Car, private coach or minibus travel
Information for visitors travelling by car, coach or minibus (including parking).
We strongly recommend that you travel to the University using public transport, as parking near our campuses will be extremely limited.
Low Emission Zone
From June 2024, a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will be enforced in central Edinburgh by the Council. This covers much of the University’s Central campus area, including George Square / Bristo Square, Chambers Street, Old College, New College and Edinburgh College of Art. Driving a non-compliant vehicle into the LEZ will result in a penalty charge notice.
Information about Edinburgh’s LEZ
Parking
Parking at our University campuses not available to Open Day visitors except those with accessibility requirements.
In order to prioritise the safety of our visitors, during the Open Days roads at our George Square campus will be closed to all vehicles except those requiring blue badge or accessible parking, arranged in advance. Parking spaces on Buccleuch Place are also suspended in order to operate our Open Day shuttle bus service.
Please note that there may be additional pressure on other nearby parking on 17 June due to Eid al-Adha, as the Edinburgh Central Mosque is adjacent to our Central campus.
You may find the City of Edinburgh Council website useful for finding parking in Edinburgh.
City of Edinburgh Council: parking
The car park closest to the Central campus is Quartermile (Q-Park), with the next closest at St Leonard’s (Easi-Park) or Holyrood Road (NCP).
Parking at the Easter Bush campus (Veterinary Medicine) will only be available to those who have booked a parking space here in advance, as part of their Veterarinary Medicine visit registration.
Park and Ride
As parking in the city centre is limited and can be expensive, you may prefer to make use of one of the many Park and Ride sites on the city bypass (A720). These sites offer free parking, with buses using the bus-only 'greenways' into the city, which reduces the journey time.
Options with direct bus links to our campuses
- Sheriffhall Park & Ride (South): bus service 33 stops close to our Central campus. Bus service to our Medical School at Edinburgh BioQuarter / Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (Service 33 or 48).
- Straiton Park & Ride (South): bus services 37, 47 and 47B stop close to the King's Buildings campus and Central campus.
- Hermiston Park & Ride (West): bus service 35 stops close to our Central campus.
- Ingliston Park & Ride (West): it is possible to take a tram to the centre of Edinburgh (Princes Street stop) which is approximately a 15 minute walk from our Central campus.
Private coaches and minibuses
If you plan to travel to our Open Day with a school coach or minibus, please contact us at ug.recruitment@ed.ac.uk.
For safety reasons, coaches cannot stay parked at George Square or Buccleuch Place throughout the day, but we can provide directions to a suggested coach drop-off point, and a more detailed map of the University campuses.
Planning your route
The City of Edinburgh Council website lists current roadworks and travel disruption in the city.
City of Edinburgh Council: roadworks
Route information for drivers can be found on the RAC or AA websites.