rail staff travel caledonian sleeper

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RST Online User Guide 

Please use this page to find key information on how to use RST Online.

Registration

Password reset.

• How to Book
• How to Book tickets on Caledonian Sleeper services
• How to Book tickets on Great Western Railway Night Riviera Sleeper services

How to request a refund

How to make seat reservations only.

• Child flat fares for retired employees 

Visit the RST Online at  https://www.railstafftravel.com/rst/en/account/register   

Enter the one time pass code that was sent to your email address by  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Enter your date of birth in the format DD/MM/YYYY (e.g. 01/01/2000) 

Enter the email address you would like your ticket receipts, eTicket and website updates to be sent to (please note that this can be different to the work email address we have for you for RST updates) 

Please enter a password of your choice and confirm it. The password must be a minimum of 8 characters long, contain a mix of upper and lower case letters, include at least 1 number and 1 special character e.g. ?@%£) 

Tick the box next to ‘I have read and accept the RSTL Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy’ once you have reviewed these. Both documents are available by clicking the relevant linked text on the page. 

Please click ‘Register’ at the bottom of the pageand you will receive a confirmation email to confirm you have successfully registered. 

You can now make bookings using the RST website. If you navigate away from the page, you can now sign in to the website by entering your email address and password when prompted on the ‘Sign In’ page. 

Click ‘Forgotten Password’ on the Sign In page 

Type the email address you used to register your RST Online account 

Press ‘Reset Password’ 

• Click the temporary link which will have been sent to the email address you entered. Enter the new password and confirm the password. Your password cannot be the same your previous password. The new password must be a minimum of 8 characters long, contain a mix of upper and lower case letters, include at least 1 number and 1 special character. 

Click ‘Set new password’ to confirm your new password. 

How to book

Logging in 

Go to the new Rail Staff Travel website, RST Online at  www.railstafftravel.com   

Ensure you have registered (see ‘How to register to book priv journeys on RST Online) 

Log in by entering your email address and the password that you created when registering (see ‘How to reset your password’ if you have forgotten your password). 

Accessible booking tool 

Click ‘Text Only Version’ if you require a simplified and more accessible booking process – if not, please continue to Step 5. 

Plan your journey 

Choose if your journey is ‘One Way’ or ‘Return’. 

Select the railway station you will be departing from on your outbound journey and the railway station closest to your destination. 

Click ‘More Options’ if you would like to customise your journey to avoid or go via a certain station. 

Choose a date and time for your outward journey (and return journey if appropriate). 

Discounts & railcards 

In the ‘Passengers’ section, select the total number of adults and children who will be travelling (including those without a priv discount, or with other railcards).  

The ‘Railcard’ section is automatically set to Priv Discount. Select the number of adults and children who will be travelling at priv rate. Your account will let you book priv rate fares for family members who are registered with RST. If you are the child of a rail industry employee, you can only book priv rate fares for yourself. 

Click ‘Add other railcards’ if someone in your party does not receive priv discount but does qualify for a railcard discount (such as a 16-25 Railcard, Senior Railcard, Disabled Persons Railcard etc). Remember, they must carry their valid Railcard with them on the journey. 

You can use the tick boxes to customise if you would like to be shown Standard Class, First Class and/or trains with no changes. 

• Press ‘Search’ and you will be taken to a visual display of fares and rail services which relate to your search criteria. 

Fares 

Both Priv and public fares are displayed. When you hover over a fare, you’ll be able to see the type of ticket and whether a Priv discount has been applied.

Select the type of ticket you would like (under ‘Fare’) and scroll down to select the rail service(s) you would like to travel on. A description of the ticket is available on the page and it is important you check your ticket is valid for the journey you wish to take. 

Once you have selected these, click ‘Buy Now’ at the side of the page to continue. Alternatively, you can click ‘Save for later’ if you would like to return at a later date to confirm the booking. 

Review your purchase 

You can now review the details of your journey by clicking the downward arrow within the blue box on the right-hand side of the screen. This will reveal how many passengers you are booking for, the number of railcards used (including priv discount), journey details, ticket cost and terms & conditions for your journey. 

You can now choose to buy a Travelcard or Plus Bus. Please note that these options are sold at the public rate. 

On the ‘Delivery Details’ page you can select the type of ticket you would like to receive and any potential additional costs incurred (e.g. postage costs). Now click ‘Continue’ on the right-hand side of the screen.

Click ‘I agree to Terms & Conditions, National Rail Conditions of Carriage and ticket terms and conditions’ once you have reviewed them. 

Payment 

Press ‘Buy Now’ to enter your card details to purchase your ticket(s). 

Enter your credit or debit card information and press ‘Continue’. 

Fulfilment 

• You will now receive an email confirmation to the email address you used to register for your RST website account.

How to book Caledonian Sleeper tickets

Please remember that you cannot book Caledonian Sleeper services more than 12 weeks in advance. 

Please note that this option is not usually the cheapest, as unless you hold a Gold Status Pass, you will still be required to pay the public rate for the sleeper berth supplement. This is usually more expensive than staff discounted (priv rate) inclusive fare tickets.

To book a Caledonian Sleeper berth using either a Silver Status Pass or a dated box on a Staff Travel Card you should follow the steps below:

1. On the journey details entry screen select the "Seat/Berth Reservations Only" check box, and enter the journey details to find the Caledonian Sleeper service you wish to reserve on.

2. Once the journey results screen is shown, and you select the Caledonian Sleeper service you wish to travel on, you should be able to select it, and the appropriate £0.00 fare.

3. When selecting the "Buy Now" option, you will then need to confirm the details of the berth supplement and the passenger details, and this will be added to your shopping basket.  

4. Once you pay, you will then receive your ticket.

Please note that this option is not usually the cheapest, as you will still be required to pay the public rate for the sleeper berth supplement. This is usually more expensive than staff discounted (priv rate) inclusive fare tickets.

To book a priv rate ticket and then pay the sleeping berth supplement you should follow the steps below:

1. On the journey details entry screen, enter the journey details to find the Caledonian Sleeper service you wish to reserve on.

2. Once the journey results screen is shown, and you select the Caledonian Sleeper service you wish to travel on, you should be able to select it, and choose the staff discounted (priv rate) ticket (Anytime or Off Peak) you wish to purchase.

Please note that this option is usually the cheapest, as the sleeper berth supplement is included in the price of the ticket. 

To book a staff discounted (priv rate) ticket you should follow the steps below:

2. Once the journey results screen is shown, select the Caledonian Sleeper service you wish to travel on.

3. The fares shown will be a mixture of Anytime, Off Peak and Caledonian Sleeper inclusive fares. You will need to search through to find the appropriate Caledonian Sleeper inclusive fare for your journey.

4. If there is just one person travelling, then you should look for Classic Solo fares (if you hold Standard Class staff travel facilities) or Club Solo fares (if you hold 1st Class staff travel facilities)

5. If there are two people travelling,  then you should look for Classic Twin fares (if you hold Standard Class staff travel facilities) or Club Twin fares (if you hold 1st Class staff travel facilities)

6. When selecting the "Buy Now" option, you will then need to confirm the passenger details.  

7. Once you pay, you will then receive your ticket.

How to book Great Western Railway Night Riviera Sleeper tickets

1. On the journey details entry screen, enter the journey details to find the sleeper service you wish to reserve on.

2. Once the journey results screen is shown, and you select the sleeper service you wish to travel on, you should be able to select it, and choose the staff discounted (priv rate) ticket (Anytime or Off Peak) you wish to purchase.

Go to the new Rail Staff Travel website, RST Online at  www.railstafftravel.com   

Log in by entering your email address and the password that you created when registering.

Select "Your Account".

You will then see a list of bookings you have made through RST Online. There is a filter option to allow you to control the display of the list to last month , last 3 months , last 6 months , or all .

• Locate the booking you wish to claim a refund for and select "View" to see the booking details.
• In the drop down list next to "I would like to" you will have the option to "Refund Journey".

On the next screen you should select the elements of the journey that you want to refund, enter a Refund Reason from the drop down box and input any additional information in the box underneath.

