How to find us

By Tram and Bus

• The Edinburgh Airport - City Centre tram line travels to the city centre via Edinburgh Park and Haymarket.
• The Airlink 100 bus service also travels from the airport to the city centre (via Corstorphine and Murrayfield); please read further down the page.
• For overnight airport arrivals/departures (outwith tram operating hours), you should use the Airlink 100 bus or bus N22 to travel to the city centre (Waverley Station).

Total journey time: about 1 hour (The tram is slightly slower than the Airlink bus to the city centre, as it makes more stops, but this is offset by closer connections to local buses (including buses to King's Buildings) at the city centre tram stops.)

Cost: Transport for Edinburgh Airport Zone day ticket, less than £10.This ticket will cover your tram journey(s) and onwards Lothian Buses bus journeys to and from King's Buildings. The ticket is valid for travel for the whole day and is probably the best value for money overall. (A single tram ticket + a single bus ticket together cost less than £7, but are only valid for one journey each.)

1. You must purchase your ticket from a ticket machine at the tram stop before boarding the tram.
2. Take a tram from the Airport terminal (tram destination: York Place) to Princes Street tram stop in the city centre (journey time, 25 - 30 minutes).
3. At Princes Street tram stop, change to a bus to King's Buildings (journey time, 20 - 25 minutes).

As you approach Haymarket tram stop and the city centre, use MyBusTracker on your mobile phone for live bus departure information to check which bus service will best connect with your tram's arrival time in the city centre. You should allow around 5 minutes connection time to transfer from tram to bus (you may need to cross busy roads and wait for traffic lights to change).

Tram to bus connections in Edinburgh city centre

From Princes Street tram stop to King's Buildings

If a bus 41 (to King's Buildings), bus 42 or bus 67 is due, this is the best place to transfer from tram to bus.

Bus 41 to King's Buildings goes into the King's Buildings campus and terminates only a couple of minutes' walk from the James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB). Buses 42, 67 and 24 pass along the edge of the campus and it is about 5 minutes' walk from these bus stops to the JCMB.

1. Alight at Princes Street tram stop. (This is the stop after West End - Princes Street and is half-way along Princes Street with a view to Edinburgh Castle.)
2. Turn right into The Mound (the road heading uphill across Princes Street Gardens, adjacent to the art gallery).
3. The bus stop is alongside the art gallery in the uphill direction.

• The Mound (foot) (southbound) bus stop departure board
• Service 41 timetable (destination: King's Buildings, daytime service every 15 minutes). Note that one service 41 bus per hour goes to Morningside instead, but these buses do not serve King's Buildings (and only pass 500 m northwest of the campus (around 10 minutes' walk to the JCMB)), so it is quicker not to board Morningside buses, but to wait for the next direct bus instead (which is timetabled only a few minutes later).
• Service 42 timetable (destination: King's Road, daytime service every 30 minutes)
• Service 67 timetable (destination: Bush, weekdays only, only hourly service)

Bus 24 from Princes Street (the bus stop is just west of Frederick Street, immediately to the west of Princes Street tram stop, heading west (back towards the airport)) also travels past the King's Buildings campus. If none of the above buses are due to arrive, this may be a suitable alternative.

• Frederick Street (on Princes Street) (westbound) bus stop departure board
• Service 24 timetable (destination: Royal Infirmary, daytime service every 30 minutes)

When your bus arrives at King's Buildings, alight at the appropriate bus stop and walk through the campus to JCMB. Bus 41 terminates at the King's Buildings bus terminus: if you are travelling on another bus you may wish to ask the driver to let you know where to alight.

By Airport Bus and Local Bus

Total journey time: about 1 hour

Cost: Airlink single, less than £5, open return less than £8 (Airlink fares information), plus the cost of a connecting Lothian Buses local bus ticket (less than £2 single (you may wish to purchase a day ticket (less than £4) if you plan to make further bus journeys)).

1. You can purchase your bus ticket from the bus driver when you board the bus.
2. Take the Airlink 100 bus from the airport terminal to Waverley Station in the city centre (journey time, around 30 minutes).
3. At Waverley Station, change to a bus to King's Buildings (journey time, 20 - 25 minutes) (The nearest appropriate bus stops to King's Buildings are around 5 minutes' walk from the Waverley Station bus terminus).

The Airlink 100 bus runs 24 hours a day (there is no overnight tram service) and additional overnight service is also provided by bus N22. The Airlink bus arrives in the city centre at Waverley Bridge, just outside Edinburgh Waverley railway station. Further information, including timetables, is available from the Airlink website.

• To travel to King's Buildings from Waverley Bridge, see our travel directions from Edinburgh Waverley station.

By Taxi

The taxi rank is adjacent to the main entrance to the airport terminal.

Total journey time: about 30 - 40 minutes, depending on traffic.

Cost: around £30

Ask your taxi driver to take you to the James Clerk Maxwell Building at the King's Buildings campus (Peter Guthrie Tait Road).

By Car

Postcode destination for satnav navigation: EH9 3FD (some satnavs may find only the older postcode EH9 3JZ).

