Travel Information for Delegates

Conference Venue

The conference will take place at the John McIntyre Conference Centre (JMCC), University of Edinburgh, Pollock Estate, 18 Holyrood Park Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5AY. The venue is located beside Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat, approximately 1.5 miles south-east of Edinburgh city centre.

Delegate Accommodation

Travelodge Edinburgh Central
33 St Mary's Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1TA
United Kingdom

Google Maps Links

Arriving in Edinburgh

From Edinburgh Waverley Station to the Travelodge

The Travelodge is very conveniently located for anyone arriving by train.

Walking (Recommended)

Distance: approximately 0.5 miles (800m)
Walking time: 10-12 minutes

Exit Waverley Station via the Market Street or Waverley Bridge exits, walk towards the Royal Mile, then continue down St Mary's Street to the hotel.

Taxi

Journey time: approximately 5 minutes. Taxis are available directly outside the station.

From Edinburgh Airport to the Travelodge

Option 1: Edinburgh Tram (Recommended)

The Edinburgh Tram provides a direct connection between Edinburgh Airport and the city centre.

Board the tram at Edinburgh Airport.
Alight at St Andrew Square or Princes Street.
Walk approximately 15 minutes or take a short taxi ride to the Travelodge.

Journey time from airport to city centre is approximately 35 minutes.

Tram Payment

You may:

Purchase tickets at airport tram stop ticket machines, or
Use contactless "Tap On, Tap Off"

When using contactless payment, passengers must tap both before boarding and after leaving the tram.

Option 2: Airlink 100 Bus

The Airlink 100 express bus operates between Edinburgh Airport and the city centre.

Runs frequently throughout the day.
Terminates in the city centre near Waverley Station.
Journey time approximately 30-35 minutes.

Contactless payment is accepted on board.

Taxi Services

Local Taxi Companies

City Cabs Edinburgh

Telephone: +44 (0)131 228 1211

Central Taxis Edinburgh

Telephone: +44 (0)131 229 2468

Both companies operate 24 hours a day and offer app-based booking options.

Uber

Uber operates throughout Edinburgh and is often the easiest option for visitors.
Typical journey times:

Travelodge ⇄ JMCC: approximately 10 minutes
JMCC ⇄ Edinburgh Waverley Station: approximately 10 minutes
JMCC ⇄ Edinburgh Airport: approximately 30-40 minutes depending on traffic

Getting Between the Travelodge and the JMCC

Walking (Recommended)

The JMCC is approximately a 25-minute walk from the Travelodge. The route is straightforward and passes through some of Edinburgh's most historic areas.
Suggested route:

Leave the Travelodge and walk south along St Mary's Street.
Continue towards the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Park.
Follow Holyrood Park Road eastwards.
Continue along Holyrood Park Road to the Pollock Estate entrance.
The John McIntyre Conference Centre is clearly signposted within the estate.

The route is mostly flat and offers excellent views of Arthur's Seat.

By Bus

Several Lothian Bus services operate between the city centre and the JMCC area. The most convenient services are:

Bus 3
Bus 14
Bus 30
Bus 33

These services operate regularly from the city centre towards Dalkeith Road / Royal Commonwealth Pool, which is a short walk from the JMCC.

Journey time: approximately 10-15 minutes, plus a short walk.

Paying for Bus Travel

Edinburgh's bus network is operated by Lothian Buses.

Passengers can pay using:

Contactless debit or credit card
Apple Pay
Google Pay
Mobile wallet devices

Simply tap your card or device on boarding. There is no need to tap off when leaving the bus. Daily and weekly fare caps are applied automatically when using the same payment card throughout your stay.

If you would like to receive the paper ticket, please ask a bus driver for one before paying for the ticket.

Departing After the Conference

JMCC to Edinburgh Waverley Station

By Bus

Walk to nearby bus stops on Dalkeith Road and take any suitable Lothian Bus service towards the city centre, including:

Journey time is typically 15-20 minutes.

Taxi

Approximately 10 minutes depending on traffic.

Walking

Approximately 25-30 minutes.

JMCC to Edinburgh Airport

Option 1: Bus/Tram Combination (Recommended)

Take a bus from the JMCC area to Princes Street or St Andrew Square.
Transfer to the Edinburgh Tram.
Take the tram directly to Edinburgh Airport.

Total journey time is typically 50-60 minutes.

Option 2: Airlink 100

Travel from the JMCC to the city centre or Waverley/Princes Street area.
Join the Airlink 100 service.
Travel directly to Edinburgh Airport.

Journey time from city centre to airport is approximately 30-35 minutes.

Option 3: Taxi or Uber

A direct taxi or Uber from the JMCC to Edinburgh Airport typically takes 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.