The Caledonian Sleeper: Luxury Hotel on Rails

I had the chance to spend two full days exploring the historic city of Edinburgh.  After catching an early morning flight from Dublin, I hopped on the train from the airport straight into the heart of downtown.  Once settled into my accommodations, I planned the next leg of my journey and chose a slower, sustainable option: taking the Caledonian Sleeper.  That decision was pure genius—not only did it provide me with a comfortable place to rest for the night, but it also doubled as my transportation to London. It’s a hotel on rails.

The Caledonian Sleeper leaves Edinburgh Waverley Station at 11:40 p.m. and arrives at London Euston at 7:15 the following morning. This long train first heads north to Glasgow before continuing south to London. After a good night’s sleep and a full Scottish breakfast on board, I arrived early in London, ready to start my day without losing any travel time. The downside is that overnight travel means missing the scenic countryside views—I guess this just means I’ll have to take the train again during the day.

Lounge Access

Edinburgh Waverley Station

Booking the Twin Club en-Suite granted me access to the premium station lounge, operated by LNER, a third-party provider. It’s worth checking ahead to confirm lounge availability on the night of your travel, as access can vary. On the Monday when I traveled, the lounge was open up to two hours before departure, providing a comfortable space to relax before boarding. I had a snack, charged my phone, and waited for priority boarding to begin about an hour before the train departed.

The lounge offered a self-serve beverage bar stocked with hot drinks, soft drinks, water, and simple snacks. Although showers are available in the lounge’s bathroom facilities, they were not in use during my visit.

The seating area included desks and plenty of charging outlets—ideal for travelers looking to catch up on work or unwind. Given the late departure time of the train, having this lounge to retreat to made waiting much more pleasant. Additionally, just a block from the station were some large shops like M&S and H&M open until 9 pm, alongside a convenience store stocking food and last-minute essentials you might have forgotten.

London Euston

Usual arrival time is around 7:15 a.m. Club en suite guests will have access to the lounge on Platform 1 (which is usually where the train comes in) until 10 a.m. There are showers in here if you don’t want to shower on the train, and there is access to a tea/coffee machine as well as biscuits and cold drinks before setting off for your trip to London.

Accommodations and Amenities

I stayed in the Twin Club en-Suite, a premium cabin designed with comfort and privacy in mind.  Featuring twin bunk beds with high-quality handmade Glencraft mattresses, the suite offered compact space for relaxing after a weekend of sightseeing in Edinburgh.  The en-suite bathroom included a shower and Arran Sense of Scotland toiletries, adding a touch of luxury to the overnight journey.

The cabin was equipped with climate control, USB power outlets, complimentary Mackie’s of Scotland chocolate, a sleep kit with an eye mask and earplugs, and complimentary Wi-Fi—everything needed for a restful night on the rails. I decided to shower the night before and was happy with that decision because the toilet converts into a very compact shower, and the water sprayed all over the tiny bathroom.  Nothing a towel couldn’t easily dry! The toilet was easy to use, having a raised cover, and the small sink added a welcome convenience that enhanced the cabin’s functionality despite its modest footprint.

En-suite—Caledonian Sleeper—Photo Credit: Caledonian Sleeper

Dining Experience

Although you board the train relatively late in the evening, the dining Club Car is available for dinner and drinks.  As I’d had a busy day touring the Scottish capital, I was looking forward to having a meal on the train.  I ordered the Lummermuir Smoked Cheddar Cheese Mac ‘n Cheese and the Harissa and Honey Chicken Garlic Pesto.  Both dishes were delicious, and I had leftovers to take with me.  

The drink selection impressed me, featuring seven distinct single malt Scotch whiskies, six craft gins, alongside a well-curated assortment of beers and wines.  The Club Car’s attentive staff and spacious seating made it easy to settle in, whether working on a laptop or enjoying a relaxed game of cards.  I wrapped up the evening with a rich slice of cheesecake.  

For breakfast the next morning, I pre-ordered a meal to enjoy in the Club Car rather than having it delivered to my suite (you have both options).  The menu included hearty choices like a full Scottish breakfast, a bagel with Belhaven Smoked Salmon, and fluffy pancakes.  By the time breakfast was served, we had arrived at London’s Euston Station, but Club guests had up to an hour after arrival to savour their meals and disembark at their leisure. 

Final Thoughts

The Club en-suite experience can range from £200.00 to £380.00.  The Classic cabin has twin beds and no private bathroom, and the largest Caledonian Double en-suite has a larger footprint, Club Car, station lounge access, and breakfast included.  Those are fewer in number, so advanced reservations are a must!  Overall, the Caledonian Sleeper transforms travel into an experience—a cozy, stylish overnight stay that gets you from Edinburgh to London safely, in comfort, and well fed! It’s a nostalgic nod to classic rail travel refreshed for today’s discerning traveler, well worth considering for your next UK itinerary.

Disclosure: I was invited to travel on the Caledonian Sleeper for the purposes of a first-hand experience and full train accommodation review. All the opinions for this article are my own.  A few images were provided by the hosting company and credited to The Caledonian Sleeper.