If driving, it is usually quicker to take the bypass around the city, rather than drive through the city centre.

Exit the airport and follow signs for the City Centre (A8) and City Bypass (A720). After about 1 mile (1.5 km) on the A8 you will approach Gogar interchange, signposted City Bypass (A720). Exit the A8 and follow the signs around the roundabout to the City Bypass.

Once on the City Bypass, follow the travel directions for getting to us by car.

Edinburgh Waverley station, at the east end of Princes Street, is the main railway station in Edinburgh. It is served by local trains from throughout central Scotland, and by Express and InterCity trains from all over Scotland and from England.

By Taxi

The taxi rank (black Hackney cabs only, seat 5 or 7 people maximum) is situated just outside the station on Waverley Bridge (leave the station via the ramp to Waverley Bridge). The journey time to King's Buildings is about 15 - 20 minutes and you should allow for a fare of up to around £10.

By Bus

There are a number of Lothian Buses bus services travelling via two nearby routes. Journey times are around 20 - 25 minutes. The single fare is less than £2, and day tickets are also available (less than £4). Note that buses require the exact cash fare for tickets (no change can be given), so please ensure that you have suitable small change in coins with you. Tickets are purchased from the driver when boarding the bus. Please refer to the Lothian Buses website for current fares information, as prices change occasionally.

All Lothian Buses are easy access buses, with a wheelchair space.

Buses via The Mound: services 41, 42, 67

These services are slightly less frequent (at least one bus every 15 minutes), but do pass by the campus directly. The nearest stops to Waverley Station are approximately 5 - 10 minutes' walk from the station, at the foot of The Mound (reasonably level access, next to the art gallery and just before Princes Street tram stop), or half-way up The Mound by the junction with Mound Place / Market Street (fairly steep climb uphill).

Services 41 (use services with destination King's Buildings (do not board Morningside services)), 42 and 67 stop at both of these bus stops. Note that some service 41 buses go to Morningside only, and do not serve King's Buildings (the nearest stop served by Morningside buses is at Blackford Avenue (Blackford Station), approximately 500 m northwest of the edge of the campus (around 10 minutes' walk to the JCMB) so it is quicker not to board Morningside buses, but to wait for the next direct bus instead (which is timetabled only a few minutes later)).

Exit Waverley Station via the nearest ramp to Waverley Bridge.

• For foot of The Mound bus stop: turn right onto Waverley Bridge, then left onto Princes Street, and then first left onto The Mound (just beyond the art gallery, before Princes Street tram stop). The bus stop is along the side of the art gallery.
• For Mound Place bus stop: turn left onto Waverley Bridge, then right at the mini roundabout into Market Street. Go up Market Street (fairly steep uphill), and when it reaches the crossroads with The Mound, turn right. The Mound Place bus stop is a few metres downhill from the crossroads.

• Mound (foot) (Southbound) bus stop departure board
• Mound Place (Southbound) bus stop departure board
• Service 41 timetable
• Service 42 timetable
• Service 67 timetable

If you are unsure where to get off (on services 42 and 67), sit near the front of the bus and ask the driver to let you know when you have reached King's Buildings (Mayfield Road). Service 41 to King's Buildings terminates within the campus itself. From the bus stops, follow our travel directions for getting to the School on foot.

Buses via North Bridge / Cameron Toll, numerous services

These services combine to offer a more frequent service (typically around 5 - 10 minutes between buses) but the nearest stops to the campus are about 400 m northeast of the edge of the campus, near Cameron Toll shopping centre (Craigmillar Park road).

Exit Waverley Station by the Waverley Steps exit (escalators and lifts available) to Princes Street, and turn right at the top of the steps. You should now be facing towards the Balmoral Hotel. Walk past the hotel, continue straight ahead across to the far side of the road at North Bridge, and then turn right along North Bridge itself. There are 3 bus stops along the length of North Bridge. The buses which serve Cameron Toll (west side) are distributed between all 3 stops. Suitable services are: (1st stop) 49; (2nd stop) 3, 3A, 8, 29; (3rd stop) 7, 31, 37, X37.

• North Bridge (Southbound) 1st bus stop departure board
• North Bridge (Southbound) 2nd bus stop departure board
• North Bridge (Southbound) 3rd bus stop departure board
• Select timetables from route map

If you are unsure where to get off, sit near the front of the bus and ask the driver to let you know when you have reached Cameron Toll shopping centre (Craigmillar Park). From the Cameron Toll bus stop, follow our travel directions for getting to the School on foot.

From city centre

From the city centre and north, the best route is to cycle up The Mound road, which is halfway along Princes Street (be careful of the tram tracks). From here the road has cycle lanes all of the way to King's Buildings.

At the top of The Mound, cycle straight ahead along George IV Bridge. The road continues slightly to the left and ends at a T-junction opposite the University's McEwan Hall, where you should turn left.

Continue along the road you are now following for 2-3 miles, passing Potterrow, the Informatics Forum and the Meadows park en route. The road changes name several times, but becomes Mayfield Road as you near King's Buildings.