Accessible booking tool 

Please contact the support team via the contact details in RST Online to request your refund.

1. Those eligible will see ‘Seat/Berth Reservations Only’ at the top of the journey search/mixing deck

2. Select ‘Seat/Berth Reservations Only’.

3. Enter journey, dates and approximate departure times and click ‘Search’.

4. A £0 fare is displayed in Standard Class (and in First Class if applicable) together with available train times. Services which are barred or asked to avoid are indicated.

5. Select £0 fare and selected service. Click ‘Book Now’.

6. Select seating preferences, if required. Click ‘Continue’.

7. The free reservation is booked and the details are displayed. An email confirmation is sent to your registered email address.

8. The reservation can be retrieved from ‘Your Bookings’ by selecting ‘view’ and then ‘View Full Details’.

Child flat fares for retired employees 

You can purchase the child flat fare for up to four accompanied children aged 5-15 to travel in Standard Calss only when travelling with retired employees aged 60 or over

In the “Passengers” section (Step 9, “Discounts & railcards”, above), select the total number of adults and children who will be travelling (including those without a priv discount, or with other railcards).   

Include the accompanied children in the total number of children. Do not add the accompanied children to the number of passengers in the “Railcard” section. 

The accompanied children will automatically receive the flat rate fare. 

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Staff Travel on the Caledonian Sleeper

• Thread starter daniel97
• Start date 26 Nov 2017
• 26 Nov 2017

I was looking at the Staff T&Cs for travel on the Sleeper, and the RDG website tells me only to book First Class (single occupancy birth and what not) only if I have the First Class entitlement I haven't been in the railway long so a lot of this is still foreign to me, I would just like to know if this is something on-board staff also know of, and how to find out if I have the entitlement in the first place. Seeing as it is leisure, I don't see why I would be unable to book first class Thanks  

RailUK Forums

Veteran Member

Yes the on board staff know that your ticket class must match your travel facilities. If you’re not senior management you probably won’t have first class facilities. Put it this way, you’d know if you did. It will be indicated on your TOC Discount Card though (also known as a Priv).  

AlterEgo said: Yes the on board staff know that your ticket class must match your travel facilities. If you’re not senior management you probably won’t have first class facilities. Put it this way, you’d know if you did. It will be indicated on your TOC Discount Card though (also known as a Priv). Click to expand...

greatkingrat

Established member.

However the booking system is changing next year. Currently you have the choice of "First Class", "Standard Class" or "Seat", but after 25th Feb 2018, this changes to "Classic Solo", "Classic Standard" or "Seat". As there is no longer any reference to classes of travel does this mean that any Priv holder can book a solo berth?  

• 27 Nov 2017

The staff travel restriction for Winter 2017/18 don't mention any changes to berth/seat types - as you would expect, they do specifically say: "Holders of STD facilities may not travel in 1stClass accommodation, at a discounted rate. Those with STD facilities wishing to travel in 1st Class should pay the full public price."  

• 28 Nov 2017

Flying Snail

ag51ruk said: The staff travel restriction for Winter 2017/18 don't mention any changes to berth/seat types - as you would expect, they do specifically say: "Holders of STD facilities may not travel in 1stClass accommodation, at a discounted rate. Those with STD facilities wishing to travel in 1st Class should pay the full public price." Click to expand...

Flying Snail said: The current 1st class only option of single use of a cabin will be the only option available to solo travellers so keeping this as 1st Class would mean that only couples could travel Std. There is no question that from March 2018 onwards the 1st class designation no longer applies. Click to expand...

Flying Snail said: It would hardly be the first time that ATOC/RDG have been behind the curve when it comes to accurate information. Seats have always been Std class only. Click to expand...

Will be great if no longer STD or 1st designated berths, GWR did this several years ago, Solo cabins with PRIV rate is great !  

ag51ruk said: And the full restriction (which didn't seem relevant to the original question) says "Seated Accommodation Staff travel holders are not permitted to travel in the overnight seated accommodation on these services. However, they may travel in the seated accommodation on the legs of the journey between Fort William and Edinburgh and vice versa, and Kingussie and Inverness where the sleeper train forms a day service (reservations are not required). Free or privilege rate travel facilities can be used on these services. It should be noted that the seated section of the train is STD Class only" The restrictions are specified by the TOC, not RDG. Click to expand...

Caledonian Sleeper: 16 Things You Need To Know Before Riding

The Caledonian Sleeper is one of the most luxurious sleeper car trains in Europe. It is an incredible way to experience a trip to Scotland from London.

• 1 What is the best Caledonian Sleeper Route
• 2 What are the best rooms on the Caledonian Sleeper
• 3 Is food included on the Caledonian Sleeper
• 4 Is the Caledonian Sleeper Safe
• 5 Are there showers on the Caledonian Sleeper
• 6 What are the seats like on the Caledonian Sleeper
• 7 How long does the Caledonian Sleeper take
• 8 Do you have to share a room on the Caledonian Sleeper
• 9 Is the Caledonian Sleeper worth it
• 10 Do you get towels on the Caledonian Sleeper
• 11 Can you smoke on the Caledonian Sleeper
• 12 Are dogs allowed on the Caledonian Sleeper
• 13 Do you have to change trains on the Caledonian Sleeper
• 14 Can you upgrade your room on the Caledonian Sleeper
• 15 Is the Caledonian Sleeper Expensive
• 16 How long before departure can you board the Caledonian Sleeper

What is the best Caledonian Sleeper Route

Starting from London Euston and heading north, the route to Fort William is the best Caledonian Sleeper route. Much of the reason you’ll be riding on this train is to experience the train, and this is the longest route which will give you the most time on board. It’ll mostly be dark outside for your whole trip, so don’t judge based on scenery, or lack thereof.

On shorter routes to Glasgow and Edinburgh, the Caledonian Sleeper ride is so short at around 8 hours that you’ll hardly experience the train during waking hours. On a trip to Fort William from London it’ll take 13 hours, giving you plenty of time to enjoy your journey.

What are the best rooms on the Caledonian Sleeper

The best room on the Caledonian Sleeper is the Caledonian Double. Unique in that two people can sleep on the same level, it is one of the few sleeper rooms in the world that doesn’t utilize bunkbeds. We found the bed to be plenty big for our needs and the included shower and toilet is a real bonus.

If the Caledonian Double is out of reach, the Club Room is also a great choice. It has bunk beds and the same shower and toilet combination as the Caledonian Double. If neither of you feel comfortable going on the top berth you should opt for the double.

Is food included on the Caledonian Sleeper

Breakfast is included on the Caledonian Sleeper, but evening snacks and meals must be purchased from the Club Car. Breakfast was a limited offering, and we thought the evening meals were good, but the portions were smaller than at a restaurant. On our trip we opted for the nachos and sliders. They both tasted good, and at that late hour are about all you will need.

If you show up having not eaten since lunch, just understand you may need to order a few different things.

Is the Caledonian Sleeper Safe

The Caledonian Sleeper is very safe! The staff and security work hard to ensure passengers are safe and comfortable during their entire trip. We felt safe at all times including while boarding, eating, sleeping and getting off the train. You should not have any concerns over safety on the Caledonian Sleeper.

Are there showers on the Caledonian Sleeper

Caledonian Double and Club car rooms come with a private shower on the Caledonian Sleeper. The shower is integrated into the bathroom, so you’ll flip the toilet seat cover down and it then doubles as a bench for the shower. Water was warm and plentiful when we tried the shower, and overall it was a good experience.

What are the seats like on the Caledonian Sleeper

Comfort Seats on the Caledonian Sleeper are very nice and provide a comfortable ride to your destination. If we were riding this train though, and were not going to get a room, we’d probably opt for one of the day trains from London, which would be faster and cheaper than riding in the Comfort Seats. The main purpose for riding this train is to experience sleeping on the train, and it is hard to sleep in the Comfort Seats on the Caledonian Sleeper.

How long does the Caledonian Sleeper take

The fastest the Caledonian Sleeper can get to its destination is the route to Glasgow which takes 7.5 hours and the longest route, to Fort William, is almost 13 hours. The routes to Glasgow and Edinburgh are too short to fully enjoy.

