Cobbled streets, neoclassical buildings, and a medieval Old Town all represent the wonderful city of Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital. This charming city of some half-million people has quite a different vibe than London, and you’ll be glad to know that both capitals are well-connected by both ground and air travel.
There is a 400 miles distance between the two capitals, which you’ll agree is not that much. Nevertheless, the fastest and by far the most comfortable way to reach Scotland from London would be by private jet. If you’re interested in flying privately to Edinburgh, you’ll find everything you need to know in this read so you have all the info before hiring a private jet. Let’s get started!
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London to Edinburgh: Overview
To pass the route from London to Edinburgh, you’d need some 7 to 8 hours by car, 4 to 5 hours by train, and about an hour by private jet. It’s even possible to reach Edinburgh in under an hour if the jet is bigger and more powerful, but it can also be a bit longer if you opt for a turboprop plane.
Even though the two cities are pretty close to each other, private flying is not cheap. In order to rent a private jet to this destination, you’ll need at least £5,000 for a turboprop, and a heavy jet can easily reach £20,000 or more if your ambitions are high.
Since you’re a private flyer, you’re aware that a significant part of the whole private flying experience is the fixed-base operator (FBO). The nation’s capital has a wide range of choices when it comes to private terminals, while Edinburgh has few, but good ones.

Pricing Options
Before we jump into numbers, please bear in mind that private jet prices are not as fixed as commercial ones, as many factors impact the final figure.
First of all, most given prices are before fees and taxes, which I believe you know means you’ll be charged something extra. Also, the prices change depending on the time and date of flying, the staff you’re hiring, the number of nights you plan to stay, the jet size and model you’re going to rent, and other variables.
There are some companies that do share price estimation on their websites, such as The Aviation Factory, Air Charter Service, or Private Fly, but most will insist that you specifically request a quote so they can provide an exact price.
London to Edinburgh Average Flight Prices
The following prices are taken from The Aviation Factory.
Aircraft type | Number of passengers | London to Edinburgh route price | Estimated flight time |
Turboprop | 5 – 8 | £5,000 | 1 hour 15 minutes |
Light jet | 4 – 9 | £6,000 | 1 hour 5 minutes |
Midsize jet | 7 – 9 | £11,000 | 1 hour |
Heavy jet | 10 – 62 | £15,000 | 1 hour |
Note that when you rent a jet, you’re hiring the whole aircraft. So, if the price is higher but the jet’s passenger capacity is also higher, it could be a more cost-effective option than hiring a smaller plane that can accommodate fewer people. Just note that heavy jets that fit over 50 people are called airliners and are rarely used in private flying, especially for such short destinations.
London to Edinburgh Airports
London offers a wide choice of airports to choose from, all of which have fixed-base operators either as handlers at a terminal within the airport or running a separate facility near the airport building.

From London Luton to Edinburgh
London Luton is not the biggest pride of Britain regarding airport operations. The airport is actually quite small with only one terminal and is mostly used by low-budget airline companies such as Wizz Air or Ryanair. At the same time, it’s kind of far away at some 40 miles away from Victoria Station, the biggest and central bus and train station in London.
However, private flyers often choose this airport as their place for take-off since one of the nation’s and Europe’s best FBOs is located right there. The fixed-base operator in question is Signature Flight Support with its T1 FBO, which is known to be used by VIPs and has been voted best FBO outside of the USA.
Signature Flight Support runs another private terminal here as well, the T2, which like its twin, has been kept busy. Both facilities are known to provide excellent VIP concierge services, offering superb conference and meeting rooms, as well as super-comfy lounges.
If you’d like to choose a different FBO for some reason, Harrods Aviation might be your choice. The handler runs a luxury FBO at Luton with highly professional staff and all sorts of services such as transportation, food and drinks, jet maintenance, and so on.
From London Heathrow to Edinburgh
I’m sure you’ve heard of Heathrow, especially if you’re a Brit. It’s the busiest airport that handles more than a thousand flights per day, if not more, and is the welcoming airport to some 80 million passengers annually.
