Racetracks
Knockhill Racing Circuit
Scotland's national motorsport centre, a compact but thrilling circuit with sharp elevation changes near Dunfermline.
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Road trip route · United Kingdom
Liverpool to Edinburgh drive time, distance, costs & the best stops
- Drive time
- 4 hr 29 min
- Distance
- 217 mi
- Fuel (est.)
- £36
- Tolls (est.)
- None
The Liverpool to Edinburgh drive
The drive from Liverpool to Edinburgh covers 217 miles (349 km) and takes about 4 hr 29 min without stops. That makes it a comfortable one-day drive. Leave in the morning and you'll arrive with the day ahead of you.
Expect fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) to cost around £36 one-way with no significant motorway tolls on the way. Prices shift monthly, so treat these as ballpark figures.
At 217 miles this is longer than 63% of the 144 routes covered here.
Best stops between Liverpool and Edinburgh
Within ~30 km of the driving route, worth the detour.
Waterfalls
Aira Force
A 65-foot waterfall plunging through a wooded gorge near Ullswater, with stone bridges framing the cascade.
Ancient Ruins
Castlerigg Stone Circle
A 5,000-year-old stone circle set on a fell with a 360-degree mountain panorama, free and roadside near Keswick.
Scenic Viewpoints
Ullswater
The Lake District's second-largest lake, with Wordsworth's daffodils at Glencoyne and 1930s steamers running its length.
Museums
Lakeland Motor Museum
Riverside museum at Backbarrow with 30,000 exhibits including 140 classic vehicles and a dedicated exhibition on the Campbells' Bluebird land and water speed record machines.
Famous Roads
Trough of Bowland
Remote moorland pass through the Forest of Bowland linking Lancaster and Dunsop Bridge, following the route the Pendle witches were marched to trial in 1612. Sweeping single-carriageway bends with barely a building in sight.
Photo Spots
Culross
Scotland's most complete 17th-century burgh: ochre-coloured Culross Palace, cobbled wynds and white-harled cottages on the Firth of Forth, preserved by the National Trust. Doubles as Cranesmuir in Outlander.
Mountain Passes
Hartside Pass
The A686's grand sweep over the North Pennines between Penrith and Alston, climbing to 580m through wide hairpins with views across the Eden Valley to the Lake District fells. A celebrated drivers' and bikers' road.
Famous Roads
Hartside Pass (A686)
Voted one of Britain's best drives - a sweeping climb to 580m out of the Eden Valley with a panorama to the Lake District and the Solway.
What you need for this drive
Rules for each country on the route, in the order you meet them.
United Kingdom
- Motorway
- 112 km/h · 48 in town
- Tolls
- Individual tolled crossings (Dart Charge, M6 Toll)
- Drives on
- the left
Low-emission zones: London ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone).
Checked against national road authorities and the ECB reference rates. Rules change — confirm before you travel.
Famous drives in United Kingdom
Legendary routes you could bolt onto this trip, with real distances and stop counts.
Snake Pass + Peak District
Cobblestone villages, Bronte-novel moors, and the moodiest 14 miles of road in England
104 km · 2h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
Atlantic Highway A39: North Cornwall
Cornish surf beaches, smuggler's coves, and the Westcountry pasty trail
139 km · 2.5h driving · 7 stops · 4 days
Causeway Coastal Route
Belfast to Derry along Northern Ireland's cliff-edge coast, via Game of Thrones country
200 km · 3.3h driving · 7 stops · 3 days
NC500: North Coast 500
Scotland's answer to Route 66: 516 miles of mountains, single-track roads, and empty beaches
755 km · 11.4h driving · 9 stops · 7 days
Liverpool to Edinburgh FAQs
How long is the drive from Liverpool to Edinburgh?
Driving from Liverpool to Edinburgh takes about 4 hr 29 min nonstop, covering 217 miles (349 km). Add time for breaks: most drivers stop every 2 hours.
How much does it cost to drive from Liverpool to Edinburgh?
Fuel for a typical petrol car (~40 mpg) costs roughly £36 one-way. There are no significant motorway tolls on this route. Estimates are indicative: prices change monthly.
Can I drive from Liverpool to Edinburgh in one day?
Yes, at about 4 hr 29 min of driving, Liverpool to Edinburgh is a comfortable one-day drive with a couple of breaks.
What other drives can I plan on Plan Your Road Trips?
We publish drive times, distances and fuel estimates for 144 routes across Europe and beyond, including 57 other drives in the same country. Browse them all on the routes index.
What are the best stops between Liverpool and Edinburgh?
Top-rated stops in the drive corridor include Knockhill Racing Circuit, Aira Force, Castlerigg Stone Circle: see the full list of 9 stops on this page.
More drives from Liverpool & Edinburgh
Birmingham → EdinburghEdinburgh → AberdeenEdinburgh → Fort WilliamEdinburgh → GlasgowEdinburgh → InvernessEdinburgh → NewcastleEdinburgh → YorkLeeds → EdinburghLiverpool → CardiffLiverpool → Glasgow
Planning a bigger trip? Try the free United Kingdom road trip planner, browse every destination we cover, take it with you on the road, or read the driving in United Kingdom guide.