Do you have to share a room on the Caledonian Sleeper

Rooms on the Caledonian Sleeper all sleep 2 people only. If you book a room with 2 passengers, you won’t be sharing a room with anyone else. There are no 4 or 6 person rooms on the Caledonian Sleeper.

Is the Caledonian Sleeper worth it

The Caledonian Sleeper train is one of the nicest overnight trains in the world and is worth the money it costs to ride. If you want to experience an upgraded luxury feel to your sleeper car accommodations, the Caledonian Sleeper is not to be missed on your next trip to Scotland.

Do you get towels on the Caledonian Sleeper

Towels are provided in sleeper car rooms on the Caledonian Sleeper. You will not need to bring your own towels to utilize the shower facilities while riding.

Can you smoke on the Caledonian Sleeper

Like most trains, smoking is not permitted on the Caledonian Sleeper in any area. You are able to smoke at the station before you board, and when you get off, but there aren’t many opportunities to smoke while riding.

Are dogs allowed on the Caledonian Sleeper

Dogs and cats are allowed in the sleeper rooms on the Caledonian Sleeper. They must remain on the floor and not sleep in the beds. They are not allowed to come to the Club Car with you while you eat. A cleaning fee of 30 pounds is charged per room and you are allowed to bring 2 pets with you on your trip.

Do you have to change trains on the Caledonian Sleeper

You will not have to change trains while riding the Caledonian Sleeper. All of the trains go directly to their destinations without the need for changes so you can sleep while the train is moving.

Can you upgrade your room on the Caledonian Sleeper

You can upgrade or change your room type on the Caledonian Sleeper Flexible Ticket up until two days before your trip. If you are on a Fixed Advance ticket, no refunds, changes, or upgrades are allowed.

Is the Caledonian Sleeper Expensive

The Caledonian Sleeper is an expensive train to ride, and the high cost is justified by luxury feel and updated train cars. While more expensive than other sleepers in Europe and the USA, it is the most updated experience you can get on a train and is worth the price.

How long before departure can you board the Caledonian Sleeper

We were surprised to know that we could board the Caledonian Sleeper quite early before our train departed. Take advantage of this, as the train ride isn’t very long. Trains to Edinburgh and Glasgow are available to board up to 1 hour and 40 minutes before departure. On longer routes to Fort William, Inverness and Aberdeen, you can expect to board 45 minutes before departure.

Robert Marmion

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Is the Caledonian Sleeper worth it? Caledonian Sleeper honest review (2024)

Are you planning a trip to Scotland and considering taking the Caledonian Sleeper train? If you’re wondering “is the Caledonian Sleeper worth it?” then look no further, here’s a detailed Caledonian Sleeper review from my trip from London to Edinburgh, as well as some handy tips to ensure you have the best journey.

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After spending two months in Europe travelling by train (for the second year in a row), I still had a couple of travel days left on my Eurail Pass to be able to use during my month the UK. The Caledonian Sleeper is renowned for being one of the UK’s top bucket list train journeys, so I decided to take a weekend getaway to Edinburgh.

With a late night departure from London and an early morning arrival in Edinburgh, it was a comfortable and stress-free way to make the journey, as well as being better for the environment and letting us avoid the nightmares of a London airport on a weekend during the Christmas period.

This Caledonian Sleeper review has literally all you need to know about the overnight train to Scotland to help you decide if it’s worth the money and the time. In this post I explain the Caledonian Sleeper routes, the current timetable, pricing for seats and cabins, how you can get a discount, what it’s like to sleep on the train and more.

So is the Caledonian Sleeper worth it? Read on to find out!

A quick summary: Is the Caledonian Sleeper worth it?

The answer to this question will depend on your budget, your timeframe and your travel preferences.

The Caledonian Sleeper is probably worth it for you if:

• You want a convenient and comfortable trip
• You hate flying
• You’re trying to reduce your carbon footprint
• You’d have to spend money on accommodation in London or Scotland if you took daytime transport
• You have a Eurail or Interrail Pass
• You’re travelling with big suitcases
• You don’t mind a small (but comfortable) cabin for the night
• You’re travelling with pets

On the other hand, the train might not be worth it for you if:

• There are budget flights available for cheaper (remember to take into account the cost of getting to and from the airport + adding luggage)
• You have free accommodation in London and/or Scotland
• You need a proper bed for a good night’s sleep
• You’re claustrophobic or aren’t comfortable in tight spaces
• You’re tall!
• You’re taking a solo trip to Edinburgh (it’s significantly cheaper per person if you share a cabin with a friend or partner)

Caledonian Sleeper quick links

• Buy Caledonian Sleeper tickets at www.sleeper.scot (if you have a Eurail/Interrail Pass you can tick the ‘room supplement only’ box)
• Buy a Eurail Pass or Interrail Pass
• Buy a UK Railcard (a discount card for train travel, not the same as a Eurail/Interrail Pass)
• My top hotel recommendation in Edinburgh is Roomzzz , they offer literally the best value accommodation in the city. A few minutes’ walk from Waverley Station, spacious rooms with kitchen facilities, comfortable beds and fantastic staff. So good that we cancelled our booking at a fancy hotel to extend our stay because we didn’t want to leave!
• I have a few accommodation recommendations in London, I love Room2 Chiswick for an eco-friendly boutique stay or if you need to be on the other side of town then Wilde Aldgate Tower Bridge is fantastic
• If you’re planning an extended European train adventure, my Eurail Pass guide will help you make the most of your time and money
• My sleeper train must-haves are this eye mask , these silicone ear plugs , a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones , some melatonin to help with sleep and a Kindle for entertainment

What is the Caledonian Sleeper?

Combining the nostalgia and charm of 19th century rail travel with modern technologies and fancy amenities, the Caledonian Sleeper is an iconic part of the UK’s train network.

It’s one of the oldest continuously-operating sleeper services in the world, tracing its roots back to 1873, but the Caledonian Sleeper has constantly evolved with society’s changing transportation needs and technological advancements. The most recent significant upgrade to the train was the arrival of brand new carriages in 2019.

With the ever-growing network of budget airlines (and the unfortunate fact that rail travel in the UK is costly), it’s no longer the cheapest or easiest way to get to between London and Scotland, but it still offers a timeless travel experience that really embodies the whole “it’s the journey, not the destination” mantra.

(And when you take into consideration the savings on accommodation in either London or Scotland, it actually might end up being cheaper than an EasyJet flight!).

The service caters to a wide range of passengers, from budget backpackers just looking for a cheap seat to business travellers to luxury tourists, with different levels of accommodation depending on your needs and budget. There are top-end rooms with access to the famous Club Car if you want to experience the Caledonian Sleeper at its best, the ‘classic’ option offers a comfortable private sleeper cabin with shared bathroom facilities, or there are affordable reclining seats for those on a tighter budget.

Is the Caledonian Sleeper worth it for the views?

I have to be honest, our particular trip had very little in terms of views, because we were only on the London to Edinburgh route which left at 11.45pm and arrived at 7.30am. We travelled in November and the sunrise in Edinburgh was 7.40am, so we only had a tiny bit of daylight at the very end of our trip.

But from reading other reviews and speaking to the Caledonian Sleeper team, the views are magical in the summer months where there’s longer daylight hours, and on the routes that go further into the Scottish Highlands so run until later in the morning. The London to Fort William route is meant to be particularly stunning, and the latter part of that trip (along the West Highland Line) is often listed as one of the most beautiful train rides in Europe .

Travelling north is certainly the more scenic direction, with rugged and wild Scottish landscapes providing a stark contrast to what you saw in London the night before. I’d recommend getting up early to get the best bang for your buck in terms of views!

Where does the Caledonian Sleeper start and finish?

There are five Caledonian Sleeper routes.

London to Edinburgh via Watford Junction and Carlisle

London to Glasgow via Watford Junction, Carlisle, Carstairs and Matherwell

London to Inverness via Stirling, Gleneagles, Perth, Pitlochry and Aviemore

London to Aberdeen via Kirkcaldy, Leuchars (for St Andrews), Dundee, Carnoustie and Arbroath

London to Fort William via Dumbarton, Helensburgh Upper and all West Highland Line stations

How often does the Caledonian Sleeper run?