The good thing about this airport is that it has the best location in terms of closeness to London’s central area. To reach it you need a maximum of half an hour by car, but you can also get the tube since it’s very well connected underground.
This airport also has only two terminals suitable for private flyers. The only fixed-base operators handling private flights are Signature Flight Support and Menzies Aviation, both of which are excellent with great service.
You’ll enjoy a 5-star FBO with access to the Internet, printer, and scanner, as well as the lounge department where you can ask for a refreshment, a snack, or even entertainment at the golf courts that are located right next door.
From London Stansted to Edinburgh
Stansted might not be the first airport that pops into your mind when you’re traveling commercially, but it’s actually proven to be one of the better choices for private flyers. In other words, there are more than enough private terminals surrounding it and being part of the airport building itself.
The airport is located some 40 miles away from London’s center and is well-connected with the underground, which will take you to the airport in just one hour. Here’s a list of the fixed-base operators you can find at London Stansted:
- Fayair Ltd;
- Infinite Jet Center;
- X Jet London;
- London Jet Center;
- Universal Aviation;
- Diamond Hangar Ltd;
- Antonov Airlines UK;
- North Air Ltd;
- Harrods Aviation;
- Ruslan International;
- Titan Airways;
- London Jet Charter;
- Inflite The Jet Center;
- NATS Jet Stansted;
- Aeronexus;
- GT Engine Services;
- Swissport.
From London Farnborough to Edinburgh
Being a private airport that serves as a hub for business jets, London Farnborough is quite popular in business circles. It’s located some 40 miles away from London, and is officially situated in Rushmore, Hampshire.
This pet-friendly airport offers everything you need as a private flyer, including a restaurant, comfortable lounge room, and even a gaming room! There are two separate lounges, one of which is used by the crew, and the other one by the travelers, so you’ll have your privacy. You can even have a meeting at one of their conference and meeting rooms if need be, which is what makes this airport perfect for busy business people.
From London Biggin Hill to Edinburgh
Biggin Hill is a private airport that has become one of the fastest-growing business airport hubs. They have invested millions of pounds in infrastructure such as hangars over the last decade, and the airport is now home to some 65 tenant companies.
The airport has two fixed-base operators, each managing its own terminal. One is the omnipresent Signature Flight Support, and the other represents the Biggin Hill Executive Handling team.
Both terminals will offer you the best services, upon your request. There are VIP lounges, conference rooms, internet connection, showers, snooze rooms, and lots of other features. Signature’s airport cafe is just nearby, and this airport is an approved port for pet entry, so you can even take your furry friend with you.
Edinburgh Airport (EDI)
Scotland has four main airports and Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is the biggest and busiest one. Despite having only one terminal, it remains one of the busiest airports in the UK – sixth, in fact. The reason for this is probably its accessibility, as it only takes some 30 minutes to get there by taxi from the city center and costs around £20.
There are three FBOs and handlers down at Edi. The difference is that the latter work in the so-called under-the-wing area of the jet, which includes ground services, aircraft maintenance, and fueling. On the other hand, an FBO works with the passengers and makes sure their experience is the best possible from the check-in to the gates.
However, sometimes handlers offer FBO services as well, such as VIP lounges, hotel booking, laundry, and so on, just like fixed-base operators sometimes offer under-the-wing services as well.
At Edinburgh Airport, the official FBO is run by Signature Flight Support, and it’s a very nice one. It comprises a lounge room, kitchen, showers, gym, business center composed of more meeting rooms, internet access, and everything else you might need.
The handlers of the airport are Menzies Aviation and Swissport.

Which Planes Can You Fly to Edinburgh from Each Category?
For a distance like this, a light jet or a turboprop will do. Of course, if you want more space and comfort or if you’re a bigger party a midsize or a heavy jet is a much better option. Each category has its gems, and I’ll recommend the ones I think meet the two most important criteria – comfort and speed.
Small and Midsize Jets (Turboprops, Light Jets, and Midsize Jets)
As mentioned, this distance doesn’t necessarily require big long-range jets, so a turboprop might be a good idea, considering that they’re the most cost-effective jets. Now, there might not be a walk-around cabin, but it can be quite an adventure.
