Scotland Station code HYM
Haymarket
Haymarket by train: Edinburgh's West End station for Murrayfield, the Modern galleries, Dean Village and Edinburgh Zoo, with trams at the door.
- Around 4 hours 35 minutes from London
- 2 LNER routes
- 4 things to do
Dean Village on the Water of Leith, about 0.4 miles from Haymarket as the crow fliesPhoto: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0
About Haymarket
Haymarket is Edinburgh's second-largest station, set in the city's West End. Its original 1842 building – the first terminus of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway – is category A listed and now sits alongside a modern concourse opened as part of a major redevelopment.
It is the handiest station for the west side of the city: rugby fans pour through on match days for Murrayfield, and it is a pleasant walk to the Modern galleries and the old mill village of Dean, tucked into the gorge of the Water of Leith.
LNER trains heading beyond Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness call here, and trams, buses and the airport express all stop outside.
Journey
HYM- Fastest from London King's Cross
- Around 4 hours 35 minutes
- LNER routes calling
- 2
| Route | Previous stop | Next stop |
|---|---|---|
| London – Aberdeen stop 18 of 26 | Edinburgh Waverley | Inverkeithing |
| London – Inverness stop 11 of 24 | Edinburgh Waverley | Falkirk Grahamston |
May–December 2026 timetable · not every train calls at every station
Only LNER's through trains to Aberdeen and Inverness call at Haymarket – about four or five a day each way in the May–December 2026 timetable. On other services, stay on to Edinburgh Waverley and take a local train or tram back one stop west.
Journey times are from LNER's May–December 2026 timetable and vary by train. Check yours with LNER timetables or the National Rail journey planner.
Key facts
- Opened
- 1842
- Architect
- John Miller, engineer (1840); the design is probably by David Bell
- Heritage status
- Category A listed (Historic Environment Scotland LB26901)
- Platforms
- 5
- Managed by
- ScotRail
- Passengers a year
- 3.3 million entries and exits (plus 730,000 interchanges) (April 2024 – March 2025) Source: orr.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Did you know?
- Haymarket was the Edinburgh terminus of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway when it opened in 1842; trains only began running through to Waverley in 1846.
- Its original iron train shed was taken down in the 1980s and moved to Bo'ness, where the Historic Environment Scotland listing says it now stands at the museum.
- Platform 0 is a bay built for trains that terminate at Haymarket – often used when engineering works close parts of Waverley.
Photos of Haymarket
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Dean Village on the Water of Leith, about 0.4 miles from Haymarket as the crow flies Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0 -
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The category A listed 1840s building, first terminus of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Photo: Hassocks5489 at English Wikipedia, Public domain -
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The new concourse, opened as part of a redevelopment completed in December 2013 Photo: M J Richardson, CC BY-SA 2.0
Arriving at Haymarket
The concourse is at street level on Haymarket Terrace and the platforms are below it. A wide footbridge with lifts and escalators links the ticket gates to all five platforms (numbered 0 to 4). The modern main entrance opens straight onto the Haymarket tram stop, with trams east to the city centre and west to the airport, and the original 1840s building with its clock still stands alongside. Taxi ranks are reached via Clifton Terrace. Murrayfield is just under a mile to the west as the crow flies.
Haymarket is in the West End, close to the city centre. The redeveloped station has a wide footbridge with lifts and escalators, and a main entrance with direct access to the tram stop on Haymarket Terrace.
Getting around
Edinburgh Trams stop right outside, running east to the city centre and Leith and west to the airport. Lothian and other buses, including an airport express service, also serve the station, and there is a taxi rank. Murrayfield and the Modern galleries are walkable.
Other train services and connections
- ScotRail (Glasgow, Fife and central Scotland)
- CrossCountry
- Avanti West Coast
- TransPennine Express
- Lumo (Glasgow–London)
- Edinburgh Trams (Haymarket stop)
Station facilities
- Step-free accessStep-free to all platforms (National Rail category A), with lifts to platforms 0 and 1, 2 and 3, and 4
- StaffingStaffed Monday to Saturday 05:00–01:30 and Sunday 07:00–01:00; ticket gates to all platforms
- Ticket officeCounters in the entrance hall and on the footbridge concourse: Monday to Saturday 06:30–21:25, Sunday 08:10–21:25
- Ticket machinesIn the entrance hall and on the footbridge concourse, including collection of tickets bought online
- Waiting roomsOn platform 4 and on platforms 2 and 3: Monday to Saturday 05:10–00:45, Sunday 08:00–midnight
- ToiletsOn platform 1, platform 4 and near the Haymarket Terrace entrance
- Accessible toiletsUnisex accessible toilets in the entrance hall and on platform 1
- Baby changingAvailable
- Food and drinkA kiosk, cafés and Marks & Spencer
- ShopsM&S Simply Food
- Cash machineAvailable at the station
- Wi-fiStation wi-fi available
- Left luggageNot available
- Car parkNo station car park
- Cycle parking24 sheltered stands
- TaxisTwo ranks, both reached via Clifton Terrace
- Trams and busesEdinburgh Trams stop outside the main entrance, plus local buses and an express bus to Edinburgh Airport
- Help pointsInside and outside the station, with induction loops
Checked September 2026. Facilities and opening hours change — see the National Rail Enquiries station page (opens in a new tab) for the latest details.
History of the station
Haymarket opened on 21 February 1842 as the Edinburgh terminus of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, stopping short of Princes Street. The company's head office was the handsome Italianate building on Haymarket Terrace, with its Tuscan portico and clock, built in 1840 under the engineer John Miller and now category A listed. The line was extended through to Waverley in 1846, and the present layout of through platforms dates from 1894.
