Edinburgh Airport is a 20 – 40 minute taxi journey from the City Centre, depending on rush hour traffic. The cost will be approximately £20. Alternatively, there is a regular coach service from the airport to the city centre (Waverley Station). The cost for a single journey is £3.50 and a return journey is £6.
There is also a shuttle bus service between Edinburgh airport and the city centre.
Glasgow International Airport is approximately one hour and thirty minutes drive from Edinburgh. A taxi can be expensive (approximately £70) and we would recommend taking a taxi from the airport to Glasgow Queen Street Railway Station, where there is a regular train service to Edinburgh Waverley Station. The journey time is approximately 45 minutes and trains depart every 15 minutes, depending on the time of day. Approximately £18.00 Peak Day Return and £11.00 Off Peak Return.
The mainline rail network serves the centre of Edinburgh via two railway stations. Edinburgh Waverley (main station) is situated at the east end of Princes Street, and Haymarket Station is at the west end of the city.
London (Kings Cross Station). Trains leave approximately every 30 minutes to Edinburgh Waverley Station – journey time approx four and a half hours.
Glasgow (Queen Street Station). Trains run regularly every 30 minutes; journey time, just over one hour , to either Edinburgh (Haymarket) or Edinburgh (Waverley)
Taxis can be booked by calling any of the above numbers, these companies are two of the largest fleets in Edinburgh.
All national coach services to Edinburgh arrive close to St Andrew’s Square situated at the east end of Princes Street.
For information on local bus routes and times, call Traveline for local travel information for bus and rail services to Edinburgh and surrounding areas. Public transport throughout Edinburgh is of a high quality and inexpensive to use. There are frequent bus services with local bus companies, however tickets are not interchangeable. Tickets for single journeys and day tickets can be purchased on the bus. Exact fare is normally required. Bus schedules are subject to change and enquiries should be made to Lothian Region Transport prior to your journey.
Make the most of your visit to Edinburgh with some unmissable city highlights:
1. Edinburgh Castle - The castle dominates Edinburgh wherever you are in the City and every visitor should visit the Castle, not only because of the historical interest of this remarkable fortress and former royal residence, but because it offers such splendid panoramic views of the city. Edinburgh Castle is also the home of the One O’Clock Gun. This is fired every day except Sunday at precisely 1.00p.m. to provide everyone with an accurate check for their clocks and watches. It will certainly startle you if you are anywhere near the Castle at the moment!
2. Architecture - The UNESCO World Heritage Site at the heart of the city combines the medieval Old Town, the Georgian New Town and award winning modern architecture. A stroll through the city's streets show Edinburgh's timeless elegance, steeped in fascinating history. From the dominating castle at the heart of the city to the new Scottish Parliament building, inspiration, creativity and vibrancy are in the air everywhere in Edinburgh.
3. Whisky - The Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre is located in the Royal Mile in the centre of Edinburgh. The centre organizes a tour through the different processes that make Scotch Whisky unique. Not to be confused with “whiskey” as spelt in the United States. The centre has a large collection (around 270) of different malt and blended whiskies.
4. City Tour - Let the professionals guide you around the city, choose from an open top bus, a walking or cycling tour or an atmospheric ghost tour of the Old Town. All city bus tours leave from Waverley Bridge and you can buy a hop-on, hop-off ticket which will last you 24 hours. Ghost tours are generally concentrated around the Old Town. Tickets can be bought directly or at the Tourist Information Centre on top of Waverley Mall, at 3 Princes Street.
5. Museums & Galleries - Edinburgh's world-ranking museums and galleries tell the story of a fascinating past mixed with contemporary exhibitions. Choose from national collections and international blockbusters to more intimate spaces and exhibits. Home to Scotland's five National Galleries and Scotland's National Museum, there's a number of events and exhibitions to choose from year round.
5 day Weather Forecast (opens in new window)
Weather in the UK does have quite a reputation, which is largely justified so, if you are not familiar with it, it is worth being prepared (for anything). Realistically, in late June a temperature of 15º Centigrade counts as cold and 30º counts as hot. You might hope for daytime temperatures in the low 20s. However, since we are not very far from the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, rain is likely, but by no means inevitable; in summer there may be thunderstorms and hail is not impossible. Sunny weather is not unheard of; it’s recently become a bit warmer, a bit drier and (perhaps) even more unpredictable.
Download a pocket city map here.
It's a great city to explore on foot. Delegates will find the city not only visually stunning but also very accessible. For longer journeys around the city, there are plentiful buses and taxis always available.
