Flying Scotsman will travel via Slough, Reading, Swindon, Bristol Parkway, Severn Tunnel, Maindee Junction where it will use the triangle track to turn the train. A diesel will then take the train through Newport to Cardiff and later return it to Maindee for the return journey with Flying Scotsman to Paddington.

The Flying Scotsman, the world's most famous steam locomotive, does not follow one fixed route today but instead operates on a rotating schedule of special commemorative tours across the United Kingdom. Historically, its primary route was the "East Coast Main Line" between London King's Cross and Edinburgh Waverley, a journey it famously completed in record-breaking time. In its modern capacity as a working museum piece owned by the National Railway Museum, it visits various heritage railways and mainline tracks. In recent years, its schedule has included scenic runs through the Settle-Carlisle line, excursions across the Forth Bridge in Scotland, and trips through the Surrey Hills or the Cotswolds. Because the locomotive requires specialized maintenance and coal stops, its routes are meticulously planned months in advance. Enthusiasts looking to see the engine in 2026 should consult the official Railway Museum website or "Steam Dreams" tour operators, as the exact tracks it traverses change depending on the specific rail tour being conducted, often departing from major hubs like London, York, or Manchester.