Edinburgh

Getting There By Air:

Edinburgh International Airport (EDI)

Scotland’s, and one of Europe’s, fastest growing airports is located 12km (8 miles) west of Edinburgh. A new multi-story car park and control tower were completed in 2005 with plans mooted for a second runway and massive expansion program to cater for spiralling demand. Edinburgh International Airport serves over eight million passengers and over 60 destinations worldwide. There are more than 30 flights to London’s five airports every day, with regular flights to other major cities in the UK and overseas. Since summer 2004, direct transatlantic links have been available from Edinburgh.

Transport to the city: Lothian Buses run an airport shuttle service from the terminal forecourt to the city center terminus at Waverley Bridge (situated above Waverley railway station) via Haymarket station (journey time – 25 minutes). These buses operate every 8 to 10 minutes, 0650-0020 Monday to Saturday (then less frequently 0020-0650), 0925-0020 Sunday (then less frequently during the night). A single fare costs £3. Taxis are available from the taxi rank to the east of the terminal. A trip to the city center (journey time – 20 minutes) costs approximately £20. Access to the city by car is along the A8.

Getting There By Road:

British road designations are ‘M’ for motorways, ‘A’ for major trunk roads and ‘B’ for minor trunk roads (followed by up to four numbers). Traffic in the UK drives on the left and overtakes on the right. The speed limits are 113kph (70mph) on motorways, 97kph (60mph) on single-lane main roads and 48kph (30mph) in built-up areas. Seatbelts are compulsory for drivers and front-seat passengers and for rear-seat passengers if fitted. Motorcyclists must wear helmets. The maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.08%. Non-British national driving licenses and International Driving Permits are valid for driving in Britain for up to one year and drivers must be over 18 years. Insurance is mandatory. Overseas visitors bringing their own cars should bring registration documents and check with their insurance company as to whether a Green Card is needed.

Routes to the city: Edinburgh is linked to Glasgow by the M8 motorway and from there to England and Wales by the M74 and on to the A74 and M6 further to the south (toward Manchester). Edinburgh is also directly linked to London by the A1.

Approximate driving times to Edinburgh: From Glasgow – 1 hour; Manchester – 4 hours and 15 minutes; London – 7 hours and 30 minutes.

Coach services: National Express operates regular daily coach services from both London and Manchester to Edinburgh.

Getting There By Rail:

While long distance services are fairly reliable (especially the award winning GNER service to London, Aberdeen and Inverness), domestic First Scotrail routes are often dogged by delays and cancellations, especially on the ‘flagship’ Edinburgh-Glasgow route. The major rail service provider for routes to and from England is Great North East Railway (GNER), while First Scotrail operates all services within Scotland, as well as a London-Edinburgh overnight sleeper link.

Edinburgh has two main train stations – Waverley station (located right in the heart of the city, at the East End of Princes Street) and Haymarket station (at the junction of Dalry Road and Haymarket, in the West End). Facilities at Waverley include a food mall, a newsagent and a pub. There are also small stations at Newcraighall, South Gyle and at the new Edinburgh Park.

Transport to the city: Both Waverley station and Haymarket station are within walking distance of the Old Town and the New Town. The stations are also served by numerous bus routes and taxis.

Getting Around:

Public Transport
Traveline provides information on all bus, coach and train routes within the Lothians. The office is open from Monday to Friday 0830-1700 (telephone lines operate until 2000). There is no light rail or tram system within the city and Edinburgh commuters rely on the frequent bus services, though plans for a tram system are currently under consideration.

Taxis
Edinburgh’s taxis are mainly black hackney cabs and can be safely hailed in the street. All are licensed and have meters fitted. Some form of driver ID should be prominently displayed.

Driving in the City
Driving around congested Edinburgh is increasingly more hassle than it is worth, so the general advice to visitors is to walk, cycle or use public transport. Visitors who do bring a car should be aware that parking is particularly problematic. Metered parking (in force Monday to Saturday 0830-1830) is restricted in the city and a resident’s parking permit is required in many areas. In central locations, such as George Street, parking can cost up to 55p for 15 minutes. Failure to comply with parking regulations can result in a costly fine and the offending vehicle being towed away. The easiest option is for drivers to use one of the NCP car parks, such as at the St James Center or Castle Terrace.