The Caledonian Sleeper runs one train on each route every night of the week, except Saturdays.

The Caledonian Sleeper timetable

Train timetables can change without notice, so please check the official Caledonian Sleeper timetable for current timings.

The timetable below is correct as of 30 January 2023.

London > Glasgow Monday-Friday: Depart London 23.45, arrive Glasgow 7.30 Sunday: Depart London 23.30, arrive Glasgow 7.30

Glasgow > London Monday-Friday: Depart Glasgow 23.40, arrive London 7.15 Sunday: Depart Glasgow 23.15, arrive London 7.15

London > Edinburgh Monday-Friday: Depart London 23.45, arrive Edinburgh 7.30 Sunday: Depart London 23.30, arrive Edinburgh 7.30

Edinburgh > London Monday-Friday: Depart Edinburgh 23.40, arrive London 7.15 Sunday: Depart Edinburgh 23.15, arrive London 7.15

London > Inverness Monday-Friday: Depart London 21.15, arrive Inverness 8.45 Sunday: Depart London 21.00, arrive Inverness 8.45

Inverness > London Monday-Friday: Depart Inverness 20.45, arrive London 8.00 Sunday: Depart Inverness 20.25, arrive London 8.00

London > Aberdeen Monday-Friday: Depart London 21.15, arrive Aberdeen 7.40 Sunday: Depart London 21.00, arrive Aberdeen 7.40

Aberdeen > London Monday-Friday: Depart Aberdeen 21.43, arrive London 8.00 Sunday: Depart Aberdeen 21.43, arrive London 8.00

London > Fort William Monday-Friday: Depart London 21.15, arrive Fort William 10.00 Sunday: Depart London 21.00, arrive Fort William 10.00

Fort William > London Monday-Friday: Depart Fort William 19.50, arrive London 8.00 Sunday: Depart Fort William 19.00, arrive London 8.00

Can you do a day trip with the Caledonian Sleeper?

Technically it would be an overnight trip because you depart before midnight, but you can definitely do one day in Edinburgh or any of the other stops with the Caledonian Sleeper.

Let’s look at Edinburgh as an example.

Take the Caledonian Sleeper from London in the late evening and arrive in Edinburgh at 7.30am. From here you’ve got an entire day to explore Edinburgh, then you can either catch a normal train home (they run 2-3 times an hour throughout the day until 9pm-ish), or you could book the return Caledonian Sleeper back to London overnight instead.

What do Caledonian Sleeper tickets cost?

Caledonian Sleeper tickets are priced dynamically like airline tickets, meaning the price will depend on the demand for that seat. Prices also depend on the route you’re taking (with the longer routes obviously costing more), and the starting price is more expensive in the summer months.

Here are the typical price ranges for the different routes and room types ⬇️

Prices valid as of 31 January 2024 but these are subject to change, check the Caledonian Sleeper website for up-to-date pricing.

London <> Glasgow : Seat only: £50-£90 per person Classic room, one person: £190-£250 Classic room, two people: £240-£320 Club en-suite, one person: £225-£325 Club en-suite, two people: £320-£390 Caledonian Double en-suite, one person: £360 Caledonian Double en-suite, two people: £425

London <> Edinburgh : Seat only: £50-£90 per person Classic room, one person: £190-£250 Classic room, two people: £240-£320 Club en-suite, one person: £250-£340 Club en-suite, two people: £320-£405 Caledonian Double en-suite, one person: £360 Caledonian Double en-suite, two people: £425

London <> Inverness : Seat only: £55-£95 per person Classic room, one person: £195-£285 Classic room, two people: £245-£355 Club en-suite, one person: £270-£400 Club en-suite, two people: £330-£470 Caledonian Double en-suite, one person: £425 Caledonian Double en-suite, two people: £500

London <> Aberdeen : Seat only: £55-£95 per person Classic room, one person: £195-£285 Classic room, two people: £280-£355 Club en-suite, one person: £270-£400 Club en-suite, two people: £380-£470 Caledonian Double en-suite, one person: £425 Caledonian Double en-suite, two people: £500

London <> Fort William : Seat only: £55-£95 per person Classic room, one person: £195-£285 Classic room, two people: £245-£355 Club en-suite, one person: £270-£400 Club en-suite, two people: £330-£470 Caledonian Double en-suite, one person: £425 Caledonian Double en-suite, two people: £500

Tips for getting the cheapest Caledonian Sleeper tickets

• Book in advance, prices are based on demand so last minute bookings or leaving it too late for busy periods will often result in having to pay the highest fare.
• Travel mid-week if you can, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays typically have lower demand.
• Travel in the off season. Summer starting prices are higher, so the cheapest fares in July/August will be higher than the cheapest fares in October/November.
• Kids under 5 go free when sharing a seat or room with an adult, maximum of one kid aged 0-4 per adult
• Kids aged 5-15 are slightly cheaper than adult tickets

Can you get a discount on Caledonian Sleeper tickets?

You sure can! There are a few ways to get discounts on Caledonian Sleeper tickets.

With a Railcard

A Railcard is a discount card that gives you up to 1/3 off most train tickets in the UK. If you live in the UK and are eligible for one then they are absolutely worth getting, you’ll make your money back in just a few short trips or even one long trip.

But unfortunately the Caledonian Sleeper doesn’t accept all Railcards and you won’t get a discount on all seat/room options. Here’s the full list of the Railcard discounts you can get on the Caledonian Sleeper:

• 16-25 Railcard – up to 34% off your seat or a solo Classic or Club room
• Senior Railcard – up to 34% off your seat or a solo Classic or Club room
• Veterans Railcard – up to 34% off your seat or a solo Classic or Club room
• Family & Friends Railcard – up to 34% off adults and up to 81% off for kids, seats only
• Disabled Persons Railcard – up to 34% off for the Railcard holder and a companion in seats, Club rooms or Classic rooms
• Two Together Railcard – up to 34% off seats
• There are no Railcard discounts for Caledonian Double rooms and no discounts for two people in a room (even if both people have a Railcard) except for Disabled Railcard holders and their companion.
• There are no discounts for a 16-17 Saver or a 26-30 Railcard

You can check if you’re eligible and buy a Railcard here >>

With a Eurail/Interrail/BritRail Pass/All Line Rover

If you’ve got a European rail pass like a Eurail Global Pass or Interrail Global Pass , or a local rail pass like BritRail or an All Line Rover pass, these cover the cost of your ticket, so you’ll just need to pay a separate room supplement to reserve your spot.

If you have a 2nd class rail pass, the supplement is £145 for one person in a Classic room or £165 for two people in a Classic room.

If you have a 1st class rail pass then you can book the Club rooms, you’ll need to pay £195 for one person in a Club room or £225 for two people in a Club room.

If you’re booking for two people, both passengers need to have a valid rail pass.

You can’t use a rail pass to book the Caledonian Double room unfortunately.

You’ll need to compare the cost of the full ticket vs. the cost of the room supplement to see if it’s worth using a rail pass travel day.

For example, if you’re a single traveller travelling from London to Edinburgh wanting a Classic room booking well in advance, then a full ticket might be £190, meaning you’d only save £45 if you booked the room supplement for £145. If you have other, more expensive train journeys during your travels then the rail pass might be better used on them.

Alternatively, if you’re two people travelling on one of the longer routes with first class passes wanting a Club room for two and booking quite last minute, the full ticket price could be as high as £470. Using a rail pass travel day you’d only pay the room supplement of £225, saving you a whopping £245. Well worth it!

No idea what I’m talking about? Here’s all you need to know about Eurail Passes and I’ve also got a really detailed blog to help you figure out if a Eurail pass is worth it .

How do you buy Caledonian Sleeper tickets?

You can book Caledonian Sleeper tickets on the official website, www.sleeper.scot .

If you just want to book a room supplement, you can do that on the same website and just tick the ‘room supplement only’ box in the search box.

