Transport
Edinburgh is a beautiful city, with many interesting buildings, streets, shops and green spaces to explore. The City’s Old and New Towns are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
University accommodation is located in close proximity to most of the University buildings. For example, Pollock Halls is within a mile of the Central Area of the University and just over a mile from the King’s Buildings.
If you are staying at Pollock Halls there is more detailed information on travelling to and from there on the Transport and Parking Office website:
To find out where different University buildings are located, have a look at the Campus maps:
There are lots of travel options for getting about and exploring Edinburgh.
Walking
Edinburgh is a compact and beautiful city to explore on foot. Walking offers a free, healthy and enjoyable way to get around Edinburgh and to your studies.
The city has a number of traffic free green spaces such as Princes Street Gardens, The Meadows, Holyrood Park & Arthur’s Seat (right next to Pollock Halls of Residence) and Calton Hill.
The University’s Central Area is just 10 minutes walk from the City Centre through the fascinating and beautiful Old Town. It takes just 15 minutes to walk from Pollock Halls of Residence to the Central Area and about 25 minutes to walk to the King’s Buildings.
To find out more about walking and to plan your walking journey, further information is available on the University’s Transport and Parking Office website:
Cycling
Cycling is a cheap, quick and healthy way to get around and is becoming an increasingly popular way to get around the city. Nearly 12% of staff and students at the University choose to cycle.
The city has a network of on and off road cycle routes and parking facilities. The University supports and encourages cycling by providing free cycle training, cycle maintenance courses and secure cycle parking facilities. If you have a bike bring it to Edinburgh with you!
It is easy to travel between University sites by bike. Pollock Halls is an 8 minute cycle ride from the Central Area, 12 minutes from the King’s Buildings and 10 minutes from Edinburgh Waverley Train Station.
To find out more about cycling and to plan your journey by bike further information is available on the University’s Transport and Parking Office website:
Free bike servicing and safety advice from Doctor Bike are available by attending one of the sessions held at different University sites throughout the year.
Doctor Bike is a fully qualified bike mechanic from The Bike Station, who regularly visits the University to help fix minor bike problems and provide maintenance advice.
Next Doctor Bike Sessions to be held at Pollock Halls:
4-6 pm Tuesday 5th October 2010
4-6 pm Tuesday 8th February 2011
4-6 pm Tuesday 26th April 2011
Public Transport
Edinburgh has an excellent public transport system. Lothian Buses are the main operator of bus services within the city. See link below:
Both public bus services and University shuttle buses ensure all of the university sites can easily be accessed by public transport.
You can reach Edinburgh by train or coach from all over Scotland and the rest of the UK. Edinburgh’s main train station is Edinburgh Waverley Train Station which is located in heart of the city centre.
To find out more about public transport, further information is available on the University’s Transport and Parking Office website
Driving
Please do not bring a car to Edinburgh unless you absolutely have to. You simply do not need a car to get around the city.
Car parking facilities in Edinburgh are expensive and strictly controlled. There are limited parking facilities available at University accommodation (there are no parking facilities for students at Pollock Halls). Parking in University car parks is by permit only.
Further information about parking at the University is available from the Transport and Parking Office website:
This article was published on Sep 16, 2010