Visiting Edinburgh
Edinburgh is an historic capital city with an international airport and excellent rail and road infrastructure, making it easily accessible for international and UK conference delegates. Edinburgh has a medieval Old Town and Georgian New Town, which is a World Heritage site. A compact city, most parts of city centre are in easy walking distance from the conference venue.
You can walk through history from the ancient Edinburgh Castle down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace and the modern Scottish Parliament. You can visit the historic Greyfriars Churchyard, where Greyfriars Bobby watched over his master’s grave, and stroke the nose of Bobby’s statue for good luck. For attendees wanting to stay longer, you can head out of the city to explore what Scotland has to offer, from mountains, castles, beautiful beaches, whisky distilleries, and even a trip to find the famous Loch Ness Monster! All within an easy day trip from the city of Edinburgh.
As a major international tourist destination there is a wealth of activities and places to visit. For more information see the links below.
Forever Edinburgh Tourist Information
Edinburgh Travel Guide
https://www.introducingedinburgh.com
Edinburgh Tourist
https://edinburghtourist.co.uk
Top attractions close to the conference venue in the heart of Edinburgh include:
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Standing on Castle Rock in the centre of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle is an ancient castle and the most popular tourist destination in Edinburgh.
National Museum of Scotland
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland is close to the University and with over 10,000 exhibits charts Scottish history from ancient times, through the reign of Mary Queen of Scots and up to the present day.
Scottish National Gallery
Scottish National Gallery
This Gallery sits on Princess Street in the centre of Edinburgh and houses a fabulous collection of fine art from the Renaissance Period to Post-Impressionism.
Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was established in 1670 by two doctors who studied medicinal plants. The gardens have maintained their world-leading place in current plant science, conservation and biodiversity, and include 10,000 plant species, historic glass houses, as well as wonderful cafes.
The Palace of Holyrood
The Palace of Holyrood
This is the King's official residence in Scotland. Dating back to 1503, the building as it stands today dates back to 1671 and is decorated in tapestries, antiques, and portraits of the Royal family. Visit the tower of royal apartments used by Mary Queen of Scots.
Surgeons’ Hall Museums
Surgeons’ Hall Museums
Surgeons’ Hall Museums explores the history of medicine and the development of surgery and dentistry throughout the centuries. The Royal College of Surgeons was founded in 1505 and created the museum in 1699.
Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is a wildlife conservation charity founded in 1909 and created Edinburgh Zoo in 1913. With over 2,500 animals Edinburgh zoo is a world-leading centre for research on captive animal welfare and conservation. It supports a range of conservation activities including Budongo Conservation Field Station in Uganda and science including WildGenes laboratory, and Living Links on primate research.
Holyrood Park
Holyrood Park
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Holyrood Park is the largest green space in the Centre of Edinburgh and next to the conference venue. It includes Arthur’s Seat a 251m extinct volcano with panoramic views of Edinburgh city, The Salisbury Crags, and the beautiful Duddingston Loch.
Conference Venue
The University of Edinburgh
An ‘ancient’ university, The University of Edinburgh was founded in 1583, and has been at the forefront of scholarship and research since then. The University comprises three Colleges: Medicine and Veterinary Medicine; Science and Engineering; and Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. It is the largest university in Scotland with 49,065 students and 15,893 staff. An international University we attract staff and students from around the world and our teaching and research have global impact. The University is ranked 15th in the World in QS rankings, and many subject areas are ranked top in the UK for research. More information about the University of Edinburgh can be found here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/about
John McIntyre Conference Centre
Hotel Accommodation at Pollock Halls