The approach to King's Buildings is indicated by a slight uphill climb as you approach a crossroads with traffic lights. There is a direction sign indicating that you are approaching King's Buildings as the road starts to rise up the hill. King's Buildings is on the far side of the crossroads, on the right hand side. There is a cycle traffic light (toucan crossing) to allow you to cross the junction into the northeast corner of the campus.

At the northeast entrance to the campus, there is a map indicating where to find the James Clerk Maxwell Building.

From the south

From the south, follow the signs for City Centre until you come to the Cameron Toll shopping centre area. From there, cycle up onto Mayfield Road and enter the campus via entrance 4 onto Max Born Crescent.

Cycle parking

Cycle parking stands are available at various points around the campus, including outside the entrance to JCMB.

Postcode for satnav navigation: EH9 3FD (some satnavs may find only the older postcode EH9 3JZ)

Please note that car parking within the campus is by permit only and you will incur an expensive parking charge from the University if you park without a permit.

Parking on the King's Buildings side of Mayfield Road is allowed except between the hours 8.30am-9.15am and 4pm-6pm (check signs for exact time restrictions). If you park within restricted times you will get a parking fine and your car could be towed away. Parking in the side streets across the roads from King's Buildings is allowed and there are no restrictions.

Alternatively, there is a Park & Ride site at Straiton (by the City Bypass on the A701 road from Penicuik) where you can park your car and then catch buses 47 (bus stop for service 37 also nearby) (to Cameron Toll shopping centre, 400 m from campus), or 67 (directly past the campus).

Directions from City Bypass (A720)

Unless you are driving from within the city, the best route is to approach Edinburgh via the City Bypass (A720) which travels around the southern edge of the city. To get to King's Buildings, take the Straiton exit (A701).

From Straiton junction, follow road signs towards the City Centre. After about 3 miles you will start to drive down a long fairly steep hill (Liberton Brae). As you approach the bottom of the hill, move into the left hand lane ahead of the junction with traffic lights at the foot of the hill. At the traffic lights, take the left hand fork in the road (entering Mayfield Road), continuing downhill slightly. Mayfield Road then rises up a short climb after about 300 m, with King's Buildings at the top of the climb on your left.

Once you have found a place to park, see our travel directions on getting to the School on foot.

•  Downloadable map of the King's Buildings campus (PDF) (2.29 MB PDF)

From Craigmillar Park road (Cameron Toll shopping centre): From the bus stop, cross to the opposite side of the road, and walk along Gordon Terrace (the only two-lane road leaving the crossroads, heading slightly uphill, lined with trees). Almost immediately, follow the curve of the road to the right, into Esslemont Road.

Follow Esslemont Road for about 400 m to the next crossroads with traffic lights, which is at the northeast corner of King's Buildings campus.

Cross straight ahead at the crossroads, so that you are on the same side of Mayfield Road as the campus, and turn left to walk alongside the campus on Mayfield Road. Then follow the instructions below:

From Mayfield Road: The bus stop is just to the north of the crossroads at the northeast corner of the King's Buildings campus. Cross diagonally at the traffic lights, so that you are on the opposite side of Mayfield Road, adjacent to the campus itself.

Continue south along Mayfield road for about 200 m until you reach entrance 4 to King's Buildings, which is the last entrance. Turn into the campus at entrance 4, into Max Born Crescent, which will start to curve to the left after about 200 m.

The James Clerk Maxwell Building is straight ahead of you at this point, but to reach the main entrance you must turn to the right (into the start of Thomas Bayes Road) and then follow the path along the right hand side of the James Clerk Maxwell Building towards its main entrance.

The main entrance to JCMB is at the top of the stairs (or ramp). Once inside, turn left, go through the automatic doors and take one of the lifts to level 5. The School of Mathematics main office is just to the right when you exit the lift.

From King's Buildings bus terminus: Service 41 terminates at the King's Buildings bus terminus on campus. On exiting the bus, turn to your right. Follow the path across a small lawn, leading towards the SRUC Building.

At the road in front of the SRUC Building, turn left (Nicholas Kemmer Road) and follow this road, continuing straight ahead where it becomes Peter Guthrie Tait Road. After about 200 m you will reach the James Clerk Maxwell Building, via a short cobbled access road.

Enter the JCMB building, turn right, go through the automatic doors and take one of the lifts to level 5. The School of Mathematics main office is just to the right when you exit the lift.

When leaving King's Buildings by public transport, you can retrace your steps to the bus stop where you arrived (using the bus stop travelling in the opposite direction to return to where you came from).

If you are returning to Edinburgh city centre (Princes Street area), you may find that the next bus to leave and pass by the campus is different from the bus route that you arrived on. You may find it more convenient to travel on the first appropriate bus which arrives, especially if the alternative is to wait outside longer when there is bad weather.

You can check live bus departure information from all of the bus stops near King's Buildings on the web, to find out which bus route will be leaving soonest.

• Links to live public transport departure boards at King's Buildings