Travel information: Edinburgh fast facts A-Z

Age restrictions

You have to be 18 to drink in Scotland, though some bars and clubs admit only over-21s. The legal age for driving is 17, though most car rental firms won't hire cars to under-21s. The legal age of consent is 16.

Attitude & etiquette

Edinburgh is, on the whole, an informal city. A handful of high-end restaurants may insist on jacket or jacket and tie (call to check).

Business

Conferences & conventions

Edinburgh Convention Bureau
29 Drumsheugh Gardens, EH3 7RN (473 3666/fax 473 3636/www.conventionedinburgh.com).
Assistance on arranging a conference.

Edinburgh International Conference Centre
The Exchange, 150 Morrison Street, West Edinburgh, EH3 8EE (300 3000/fax 300 3030/www.eicc.co.uk). Bus 2, 3, 3A, 4, 25, 33, 44, 44A.
In the modern surroundings of the city's new financial centre, the EICC's main space can accommodate up to 1,200 delegates.

Couriers & shippers

Call the numbers below to arrange an item pick-up.

DHL 0870 240 0555/ww.dhl.co.uk.

FedEx 0800 123800/08456 070809/www.fedex.com/gb.

UPS 08457 877877/www.ups.com/gb.

Office hire & business centres

Edinburgh Office Business Centre & Conference Venue
16-26 Forth Street, Broughton, EH1 3LH (550 3700/fax 550 3701/www.edinburghoffice.co.uk). Bus 8, 17.
A variety of office spaces, scattered over four locations around the city.

Regus
Conference House, The Exchange, 152 Morrison Street, West Edinburgh, EH3 8EB (200 6000/fax 200 6200/www.regus.com). Bus 2, 3, 3A, 4, 25, 33, 44, 44A.
Office and conference spaces, conveniently close to the EICC.

Secretarial services

Office Angels
95 George Street, New Town, EH2 3ES (226 6112/fax 220 6850/www.office-angels.com).

Reed Employment Solutions
13 Frederick Street, New Town, EH2 2BY (226 3687/fax 247 5900/www.reed.co.uk).

Translators & interpreters

Berlitz
26 Frederick Street, New Town, EH2 2JR (226 7198/www.languagecentres.com).

Integrated Language Services
School of Languages, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, EH14 4AS (451 3159/www.hw.ac.uk/ils).

Useful organisations

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce & Enterprise
Capital House, 2 Festival Square, West Edinburgh, EH3 9SU (221 2999/fax 221 2998/www.ecce.org). Bus 10, 11, 15, 15A, 16, 17, 22, 24, 30. Open 8.30am-5.30pm Mon-Fri.
Advice and support for businesses.

Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh & Lothian
Apex House, 99 Haymarket Terrace, West Edinburgh, EH12 5HD (313 4000/fax 313 4231/www.scottish-enterprise.com/edinburghandlothian). Bus 12, 26, 31. Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri.
A government-funded economic development agency.

Scottish Executive
St Andrew's House, Regent Road, Calton Hill, EH1 3DG (556 8400/www.scotland.gov.uk). Bus 3, 7, 8, 14, 19, 19A. Open 8.30am-5pm Mon-Fri. Access government departments here.

Consumer

If you pay with a credit card, you can cancel payment or get reimbursed if there is a problem. The Citizens Advice Bureau and the local trading standards office at the Advice Shop can help (for both, see Help & Advice).

Customs

• Citizens entering the UK from outside the EU must adhere to duty-free import limits:
• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
• 2 litres still table wine plus either 1 litre spirits or strong liqueurs (over 22% abv) or 2 litres fortified wine (under 22% abv), sparkling wine or other liqueurs
• 60cc/ml perfume
• 250cc/ml toilet water
• Other goods to the value of no more than £145

The import of meat, poultry, fruit, plants, flowers and protected animals is restricted or forbidden; there are no restrictions on the import or export of currency. People over the age of 17 arriving from an EU country have been able to import unlimited goods for their own personal use, if bought tax-paid (ie not duty-free). For more details, see www.hmce.gov.uk.

Disabled

Listed buildings aren't allowed to widen their entrances or add ramps, and parts of the Old Town have wheelchair-unfriendly narrow pavements. However, equal opportunity legislation requires new buildings to be fully accessible. Lothian Buses' new fleet of vehicles are accessible to passengers in wheelchairs. Some routes still rely on older buses, but more than half the buses are now accessible. Call 555 6363 for details.

Newer black taxis are wheelchair-accessible; specify when booking. Edinburgh City Council publishes 'Transport in Edinburgh: A Guide for Disabled People'. For a free copy, call 469 3891.

