Edinburgh & The Lothians

Made up of Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian, Edinburgh & The Lothians is a compact area with plenty of top attractions to visit, and hidden gems to discover.

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.

Things to do in Edinburgh & The Lothians

The diversity of natural and architectural landscape between city, countryside and coast across the region means there's an abundance of things to see and do. Have fun exploring them!

Historic Attractions

Discover some of the best historic sites in Edinburgh & The Lothians.

Family Attractions

There is a whole host of attractions to visit across Edinburgh & The Lothians that are perfect for the family to enjoy.

Walking in Edinburgh

Explore Scotland's capital on foot.

Golf courses

Plan a golfing holiday and tee off at some well-known golf courses across Edinburgh & The Lothians.

Watersports

Head out on the water and try a range of amazing watersports including surfing, canyoning, wakeboarding and much more.

Arts & Culture

Embrace Edinburgh & The Lothians fantastic arts & culture scene with a range of unmissable events.

Parks, Country Parks and Gardens

Wherever you look, you see green, loads of green! Relax at parks and gardens in the city and the Lothians.

Edinburgh, UNESCO City of Literature

Storytelling and writing is the beating heart of Edinburgh's art and culture scene. Discover the home of many literary superstars past and present.

See all things to do

Inspiration for Edinburgh & The Lothians Breaks

Find the right accommodation in Edinburgh & The Lothians to suit your budget.

One of the suites at the luxury 5-star Balmoral Hotel
© VisitScotland / Luigi Di Pasquale

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

The Forth Bridges Trail
© Forth Bridges Trail / Stephen Sweeney Photography

Tours, Routes and Trails

Check out our ideas for day trips and tours in and around the Lothians.

Cycling sightseeing in South Queensferry
© VisitScotland / Luigi Di Pasquale

Unique Experiences

Explore some of Edinburgh and the Lothians hidden gem attractions.

Map of Edinburgh & The Lothians

Explore Edinburgh & The Lothians

Get friendly and helpful advice for your trip at our iCentres.

Javascript is needed to show this map.

Select map types

Places

iCentres

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

EVents

See an incredible magic show, be stunned by breathtaking stories or take the kids to see Santa in the forest. It's all happening with events in Edinburgh & The Lothians this season.

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

Beecraigs Country Park
© VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins

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

The Bass Rock seen from the Seafari Explorer - Seabird Cruise
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

East Lothian Driving Routes

Hit the road and discover the beauty, heritage and wildlife of East Lothian on three driving routes. From spectacular coastal vistas to fascinating historic sites and ancient woodlands.

For information on Electric Vehicle Charging Points in East Lothian.

National Museum of Flight
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Explore further

Discover the beauty of Edinburgh & The Lothians and enjoy lots of exciting activities.

A tip from your local expert

VisitScotland Information Centre
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

“

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

Assistant iCentre Manager, Edinburgh

For more friendly advice, visit the Edinburgh iCentre.

Other things you might like

Places to go

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

10 Stunning Stays in Scotland

14 Wonderful Wildlife Tours to Book in Scotland