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Human Saltire at the Scotland v England 6 Nations 2008 match, Murrayfield Stadium

This article covers the outlying areas of Edinburgh to the west of Haymarket Railway Station and Granton Harbour, and north of Lanark Road.

Get in

By train

Trains from the north, west and south-west will stop at Haymarket station. Trains from Fife also stop at South Gyle station. Local trains serving Edinburgh from Stirling and Glasgow (Queen Street Low Level) also stop at Edinburgh Park Station. There are also stations at Slateford, Kingsknowe, Wester Hailes and Curriehill served by stopping trains on the Edinburgh-Glasgow Central line.

By bus

Lothian Buses have a comprehensive service throughout the west of the city. Many services depart from Princes Street in the New Town. The Airlink 100 passes through the area between the airport, the zoo and Haymarket.

By tram

The new Edinburgh tram passes through the west of the city on its way between the city centre (via Haymarket) to the airport. Most of the route is not close to attractions, but the tram does stop at Murrayfield and Edinburgh Park.

See

Map
Map of Edinburgh/West
  • 1 Murrayfield Stadium, Roseburn Street (tram stop: Murrayfield Stadium), +44 131 346-5100. The home of Scottish rugby and a most impressive stadium. The highlight of the season is the 6 Nations Championship - effectively the European Championship of rugby, taking place every February and March between Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Italy and England. The teams play each other once per year, and alternate home and away games. In odd-numbered years, Scotland host Wales, Ireland and Italy at Murrayfield, with England and France visiting in even-numbered years. On the weekend of a home match, Edinburgh is absolutely full to bursting, and the atmosphere is like nothing else, especially if Wales or Ireland are in town. It can be easier to obtain tickets for the Autumn Test series, generally 3 matches in October and November against southern hemisphere or "non-6 Nations" European opposition. Another Murrayfield highlight is the Edinburgh Sevens Rugby Festival, the final event in the IRB Sevens World Series, an annual circuit featuring national teams in rugby sevens, a variant of rugby union with 7 players per side instead of 15. The Edinburgh Sevens is held over one weekend, typically at the end of May. On non match days, stadium tours are available (must be booked 48 hours in advance, call +44 131 346-5160) Mon-Sat at 11:00. Generally you can walk around the stadium for free between 9:00-17:00. Match tickets from £15-£60. Stadium Tours £6 adults, £3 concessions.
Penguin Parade
  • 2 Edinburgh Zoo, 134 Corstorphine Road (Catch Lothian Buses 12, 26, 31 or Airlink 100), +44 131 334-9171. Apr-Sep 9AM-6PM; Oct & Mar 9AM-5PM; Nov-Feb 9AM-4:30PM. Watch the world famous Penguin Parade, and visit the acclaimed Budongo Trail chimpanzee attraction. The only koalas in the UK are here, and there are some beautiful tropical birds. Home to the UK's only giant pandas. £17 adults, £12.50 children (under 3s go free), £14.50 concessions (includes students). Family and group discounts available.
  • 3 Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, Davidson's Mains, +44 131 336-2060. The Castle is only accessible via guided tour which always starts at 2pm and is offered as follows: Apr-Oct: Mon-Thu,Sat-Sun & Nov-Mar: Sat-Sun. Gardens are open daily as follows: Apr-Sep 9:00-20:00 & Oct-Mar 9:00-17:00. This 16th Century tower house was extended in the 1820s and left to the nation by its last private owners in the early 20th Century. It is now owned and managed by Edinburgh city council. The house has been occupied over the years by many notable figures. The gardens are particularly notable for the croquet lawn. Lauriston Castle is also used as an event space (e.g. events organized by the Usher Hall). £5/£3. Family Ticket (up to 2 adults & 3 under 16's) £12.50. Gardens are free.
  • 4 Corstorphine Old Parish Church, Kirk Loan, Corstorphine. Church open Wed 10:30 - 12:00. Interesting old church founded in 1429, but with history going back to 1128.