Most theatres and cinemas are fitted with induction loops for the hard of hearing. Ask when booking. For more on disabled living in Edinburgh, contact Grapevine, part of the Lothian Centre for Integrated Living.

Grapevine
Norton Park, 57 Albion Road, Calton Hill, EH7 5QY (475 2370/fax 475 2392/www.lothiancil.org.uk). Open Phone enquiries 9.30am-4pm Mon-Fri.

Drugs

Despite confusion over cannabis's reclassification as a Class C drug early in 2004, both hard and soft drugs are illegal in Scotland, as they are in the rest of the UK.

Electricity

The UK electricity supply is 220-240 volt, 50-cycle AC rather than the 110-120 volt, 60-cycle AC used in the US. Foreign visitors will need to run appliances via an adaptor. TV and video employ different systems to the US.

Embassies & consulates

For a list of consular offices in Edinburgh, consult the Yellow Pages, or see www.edinburgh.gov.uk/cec/consulates/consulates.html. The majority of embassies and consulates (the US is an exception) do not accept personal callers without an appointment.

Australian Consulate Forsyth House
93 George Street, EH2 3ES (624 3333/www.australia.org.uk). Princes Street buses.

Canadian Honorary Consulate Burness
Festival Square, EH3 9WJ (473 6320/www.cic.gc.ca). Bus 10, 11, 15, 15A, 16, 17, 22, 24, 30.

Irish Consulate General
16 Randolph Crescent, EH3 7TT (0131 226 7711/http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie). Bus 36, 37, 41, 47.

US Consulate General
3 Regent Terrace, Calton Hill, EH7 5BW (556 8315/after-hours emergencies 01224 857097/www.usembassy.org.uk/scotland). Bus 1, 35. Open Personal callers 1-5pm Tue, Thur.

Emergencies

In the event of a serious accident, fire or incident, call 999 and specify whether you require an ambulance, the fire service or the police.

Gay & lesbian

Several campaigning groups maintain offices in Edinburgh:

Stonewall Scotland
557 3679/www.stonewallscotland.org.uk.

Equality Network
07020 933952/www.equality-network.org.

LGBT Youth Scotland
0845 113 0005, 7.30-9pm Tue/www.lgbtyouth.org.uk.
Runs a weekly helpline.

Remember When
558 2820/www.rememberwhen.org.uk.
An ongoing oral history project.

Among the special-interest groups in the city are:

Edinburgh Gay Women's Group
www.stormpages.com/fabwymyn
Runs a social at Nexus from 8.30pm every Wednesday.

Gay Dads Scotland
www.gaydadsscotland.org.uk.
Meets on the last Thursday of the month at the LGBT Centre.

Edinburgh Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Centre
58a-60 Broughton Street, Broughton (556 9471). Bus 8, 13, 17. Open hours vary.
Start here if you're looking for more information.

Lothian Gay & Lesbian Switchboard
Main line 556 4049/lesbian line 557 0751/www.lgls.co.uk. Open Main line 7.30-10pm daily. Lesbian line 7.30-10pm Mon, Thur.
Advice and support. The Switchboard also runs Icebreakers, a social event held every other Wednesday at CC Blooms; call for dates.

Health

National Health Service (NHS) treatment is free to EU nationals, UK residents and those studying here. All can register with a doctor (commonly known as a general practitioner, or GP). There are no NHS charges for accident and emergency treatment, diagnosis and treatment of some communicable diseases (including STDs) and family planning. If you aren't eligible to see an NHS doctor, you will be charged the cost price for medicines prescribed by a private doctor.

If you don't fit into any of the above categories but want to find out if you still qualify for free treatment, contact NHS Lothian Primary Care Services on 537 8400, or see www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk.

Accident & emergency

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road, EH16 (536 1000). Bus 8, 18, 24, 32, 33, 38, 49.
Edinburgh's 24-hour casualty department.

Contraception & abortion

Caledonia Youth
5 Castle Terrace, South Edinburgh (229 3596/www.caledoniayouth.org). Bus 1, 10, 11, 15, 15A, 16, 17, 22, 24, 30, 34. Open noon-6pm Mon-Thur; noon-3.30pm Fri; noon-2.30pm Sat.
Advice on contraception, abortion and sexual health for under-25s. Staff can offer referrals to NHS hospitals or private clinics.

