The Venue
Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Scotland
Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EE. Tel: + 44 (0) 131 300 3000.
The meeting will be held in the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, known locally as the EICC, and is situated in the heart of the historic city of Edinburgh. It is just a short walk from Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. The striking circular design of the Centre has made it one of Edinburgh's most distinctive landmarks. As you would expect from a world-class venue, the technical presentation and communication facilities are modern, efficient and adaptable.
Edinburgh is a cosmopolitan city with a wide variety of museums, art galleries, theatres, shops and restaurants. It is a compact city and all its attractions are within walking distance or a short bus or taxi journey. The Georgian New Town is classically elegant whilst the Old Town, with its tightly packed closes, has a medieval air. Edinburgh Castle, the most famous of Scottish castles, perched on a volcanic crag that sweeps down the Royal Mile to the Royal Palace of Holyroodhouse, dominates the city and is well worth a visit. It is home to the Scottish Crown Jewels, the oldest Royal Regalia in Britain, displayed alongside the Stone of Destiny, the coronation stone for Scots kings.
Getting to Edinburgh
By Air
Edinburgh International Airport - Tel: +44 (0) 131 333 1000
Glasgow International Airport - Telephone: + 44 (0) 141 887 1111
Glasgow Prestwick Airport - Telephone: + 44 (0) 871 223 0700
Edinburgh Airport is a 20 – 40 minute taxi journey from the City Centre, depending on rush hour traffic. The cost will be approximately £20. Alternatively, there is a regular coach service from the airport to the city centre (Waverley Station). The cost for a single journey is £3.50 and a return journey is £6.
There are two airports that serve Glasgow, Glasgow International and Glasgow Prestwick. Glasgow International Airport is approximately one hour and thirty minutes drive from Edinburgh. A taxi can be expensive (approximately £70) and we would recommend taking a taxi from the airport to Glasgow Central Railway Station, where there is a regular train service to Edinburgh Waverley Station. The journey time is approximately 45 minutes and trains depart every 15 minutes, depending on the time of day. Approximately £18.00 Peak Day Return and £11.00 Off Peak Return.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport is situated a further 32 miles outside Glasgow. It has its own railway station which will take you to Glasgow Central railway station.
By Rail
National Rail Enquiry Service (24 hours) - Telephone: 08457 484950
The mainline rail network serves the centre of Edinburgh via two railway stations. Edinburgh Waverley (main station) is situated at the east end of Princes Street, and Haymarket Station which is closest to the EICC is at the west end of the city. A Taxi from Haymarket to the EICC will cost approximately £5.00 and from Waverley approximately £7.00. Journey times can be up to 5-10 minutes depending on the time of day.
By Bus
National Express - Telephone: 08705 808080
All national coach services to Edinburgh arrive close to St Andrew’s Square situated at the east end of Princes Street.
By Local Bus
Traveline - Telephone: 0800 23 23 23
For information on local bus routes and times, call Traveline for local travel information for bus and rail services to Edinburgh and surrounding areas. Public transport throughout Edinburgh is of a high quality and inexpensive to use. There are frequent bus services with local bus companies, however tickets are not interchangeable. Tickets for single journeys and day tickets can be purchased on the bus. Exact fare is normally required. Bus schedules are subject to change and enquiries should be made to Lothian Region Transport prior to your journey.
Lothian Region Transport (24hrs) - Telephone: 0131 555 6363.
www.lothianbuses.co.uk
By Taxi
Central Radio Cabs - Telephone: 0131 229 2468
City Cabs -Telephone: 0131 228 1211
Taxis can be booked by calling any of the above numbers, these companies are two of the largest fleets in Edinburgh
Tourist Information
Please visit the following websites for information on what you and your guests can see and do during your stay in Edinburgh.
http://www.visitscotland.com
http://www.edinburgh.org
http://www.edinburghtour.com
Further Information
Climate
The temperature in Edinburgh in June/July is quite warm; between 17 and 22° with very little rainfall; however we recommend that you bring warm clothes for the evenings. http://uk.weather.com
Credit Cards
All major credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, shops, cafés and restaurants. You should always carry photographic ID as you may be asked for this when making a transaction.