Do

  • 1 Murrayfield Ice Rink, Riversdale Crescent (Next to Murrayfield Stadium), +44 131 337-6933, +44 131 337-4242 (curling), . Daily (may be closed during special events). Popular ice-rink, hours vary daily. Regular leisure skating sessions, plus ice-discos on Friday and Saturday nights very popular with local teens. Both Leisure skating and ice-hockey tuition available. Plays host to the Edinburgh Capitals ice hockey team, plus a curling club on a separate rink. Re-opens on 31st of July 2015 after renovations. Adults depending on session: £4.50-£6, skate hire £1-£1.80.
  • 2 Corstorphine Hill (adjacent to the Edinburgh Zoo). Local Nature Reserve. Low wooded hill, lying between Corstorphine Road and Queensferry Road. Popular with walkers and joggers (and sledging in the winter!). Don't be afraid if you hear exotic animal sounds, especially on the southern slopes - the zoo has firm fencing in place! The tower near the top is dedicated to Sir Walter Scott (as if his Gothic Rocket on Princes Street wasn't enough).
  • 3 Cramond (Catch the No. 41 bus to this pretty seaside village (now absorbed into the city)). Archeological evidence suggests that Cramond is actually older than Edinburgh itself, having been inhabited since around 8500BC. Its location where the River Almond flows into the Firth of Forth meant it was strategically important, and the Romans had a fort here, the remains of which can still be seen. There are several options for waterside walking, with a path along the wooded Almond riverbank to the south, a seafront promenade along the Forth to the east, and a causeway across the Firth of Forth to Cramond Island (check the noticeboard re: tide times before crossing!). It used to be possible to walk to the west across the Dalmeny Estate towards South Queensferry, but the ferry across the River Almond stopped running when the boatman found a Roman statue of a lioness buried in the muddy riverbed, and retired on the monetary reward (you can see the impressive statue in the National Museum of Scotland). Once you've done walking around admiring the sights, enjoy a well-earned refreshment in the welcoming Cramond Inn or Cramond Tearooms.
  • John Muir Way (Take Lothian Buses no. 41 from the city centre and get off in Cramond at bus stop "Templers Cramond"). The John Muir Way passes through Edinburgh and South Queensferry. A great 10km section for hiking is between Cramond (starting west of the River Almond) and South Queensferry which runs almost always along the coastline and passes Dalmeny House and Branbougie Castle. It offers great views of the Firth of Forth rail bridge.
  • Water of Leith Walkway. Walk or cycle along the Water of Leith. The route follows the river right through the City from the suburb of Balerno, on the edge of the Pentland Hills, to the sea at Leith. The walkway is indicated by brown direction signs featuring a water wheel logo. There are brown trout plus a dozen other species of fish in the river and birds including the grey heron, goosander, dipper and kingfisher can be seen along the banks.
  • Fishing (Angling) on the Water of Leith. Permits are required, and can be obtained free of charge from the City Council offices at Waverley Market in the New Town and Cockburn Street in the Old Town. Most fishing tackle shops throughout the city can also provide permits.
  • 4 Tynecastle Stadium, Gorgie Road. Take in a football game at Heart of Midlothian F.C.'s (generally known as simply "Hearts") Tynecastle Stadium. The team play in the Scottish Premier League and games are generally 3PM on a Saturday but check on line or local press for fixture details.
  • Take in a match of the city's professional rugby team, Edinburgh Rugby, at Murrayfield. The team play in the Pro12 League, which features 12 teams from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Italy; and also in the European Rugby Champions Cup.
  • 5 Cineworld, 130 Dundee St (This is about 20 mins on foot from Princes Street. Or take bus no. 1, 22, 30, 34 or 35.), +44 871 200 2000. Mainly mainstream and arthouse cinema.
  • 6 Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston (near the airport).

Buy

  • 1 Corstorphine (About 1km west of the zoo). Originally a village on its own, but now part of Edinburgh. There are an assortment of chain and independent shops on St John's Road. Near this is a large Tesco (24hr supermarket) on Meadow Place Road, behind PC World.
  • 2 Gyle Shopping Centre, South Gyle Broadway, EH12 9JY. An indoor shopping centre with Marks and Spencer and Morrisons as the anchor stores, and about 50 shops. Located at the Western edge of the city, near the Gogar roundabout.
  • 3 Country Life Edinburgh, 229 Balgreen Road, Edinburgh, EH11 2RZ (At the corner of Gorgie road and Balgreen roads), +44 131 337-6230. Fishing gear and clothing. Friendly helpful service, advice given from fishing enthusiasts who are knowledgeable, pleasant and cheerful. Truly a pleasant shopping experience. And they go beyond the call of duty too, if it is needed.

