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City
Travel in Edinburgh |
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Once in Edinburgh
you may not want to leave but as you pack in as much as
you can you’ll find that getting around is easier
than you think.
It is a well-acknowledged truth that driving in Edinburgh
city centre is ‘mission impossible’ at best.
Although the city centre does have a number of multi-storey
car parks it can still often be a frustrating exercise
to find a parking space especially with the strict
street parking restrictions.
If you want to take on the challenge there are car parks
in the following areas: Lothian Road, Castle Terrace and
several around Princess Street.
If you do want to drive, a better idea would be to park
a bit further out in the free-to-park "peripheral
zone" and then walk into the city centre.
For getting from A to B by car around Edinburgh a taxi will prove to be a less traumatic experience. Like London,
Edinburgh has black cab taxis, which can be hailed
as they pass if the ‘for hire’ light is lit
or picked up at a taxi rank.
If you would rather phone for a taxi the two main providers
are City Cabs and Capital Castle.
Walking is probably the best way to get around
the city. Depending on your level of fitness some of the
hilly strolls may leave you a little out of breath but
with something to see at every turn it’s the best
way to take it all in.
If you’d rather save your energy then Edinburgh’s bus system is the way to go. Deregulation has meant
that there is more than one bus service operating in the
city, but your best bet for city centre travel are the
purple/maroon “corporate buses” operated
by Lothian Regional Transport (LRT).
Generally bus tickets are fairly cheap but if you are
thinking of doing a lot of bus travel it may be worth
considering a ‘saver ticket’. These
vary in price according to the amount of time you need
them for and when you plan to travel but can be a real
bargain.
Timetables can be obtained from the Traveline offices at in Cockburn Street but with a regular service on the
main routes you should not have to wait more than 15 to
20 minutes for a bus.
Taking in the sights and sounds of Edinburgh can also
be done using pedal power with the Scottish capital boasting
one of the most extensive off-road cycle networks in Britain.
Several cycle paths and routes take you past the
main attractions as well as off the beaten track to exclusive
suburbs and along the seafront.
If you’re wanting to experience the city in this
way you can hire a bicycle for one of number of
companies from as little as £10 for half a day. |
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