ATM/Machines
There are many ATM’s in the city either beside banks or as stand alone cash-points. £ (British Pounds) can be withdrawn from these machines by using a credit/debit card (charges apply).
There is a cash machine located at the EICC (conference centre).
Banks & Foreign Exchange Bureaux
Banks are open from 9:30 - 17:00 from Monday to Friday, and some larger branches also operate on a Saturday until 12.00.
Money may also be changed at high street Post Offices. Open Monday-Friday 09.00-17.00 and until 12.00 on a Saturday.
Alternatively there are many foreign exchange bureaux, although they usually charge higher rates of commission than banks. Avoid changing money or cheques in hotels, as the rates are usually quite low.
Currency
The local currency is the UK British Pound £ (GBP). Euros are not used in the UK although many large hotels and shops do accept them, but you may not be offered the best exchange rate.
Electricity
The UK and Republic of Ireland use a power outlet plug and socket system which is a different design to other European countries: (rectangular – not round). Adapters can be purchased in the airports and electrical shops.
Emergency Phone Numbers
Dial 999 for fire, police, ambulance or coastguard services.
Emergency calls are free from pay phones.
Medical Treatment
If you become ill while visiting the UK, you can get free emergency treatment in the Accident and Emergency departments of National Health Service hospitals. However, if you are admitted to hospital as an in-patient, or referred to an out-patient clinic, you will be asked to pay. (Please ensure you have adequate travel insurance before travelling.)
In the UK you can buy over-the-counter (non-prescription), medications as well as get expert medical advice at pharmacies – often called chemists.
Pharmacies are usually open from 09:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays and limited availability on Sundays. However, in larger cities you will find a number of pharmacies open late during the week and on the weekend. For more information and to find a pharmacy near you, visit the National Health Service pharmacy information website.
Language
English is the national language.
Restaurants & Bars
Meals are normally taken earlier than in other European Cities, so please remember this when making dinner plans as restaurants tend to be busiest around 19.30-20.30hrs.
Lunch - 12.00-14.00hrs (most people take no more than one hour for lunch)
Dinner - 19.00-22.00hrs (many restaurants may stop serving food after 22.00hrs)
Bars are open for lunch and usually close at 23.30hrs with nightclubs open until 03.00 in the morning.
Tax
If you live outside the European Union, you can take advantage of the Tax Free Shopping scheme to reclaim Value Added Tax (VAT – currently 17.5%) on purchases for export.
Taxis
The traditional ‘Black Cab’ is the most popular type of taxi and these can be pre-booked or can be stopped in the street when the ‘TAXI’ sign is illuminated.
Edinburgh airport has a fleet of white taxis which do not need to be pre-booked.
Private Taxis (i.e. non black cab) must be pre booked and should not be stopped in the street.
Time
UK Time is in Greenwich Mean Time (http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com) from October to March and British Summer Time (BST) from March through to October.
Tipping
Service is not normally included in restaurant, hotel and taxi bills. 10%-15% is the normal rate to add to the bill.
Travel Insurance
Please make sure that you have valid travel insurance to cover your time in the country.
The Organisers will not be held liable for illness, accidents or thefts suffered by participants or accompanying persons during the meeting or their stay in the UK before or after the meeting.
Visa
If you are an EU citizen, you must either present a passport or an ID card valid for the duration of your stay in order to enter Scotland for tourist visits of up to three months.
Citizens of other countries must have a valid passport. Some non-EU citizens are required to produce a visa. Please contact your travel agent or the nearest UK diplomatic post for further information.
Should you need a letter of invitation to obtain an Entry Visa, please contact the conference organisers. These will only be issued to delegates who have fully registered and paid.
Please note that we cannot enter into correspondence with the UK Authorities on your behalf and any invitation letter does not imply any financial liability on our part. For more information and to apply online for a UK Visa, please go to http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/
Water
The standard of water cleanliness is also very high, and in general kitchen water supplies, tap water in restaurants and ice cubes are safe drinking water. You can find bottled water in most shops and supermarkets.