Eat

  • 1 First Coast, 97-101 Dalry Road, +44 131 313-4404, . Mon-Sat: lunch 12:00-14:00; dinner from 17:00; Sun closed. Popular neighbourhood bistro. Around £11-15 for dinner.
  • 2 Miller & Carter Cramond Brig, Queensferry Road (Right on the edge of the city, just before the A90 to South Queensferry becomes a dual carriageway), +44 131 339-4350. Daily 12:00-22:30 (23:00 on Fri, Sat). A steakhouse chain. Popular meeting spot due to good road connections and plentiful parking. Work off your lunch by following the River Almond walkway upstream through the Cammo estate, or downstream to the Firth of Forth at Cramond Village. Most dishes between £11 and £25.
  • 3 Guru Balti Restaurant, 9 Dundee Terrace, +44 131 221-9779, +44 131 221-1281. Specialising in Indian Balti cuisine, the dishes are refreshing after having the same old curries at other restaurants.

Drink

  • 1 Murrayfield Bar, 57-59 Roseburn Terrace, Murrayfield, +44 131 337-1574, fax: +44 131 347-8714, . full food menu available 11AM - 10PM daily. Friendly pub close to Murrayfield Stadium. Decent pub grub menu including breakfasts. As you would imagine in this location, it's a popular place for watching televised sport.
  • 2 The Cramond Inn, 30 Cramond Glebe Road, Cramond Village, +44 131 336-2035. Food served: Mon–Thu 12PM–8:45PM; Fri/Sat noon–9:45PM; Sun 12:30PM-6PM. Bar open: Mon–Thu 11AM–11PM; Fri/Sat 11AM–midnight; Sun 12:30PM–11PM. Traditional village pub in this traditional village turned city suburb. This is a northern outpost of Yorkshire's Samuel Smiths Brewery, and serves only in-house drinks - no branded beers at all, and even the cola and lemonade are own-brand. You won't mind missing out on Guinness or Stella when you see the prices though - generally less than £2 a pint which is almost unheard of in Edinburgh. Sunny (or even non-rainy) weekends bring the crowds, and service sometimes suffers as a result. Tables outside for al-fresco drinking but food service is indoors-only.

Sleep

Budget

  • 1 Bainfield Ensuite Accommodation, Fountainbridge (Opposite of the FountainPark shopping mall), +44 131 455-3722, . Offered by Edinburgh Napier University during summer only (semester break). Used as student accommodation throughout the rest of the year. Send an email or call for booking requests. Between 4 to 8 single rooms in one shared apartment. Linen, towels and WiFi included.

Mid-Range

  • 2 Holiday Inn Edinburgh, 132 Corstorphine Road,Edinburgh, EH12 6UA (Next the Zoo, about 2 miles from the city centre, on 12, 26, 31 and Airlink bus route.), +44 871 942 9026. The hotel has a restaurant. It is next door to the zoo, and so don't be surprised if you hear animals at night.
  • 3 Holiday Inn Edinburgh City West, 107 Queensferry Road, Edinburgh, EH4 3HL (Near the Craigleith shopping centre, about 1 mile from the city centre, on 41, 42, 43 bus routes.), +44 871 942 9025. Rooms on the east side have a distant view of Edinburgh Castle.

Splurge

  • 4 Dunstane House Hotel, 4 West Coates, Haymarket, EH12 5JQ, +44 131 337-6169. The hotel offers the comfort and elegance of a Scottish country house. The same people run the Dunstane City Hotel across the road.
  • 5 Novotel Edinburgh Park, 15 Lochside Avenue, Edinburgh EH12 9DJ, +44 131 446-5600. Not the most inspiring of locations, but very convenient adjacent to the City Bypass for road trips around the rest of Scotland and right next to Edinburgh Park Station for speedy transport to the city centre. Pool, gym, steam room, restaurant. Completed in 2008.

Connect

Internet

Go next

Map of central Edinburgh districts


This district travel guide to West is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.


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