Information for Attendees
The UKCI 2025 Conference will take place at Merchiston Campus, Edinburgh Napier University from 3rd to 5th September 2025. Please note that Edinburgh Napier has 3 campuses in different locations.
Venue Information
Merchiston is built around the historic 16th century birthplace and home of John Napier, who is best known for his discovery of logarithms.
The campus is covered by the eduroam network. A full Merchiston accessibility guide is available here.
Merchiston is built around the historic 16th century birthplace and home of John Napier, who is best known for his discovery of logarithms. The campus is covered by the eduroam network. A full Merchiston accessibility guide is available here.
Accommodation
Edinburgh offers a broad mix of accomodation types, from traditional guesthouses to boutique hotels and modern serviced apartments. Airbnb options are plentiful, especially in residential areas like Morningside and Merchiston, while the city centre caters more to hotels, both chain and independent. Bed and breakfasts are common in quieter areas and can offer excellent value with a local touch.
Recommended Neighbourhoods
- 🌿 Ambience: Leafy, cafés & bookshops
- 📍 Postcodes: EH10, EH9
- 🚶 Walk: 5–15 min to campus
- 🚌 Routes: 11 15 16 23 36 (Holy Corner → 5–15 min walk)
- 👍 Quiet, walkable, close to campus
- 👎 Few hotels (mostly B&Bs)
- Best for: Academics seeking peace near campus
- 🏙️ Ambience: Central & well-connected
- 📍 Postcode: EH3
- 🚋 Time: ~20–30 min by bus (with transfer) / 10 min taxi
- 🚌 Route: Tram or walk → Princes St, then 11/16 → Holy Corner
- 👍 Great for arrivals
- 👎 Busy & touristy, requires transfer
- Best for: Visitors arriving by train or tram
- 🎭 Ambience: Lively, youthful
- 📍 Postcode: EH3
- 🚶 Walk: 20–25 min / Bus: 15–20 min
- 🚌 Routes: 11 16 23 36 → Holy Corner
- 👍 Close to bars & cinemas
- 👎 Can be noisy at night
- Best for: Students & early-career attendees
- 🏰 Ambience: Historic & vibrant
- 📍 Postcodes: EH1, EH2
- 🚌 Direct: 11, 16, 23 (~20–30 min)
- 🚌 Also: 5, 45 on Colinton Rd (longer walk ~25–30 min)
- 👍 Central, near landmarks
- 👎 Expensive & touristy
- Best for: Visitors wanting to explore Edinburgh
- 🏡 Ambience: Quiet & residential
- 📍 Postcodes: EH11, EH10
- 🚶 Walk: 10–30 min / Bus+transfer: 25–30 min
- 🚌 Routes: 45 or 16 → transfer @ Holy Corner → ~5 min walk
- 34/35 do not serve campus directly
- 👍 Quiet, affordable
- 👎 Limited nightlife; requires transfer
- Best for: Proximity & affordability
- 🌊 Ambience: Creative, maritime feel
- 📍 Postcode: EH6
- 🚌 Time: ~45–60 min by bus/tram + transfer
- 🚌 Routes: 11, 16 direct; or tram→Princes St + 11/16/23
- 👍 Great food & options
- 👎 Long commute
- Best for: Budget-conscious commuters
| Bus Route | Neighbourhoods Served |
|---|---|
| 11 | Bruntsfield, Morningside, Tollcross, City Centre, Leith |
| 15 | Bruntsfield, Morningside |
| 16 | Bruntsfield, Morningside, Tollcross, Slateford, Leith |
| 23 | Bruntsfield, Morningside, Tollcross, City Centre |
| 36 | Bruntsfield, Morningside, Tollcross |
| 5 | City Centre (longer walk) |
| 45 | City Centre (longer walk), Slateford |
Accommodation Bookings
Tips: We recommend using map view to check walking distances to Merchiston Campus, as well as to check public transport access. You can also filter according to your budget. Below, we have provided some popular platforms for booking accommodation in Edinburgh:
Transport
Merchiston Campus is easily accessible by public transport, with several bus routes serving the area. It is also within walking distance of many of Edinburgh's attractions, making it convenient for attendees to explore the city during their stay. Lothian Buses is the primary bus provider.
Tram: There are direct links from Edinburgh Airport to Princes Street. From there, most of the buses below will take you directly to Merchiston (stop Holy Corner).