Getting around in Edinburgh

Advantages: To Experience the Ancient & Modern beauty of this wonderful city.
Disadvantages: Only if you are disabled or in a wheelchair.

...of the day was spent getting to know the locals. Mixing with the many visitors, and taking some wonderful photos, and still not having the time to see it all. The following morning I awoke really early, refreshed and happy to start my morning in the park, before returning to the airport. It was a beautiful day, the sun highlighting everything around with a soft glow. Edinburgh is gorgeous. I wandered around taking photographs enough to fill an album, ...
...I sat with a coffee watching the people go by. Time to go. The bus to the airport was waiting above. I got on it and was soon queuing to board…..Except, I was almost a whole hour too late. My flight was already almost touching down in Newquay. What had I done. The magic of Scotland had lulled me to stay one more day… Only one flight a day, of course. My partner had not yet left home for the airport. He would meet me tomorrow. The price of transferring ... Read review

Advantages: lots of places of interest, plenty of inexpensive accommodation
Disadvantages: some people not very welcoming

...a roundabout route to actually getting to Edinburgh along the coast from Newcastle and into the city itself. I had never seen anything like the sites I saw there, a wonderful shopping centre and a castle perched on what appeared to me to be a mountain. As the city was somewhat overwhelming in contrast to where we live, we decided to go out of the city and stayed in Portobello, which is only about 2 miles away from the centre. We opted to use the ...
...a true feeling of the Scottish people and to be amongst them. We got on the bus and explained that we would like returns to the city. The driver barked an amount to us, and when we didn't have the right change, told us to get the right change and catch the next bus. We were gobsmacked and stood at the side of the road wondering what to do next! well, we gave up on the buses and went in the car instead. We enjoyed being in the city and took an ... Read review

Advantages: Plenty to see, cheap public transport, walkable
Disadvantages: traffic congestion, hills, weather

...are the main way of getting around, and most of them are run by Lothian Buses. These go pretty well everywhere and run every 5 -15 minutes during the day, every 10-30 minutes at off peak times, and 30 mins to 1 hour during the night. As of April 2008, there is a flat single fare of £1:10 for adults, and 60p for children. An all day unlimited travel ticket costs £2:50 and is highly recommended. Buy one from the driver of the first bus you get on. ...
...are red ticket machines situated at most bus stops in the city centre. Single trip tickets can be bought from them for £1, and day tickets are also available. Like the buses, though, they don't give change. A weekly ticket costs £13, and can be bought from one of Lothian's travelshops (there's one on Waverley Bridge, just outside the railway station and one on Hanover Street, just off Princes Street.) These can also provide printed timetables and ... Read review

Advantages: Slow, unfriendly drivers
Disadvantages: Reasonable price

The best thing that I can say about LRT buses is that there are lots of them. There has to be a lot of them because they never manage to come when scheduled. I see from the side of their buses that they were voted "The Best Bus Service in Britain". This leaves me a sense of pity about how bad the service must be in other cities of the U.K. Another problem with LRT buses is the drivers. They are unhelpful, unfriendly, and seen to gain perverse pleasure ...
...to catch the bus. Edinburgh is a city that relies on tourists for a lot of money during differing times of the year. You would think that drivers would be trained to be helpful and friendly. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case as they seem to think that everyone should instinctively know that is costs 80 pence on a number 87 to get from Leith to North Bridge, and that they don’t give change. I have seen drivers treat unfortunate and unsuspecting tourists ... Read review

Advantages: Frequent, cheap
Disadvantages: Exact fare only

The main bus company in Edinburgh (and surrounding area) is LRT, Lothian Regional Transport. Their distinctive maroon-coloured buses run a very efficient service, which has helped the company win an award for being the best bus company in the UK! Maps of the routes can be picked up from the LRT shops in the town centre, including one near Waverly station. The main hub for buses is Princes Street, services radiating out from there to other areas. ...
...the average journey will cost 80p (exact fare, no change given on board). There are good offers on day tickets, if you will be making several journeys. There is also a very useful and frequent service between the town centre and the airport, running every ten minutes or so, which is £3.30 one way, and so much cheaper than a taxi! ... Read review