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Edinburgh bus on North Bridge Courtesy of Edinburgh Inspiring Capital www.edinburgh-inspiringcapital.com |
Travel in and around Edinburgh
Edinburgh city centre is fairly compact. Many visitor attractions are within easy walking distance of each other. You can also choose to use the local buses, special tour buses, and some time perhaps in the not too distant future you could even take a tram.
"Black Cabs" can be found at numerous taxi ranks or can be readily hailed in the city-centre streets. Always make sure that the taxi is licensed to operate in Edinburgh before getting in (look for "Edinburgh No. xxxx" on the passenger door) and ask about the fare before travelling.
Driving your own car through the city centre at major festival times is not particularly recommended. Parking can sometimes be almost impossible. There are many resident-only parking spaces (don't use them unless you're a resident!). The largest off-street car parks are at Greenside Place, Castle Terrace, and Morrison Street.
The bus station on St Andrew Square is the main terminus for all coach services and some bus services. Lothian Buses operate the majority of buses in the city. You can buy tickets from the driver (exact change needed) or purchase saver tickets from Lothian Buses Travelshops. Lothian Buses also operate park and ride schemes where you can leave your car on the outskirts of Edinburgh and take the bus into the city.
For environmentally friendly cycle-based transport you can hire a bike, or alternatively ride in a rickshaw.
For Scottish road traffic news, visit Traffic Scotland.
Edinburgh Car Hire
Car hire is a great option if you need flexibility, or want to transport children, pushchairs, golf clubs, etc. We recommend Dealchecker for car hire in Edinburgh, where you can compare prices from a range of Edinburgh hire car providers.
There are many attractions within a very short drive from Edinburgh, such as Deep Sea World, Go Ape, Falkirk Wheel, and Edinburgh International Climbing Arena. Edinburgh has good road links to Glasgow in the west, Fife and the Scottish Highlands in the north, the famous golf courses around Gullane and the coastal towns of North Berwick and Dunbar to the East, and the ancient towns and abbeys in the Scottish borders to the south. Check out our Attractions & Activities page for places to visit.
Edinburgh Bus Services
| Edinburgh Airport Link |
| Edinburgh Bus Tracker |
| First Group |
| Lothian Buses |
| Lothian Night Buses |
| National Express |
| Scottish Citylink |
Edinburgh Taxi Services
| City Cabs | 0131 228 1211 |
| Central Taxis | 0131 229 2468 |
| ComCab | 0131 272 8000 |
Train Tickets
London to Edinburgh Rail Trips
1-Day Rail Trip to Edinburgh from London: Tour Edinburgh your own way on an independent day trip from London. Everything is arranged for you: return rail tickets, Hop-on Hop-off City Tour, entry to Edinburgh Castle, and an Edinburgh city map and guide. The rest is up to you! Tickets
3-Day Rail Trip to Edinburgh, Loch Ness & The Highlands from London: All aboard the Edinburgh Express on a three-day tour from London! You'll tour Edinburgh at your own pace on this partially guided rail tour, and take a drive north to Loch Ness and the Highlands. Includes B&B accommodation. Tickets
