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Edinburgh Commuting Guide

Abbeyhill

Whether you are based within Edinburgh or in one of it’s many suburbs, the chances are you will commute to your work.

If you are a first time buyer or new to the area you may not be aware of the different commuting options on offer. These will be largely dependent on where you are and where you are travelling to but our Edinburgh Commuting Guide aims to help you get too and from work in the best way possible.

Buses

Edinburgh is fortunate to have a very reasonable and reliable bus service in place. Lothian Bus run 70 services throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians so it’s more than likely there will be a bus that can get you from you home to your work on a daily basis. At present a single fare is £1.70 at that will get you any distance on a single journey. A day ticket is available for £4 and that can be used on any number of Lothian Bus services throughout a day. They do also offer discounted rates on weekly, monthly and annual purchase with their Ridacard option – these are also handy as it saves you having to search for change!

First BusE&M Horsburgh and Edinburgh Coachline also run services that go through Edinburgh and that also connect with neighbouring towns and cities.

Tram

The topic of never-ending controversy in Edinburgh! The current Tram route in Edinburgh runs from Edinburgh Airport to York Place, in the City Centre. Despite original plans to go down Leith Walk, the Trams don’t go any further East than the City Centre so may not be of any use if you are living on this side of town. They are however the quickest way of getting across Edinburgh, avoiding the traffic, particularly at peak times.

Like the Lothian Buses (whom also operate the Edinburgh Trams) the set fare applies and you can also use your Ridacard on the Trams also – just remember to validate it at the platform before boarding.

Train

There are two main train stations in Edinburgh city centre – Waverly and Haymarket. Waverly can be found at the East end of Princes Street where as Haymarket is at the West end, a short walk off Princes Street. Edinburgh is also home to a number of smaller train stations, such as Edinburgh Park, South Gyle and Brunstane.

Waverly Station, first opened in 1846, connects with many areas around and out-with Edinburgh. You will also be able to catch trains to all of the UK at Waverly.

Car

Driving in Edinburgh is completely dependent on where you are coming from and where you are going. If none of the many public transport options available are feasible for you, driving may be the best option. However, Edinburgh is city of history and many parts of it were not made with cars in mind. With that, you will find many roads are only one-way, the route that may be the fastest may only be accessibly by buses or trams and parking is extremely limited, as well as often being expensive. If you are lucky enough to be working somewhere with dedicated parking then you should be fine but just be sure to check your route before setting off and to avoid delays.

Cycling

Cycling in Edinburgh is a great, environmentally friendly way to get around. Not to mention the many health benefits. A lot of employers also offer a Cycle to Work Scheme meaning it’s fairly easy to get started. There is a lot of cycle paths throughout Edinburgh, as well as cycle lanes, however cycling in the city centre however is not for the faint-hearted!

Walking

If you haven’t got too much distance to cover, walking to work in Edinburgh is always a joy. Edinburgh is a beautiful city and you’re likely to find you see a lot more of it when travelling on foot. With free wi-fi available on trains, buses and trams, you often find you spend your commute unaware of what is around you, whereas with walking you really get to take in all that is around you. Plus, no getting stuck in traffic! Decent footwear is a must, especially if you’re covering longer distances. And be sure to dress for the ever-changing weather.

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