Family Planning & Well Woman Services
18 Dean Terrace, Stockbridge (332 7941). Bus 24, 29, 42. Open By appointment 9.30am-7.30pm Mon-Thur; 9.30am-3.30pm Fri. Drop-in clinic (under-25s) 9.30am-noon Sat.
Confidential advice, contraceptive provision, pregnancy tests and abortion referral.

Dental services

Western General Hospital Dental Clinic
Crewe Road South, Stockbridge (537 1338). Bus 19, 19A, 28, 29, 37, 37A, 38. Open 7-9pm Mon-Fri; also 10am-noon Sat, Sun.
A walk-in emergency clinic, for tourists and Lothian residents only.

Hospitals

See Accident & emergency.

Opticians

The Alexandra Pavilion offers a free walk-in service for emergency eye complaints.

Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion
Chalmers Street, South Edinburgh (536 1000). Bus 35. Open 8.30am-5pm Mon-Fri.

For dispensing opticians, see opticians in Edinburgh.

Pharmacies

See pharamcies in Edinburgh.

STDs, HIV & AIDS

The Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic (GUM), affiliated with the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, provides free, confidential advice and treatment of STDs, and offers HIV tests by appointment. The Solas Centre is the city's HIV and AIDS support resource.

Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic
Lauriston Building, Lauriston Place, South Edinburgh (536 2103). Bus 35. Open Walk-in clinic (emergencies) 9-10am Mon-Fri. Appointments call for details.

Waverley Care Solas HIV Support Centre
2-4 Abbeymount, Calton Hill (661 0982/www.waverleycare.org). Bus 30, 35. Open 11am-4pm Mon-Fri.

Help & advice

Drop-in centres

Advice Shop
South Bridge, Old Town (225 1255). Nicolson Street-North Bridge buses. Open 9.30am-4pm Mon, Wed, Thur; 10am-4pm Tue; 9.30am-3.30pm Fri.
Advice on consumer problems and welfare benefits.

Citizens Advice Bureau
58 Dundas Street, New Town (557 1500/appointments 557 3681/www.cas.org.uk). Bus 13, 23, 27. Open 9.30am-4pm Mon, Tue, Thur; 9.30am-12.30pm, 6.30-8pm Wed.
Free advice on legal, financial and personal matters. Aside from this city-centre branch, there are three other offices around Edinburgh.

Helplines

• Alcoholics Anonymous 0845 769 7555/www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk. Open 24hrs daily.
• Childline 0800 1111/www.childline.org.uk. Open 24hrs daily.
• Drinkline 0800 917 8282. Open 24hrs daily.
• Edinburgh Women's Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre 556 9437. Open hrs vary.
• Edinburgh Women's Aid (Domestic Violence) 315 8111. Open 10am-3pm Mon, Wed, Fri; 10am-7pm Thur; 10am-1pm Sat.
• Gamblers Anonymous 08700 508880/www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk. Open 9am-8pm daily.
• Know the Score Drugs Helpline 0800 587 5879/www.knowthescore.info. Open 24hrs daily.
• National AIDS Helpline 0800 567123. Open 24hrs daily.
• NHS Helpline 0800 4546/www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. Open 24hrs daily.
• Samaritans National 08457 909090/local 221 9999/www.samaritans.org. Open National 24hrs daily. Local 9am-10pm daily.
• Victim Support National 0845 303 0900/local 0845 603 9213/www.victimsupportsco.demon.co.uk. Open National 9am-9pm Mon-Fri; 9am-7pm Sat, Sun. Local 9am-4.30pm Mon-Thur; 9am-4pm Fri.

ID

ID is not widely required in the UK, but you will need a passport or drivers' licence (assuming it has a photocard) for changing money, collecting travellers' cheques and so on.

Insurance

Non-nationals should arrange baggage, trip-cancellation and medical insurance before departures. Medical centres will ask for details of your insurance company and your policy number; keep the details with you at all times.

Internet

Public internet access is abundant in Edinburgh. Many cafés and bars offer free Wi-Fi internet access, and chain cafés such as Starbucks offer wireless access via a paid-for subscription. If you're not toting a laptop, a handful of internet cafés have computers available for rent.

easyInternetcafé
58 Rose Street, New Town (220 3577/www.easyinternetcafe.com). Princes Street buses. Open 7.30am-10.30pm daily.

Edinburgh Internet Café
98 West Bow, Old Town (226 5400/www.edininternetcafe.com). Bus 2, 23, 27, 41, 42. Open 10am-11pm daily.

Wired Café
1a Brougham Place, South Edinburgh (659 7820/www.wiredcafe.info). Bus 10, 11, 15, 15A, 16, 17, 23, 24, 27, 45. Open 9am-9pm Mon-Fri; 10am-9pm Sat, Sun.

