Royal Scotsman FAQs

The Royal Scotsman train departs from Edinburgh Waverley Station. Check-in takes place at The Balmoral Hotel, adjacent to the station. We request that you deposit your luggage with the concierge team between 11 am and 12:15 pm, to allow us adequate time to transfer your luggage to the train.

For daytime excursions in the Scottish Highlands and distilleries, bring a warm, waterproof jacket and good walking shoes. For relaxing moments, we recommend casual, comfortable clothing and appropriate footwear.

For dinners, smart casual is appropriate. For formal dinners and gala dinners a dark suit and tie, tuxedo or national costume such as a kilt are advised for men. For women, a cocktail dress, tartan or similar attire is recommended.

Children are welcome to join us, and infants under the age of two at the time of departure travel free. Parents must provide their own food and a bassinet for sleeping. Given the space constraints of a Twin Cabin, we always recommend booking an interconnecting cabin or Grand Suite for the comfort of families.

The atmosphere aboard Royal Scotsman is geared towards our adult passengers. Therefore, it is at the Train Manager’s discretion that children may accompany their parents in the bar and restaurant cars. Please contact our reservations team to discuss full details and train journey suitability.

Wi-Fi is available in the observation car, however due to the remote locations of many of our tours this connection is only available for portions of the journey.

All visitors from overseas must be in possession of a current passport, with a minimum validity of 6 months beyond your journey stay date — applicable to both adults and children. Additional months added to any new passport where the document was renewed prior to its previous expiry date, may not count towards the minimum 6 months required.

Depending on which country issues your passport, you may need a visa for entry into the UK. Please check with your travel agent or government agency before travelling. We would also note that security and immigration checks are likely to be increased, adding time to your journey at entry and exits points within Europe and the UK, so we would recommend you allow extra time at these points.

Cabins have limited space, therefore we recommend each guest travels with one suitcase and one carry-on bag. Twin State Cabins have storage space under each bed, measuring 71cm x 23cm. If necessary, facilities are available at The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh for luggage storage during your journey. Prior to boarding, please attach a Royal Scotsman luggage tag to each piece of your luggage.

Our stewards are happy to assist with pressing garments. Although there are no laundry facilities onboard, laundry services can be arranged for extended stays.

Special diets can be accommodated by our Chef. Please be sure to tell us in advance of any allergies, food-related or not. We will do our best to cater for special dietary requirements, such as vegetarian, vegan etc, provided a detailed request has been made at the time of booking. If a special request has not been made, the chefs will endeavour to prepare a dish with the ingredients available on board. We do, however, regret that we are unable to provide meals requiring strict religious observance in the preparation.

Please advise the Royal Scotsman’s team or your travel agent of any health restrictions before travelling with us. No specific vaccinations are currently required for entry into the UK. It is advised, however, that you consult your doctor or physician for requirements based on your travel itinerary, or for any personal health recommendations relating to your journey.

Please note that there are no professional medical facilities on our train. Our crew members are not permitted to dispense any medication, and will assist you to the nearest pharmacy if required.

In accordance with Scottish Law, smoking is not permitted aboard Royal Scotsman and in the Observation Car. This also includes electronic cigarettes/vaping.

Royal Scotsman is a historic train, and while we warmly welcome guests with reduced mobility, certain design features may present limitations. Below is a floor plan of the first four carriages on the train and includes the dimensions of our most accessible cabin (Cabin A), the corridors and the public spaces to empower your decision.

Floorplan

In addition to this, our reservations team are available to you prior to booking so we can discuss your individual needs and advise on the suitability of the journey.

Due to its heritage design, Royal Scotsman does not currently offer full wheelchair accessibility throughout the train. Cabin A, which is a twin cabin, is the most accessible cabin on board and is the closest cabin to both dining cars and Observation Car.

An airline-style wheel chair (The Original Airchair) is available for use onboard, which can be requested in advance. Alternatively, if you plan to bring a walker, please ensure it is no wider than 38cm so that it can move comfortably through our corridors.

Yes, our onboard team are happy to provide assistance where possible. A ramp is also available for boarding at major stations including Edinburgh Waverley Station, although this is not possible at all stations. Our team can advise further based on your planned journey. While our team is always happy to provide assistance, please note that we are unable to assist with lifting or carrying guests. If you or a member of your party require this level of support, we kindly ask that you travel with an able companion to assist you.

Yes. As part of the train’s original design, a step is required to board and alight. A ramp is available at major stations including Edinburgh, although this is not possible at all stations. Corridors are narrow, 57.7cm at the narrowest point, and railings can be found throughout the corridor and dining cars to assist. A full floor plan with dimensions plan can be viewed here.

We are always happy to explain these features in more detail to help you make an informed decision.

Cabins are compact and designed in keeping with the train’s historic proportions. While they are not fully wheelchair-accessible, Cabin A is most suited to those with accessibility difficulties. En-suite facilities are designed in a traditional style and have some space limitations. Please note there are no grab rails within the bathroom.

Some itineraries include off-train excursions, which may vary in accessibility.

We will provide clear guidance in advance and, where possible, suggest suitable alternatives or arrangements to ensure you can continue to enjoy the experience.

The best way is to speak directly with our team.

By understanding your specific needs, we can offer honest, personalised advice and ensure that you feel confident and fully informed before travelling.

Our dedicated guest services team will be delighted to assist (guestservices.trs@belmond.com). Alternatively, visit our Contact Us page.

A Royal Scotsman luxury train journey includes comfortable state cabin accommodation, daily table d'hôte meals, and a selection of alcoholic and other beverages.

Onboard entertainment and outdoor activities are also included in the package, with sightseeing excursions, as shown in your itineraries and booking confirmation. Please note that the Royal Scotsman’s booking prices do not include insurance, gratuities or souvenirs.