Visiting

Visiting the Institute for Astronomy

Location

The Institute for Astronomy is based at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh (RoE), sited on Blackford Hill in the South of Edinburgh.  GPS navigation systems should use the postcode EH9 3HJ

Note that this is different from the pre-1893 Royal Observatory (or City Observatory) on Calton Hill.

See below for a map.

Transport

• Rail: Waverley Station is the nearest train station to the Observatory, in the centre of the city.  From the train station you can take the 41 bus from Hanover Street to the bottom of Observatory Road, or the 42 bus, again from Hanover Street to King's Buildings.  Alternatively it is approximately a £20 taxi fare.
• Road: there is ample parking at the observatory site. 
• Air: Edinburgh airport is to the west of the city.  The Skylink 300 bus takes about an hour from the airport to Cameron Toll and goes past many of the hotels that are close to the Observatory.  Cameron Toll is a 20 minute walk to the Observatory.  Alternatively you can take the airport tram to Hanover Street and join the 41 bus or 42 bus.  An airport taxi to the Observatory will take 30-40 minutes and will cost about £45. 
• Bus: Within Edinburgh, the Lothian bus services 24, 38, 41, 42 and 69 buses all pass close to the Observatory.  

Accommodation

Various types of accommodation are available reasonably close to the Observatory

Map