Caledonian Sleeper seats vs. cabins

If you’re on a tight budget, the seats on the Caledonian Sleeper are a much cheaper way to get from A to B and save on a night of accommodation, but don’t expect much more than the basics.

The seats are clean and comfortable as far as train seats go, but they only recline 10 degrees. There’s an adjustable headrest and adjustable footrest too.

The seat in front has a tray table that folds out if you need to work, but it’s not sturdy enough to lean on to sleep without annoying the person sitting in front of you.

There’s a food and drink menu (seated customers don’t get access to the Club Car like the rooms do but the food options are the same, except for a few cooked breakfast dishes) and keep in mind that the interior lights are on the whole night, so you’ll want to use the complimentary eye mask or bring your own.

If you really need to sleep on this trip, like if you’re travelling for business or just don’t want to be exhausted when you arrive at your next destination, I’d really recommend booking a room for a more relaxing journey.

Caledonian Sleeper Classic cabins vs. Club cabins vs. Caledonian Doubles

Classic rooms.

The Caledonian Sleeper Classic rooms are simple but very nicely done, with twin bunks with Glencraft mattresses (a luxury Scottish brand), an in-room washbasin, charging points, WiFi, keycard entry, temperature control, dimmable lights and room service. Breakfast is available for purchase.

Bathroom facilities are shared with other Classic rooms, and Classic rooms have access to the Club Car for food and drink (though Club rooms get priority access)

The beds are the same size in both Classic and Club rooms, 65cm x 180xm, and the room size of both is 134.5cm x 180cm.

A club room is the same cabin layout but offering amenities that are a step above Classic, with included breakfast, an en-suite with toilet and shower (additional to the room size mentioned above), Arran Sense of Scotland toiletries and some welcome chocolate from Mackie’s of Scotland (absolutely delicious by the way!).

Club room guests get access to the Station Lounge in London Euston which only opened late 2023, as well as priority boarding and priority access to the Club Car for food and drink.

Caledonian Doubles

The most exclusive room available on the Caledonian Sleeper, the Caledonian Double is the ultimate in sleeper train luxury, but you’ll need to book them well in advance as they get filled up early. You’ll get all the same amenities as the Club rooms but with a premium double bed, a souvenir toilet bag and more space to spread out.

Accessible rooms

If you have accessibility needs there are dedicated accessible cabins available for booking through the website or over the phone. These rooms are spacious and wheelchair-friendly, with either a double bed or two single bunk beds, a lower sink, larger table, two emergency alarms, an accessible toilet right outside.

What is the Caledonian Sleeper food like?

The Caledonian Sleeper is an icon of Scottish heritage, and that certainly comes across in the food and drinks menu, with things like haggis, neeps and tatties, and loads of whiskey on offer.

If you’ve booked a room then you can either opt for room service or head to the Club Car to eat, and seated tickets can order from the seat carriage train attendants.

Dinner dishes include light starters, haggis, pork fillet, mac & cheese, light bites like nachos, toasted sandwiches, savoury snacks and desserts, with a decent list of wine, whiskey and other drinks.

For breakfast, Classic and seated guests can choose from porridge, a bacon roll, a sausage roll, vegan sausage roll or granola and yoghurt. Caledonian Double and Club guests have a few more options, like a traditional Scottish breakfast, Scottish fish frittata or a traditional vegan breakfast, and breakfast is included in their ticket.

Mum got the traditional Scottish breakfast and I got the traditional vegan breakfast (just so we got different things), I’d say it was a step above plane food but wasn’t particularly inspiring.

One thing I will say is to read the instructions clearly on the breakfast menu that you tick and place on your door handle before going to bed. After getting onto the train exhausted at 11pm we ticked our options with our chosen time of 7am for breakfast, without reading properly and realising that the hot breakfast was only served in the Club Car. About 15 minutes before arriving in Edinburgh I was wondering why our breakfast hadn’t arrived yet, checked with a train attendant and was told we needed to go to the Club Car. We boosted down there and had to chow down our food quickly in order to get back to our room to pack in time to leave the train. This also meant that I missed the only daylight of our trip, and the arrival into Edinburgh is meant to be quite scenic.

Our own fault of course but I think it could be made clearer, at least now you know to keep this in mind!

What’s the Caledonian Sleeper service like?

We experienced friendly and helpful service throughout our Caledonian Sleeper experience, from the friendly lounge staff to helpful train attendants and lovely waitstaff in the Club Car.

We also had a bit of a mishap with a bag that was left in our cabin (it was my mum, not me!) and didn’t realise until we’d checked in to our Edinburgh hotel and the train had left the station for the day. After speaking to their live chat team the bag was found and brought back to the station before the evening service departed, where we could pick it up. Overall everyone we spoke to was super helpful, despite it being totally our (/mum’s) fault and no doubt an annoying thing for them to deal with.

The final verdict: Is the Caledonian Sleeper worth it?

For me personally, the Caledonian Sleeper was worth it and I’d definitely choose it again over booking a flight.

As a full-time traveller my carbon footprint is constantly on my mind, and I opt for train travel wherever possible to try and reduce my impact. I also just haaate flying, I hate lugging my suitcases across the city to get to the airport and then faffing around once I’m there, spending ridiculous amounts on shitty airport food, being crammed in to a flying tin can and inevitably splurging on an airport taxi because by the time I arrive I can’t be bothered dealing with public transport to get to my hotel. No thanks. Get me on a train that leaves and arrives at a central location, without the need to check bags, go through security or be crammed into a middle seat with no leg room.

The Caledonian Sleeper is a brilliantly convenient way to reach Edinburgh or the other Scottish arrival points, with the added bonus of being a bit of fun too.

It might not seem like the cheapest option, but when you take into account flight prices + luggage + airport transfer + a night of accommodation, it’s probably not too far off!

Of all the sleeper trains I’ve been on (Thailand, Finland, Norway, Sweden, France, Austria and Germany) this one was the cleanest and most comfortable by a significant stretch.

Other Caledonian Sleeper reviews

I do have to say that after reading Caledonian Sleeper reviews on TripAdvisor I was a bit apprehensive, so I want to briefly address a few commonly mentioned issues here.

First of all, TripAdvisor doesn’t distinguish between seat reviews and cabin reviews, and many of the bad reviews are for the seated carriage mentioning things I’ve told you about above, like the minimum recline, lights on all night, etc. If you’re looking for a good night’s sleep but can’t afford a cabin, book a flight or a day train and sleep in a hotel.

Secondly, quite a few reviews mention the small rooms, small toilet/shower and small beds. Perhaps these people have just never travelled on a sleeper train before, but I didn’t think the rooms were much (if any) smaller than previous sleeper trains I’ve been on. The beds were by farrrr the most comfortable I’ve ever had on a night train.

They definitely aren’t spacious, there’s not much room for luggage (smaller bags will fit under the bed but my big suitcase was too deep) and it certainly wouldn’t be ideal for a bigger body, but I think this is more about managing expectations rather than the product being different from what you were sold as the room size is clearly mentioned on the website.

And finally, there does seem to be an ongoing issue with water on the train. We didn’t have a problem with this on our trip but reading recent reviews it’s clear that there have been a number of situations where carriages have either run out of hot water or have had water problems in general, meaning people need to go to another carriage to use the bathroom. If does happen on your train, I’d recommend getting in touch with the Caledonian Sleeper crew immediately to request a partial refund.

I hope this detailed Caledonian Sleeper review and travel guide has helped you plan your London to Scotland (or vice versa) trip. If you have any questions you can reach out to the Caledonian Sleeper team or let me know in the comments below and I’ll try help where I can.

Disclosure: I was kindly hosted by the Caledonian Sleeper during my time in the UK, but as always my review is completely honest and is based on my personal experience.

Other blogs you might like:

• The ultimate Bernina Express guide
• The ultimate Glacier Express guide
• How to use a Eurail Pass
• Is a Eurail Pass worth it?

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In Transit: Notes from the Underground

Jun 06 2018.

Spend some time in one of Moscow’s finest museums.

