This section covers arrival in Edinburgh, getting around the city, and finding your way between and within workshop venue buildings
Arriving in Edinburgh
Arriving by aeroplane
Airport express buses travel to and from the city centre (click here for a route map). Buses leave every 10 minutes; journey time is approximately 30 minutes, and a return ticket costs around £7
There is a tram link direct from the airport to the city centre (click here for the tram route map). Trams leave every 8-12 minutes; journey time is approximately 35 minutes, and a return ticket costs £8
Taxis are also available from the airport. The journey can be booked in advance online or taxis can simply taken from a taxi rank queue at the airport. The journey takes around 25 minutes from the airport to city centre and normally costs around £20 (click here to pre-book a taxi)
Read a summary on getting from Edinburgh airport to the city centre and Workshop venues
Arriving by train or bus
There are reliable bus and rail links from all parts of the UK and also Eurostar.
The principal train station is named Edinburgh Waverley station. It is centrally located in the city, adjacent to Princes Street and about 20 minutes’ walk from the Workshop venues.
Edinburgh Bus Station is centrally located, about 5 minutes’ walk to the north of Princes Street – so about 30 minutes’ walk from the Workshop venues.
Arriving by car
Edinburgh is easily accessed by road from UK destinations, but it is a busy city and can be confusing to navigate and parking in the city centre requires payment, so we recommend public transport. However, if you are driving to Edinburgh read our guide to getting to Edinburgh by car.
Getting around Edinburgh
Walking in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a perfect city for visitors to explore on foot. It is very likely that you will be able to walk easily between your hotel and the Workshop venues. Here is a map with walking routes to help you see the sights, if you wish to.
Using buses and trams in Edinburgh
Buses go to all parts of the city, and are regular and frequent. Trams are relatively new to the city, and operate along a small number of routes. There are a few different bus companies operating in Edinburgh – please be aware that tickets are not transferable between companies.
Lothian Buses are the most likely buses you might use. A single ticket usually costs £1.50. You need to buy a new ticket for each bus you use on a journey unless you buy a ‘day-ticket’ for unlimited travel in one day (£4.00). You can buy your bus ticket from the driver as you get onto the bus – it is required to pay the exact amount, and bus drivers cannot give change.
There is a smartphone app for ‘m-tickets’ but bear in mind that the minimum payment via the app is £10. ‘Ridacards’ are available from Lothian Buses for weekly or a monthly periods, but unless you plan to use the buses a great deal, these are not cost effective for a short visit to Edinburgh.
- Watch a video on using Edinburgh trams and buses here
- Plan your journey using this online timetable and journey planner
- Download a smartphone app for planning journeys with Lothian buses and trams
Using taxis in Edinburgh
There are several reliable taxi companies in Edinburgh. Taxis have an amber light on the top – when the light is on, this indicates they are available for hire. Taxis can be picked up at a taxi rank or waved down from the pavement. Taxis in Edinburgh have fixed tariffs: it is not necessary to negotiate the fee before embarking if your journey is within the city of Edinburgh.
Getting around the Workshop venues
The workshop events are spread around a small number buildings very close to one another (click image to enlarge).
- Floor plans of Workshop venues (click on room labels to see details of room)
- For more maps, see University of Edinburgh campus maps (page 3 covers the Workshop venues)
