North Queensferry is a village in Fife in central Scotland. Historically it was the north pier of the Queen's Ferry, established almost 1000 years ago by St Margaret wife of King Malcolm III, to ensure regular transport from Edinburgh across the Forth to Dunfermline (then the capital) and to the pilgrimage town of St Andrews. The railway bridge opened in 1890, while the car ferry remained in service until 1964 when the Forth road bridge opened. Nowadays trains, trucks and coaches rumble high above the village, which has become a backwater, with the waves lapping gently on its little-used slipway. It's become a commuter town for Edinburgh. The main reasons to visit are the walk-through aquarium "Sea World", to walk across the Forth road bridge for the views (now replaced by a motorway bridge upstream, which you can't walk across), and for hikes along the Fife Coastal Trail.

Lighthouse with Rail Bridge behind

Get in

By plane

Edinburgh Airport has good flight connections across Europe and UK and within Scotland. Direct buses run from airport stop G across the old Forth Road Bridge towards Inverkeithing and Halbeath in Fife, get off at the bus stop north end of the bridge and descend the steps to the village. This is Stagecoach Jet 747 bus which takes 30 min and costs £7.50 single and £14 for a return within 28 days. It runs daily 24 hours, every 20 mins daytime.

By car

A9000, the Forth Road Bridge, is only for bikes, motorcycles and public transport. Other vehicles must use M90, the new Queensferry Crossing. They're both toll-free, take the first exit on the bank to reach town.

By train

1 North Queensferry Station. This is on the Fife loop line from Edinburgh with frequent trains from Edinburgh via Haymarket (for the airport) and Dalmeny (for South Queensferry) across the bridge to North Queensferry (20 min), continuing to Inverkeithing then looping either anti-clockwise along the coast to Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes, or clockwise inland via Rosyth and Dunfermline to Glenrothes. (updated Apr 2019)

Inter-city trains to Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness don't stop here. Change at 2 Inverkeithing a couple of miles north.

Get around

North Queensferry is quite small and generally walkable, although the railway station is fairly high above most of the rest of the town.

See

• See South Queensferry for the story of the three bridges here. Admire them all from the shore but the only one you can walk across is the 1 Forth Road Bridge, usually by the east-side footpath / cycleway, with views out to sea; toll-free. Generally open but sometimes closed in high winds.
• 2 Deep Sea World, Forthside Terrace. "Scotland's National Aquarium." Sharks, Amazon exhibits, and a viewing tunnel for ocean fish, among other exhibits. (updated Jan 2018)
• 3 The Harbour Light Tower, 60 Main St. Something of a curiosity, this cute 200 year old structure is the world's smallest active lighthouse. (updated Jan 2018)

Do

• Walk the Fife coastal path. Use OS Landranger Map 65 "Falkirk". Going east, the path hugs the coast through Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, then at the ruins of St Briget's Kirk it swings inland to come into Aberdour. Going west, you have to stay on the road as you pass under the bridges and follow it inland, to avoid the navy base. There's a couple of miles to tramp through industrial Rosyth before you can return to the coast at Limekilns, and continue west via Charlestown and Torryburn to Culross.
• 1 Carlingnose Point Wildlife Reserve, Carlingnose View. An area of coastal grassland and bushes. The Fife Coastal path passes through the reserve. (updated Feb 2018)
• Inverkeithing Highland Games are held in early August at Ballast Bank, Inverkeithing's main park. The 2020 event was cancelled so the next are probably on Sat 7 Aug 2021 but tbc.

Eat

• 1 The Wee Restaurant, 17 Main St. Small but classy place emphasising Scottish food made from locally-sourced ingredients. Fairly popular, reservations recommended. (updated Jan 2018)

Drink

• North Queensferry doesn't have a free-standing pub but there's a lounge bar in the Ferrybridge Hotel.
• Otherwise go north a mile or two for the drouthy delights of Inverkeithing. If you're up for a breezy walk, you could stroll over the bridge to South Queensferry for historic pubs such as Hawes Inn.

Sleep

• 1 DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh - Queensferry Crossing, St Margarets Head, ☏ +44 1383 410000. (updated Feb 2018)
• 2 Ferrybridge Hotel, 1 Main St, ☏ +44 1383 416292. (updated Feb 2018)

Connect

This is commuterland for the capital and has a good signal.

Go next

• Go north to see Dunfermline Abbey, and west along the coast to charming Culross.
• East along the coast to Aberdour and Burntisland, but much of it is industrial until you get past Kirkcaldy.
• Cross the bridge to South Queensferry and Edinburgh.

Routes through North Queensferry

Perth ← Dunfermline/Rosyth ←

N  S

→ South Queensferry (via Queensferry Crossing) → Edinburgh