General transport information
Visit Scotland has a full range of information regarding travel to Scotland and Edinburgh. Please click here for more information. http://www.visitscotland.com/travel/to-scotland/edinburgh-lothians
Getting to Edinburgh by air
Edinburgh Airport is one of Scotland’s busiest airports, with over 25 airlines offering direct and connecting flights to and from more than 100 UK, European and international destinations. It has frequent flights from London airports and with Schiphol in the Netherlands.
The airport is located 8 miles (12 km) west of the capital and there are a range of transport options for travelling to and from the city centre.
Getting to Edinburgh by train
There is a good train service between London and Edinburgh. For more information visit East Coast Trains.
From the Airport to town by bus
There is the Airlink 100 express bus service which operates a 24-hour shuttle service between Edinburgh Airport and Waverley Bridge (near Princes Street and the main rail and bus stations), with designated stops en route. The service is frequent – every 10 minutes at peak times – with a journey time of about 25 minutes.
From the Airport to town by tram
Edinburgh trams are the latest addition to Edinburgh’s existing range of first-class public transport. The high-quality and efficient tram network now runs between Edinburgh Airport and the city centre with 15 stops along the route, including Princes Street and Haymarket Station.
Single or return tickets can be purchased for journeys to or from Edinburgh airport. Tickets can be purchased from vending machines at every tram stop. You can pay using your debit or credit card as well as coins, but please note that no change is given.
Find more information about trams, including pricing and timetables, with our guide to travel around Edinburgh.
From the Airport to town by taxi
Taxis at Edinburgh airport include official airport taxis, pre-booked private hire taxis and city black cabs are all available, each with separate ranks. Many taxis are wheelchair-accessible and the journey time is around 25 minutes, although this may be longer during rush hours. Please make sure you ask the taxi to take you to the staff entrance at 20a Inverleith Row!
Car hire and driving
For driving from Edinburgh airport vehicles can be hired from all major companies at the airport’s car rental facility close to the main terminal building. For satellite navigation systems, the postcode to use for the airport is EH12 9DN. Please note that parking in the area is expensive and you will have to pay by hour.
From Central Edinburgh to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
From the town centre there are three buses that pass the Garden. These are the numbers 8, 23 and 27. These run about every 10 minutes. A single journey is £1.60 and a day ticked (unlimited travel) £4.00. You will have to have the exact change as no change is given on the bus. Ask the driver to let you off at the stop AFTER the Botanic Garden. This stop is at the entrance to the science buildings where the symposium will take place (see pic below).
If you are taking the tram from the airport get off at the terminus (York Place), cross the road (to the side the tram is on) and walk about 100m down Broughton Street. From here you can get the number 8 bus to the garden (about a 10 minute journey).
The 23 and 27 buses can be found on Hanover street just off Princess street and on Dundas street.
Black taxi cabs can be hailed by the roadside.