- Home
- Places to go
- Edinburgh & The Lothians
Edinburgh & The Lothians
Edinburgh & The Lothians is a compact area made up of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian. It's an easily accessible part of the country to extend your stay and explore, offering rolling countryside, top attractions, expansive coastal views and hidden gems to discover.
Find experiences
JavaScript needs to be enabled to see this product search form. You can turn this on in your browser settings.
Things to do in Edinburgh & The Lothians
City, countryside and coast combine in Edinburgh & The Lothians, making it a popular Scottish holiday destination. Have fun exploring!
Historic Attractions
Discover some of the best historic sites in Edinburgh & The Lothians.
15 Stunning walks in the Lothians
Whether you’re basing yourself here for a holiday or day tripping from Edinburgh, there’s so much to discover on foot.
2Days
Car
10 Exciting Outdoor Activities to do in East Lothian
Enjoy an outdoor adventure on Scotland's east coast.
Golf courses
Plan a golfing holiday and tee off at some well-known golf courses across Edinburgh & The Lothians.
Arts & Culture
Embrace Edinburgh & The Lothians fantastic arts & culture scene with a range of unmissable events.
Watersports
Head out on the water and try a range of amazing watersports including surfing, canyoning, wakeboarding and much more.
Inspiration for Edinburgh & The Lothians Breaks
Find the right accommodation in Edinburgh & The Lothians to suit your budget.
Places to stay
From city centre apartments to exclusive use castles that are surrounded by lush countryside, there is a huge variety of accommodation options in Edinburgh & The Lothians.
Tours, Routes and Trails
Check out our ideas for day trips and tours in and around the Lothians.
Unique Experiences
Explore some of Edinburgh and the Lothians hidden gem attractions.
14 hidden gems and things to do in Edinburgh
Explore some of Edinburgh's best hidden gems from stunning city views to a tranquil Japanese Friendship garden.
UNESCO trail
The first country in the world to bring together 13 UNESCO sites into one trail.
Map of Edinburgh & The Lothians
Explore Edinburgh & The Lothians
Get friendly and helpful advice for your trip at our iCentres.
Loading
Javascript is needed to show this map.
Javascript is needed to show this map.
Travel to and around Edinburgh and the Lothians
Getting to
Train
Edinburgh & The Lothians has a reliable rail network to help you get from A to B in no time.
Midlothian is served by the Borders Railway line between Edinburgh Waverley and Tweebank in the Borders. Stops include Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange (Scotland's National Mining Museum) and Gorebridge.
In East Lothian, the towns and villages of Musselburgh, Wallyford, Prestonpans, Longniddry, Drem, North Berwick and Dunbar are served by Edinburgh Waverley Station.
In West Lothian, Uphall, Livingston North and Bathgate are on the same line connecting visitors from Edinburgh main line stations in the East to Glasgow Queen Street in the West.
Driving
Edinburgh is serviced by excellent road links from north, south, east and west, making it a straightforward drive across Scotland and the rest of the UK. Driving from Aberdeen takes approximately just over 2 hours and takes around an hour’s drive from Glasgow.
Midlothian is accessible from the A68, A7, A701, A702, A1 in the East and Edinburgh City Bypass (A720).
East Lothian is easily accessed from the A1, A68 and M8 and is just a 30-minute drive away from Edinburgh. If you're travelling by electric car, check out all EV charge points from Chargeplace Scotland, Zap Map and Pod Point.
If you’re travelling to West Lothian, join the M8, head east towards Edinburgh and then take the junction for the M9.
Flying
Edinburgh Airport is the nearest airport and is served by a number of national and international routes.
Getting around
Bus and coach
Lothian Buses and First Bus are the two main bus companies that operate within the city and outskirts. The day buses run from 6am to midnight with night buses also available.
Midlothian and East Lothian are served by a number of bus operators which include East Coast Buses, Borders Buses, Lothian Buses, Stagecoach, Prentice Coaches and Eve Coaches.
There are regular bus services from Edinburgh to Linlithgow, Livingston, Bathgate, and elsewhere within West Lothian. The two main operators are Lothian Country Buses and First Buses and offer a wide range of travel connections – including through the night with the addition of NightBus Services.
Tram
Edinburgh has a tram line which has 15 stops that connect to Edinburgh Airport with the City Centre.
Plan your journey with Edinburgh Trams
Travel passes
If you’re planning to take the bus frequently, buying a Ridacard from Lothian Buses is a cheaper alternative to buying bus tickets every day and offers unlimited travel on several buses including Airport buses, NightBus services and even Edinburgh Trams.
Planning a weekend trip to Edinburgh? The Royal Edinburgh Ticket is valid for 48 hours and includes fast track admission to popular attractions including Edinburgh Castle, The Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Royal Yacht Britannia, three Hop-on, Hop-off Edinburgh Bus Tours and exclusive discounts at various attractions across the city.
Tours
Take in the scenic surroundings and hear from a knowledgeable local tour guide on an open-top bus tour or delve into Scotland’s rich historic past with a walking tour.
Find a tour in Edinburgh & The Lothians
What's on in Edinburgh & The Lothians
Events
There are loads of festivals and events taking place across the Lothians this year, here are just a few to whet your appetite.
Places to Eat in Edinburgh & The Lothians
Food & Drink
There are plenty of places to try Scottish food and drink in Edinburgh & The Lothians. Check out these foodie suggestions, from local producers to tasty restaurants.
Cycling in Edinburgh & The Lothians
Explore Edinburgh & The Lothians on two wheels across various National Cycle Network routes.
A tip from your local expert
Hoist the mainsail with a visit to Trinity House Maritime Museum, situated in a Georgian building in the heart of Leith. Discover the areas rich nautical history through their treasure trove of paintings, artefacts and memorabilia!
Lesley
VisitScotland
Find out moreOther things you might like
AccessAble Guide - Edinburgh & The Lothians
Edinburgh
Dumfries & Galloway
The Scottish Borders
Fife
Top 7 Things to Do in Dunfermline
Loch Lomond, Trossachs, Stirling & Forth Valley
Ayrshire & Arran
13 Taylor Swift Inspired Trips In & Around Edinburgh
Join our Newsletter Clan
Get Scotland inspiration direct to your inbox. Don't miss the inside track from our Scotland experts on exciting trip ideas, unique attractions and hidden gems loved by locals.