The Pilatus C-12 is always a good option for short trips. It will cost you around £5,000 to rent it and can accommodate 6 passengers. It takes approximately 1 hour and 17 minutes to reach Edinburgh from London.
A bit more expensive version, but with a bigger seating capacity and much more comfort would be the Beech BE350 KingAir. The cabin fits 8 passengers, and it will take you to Edinburgh Airport in 1 hour and 17 minutes, just like the C-12. The rental price for this one is £6,500.
In general, a light jet should be an almost guaranteed comfortable cabin and a much shorter travel time when compared to a turboprop. In this case, the flight time doesn’t really make a difference since the distance is rather short. The comfortable part remains though.
A light jet that I would recommend is the Learjet 45. This one’s a bit faster than the BE350 KingAir, and can take 7 people onboard. It will reach Edinburgh in 1 hour and will cost you around £9,000 to rent.
If you really want to make most of the trip, and you’re not ready to go heavy jet, a midsize jet would be an incredible idea. They take less than one hour to get from London to Edinburgh and offer much more cabin space than the light planes.
Another gem is the Hawker 800 which needs 54 minutes to get to Edinburgh, according to Private Fly. It has a wide walk-around cabin made for 8 people, and to rent it, you’d need some £7,000.
Another solid midsize jet in terms of looks, comfort, and speed is the Citation Latitude. The jet flies from London to Edinburgh in 55 minutes, carrying 8 people in its cabin. It has a very modern design and costs some £9,000 to rent.
The Citation XLS would be a great light jet for your Edinburgh trip. It has a seating capacity for 8 people, and it takes 1 hour and 5 minutes to get to the destination. The price is pretty decent, too, at some £7,000 via Air Charter Service.
Heavy Jets
A heavy jet is always the better option for completely enjoying the flight, but it usually comes at a price.
The Challenger 605 is a beautiful heavy jet that offers a spacious walk-around cabin and fits 10 people. If you opt for this one, you’ll have to pay some £11,500 and expect to reach Edinburgh in 54 minutes.
A bit more expensive but also with more space for passengers is the Falcon 900LX. It offers a nice spacious cabin suited for 13 people. This one will fly from London to Edinburgh in 54 minutes and costs some £15,000 to rent, which I think is quite a deal for a jet like that.
If you’re with a group that wants real comfort, and I’m talking big comfy sofas in a huge walk-around cabin, the Embraer Lineage 1000 sounds like a winner. The seating capacity is 16 passengers and it will be at Edinburgh Airport in 52 minutes. The price is a bit heavier on this one – around £20,500.
Prices Per Plane Type: Overview
Below, you will find a table that gives the prices per jet model.

Plane type | |||
Light and midsize jets | Number of passengers | Flight time | Price |
Pilatus C-12 | 6 | 1 hour 17 minutes | £5,000 |
Beech BE350 KingAir | 8 | 1 hour 17 minutes | £6,500 |
Learjet 45 | 7 | 1 hour | £9,000 |
Hawker 800 | 8 | 54 minutes | £7,000 |
Citation Latitude | 8 | 55 minutes | £9,000 |
Citation XLS | 8 | 1 hour 5 minutes | £7,000 |
Heavy jets | |||
Challenger 605 | 10 | 54 minutes | £11,500 |
Falcon 900LX | 13 | 54 minutes | £15,000 |
Embraer Lineage 1000 | 16 | 52 minutes | £20,500 |
Conclusion
On the whole, a trip from London to Edinburgh can be a very special event if you travel by private jet. It’s not a route that requires a lot of effort, so it shouldn’t feel stressful to organize.
On average, expect to spend about an hour in the air, while the prices vary depending on the type of jet you’ll choose. As you noticed from the text, it can cost you anywhere between £5,000 – £20,500.
You already know that you’ll land at Signature Flight Support’s FBO, where you will definitely get a warm welcome from the personnel. Make sure to choose the best London-based operator for your flight, so the whole trip can be completed. Happy travels!