same sex, depending on how busy the train is). Second class berths are bunk-bed style, with the upper berth accessed by ladder.
Passengers are given a complimentary toothbrush kit (on request), and tea/coffee and shortbread is served in the cabin in the morning. Passengers may upgrade to a full continental breakfast for a supplement (order at time of boarding).
Each cabin includes all bedding, a bedside light, private sink and towel, and a shaver point. There are no on-board showers, although shower facilities are available at some stations. Fort William station has good showers and luggage lockers.
Click here for more information and to view an online tour.
Seated Carriage:
If you would prefer not to pay for a cabin, an air-conditioned seated carriage is available, offering passengers reclining seats with footrests, and individual reading lights.
In busy periods, when travelling as a seated passenger, you are restricted to the use of only this carriage; you cannot use the lounge car. Also, when travelling between London and Fort William, you will be woken up to switch carriages (at either 12am - Scotland to London - or 4am - London to Scotland).
Click here for more information and to view an online tour.
Travellers Tale: I travelled from Euston to Fort William without a cabin to try to save money and had a very bad night's sleep. The staff were very efficious about keeping you in the seated carriage and overall I regretted my decision to not travel in a cabin. However, though a little dated, the seats were large and reclined. The trip took a turn for the better when I finally gave up trying to sleep, took off my complimentary slumber mask and looked at the view. It was stunning. Having learned from my mistake I took a cabin on the way back to London. I felt like royalty. The train was quiet on a Tuesday night so I had the standard class cabin to myself, making it almost the same as travelling first class. I had a lovely cup of tea in a very nice stainless steel tea set and then a glass of wine in the dining car with rather realistic plastic thistle bunches as table decorations. There were the most fantastic views from the train; large herds of deer, huge lochs and mountains, the train track ahead with picturesque viaducts. I had an excellent night's sleep and was politely woken with a cup of tea, whilst rushing through the countryside north of London. I would highly recommend this journey to anyone, even without a cabin it was breathtaking. I was only able to take 4 days off work as my summer holiday, so a sleeper train linking two very conveniently located stations was a great option. When you arrive in Scotland with a full day ahead of you, you can start your holiday straight away. You can even hop straight off the train a little before Fort William in the middle of nowhere right at the foot of a mountain. Definitely do this journey!