Edinburgh information

Welcome to Edinburgh, now voted one of the top ten city destinations in the world. The city each year hosts the biggest New Year street party in the world, known simply as Edinburgh's Hogmanay. And on November 22-23, 2008, the Scottish capital will host Histories & Mysteries.

Why Edinburgh? For one, it is the home of Harry Potter; JK Rowling, author of the famous Harry Potter books, wrote her first novel 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' in a café in Edinburgh. Sean Connery grew up in Edinburgh and, as a boy, delivered milk to Fettes College, where the fictitious character of James Bond was educated. And though he was known for his “shaken not stirred” Martinis, Edinburgh also houses the Scotch Whisky Experience – just around the corner from the Hub! Next door to the Hub is also where you will find Edinburgh Castle, which not only dominates the city skyline, it is also the most popular visitor attraction in Scotland, with well over one million visitors each year. It is also home to the legendary Stone of Scone, worth the trip itself, as it is one of the oldest, and only surviving, pagan coronation stones on Earth.
If you need any more reasons to come to Edinburgh, then note it is also where you’ll find Rosslyn Chapel; where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born; where there are dozen of golf courses and from where it is but a short hop to see those legendary glens of Scotland – fairy lore and legends included.

For more information, visit Edinburgh's Tourist Site or the Edinburgh Convention Centre site.

How to get here

Hotels & Flights
There are hundreds of hotels in and around Edinburgh, ranging from five star luxury to basic budget accommodation. Any travel agency or internet travel website will be able to provide you with available flights and hotels.
We’ve made the core conference schedule so that it allows for daytrips from most cities in the UK, as well as Ireland, Northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands (early morning flights to Edinburgh, and evening flight out). However, with so many things to see, we would suggest you make it into a weekend in an unforgettable city. Why not do your Christmas shopping in Edinburgh this year?

Access to the city from Edinburgh Airport
Taxi - no need to book, always available at the Airport taxi rank - approx £18-20, lasting approximately 15-20 minutes
Airlink Express bus - approx 20 minutes £3.00 each way
Edinburgh Shuttle - fleet of mini-buses take you direct to your hotel or venue - £8.00 per person each way (discounts for more passengers) - www.edinburghshuttle.com / 0845 500 5000

Getting around Edinburgh
It's a great city to explore on foot. Delegates will find the city not only visually stunning but also very accessible. For longer journeys around the city, there are plentiful buses and taxis always available.

The Truth about the Weather
Edinburgh enjoys a moderate year-round climate, with none of the violent extremes of weather, which could interrupt a meeting schedule or social calendar. From April to September, temperatures are mild and compare favourably with other European cities; annual rainfall is less than in Frankfurt, New York and Rome.

For further information