Edinburgh - Advice needed please

jackieblack

DD and I may need to visit Edinburgh at the beginning of October for an open day at Edinburgh Napier University.

We would arrive at either Edinburgh Airport or by train to Edinburgh (Waverley?) on a Friday, and would need to get to Edinburgh Napier Sighthill Campus on the Saturday morning.
While travelling all this way we'd like to get in a visit to Edinburgh Zoo while we're there, either on Friday afternoon (if we arrive early enough) or Sunday morning.
We would fly home from Edinburgh Airport either Sat evening or Sunday afternoon.

I've had a look at Google maps etc, but am hopeless at trying to judge distances on a map

I'm looking for advice on a good area to stay in for good public transport options, accommodation (Premier Inn? or similar)
And looking to do this all as 'moneysavingly' as possible:o
Thanks

vfm

Travelodges at Waterloo Place and on Princess Street are only a few minutes walk from Wavely Station. We always book early to get the best prices. Have stayed at Waterloo Place a few times to go to the Edinburgh Playhouse which is just around the corner. Plenty of public tansport/buses.

jjonesy

seems like the zoo is the key for you.
Try searching for B&Bs , guesthouses and hotels in the corstorphine or murrayfield areas.
Google visit scotland and use the tourist info website there, or try laterooms.

jackieblack

Ok, so we have booked our train and flights. We will arrive at Waverley Station late morning and need to be at Edinburgh airport by about 4pm on Saturday afternoon.

We will need to get, by bus:
From Waverley Station to the zoo (Friday mid-day ish)
From the zoo to the hotel (late Friday afternoon)
From the hotel to Edinburgh Napier Sighthill Campus (Sat Morning)
From the Sighthill campus to the airport (Sat afternoon)

I've had a look at the Lothian bus route map and booked (completely cancellable) a PI at/near Haymarket. From the map, it would seem that 'should' be fairly convenient for the buses we need (?)
Is there much in the way of places to eat in that area? How far from Princes Street would you say it is? (I'm hopeless at judging distances on a map )

I looked at hotels near the airport but the affordable ones don't seem to actually be that close to the airport and not particularly convenient for the various buses we'd need.
I also looked at the HI near the zoo, but couldn't work out an easy way to get to Sighthill Campus from there.

mvteng

jackieblack wrote: »

We will need to get, by bus:
From Waverley Station to the zoo (Friday mid-day ish).

Dead easy. Just walk up to Princess Street & theres loads of buses you can get. Don't forget to book your slot for the pandas. What are you doing with your bags?

jackieblack wrote: »

From the zoo to the hotel (late Friday afternoon).

Again, dead easy. Loads of buses from right outside the Zoo to Haymarket

jackieblack wrote: »

From the hotel to Edinburgh Napier Sighthill Campus (Sat Morning).

Easy again, Bus systems really good in edinburgh

jackieblack wrote: »

From the Sighthill campus to the airport (Sat afternoon).

Most difficult, but not especially hard. Bus from sighthill to Corstorphine, & then a bus to the airport. As sighthill is so close to the airport, it would be easier, just to get a taxi. Cost should be approx £10 max

jackieblack wrote: »

I've had a look at the Lothian bus route map and booked (completely cancellable) a PI at/near Haymarket. From the map, it would seem that 'should' be fairly convenient for the buses we need (?)

Agreed, pretty much the perfect location for choice of buses

jackieblack wrote: »

Is there much in the way of places to eat in that area? How far from Princes Street would you say it is? (I'm hopeless at judging distances on a map )).

10minutes walk from Haymarket to Princess Street. Theres a few indian / italian / chinese restaurants local to Haymarket. What do you like?

jackieblack wrote: »

I also looked at the HI near the zoo, but couldn't work out an easy way to get to Sighthill Campus from there.

Bus to the end of Corstorphine & then a bus to sighthill. Easy enough

jackieblack

mvteng wrote: »

Dead easy. Just walk up to Princess Street & theres loads of buses you can get. Don't forget to book your slot for the pandas. What are you doing with your bags?

Thanks, yes I'll book for the Pandas - they're only booking up to 30th Sept ATM
We're only staying one night so will only have a small rucksack, we'll just carry it with us both days.

mvteng wrote: »

Again, dead easy. Loads of buses from right outside the Zoo to Haymarket

Good to know, thanks

mvteng wrote: »

Easy again, Bus systems really good in edinburgh

They do seem to be much better than they are here

mvteng wrote: »

Most difficult, but not especially hard. Bus from sighthill to Corstorphine, & then a bus to the airport. As sighthill is so close to the airport, it would be easier, just to get a taxi. Cost should be approx £10 max

From the Lothian buses route map, it looks like the number 35 goes from close to the campus to the airport, but taxi would be a good option if we're running short of time

mvteng wrote: »

Agreed, pretty much the perfect location for choice of buses

Thanks, that's reassuring

mvteng wrote: »

10minutes walk from Haymarket to Princess Street. Theres a few indian / italian / chinese restaurants local to Haymarket. What do you like?

If we're not too tired (will be setting off very early in the morning) we'd like a bit of a wander around the city after the zoo.
Other than Indian food, I'm not fussy, but my daughter....:eek: I wouldn't rule out ending up in McDonalds

mvteng wrote: »

Bus to the end of Corstorphine & then a bus to sighthill. Easy enough

I'm sure you're right, it probably is easy if you know your way around, but this trip is daunting enough without worrying about changing/connecting buses in a place we don't know , it just seemed easier to find a point (Haymarket) with good bus connections to/from each destination we'll be visiting

mvteng

Seems like you have it all worked out.

If you have a smartphone, download the Edinbus app.

Really helpful, tells you in real time when the next bus is due, & helps you plan your routes.

Not sure if you mean you like Indian food or not. If you like Chinese theres a very good Chinese at Haymarket (Chop Chop). Really good, but inexpensive.

Nearest Macdonalds from Haymarket would be Princess Street, although if your at Sighthill, theres one at the end of Corstorphine.

roy_harper

Actually 'MacDonalds' in Princes Street is really, really good.
Buy meal in usual way and then go upstairs - fantastic view of The Castle for a budget. Win/win.
By the way, hope it's a great experience on the Open Day.

jackieblack

roy_harper wrote: »

Actually 'MacDonalds' in Princes Street is really, really good.
Buy meal in usual way and then go upstairs - fantastic view of The Castle for a budget. Win/win.
By the way, hope it's a great experience on the Open Day.

Thanks
As a place to spend 3 or 4 years of her life I think Edinburgh is probably the nicest city on her shortlist of Unis, but she's unsure about how far away it is, geographically, from home (and her boyfriend), so we're coming to try out the journey as much as visit the Uni.
I felt that she shouldn't rule it out due to the distance when the flight from Edinburgh to Stansted (which is about 40 mins from where we live) takes less time than the drive to some of the others she's considering.