About Edinburgh
Find more about the city of Edinburgh
Accommodation
Edinburgh offers a diverse array of accommodation options, ranging from luxury, boutique hotels to bed and breakfasts or hostels. Further information can be found at the link below:
Travel
UK entry requirements
From 2nd April 2025, EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens (except Irish citizens) will require an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK. The cost of an ETA is £16 and the registration is relatively straight forward. Please ensure that you have an ETA before travelling to the UK. Information about applying for an ETA can be found here:
Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) - GOV.UK
Plane
You can fly direct to Edinburgh from over 150 destinations. Edinburgh International Airport is 6 miles out of the city centre and easily accessible by tram, bus or taxi.
Train and Tram
Edinburgh Waverley train station is in the heart of the city, less than 2 miles from John McIntyre Conference Centre. It has direct routes to and from many cities across the UK. From here there are many local buses which travel to Pollock Halls (see below).
Scotrail provide train services to/from the rest of Scotland. LNER run fast services to Newcastle, York, and London King’s Cross. For trains to other parts of the UK, check the National Rail website.
Edinburgh Tram services run from Edinburgh Airport to Newhaven, via the city centre and Leith. The closest stop to the John McIntyre Conference Centre is Picardy Place. From here a bus service 14 runs directly to Pollock Halls (see below).
- Further information about travelling by public transport
- Scotrail website
- LNER website
- National Rail website
- Edinburgh Trams website
If you prefer, it is a 32 minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley train station to the JMCC.
Bus
Edinburgh Bus station is approximately 2 miles from John McIntyre Conference Centre, or a 35/40 minute walk. It has direct services to and from many towns and cities across the UK. The local buses are run by Lothian Buses, and there are a number of routes that will drop you a short distance from the JMCC.
Pollock Halls Campus is directly served by many bus routes, calling at the Commonwealth Pool bus stop. These buses all run to the City Centre.
Lothian Buses Service 2, 30, N30, 33/ X33, 14.
Additionally, many more bus services are available from Newington Road, a 5-minute walk away.
To plan your journey, try using the Traveline Scotland journey planner.
Traveline Scotland journey planner
Taxi
Black cabs, private hire and Uber are all available in Edinburgh. A taxi from St. Andrew Square Bus Station or Princes Street to John McIntyre Conference Centre will cost approximately £10 and take 5-10 minutes. From the airport, it’s about £35 - £40 and takes 25 – 35 minutes.
Parking
There is limited on-site parking on a first-come first-served basis at John McIntyre Conference Centre, as well as a small number of EV Charging Points.
City of Edinburgh Council control parking on the streets surrounding Pollock Halls. Some streets are require a residents' permit at all hours. Some streets are controlled by a residents' priority permit system at certain hours (timed to prevent use by commuters). There are a limited number of pay-and-display bays on surrounding streets.
Low Emission Zone (LEZ) - Edinburgh operates a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) to improve air quality in the city centre. This zone covers much of the city centre. You can quickly check if your vehicle meets the LEZ standards using the online tool provided by the City of Edinburgh Council.