Venue
The Edinburgh Futures Institute building
The symposium will take place mostly in Lecture Theatre 2.35, at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, which is part of the university’s central area.
Transport
Edinburgh is well connected through Edinburgh Airport and the UK rail system, and the university’s central area is easily accessible, on the edge of Edinburgh’s remarkable Old Town, a few minutes’ walk from the Royal Mile. Edinburgh is the ancient capital of Scotland, and its Old Town and (18th century) New Town form a large UNESCO World Heritage Site. The University is easily accessible from anywhere in the city, and is within walking distance of the train station and all the city centre shops and restaurants.
For most people, travelling to the Symposium will involve either flying into or getting the train to Edinburgh and then either walking or getting a bus or a taxi to the conference venue. It’s easy to get into the city centre from Edinburgh airport: use the number 100 Airlink bus which leaves every few minutes and which drops you off next to the main train station (this is the last stop on the bus journey). This station (called Waverley Station) is where most intercity trains terminate, too. Another option is the Edinburgh Trams.
Edinburgh buses are frequent, fast, and cheap. You pay to the driver, either exact change or by contactless card payment. A single journey anywhere within the city (not to the airport) costs £2, and if you use the same device to pay multiple times in a day, you will not be charged more than £4.80 a day (or £22 a week).
Waverley station is a good orientation point – it’s situated right in the centre of the city, between the New Town and the Old Town, just next to Princes Street (Princes Street is the main central shopping street in Edinburgh), and there are normally lots of taxis available at the station (if you want to take a taxi to the conference venue, ask them to take to the ‘Old Infirmary Building’, now the Edinburgh Futures Institute). It’s about 15 minutes’ walk from the station to the University. You need to head south: walk up from the station into the Old Town along Cockburn Street and then up the Royal Mile and along George IV Bridge.
Accommodation
If you need to book accommodation for the symposium, we recommend trying the university’s KM Hotels (formerly the Kenneth Mackenzie Suite) or KM Apartments (formerly Richmond Apartments).
If they are full, or you’d like to stay somewhere more luxurious or cheaper, the easiest way to find somewhere is to use one of the many internet accommodation search sites. If you try Trip Advisor, you’ll find lots of details and some interesting comments about the hotels (not always to be trusted, but you can probably go by the average opinion).
We have usually recommended the following:
- The Grassmarket HotelThis one may be quite loud (the Grassmarket is a popular drinking area), but seems quite cheap, and is 10 minutes’ walk from the conference venue
- Leonardo Royal (formerly Jurys Inn)This is in the ugliest building in Edinburgh, but it’s probably fine as a hotel (about 15 mins’ walk)
- Hotel Indigo (formerly the Royal British Hotel)Very central in Edinburgh, maybe a little jaded (about 20 mins’ walk)
- Ten Hill Place HotelRecommended, if a bit more expensive (very close to the conference)
- Ibis Edinburgh CentreFine if faceless (about 10 mins’ walk)
- Express By Holiday Inn Edinburgh Royal MileLooks fine but may be a bit loud (about 10 mins’ walk)
- Travelodge Edinburgh CentralFaceless but probably fine (about 15 mins’ walk)
- Apex City HotelMay be quite loud (it’s on the Grassmarket), but seems quite nice (about 10 mins’ walk)
- Radisson SASMore pricey, but meant to be nice, well situated (about 10 mins’ walk)
Hostels
The cheapest option would be to stay at one of the many hostels in Edinburgh. These have some very cheap accommodation, and several have private rooms, too. There are a number of hostel searching websites, which should help you to see what’s available, and to book accommodation:
The main YHA hostel in Edinburgh is not too old and looks nice, although it’s a bit of a distance from the conference (30 minutes’ walk). There are lots of buses, though.
Edinburgh is an Airbnb hotspot, with all that it entails.