Subterranean commuting might not be anyone’s idea of a good time, but even in a city packing the war-games treasures and priceless bejeweled eggs of the Kremlin Armoury and the colossal Soviet pavilions of the VDNKh , the Metro holds up as one of Moscow’s finest museums. Just avoid rush hour.

The Metro is stunning and provides an unrivaled insight into the city’s psyche, past and present, but it also happens to be the best way to get around. Moscow has Uber, and the Russian version called Yandex Taxi , but also some nasty traffic. Metro trains come around every 90 seconds or so, at a more than 99 percent on-time rate. It’s also reasonably priced, with a single ride at 55 cents (and cheaper in bulk). From history to tickets to rules — official and not — here’s what you need to know to get started.

A Brief Introduction Buying Tickets Know Before You Go (Down) Rules An Easy Tour

A Brief Introduction

Moscow’s Metro was a long time coming. Plans for rapid transit to relieve the city’s beleaguered tram system date back to the Imperial era, but a couple of wars and a revolution held up its development. Stalin revived it as part of his grand plan to modernize the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 30s. The first lines and tunnels were constructed with help from engineers from the London Underground, although Stalin’s secret police decided that they had learned too much about Moscow’s layout and had them arrested on espionage charges and deported.

The beauty of its stations (if not its trains) is well-documented, and certainly no accident. In its illustrious first phases and particularly after the Second World War, the greatest architects of Soviet era were recruited to create gleaming temples celebrating the Revolution, the USSR, and the war triumph. No two stations are exactly alike, and each of the classic showpieces has a theme. There are world-famous shrines to Futurist architecture, a celebration of electricity, tributes to individuals and regions of the former Soviet Union. Each marble slab, mosaic tile, or light fixture was placed with intent, all in service to a station’s aesthetic; each element, f rom the smallest brass ear of corn to a large blood-spattered sword on a World War II mural, is an essential part of the whole.

The Metro is a monument to the Soviet propaganda project it was intended to be when it opened in 1935 with the slogan “Building a Palace for the People”. It brought the grand interiors of Imperial Russia to ordinary Muscovites, celebrated the Soviet Union’s past achievements while promising its citizens a bright Soviet future, and of course, it was a show-piece for the world to witness the might and sophistication of life in the Soviet Union.

It may be a museum, but it’s no relic. U p to nine million people use it daily, more than the London Underground and New York Subway combined. (Along with, at one time, about 20 stray dogs that learned to commute on the Metro.)

In its 80+ year history, the Metro has expanded in phases and fits and starts, in step with the fortunes of Moscow and Russia. Now, partly in preparation for the World Cup 2018, it’s also modernizing. New trains allow passengers to walk the entire length of the train without having to change carriages. The system is becoming more visitor-friendly. (There are helpful stickers on the floor marking out the best selfie spots .) But there’s a price to modernity: it’s phasing out one of its beloved institutions, the escalator attendants. Often they are middle-aged or elderly women—“ escalator grandmas ” in news accounts—who have held the post for decades, sitting in their tiny kiosks, scolding commuters for bad escalator etiquette or even bad posture, or telling jokes . They are slated to be replaced, when at all, by members of the escalator maintenance staff.

For all its achievements, the Metro lags behind Moscow’s above-ground growth, as Russia’s capital sprawls ever outwards, generating some of the world’s worst traffic jams . But since 2011, the Metro has been in the middle of an ambitious and long-overdue enlargement; 60 new stations are opening by 2020. If all goes to plan, the 2011-2020 period will have brought 125 miles of new tracks and over 100 new stations — a 40 percent increase — the fastest and largest expansion phase in any period in the Metro’s history.

Facts: 14 lines Opening hours: 5 a.m-1 a.m. Rush hour(s): 8-10 a.m, 4-8 p.m. Single ride: 55₽ (about 85 cents) Wi-Fi network-wide

Buying Tickets

• Ticket machines have a button to switch to English.
• You can buy specific numbers of rides: 1, 2, 5, 11, 20, or 60. Hold up fingers to show how many rides you want to buy.
• There is also a 90-minute ticket , which gets you 1 trip on the metro plus an unlimited number of transfers on other transport (bus, tram, etc) within 90 minutes.
• Or, you can buy day tickets with unlimited rides: one day (218₽/ US$4), three days (415₽/US$7) or seven days (830₽/US$15). Check the rates here to stay up-to-date.
• If you’re going to be using the Metro regularly over a few days, it’s worth getting a Troika card , a contactless, refillable card you can use on all public transport. Using the Metro is cheaper with one of these: a single ride is 36₽, not 55₽. Buy them and refill them in the Metro stations, and they’re valid for 5 years, so you can keep it for next time. Or, if you have a lot of cash left on it when you leave, you can get it refunded at the Metro Service Centers at Ulitsa 1905 Goda, 25 or at Staraya Basmannaya 20, Building 1.
• You can also buy silicone bracelets and keychains with built-in transport chips that you can use as a Troika card. (A Moscow Metro Fitbit!) So far, you can only get these at the Pushkinskaya metro station Live Helpdesk and souvenir shops in the Mayakovskaya and Trubnaya metro stations. The fare is the same as for the Troika card.
• You can also use Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Rules, spoken and unspoken

No smoking, no drinking, no filming, no littering. Photography is allowed, although it used to be banned.

Stand to the right on the escalator. Break this rule and you risk the wrath of the legendary escalator attendants. (No shenanigans on the escalators in general.)

Get out of the way. Find an empty corner to hide in when you get off a train and need to stare at your phone. Watch out getting out of the train in general; when your train doors open, people tend to appear from nowhere or from behind ornate marble columns, walking full-speed.

Always offer your seat to elderly ladies (what are you, a monster?).

An Easy Tour

This is no Metro Marathon ( 199 stations in 20 hours ). It’s an easy tour, taking in most—though not all—of the notable stations, the bulk of it going clockwise along the Circle line, with a couple of short detours. These stations are within minutes of one another, and the whole tour should take about 1-2 hours.

Start at Mayakovskaya Metro station , at the corner of Tverskaya and Garden Ring,  Triumfalnaya Square, Moskva, Russia, 125047.

1. Mayakovskaya.  Named for Russian Futurist Movement poet Vladimir Mayakovsky and an attempt to bring to life the future he imagined in his poems. (The Futurist Movement, natch, was all about a rejecting the past and celebrating all things speed, industry, modern machines, youth, modernity.) The result: an Art Deco masterpiece that won the National Grand Prix for architecture at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. It’s all smooth, rounded shine and light, and gentle arches supported by columns of dark pink marble and stainless aircraft steel. Each of its 34 ceiling niches has a mosaic. During World War II, the station was used as an air-raid shelter and, at one point, a bunker for Stalin. He gave a subdued but rousing speech here in Nov. 6, 1941 as the Nazis bombed the city above.

Take the 3/Green line one station to:

2. Belorusskaya. Opened in 1952, named after the connected Belarussky Rail Terminal, which runs trains between Moscow and Belarus. This is a light marble affair with a white, cake-like ceiling, lined with Belorussian patterns and 12 Florentine ceiling mosaics depicting life in Belarussia when it was built.

Transfer onto the 1/Brown line. Then, one stop (clockwise) t o:

3. Novoslobodskaya.  This station was designed around the stained-glass panels, which were made in Latvia, because Alexey Dushkin, the Soviet starchitect who dreamed it up (and also designed Mayakovskaya station) couldn’t find the glass and craft locally. The stained glass is the same used for Riga’s Cathedral, and the panels feature plants, flowers, members of the Soviet intelligentsia (musician, artist, architect) and geometric shapes.

Go two stops east on the 1/Circle line to:

4. Komsomolskaya. Named after the Komsomol, or the Young Communist League, this might just be peak Stalin Metro style. Underneath the hub for three regional railways, it was intended to be a grand gateway to Moscow and is today its busiest station. It has chandeliers; a yellow ceiling with Baroque embellishments; and in the main hall, a colossal red star overlaid on golden, shimmering tiles. Designer Alexey Shchusev designed it as an homage to the speech Stalin gave at Red Square on Nov. 7, 1941, in which he invoked Russia’s illustrious military leaders as a pep talk to Soviet soldiers through the first catastrophic year of the war.   The station’s eight large mosaics are of the leaders referenced in the speech, such as Alexander Nevsky, a 13th-century prince and military commander who bested German and Swedish invading armies.