British Rail remodelled the station in the early 1980s, moving the original train shed to Bo'ness and adding new canopies and a smaller footbridge. As passenger numbers grew, a £25 million redevelopment under the Edinburgh to Glasgow Improvement Programme gave Haymarket a new concourse, a wider footbridge with lifts and escalators, special event stairs for Murrayfield crowds and a direct link to the tram stop; it was formally reopened in December 2013.
A day in Edinburgh's West End
Art, a hidden river valley and the home of Scottish rugby, all within walking distance of Haymarket.
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Morning
Modern One and Modern Two
Walk to Belford Road for modern and contemporary art in two galleries set in sculpture parks; Modern One is free.
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Late morning
Dean Village and the Water of Leith
Drop down to the riverside walkway and follow it to the old mill village of Dean, below the Dean Bridge. Check the trust's website for path closures first.
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Lunch
Lunch at Ryrie's
Back beside the station, Ryrie's is a historic pub whose kitchen serves food from noon.
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Afternoon
Behind the scenes at Murrayfield
Take a stadium tour at Scotland's national rugby ground, including the tunnel walk, just under a mile west of the station.
Things to do near Haymarket
Scottish Gas Murrayfield
Scotland's national rugby stadium and its largest stadium, opened in 1925. Daily behind-the-scenes tours include the tunnel walk and items from the Scottish Rugby heritage collection.
Modern One and Modern Two
Two galleries of modern and contemporary art facing each other on Belford Road, set in sculpture parks. Modern One is free; Modern Two hosts changing exhibitions.
Water of Leith Walkway and Dean Village
The riverside walkway threads through the city past Dean Village, a former milling village below the Dean Bridge. The Water of Leith Conservation Trust posts current path closures on its website.
Edinburgh Zoo
Run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland on the slopes of Corstorphine Hill, the zoo is home to more than 2,500 animals and was the first in the world to house and breed penguins.
Distances are approximate. Opening times and prices change — check the official website before you go.
Eat & drink near the station
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Pub
Ryrie's
A historic pub right beside the station, taken on by Alexander Ryrie in 1862 when it was the Railway Inn. Expect a teak frontage, stained glass and real ales, with food served from noon to 9pm.
Day trips from Haymarket
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The Forth Bridge and Inverkeithing
Cross the UNESCO-listed Forth Bridge to the Fife shore for views of all three Forth bridges.
LNER's Aberdeen trains reach Inverkeithing in about 14–15 minutes (four a day on weekdays in the May–December 2026 timetable); ScotRail runs frequent trains too.
-
Dundee
Spend a day on Dundee's rebuilt waterfront at V&A Dundee and Captain Scott's ship, RRS Discovery.
LNER's Aberdeen trains take about 1 hour 10 minutes (four a day on weekdays in the May–December 2026 timetable).
Annual events
-
Every February and March (the 2027 championship runs from 5 February to 13 March)
Six Nations rugby at Murrayfield
Scotland play their home Six Nations matches at Murrayfield, and Haymarket is the nearest station – expect big crowds and allow extra time on match days.
Official website for Six Nations rugby at Murrayfield (opens in a new tab)
Dates change from year to year — check the official website before you plan a trip around an event.
Where to stay in Haymarket
The West End has plenty of hotels near the station, and the city centre is a short tram ride away.
Tips for your visit
- The station has special event stairs to handle Murrayfield crowds – allow extra time on match days.
- If you are heading to Fife, Aberdeen or Inverness, Haymarket is a convenient place to join northbound trains.
Questions about Haymarket station
How far is Murrayfield from Haymarket station?
Just under a mile west as the crow flies. On match days the station uses special event stairs to handle the crowds, so allow extra time.
Is Haymarket station step-free?
Yes. National Rail lists step-free access to all platforms, with lifts from the footbridge to every platform.
Can I park at Haymarket station?
No. National Rail lists no station car park, so use public transport or a drop-off nearby.
Can I leave luggage at Haymarket?
No. National Rail lists no left-luggage facility here (checked September 2026).
Can I get a tram to the airport from Haymarket?
Yes. Edinburgh Trams stop right outside the main entrance, with trams west to the airport and east to the city centre and Leith. An express bus to the airport also serves the station.
Do LNER trains from London stop at Haymarket?
Only LNER's through trains to Aberdeen and Inverness call here – about four or five a day each way in the May–December 2026 timetable. On other trains, stay on to Edinburgh Waverley and come back one stop by train or tram.
Sources we checked (September 2026)
We researched this page using the sources below. They are listed for transparency and are not links; always check official websites for the latest details.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haymarket_railway_station
- assets.ctfassets.net/mxack5k9p2sw/7jQOjS38muWdVQbPCRGxyV/809f4c4fe0a29fcd38233147ab0f48…
- tours.scottishrugby.org/stadiumtours/home.htm
- scottishrugby.org/
- nationalgalleries.org/visit/scottish-national-gallery-modern-art
- waterofleith.org.uk/
- edinburghzoo.org.uk/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murrayfield_Stadium
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_National_Gallery_of_Modern_Art
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Village
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_Zoo
- nationalrail.co.uk/stations/hym/
- dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/usage/estimates-of-station-usage/
- portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB26901
- ryries.bar/
- ryries.bar/history
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2027_Six_Nations_Championship
- sixnationsrugby.com/
Travelling to Haymarket?
Check live times and fares with LNER, or compare prices on Trip.com. Book early for the best chance of a cheaper Advance fare.