The Caledonian Sleeper is an overnight train that runs between England and Scotland.
There’s something to be said about going to sleep in one city and waking up in a new city with your canine companion next to you.
I experienced the Caledonian Sleeper for the first time with my two Alaskan Klee Kai.
We travelled from London Euston to Edinburgh for a little getaway in mid-November.
If you’re thinking about booking a weekend break to explore a new city with your adventurous dogs, you may want to consider the Caledonian Sleeper as your mode of transport.
In this review, we’ll take a look at the Caledonian Sleeper, whether it’s dog friendly and our review of the service.
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What is the Caledonian Sleeper?
The Caledonian Sleeper is an overnight train that runs multiple times a day between England and Scotland.
If you’re leaving from London Euston, you can travel to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Fort William.
They have a variety of ticket options, including club double and club twin rooms. So you can go to sleep and wake up refreshed, ready to start your day.
Travelling by train removes the hassle of heading to the airport and dealing with check-in and security. You won’t have to wake up bleary-eyed to catch a red-eye flight.
Is the Caledonian Sleep dog friendly?
For dog owners like me, you may be thinking that all sounds great but is the Caledonian Sleeper dog friendly?
This overnight train service does allow for canine companions to join you onboard. Their website writes:
A family getaway can often feel like someone is missing if your furry friend is left behind. We love welcoming your pets on board, meaning you can bring the whole family along while you travel.
You’re allowed to bring up to two pets on the train free of charge. However, pet owners will have to pay a £30 cleaning fee. They explain that the fee is to cover a deep clean of the room after you and your furry pooch have checked out.
There are a couple of other things to consider. You’ll have to book a room as pets aren’t allowed in their Seated Carriage or their Club Lounge. The Caledonian Sleeper ask that you don’t walk your pets along the carriage and they sleep on the floor rather than on your bed.
Our verdict
Alaskan Klee Kai Skye next to the Caledonian Sleeper (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
My wife and I arrived at Euston Station on a Friday night for a weekend break in Edinburgh.
Caledonian Sleeper allow passengers to check in between 45 minutes and 80 minutes ahead of departure. This proved to be very helpful to get our dogs settled before the train departed.
We were checked in on the platform and taken to our twin room. It was compact but had the necessary space to fit two humans, two dogs and two rucksacks.
The beds were immaculately presented with a little welcome package to provide travellers with the necessary information. We were provided with water, earbuds and an eye mask.
The room had bunk beds, a sink with a table that can be stowed away. We had an ensuite that had a shower and a toilet, making using every inch of space.
The beds were extremely comfortable with ample plugs to charge electronics and various light controls around both beds so each passenger could tailor the light to their needs.
Our oldest dog was happy to sleep on the floor in front of the bunk beds, while our younger dog decided to sleep under the bottom bunk bed next to the luggage.
Perhaps a nice touch would have been to provide dog beds for passengers with pets to make canine travellers feel a little more at ease.
We had a smooth sleep despite travelling between countries. The beds are cosy and you can easily forget you’re not in your room at home – until you hear a passing train.
Our breakfast was included and it was the perfect amount of grub to get us geared up for our first day of exploring in Edinburgh.
Both our trips arrived ahead of schedule.
Staff were friendly and welcoming of our dogs, proving that this really is a dog-friendly service.
What rooms do the Caledonian Sleeper offer?
The Caledonian Sleeper offers a variety of accommodation for customers. If you want a room with a bed and you’ve got a dog in toe, you can opt for Caledonian Double, Club Room or Classic Room.
For those who are happy with just a seat and not travelling with pets, you can book their Comfort Seats.
How much does the Caledonian Sleeper cost?
The Caledonian Sleeper offer two types of tickets: Caledonian Sleeper Fixed Advance and Caledonian Sleeper Flexible.
If you book a Classic Room with a pet, you can expect to pay £270 for a round trip. However a Caledonian Double will cost you £430.
Where can I buy tickets?
You purchase Caledonian Sleeper tickets from their website.
In conclusion
Alaskan Klee Kai Copper and Skye in Edinburgh (Photo: lifewithkleekai / Instagram)
We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend travelling on the Caledonian Sleeper with your pets.
It’s a great alternative to flying and much easier if you’re planning to bring your dogs with you for a weekend getaway.
They’re dog-friendly service will allow you to get a good night’s sleep before waking up to explore a new city with your canine companions.