One more stop clockwise to Kurskaya station,  and change onto the 3/Blue  line, and go one stop to:

5. Baumanskaya.   Opened in 1944. Named for the Bolshevik Revolutionary Nikolai Bauman , whose monument and namesake district are aboveground here. Though he seemed like a nasty piece of work (he apparently once publicly mocked a woman he had impregnated, who later hung herself), he became a Revolutionary martyr when he was killed in 1905 in a skirmish with a monarchist, who hit him on the head with part of a steel pipe. The station is in Art Deco style with atmospherically dim lighting, and a series of bronze sculptures of soldiers and homefront heroes during the War. At one end, there is a large mosaic portrait of Lenin.

Stay on that train direction one more east to:

6. Elektrozavodskaya. As you may have guessed from the name, this station is the Metro’s tribute to all thing electrical, built in 1944 and named after a nearby lightbulb factory. It has marble bas-relief sculptures of important figures in electrical engineering, and others illustrating the Soviet Union’s war-time struggles at home. The ceiling’s recurring rows of circular lamps give the station’s main tunnel a comforting glow, and a pleasing visual effect.

Double back two stops to Kurskaya station , and change back to the 1/Circle line. Sit tight for six stations to:

7. Kiyevskaya. This was the last station on the Circle line to be built, in 1954, completed under Nikita Khrushchev’ s guidance, as a tribute to his homeland, Ukraine. Its three large station halls feature images celebrating Ukraine’s contributions to the Soviet Union and Russo-Ukrainian unity, depicting musicians, textile-working, soldiers, farmers. (One hall has frescoes, one mosaics, and the third murals.) Shortly after it was completed, Khrushchev condemned the architectural excesses and unnecessary luxury of the Stalin era, which ushered in an epoch of more austere Metro stations. According to the legend at least, he timed the policy in part to ensure no Metro station built after could outshine Kiyevskaya.

Change to the 3/Blue line and go one stop west.

8. Park Pobedy. This is the deepest station on the Metro, with one of the world’s longest escalators, at 413 feet. If you stand still, the escalator ride to the surface takes about three minutes .) Opened in 2003 at Victory Park, the station celebrates two of Russia’s great military victories. Each end has a mural by Georgian artist Zurab Tsereteli, who also designed the “ Good Defeats Evil ” statue at the UN headquarters in New York. One mural depicts the Russian generals’ victory over the French in 1812 and the other, the German surrender of 1945. The latter is particularly striking; equal parts dramatic, triumphant, and gruesome. To the side, Red Army soldiers trample Nazi flags, and if you look closely there’s some blood spatter among the detail. Still, the biggest impressions here are the marble shine of the chessboard floor pattern and the pleasingly geometric effect if you view from one end to the other.

Keep going one more stop west to:

9. Slavyansky Bulvar.  One of the Metro’s youngest stations, it opened in 2008. With far higher ceilings than many other stations—which tend to have covered central tunnels on the platforms—it has an “open-air” feel (or as close to it as you can get, one hundred feet under). It’s an homage to French architect Hector Guimard, he of the Art Nouveau entrances for the Paris M é tro, and that’s precisely what this looks like: A Moscow homage to the Paris M é tro, with an additional forest theme. A Cyrillic twist on Guimard’s Metro-style lettering over the benches, furnished with t rees and branch motifs, including creeping vines as towering lamp-posts.

Stay on the 3/Blue line and double back four stations to:

10. Arbatskaya. Its first iteration, Arbatskaya-Smolenskaya station, was damaged by German bombs in 1941. It was rebuilt in 1953, and designed to double as a bomb shelter in the event of nuclear war, although unusually for stations built in the post-war phase, this one doesn’t have a war theme. It may also be one of the system’s most elegant: Baroque, but toned down a little, with red marble floors and white ceilings with gilded bronze c handeliers.

Jump back on the 3/Blue line  in the same direction and take it one more stop:

11. Ploshchad Revolyutsii (Revolution Square). Opened in 1938, and serving Red Square and the Kremlin . Its renowned central hall has marble columns flanked by 76 bronze statues of Soviet heroes: soldiers, students, farmers, athletes, writers, parents. Some of these statues’ appendages have a yellow sheen from decades of Moscow’s commuters rubbing them for good luck. Among the most popular for a superstitious walk-by rub: the snout of a frontier guard’s dog, a soldier’s gun (where the touch of millions of human hands have tapered the gun barrel into a fine, pointy blade), a baby’s foot, and a woman’s knee. (A brass rooster also sports the telltale gold sheen, though I am told that rubbing the rooster is thought to bring bad luck. )

Now take the escalator up, and get some fresh air.

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• Take in the highlights of St Petersburg including a guided tour of the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Cathedral
• Take a guided tour of the remarkable Hermitage Museum at the Winter Palace

All Moscow , expedition cruises, self guided adventures and vacation packages. Find the best guided and expert planned vacation and holiday packages. Read more about Moscow

Small Group Moscow Tours

Vodka Shot - 6 days

• Explore the beautiful city of St Petersburg, including the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Nevsky Prospekt
• Marvel at the dazzling array of art and exhibits in the world-famous Hermitage Museum, at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg
• Discover a lavish residence of the tsars on a day trip to Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo (winter: mid-October to April) or Peterhof Palace and gardens (summer: May to mid-October)
• Take in the highlights of the capital on a walking tour, visiting Moscow's famous Red Square, home to the historic GUM Department Store, Lenin’s Mausoleum and spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral
• Take a guided tour of the Moscow Kremlin, Russia’s political power house. Stroll around the grounds of this fortified complex, visit the Kremlin's cathedrals and see the mighty Tsar Bell

Route of the Romanovs - 10 days

• Learn about the last days of the Romanovs in Yekaterinburg, visiting the sites where Tsar Nicolas II and his family were assassinated and buried
• Straddle two continents at the famous obelisk Europe/Asia border marker in Yekaterinburg
• Experience the Trans-Siberian railway on an overnight train journey from Moscow to Yekaterinburg

New Year's in Moscow - 9 days

• Visit Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo on Christmas Day and marvel at the incredible Amber Room
• Spend a night in Novgorod, an ancient city by the Volkhov River - explore the kremlin, cathedral and other sights and enjoy a traditional Russian banya (sauna)

Back in the USSR - 7 days

Russian Revolution - 9 days

• Visit historic Novgorod, an ancient city which straddles the Volkhov River. Explore the attractive riverside kremlin and experience a traditional Russian banya (sauna)

The Snowball - 6 days

• Visit Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo and marvel at the incredible Amber Room

Mood for Moscow - 4 days

• Head underground to visit a Stalinist-era Soviet Bunker on an optional excursion
• Stroll to the vibrant Izmailovo Market, which lies behind the walls of an ancient Kremlin, and shop for an array of souvenirs

Best Moscow Tours by Duration

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Moscow Tours & Travel Guide

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Moscow reviews & ratings, capitals of the north.

some hotels could have been better

It was jam packed with every place I wanted to go and see. I especially love my photo of us setting out on the night time river cruise in St Petersburg and the Peter...

I really did not buy much and what I did buy was small gifts for others .

Johanna-Marie

Good hotels, some better than others. Interesting itinerary

Too rushed. Optional tour rather too short

See all Moscow reviews

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The Comprehensive Guide to Moscow Nightlife

• Posted on April 14, 2018 July 26, 2018
• by Kings of Russia
• 8 minute read

Moscow’s nightlife scene is thriving, and arguably one of the best the world has to offer – top-notch Russian women, coupled with a never-ending list of venues, Moscow has a little bit of something for everyone’s taste. Moscow nightlife is not for the faint of heart – and if you’re coming, you better be ready to go Friday and Saturday night into the early morning.

This comprehensive guide to Moscow nightlife will run you through the nuts and bolts of all you need to know about Moscow’s nightclubs and give you a solid blueprint to operate with during your time in Moscow.

What you need to know before hitting Moscow nightclubs

Prices in moscow nightlife.

