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.

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.

Prestonfield House Hotel, an exclusive 5-star hotel
© James Thomson OBE

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.

View more places to stay

Walking in the John Muir Country Park, Dunbar
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

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.

Go Ape Dalkeith

With 8 thrilling zip wires across the River Esk and sky-high platforms, there’s something for everyone here.

Lost Shore Surf Resort

Come and visit Europe’s largest inland surfing destination, open now!

Map of Edinburgh & The Lothians

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.

Check out travel to Edinburgh & The Lothians by train

Driving

Flying

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.

Find out more information on buses and fares

Tram

Travel passes

Tours

What's on in Edinburgh & The Lothians

Dalkeith Country Park, Midlothian
© © VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Events

There are loads of festivals and events taking place across the Lothians this year, here are just a few to whet your appetite.

See all events in Edinburgh & The Lothians

Places to eat in Edinburgh & The Lothians

The Bridge Inn
© VisitScotland / Grant Paterson

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.

Browse food & drink options

A couple taking in the views of The Forth Bridges

Cycling in Edinburgh & The Lothians

Explore Edinburgh & The Lothians on two wheels across various National Cycle Network routes.

Find cycle trails in Edinburgh & The Lothians

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 more

Find experiences

Search a wide range of accommodation, events, food & drink options and things to do from indoor and outdoor attractions to activities, tours and more.

JavaScript needs to be enabled to see this product search form. You can turn this on in your browser settings.

Other things you might like

Things to do

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.

Get the Scotland newsletter