Getting to EICC when you arrive in Edinburgh
Through our Desk to Door initiative we fully encourage everyone travelling to EICC to do so using the most sustainable method of transport available. Our venue is very well served by a range of public, sustainable travel options, which support our ambitions of being a highly sustainable organisation.
Listed here, is a series of informed sustainable travel recommendations that we hope will assist you in planning your journey to Edinburgh and EICC.
Getting to Edinburgh from within the UK
Plane is a carbon intensive form of transport, however if flying is your best or only option then research from Flyzen points to low cost airlines, which use newer and smaller aircrafts, being less impactful in terms of carbon emissions, in comparison to aircrafts that are designed for long haul and business or first class travel.
We recommend that you check their carbon rating. All planes are now rated on their energy and carbon impact from A-G, just like any white appliance. This information should be freely available.
At Edinburgh Airport you have three options of travel to the city centre – bus, tram or taxi.
Lothian Buses Airlink 100 stops in central Edinburgh within 10 minutes’ walk of EICC and runs every 10 minutes at peak times. Lothian Buses offers electric, hybrid and low emission buses.
Edinburgh Trams is a low emission travel option to reach the city centre. The trams run every 7 minutes from Edinburgh Airport to Haymarket Station, which is 5-minutes walk to EICC.
Central Taxis is a black cab company with a difference – they are carbon neutral and offset for every fare travelled. They organise co-ordinated taxi share pick-ups to and from Edinburgh Airport to reduce trips. There is a taxi rank right in front of EICC.
Train is the most sustainable mode of transport for travel of a significant distance, within the UK. The LNER Azuma trains are currently the most sustainable option. These trains are a diesel electric hybrid, built using lightweight materials, which make them the least impactful train with regards to carbon emissions and air pollution.
LNER has a strong onboard sustainability approach to waste, refreshments and procurement, and they offer discounts on hot drinks if you bring your own cup.
Other train companies vary in their ranking in terms of sustainability but all of them are on a par or better than the most efficient and least impactful trip made by plane. The two train companies listed below are working towards sustainability improvement plans.
For travel within Scotland: Scotrail
For travel along the west coast to Scotland:
Avanti West Coast
The nearest train station to EICC is Haymarket Station - a 5 minute walk away.
Carshare could be a viable option to consider, for travel outwith or inside of Edinburgh. Its impact is determined by the type of car used but it can be a sustainable form of travel by reducing the number of cars on the road.
Being a sustainable venue, there are no car parking facilities at EICC, however the nearest NCP carpark is at Castle Terrace, a 5 – 10 minute walk from EICC.
Lothian Buses runs a fleet of environmentally friendly buses – electric, hybrid and low emission. A day ticket can be used on any route. The nearest bus stops to EICC are less than a 5-minute walk away.
Edinburgh Trams are a great way to travel to and from the heart of the city. Running every 7-10 minutes the tram route runs from the city centre to the Airport. The nearest stop to EICC is located at Haymarket Station – a 5-minute walk.
Central Taxis is a local Edinburgh carbon neutral taxi company. If you travel by taxi, we recommend this company on this basis. The Central Taxis rank is located outside EICC.
Should you wish to travel to the EICC by bike you will find bicycle stands at the front and rear of EICC, as well as in the surrounding area.
We highly recommend active travel. Edinburgh is a beautiful and walkable city, which makes it very easy to reach EICC on foot from the surrounding travel hubs, hotels, restaurants and attractions.