Before you head out and start gaming all the sexy Moscow girls , we have to talk money first. Bring plenty because in Moscow you can never bring a big enough bankroll. Remember, you’re the man so making a fuzz of not paying a drink here or there will not go down well.

Luckily most Moscow clubs don’t do cover fees. Some electro clubs will charge 15-20$, depending on their lineup. There’s the odd club with a minimum spend of 20-30$, which you’ll drop on drinks easily. By and large, you can scope out the venues for free, which is a big plus.

Bottle service is a great deal in Moscow. At top-tier clubs, it starts at 1,000$. That’ll go a long way with premium vodka at 250$, especially if you have three or four guys chipping in. Not to mention that it’s a massive status boost for getting girls, especially at high-end clubs.

Without bottle service, you should estimate a budget of 100-150$ per night. That is if you drink a lot and hit the top clubs with the hottest girls. Scale down for less alcohol and more basic places.

Dress code & Face control

Door policy in Moscow is called “face control” and it’s always the guy behind the two gorillas that gives the green light if you’re in or out.

In Moscow nightlife there’s only one rule when it comes to dress codes:

You can never be underdressed.

People dress A LOT sharper than, say, in the US and that goes for both sexes. For high-end clubs, you definitely want to roll with a sharp blazer and a pocket square, not to mention dress shoes in tip-top condition. Those are the minimum requirements to level the playing field vis a vis with other sharply dressed guys that have a lot more money than you do. Unless you plan to hit explicit electro or underground clubs, which have their own dress code, you are always on the money with that style.

Getting in a Moscow club isn’t as hard as it seems: dress sharp, speak English at the door and look like you’re in the mood to spend all that money that you supposedly have (even if you don’t). That will open almost any door in Moscow’s nightlife for you.

Types of Moscow Nightclubs

In Moscow there are four types of clubs with the accompanying female clientele:

High-end clubs:

These are often crossovers between restaurants and clubs with lots of tables and very little space to dance. Heavy accent on bottle service most of the time but you can work the room from the bar as well. The hottest and most expensive girls in Moscow go there. Bring deep pockets and lots of self-confidence and you have a shot at swooping them.

Regular Mid-level clubs:

They probably resemble more what you’re used to in a nightclub: big dancefloors, stages and more space to roam around. Bottle service will make you stand out more but you can also do well without. You can find all types of girls but most will be in the 6-8 range. Your targets should always be the girls drinking and ideally in pairs. It’s impossible not to swoop if your game is at least half-decent.

Basic clubs/dive bars:

Usually spots with very cheap booze and lax face control. If you’re dressed too sharp and speak no Russian, you might attract the wrong type of attention so be vigilant. If you know the local scene you can swoop 6s and 7s almost at will. Usually students and girls from the suburbs.

Electro/underground clubs:

Home of the hipsters and creatives. Parties there don’t mean meeting girls and getting drunk but doing pills and spacing out to the music. Lots of attractive hipster girls if that is your niche. That is its own scene with a different dress code as well.

What time to go out in Moscow

Moscow nightlife starts late. Don’t show up at bars and preparty spots before 11pm because you’ll feel fairly alone. Peak time is between 1am and 3am. That is also the time of Moscow nightlife’s biggest nuisance: concerts by artists you won’t know and who only distract your girls from drinking and being gamed. From 4am to 6am the regular clubs are emptying out but plenty of people, women included, still hit up one of the many afterparty clubs. Those last till well past 10am.

As far as days go: Fridays and Saturdays are peak days. Thursday is an OK day, all other days are fairly weak and you have to know the right venues.

The Ultimate Moscow Nightclub List

Short disclaimer: I didn’t add basic and electro clubs since you’re coming for the girls, not for the music. This list will give you more options than you’ll be able to handle on a weekend.

Preparty – start here at 11PM

Classic restaurant club with lots of tables and a smallish bar and dancefloor. Come here between 11pm and 12am when the concert is over and they start with the actual party. Even early in the night tons of sexy women here, who lean slightly older (25 and up).

The second floor of the Ugolek restaurant is an extra bar with dim lights and house music tunes. Very small and cozy with a slight hipster vibe but generally draws plenty of attractive women too. A bit slower vibe than Valenok.

Very cool, spread-out venue that has a modern library theme. Not always full with people but when it is, it’s brimming with top-tier women. Slow vibe here and better for grabbing contacts and moving on.

High-end: err on the side of being too early rather than too late because of face control.

Secret Room

Probably the top venue at the moment in Moscow . Very small but wildly popular club, which is crammed with tables but always packed. They do parties on Thursdays and Sundays as well. This club has a hip-hop/high-end theme, meaning most girls are gold diggers, IG models, and tattooed hip hop chicks. Very unfavorable logistics because there is almost no room no move inside the club but the party vibe makes it worth it. Strict face control.

Close to Secret Room and with a much more favorable and spacious three-part layout. This place attracts very hot women but also lots of ball busters and fakes that will leave you blue-balled. Come early because after 4am it starts getting empty fast. Electronic music.

A slightly kitsch restaurant club that plays Russian pop and is full of gold diggers, semi-pros, and men from the Caucasus republics. Thursday is the strongest night but that dynamic might be changing since Secret Room opened its doors. You can swoop here but it will be a struggle.

Mid-level: your sweet spot in terms of ease and attractiveness of girls for an average budget.

Started going downwards in 2018 due to lax face control and this might get even worse with the World Cup. In terms of layout one of the best Moscow nightclubs because it’s very big and bottle service gives you a good edge here. Still attracts lots of cute girls with loose morals but plenty of provincial girls (and guys) as well. Swooping is fairly easy here.

I haven’t been at this place in over a year, ever since it started becoming ground zero for drunken teenagers. Similar clientele to Icon but less chic, younger and drunker. Decent mainstream music that attracts plenty of tourists. Girls are easy here as well.

Sort of a Coyote Ugly (the real one in Moscow sucks) with party music and lots of drunken people licking each others’ faces. Very entertaining with the right amount of alcohol and very easy to pull in there. Don’t think about staying sober in here, you’ll hate it.

Artel Bessonitsa/Shakti Terrace

Electronic music club that is sort of a high-end place with an underground clientele and located between the teenager clubs Icon and Gipsy. Very good music but a bit all over the place with their vibe and their branding. You can swoop almost any type of girl here from high-heeled beauty to coked-up hipsters, provided they’re not too sober.

Afterparty: if by 5AM  you haven’t pulled, it’s time to move here.

Best afterparty spot in terms of trying to get girls. Pretty much no one is sober in there and savage gorilla game goes a long way. Lots of very hot and slutty-looking girls but it can be hard to tell apart who is looking for dick and who is just on drugs but not interested. If by 9-10am you haven’t pulled, it is probably better to surrender.

The hipster alternative for afterparties, where even more drugs are in play. Plenty of attractive girls there but you have to know how to work this type of club. A nicer atmosphere and better music but if you’re desperate to pull, you’ll probably go to Miks.

Weekday jokers: if you’re on the hunt for some sexy Russian girls during the week, here are two tips to make your life easier.

Chesterfield

Ladies night on Wednesdays means this place gets pretty packed with smashed teenagers and 6s and 7s. Don’t pull out the three-piece suit in here because it’s a “simpler” crowd. Definitely your best shot on Wednesdays.

If you haven’t pulled at Chesterfield, you can throw a Hail Mary and hit up Garage’s Black Music Wednesdays. Fills up really late but there are some cute Black Music groupies in here. Very small club. Thursday through Saturday they do afterparties and you have an excellent shot and swooping girls that are probably high.

Shishas Sferum

This is pretty much your only shot on Mondays and Tuesdays because they offer free or almost free drinks for women. A fairly low-class club where you should watch your drinks. As always the case in Moscow, there will be cute girls here on any day of the week but it’s nowhere near as good as on the weekend.

In a nutshell, that is all you need to know about where to meet Moscow girls in nightlife. There are tons of options, and it all depends on what best fits your style, based on the type of girls that you’re looking for.

Related Topics

• moscow girls
• moscow nightlife

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