Left luggage

Edinburgh Airport
0870 040 0007/www.edinburghairport.com. Open 5am-11pm daily.
Left luggage facilities are located between the check-in area and the internationals arrivals home.

St Andrew Square Bus Station
There are lockers in the station.

Waverley Station
558 3829/www.excess-baggage.com. Open 7am-11pm daily.
The left luggage facilities here are operated by Excess Baggage.

Legal help

If a legal problem arises, contact your embassy, consulate or high commission. You can get advice from any Citizens Advice Bureau (see Help & advice) or one of the organisations listed below. If you need financial assistance, be sure to ask about Legal Aid eligibility. For leaflets explaining how the system works, write to the Scottish Legal Aid Board. Advice on problems concerning visas and immigration can be obtained from the Immigration Advisory Service.

Edinburgh & Lothians Race Equality Council
14 Forth Street, EH1 3LH (556 0441/www.elrec.org.uk).

Immigration Advisory Service
115 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 2SZ (0141 248 2956/www.iasuk.org).

Law Society of Scotland
26 Drumsheugh Gardens, EH3 7YR (226 7411/www.lawscot.org.uk).

Scottish Legal Aid Board
44 Drumsheugh Gardens, EH3 7SW (office 226 7061/helpline 0845 122 8686/www.slab.org.uk).

Libraries

The Central Library stocks a wide selection of publications, and has a large reference section (242 8060). You must live locally to join the lending library (242 8020). The National Library of Scotland is a deposit library. The Reading Rooms are open for reference and research; admission is by ticket to approved applicants.

University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square, South Edinburgh (650 3384/www.lib.ed.ac.uk). Bus 2, 41, 42. Open Term-time 8.30am-10pm Mon-Thur; 9am-7pm Fri; 9am-5pm Sat; noon-7pm Sun. Holiday time 9am-5pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 9am-9pm Wed.
Students who aren't studying at the university may use it for reference purposes. Other users get research access for £5 a day, £15 a week, £30 a month and £60 for 3 months; full borrowing membership costs £60 for 3 months, £100 for 6 months and £160 for 12 months.

Lost property

Always inform the police if you lose anything, if only to validate insurance claims. A lost passport should also be reported at once to your embassy or consulate, if relevant. Below are the details of the lost property offices for items left on public transport.

Edinburgh Airport
344 3486/www.edinburghairport.com. Open 5am-11pm daily.
The lost property office at Edinburgh Airport is located in the international arrivals hall.

Lothian Buses
Annandale Street, Broughton (558 8858). Bus 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, 22, 25, 49. Open 10am-1.30pm Mon-Fri.

Taxis
Edinburgh Police Headquarters, Fettes Avenue, Stockbridge (311 3141). Bus 19, 24, 29, 37, 38, 42, 47. Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri.
All property that has been left in a registered black cab, as well as in the street or in shops, gets sent here.

Waverley Station
558 3829/www.excess-baggage.com. Open 8am-5.30pm daily.
Waverley's lost property facilities are operated by Excess Baggage. For items lost in other stations or on trains, contact the individual station.

Media

Most of Scotland's newspapers, and much of its TV output, operate on a quasi-national basis pitched somewhere between the regional media and London's self-styled 'national' press. The attitudes on display both reflect and illuminate the current state of that nebulous beast known as Scottish identity. From the time-honoured east/west rivalry to the thorny question of the tabloid Daily Record's Rangers affiliations, from Radio Scotland's Sony Award-winning output to the cranky couthiness of the Sunday Post letters page, the cultural divergences that impelled the campaign for devolution continue to pervade the media.

Newspapers

One effect of devolution has been the tartanisation of much of the London-based press, which now prints Scottish editions. London nationals such as the Guardian and Sunday sibling the Observer (left-leaning, arts-friendly), the Times and the Sunday Times (right-slanted, business-heavy), and the Sun and Sunday's News of the World (trashy, gossipy) are all widely sold, and London's flimsy Metro freesheet also publishes a Scottish edition. Listed below, though, are papers native to Scotland.

The Scotsman & Scotland on Sunday
www.scotsman.com & http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com.
This Edinburgh-based broadsheet has gone a little downmarket in recent years, and has abandoned its traditional devolutionary bias. The editorial line tends to the right; arts and features have an east coast bias. Scotland on Sunday is its sister paper.

The Herald & Sunday Herald
www.theherald.co.uk & www.sundayherald.com.
This Glasgow-based broadsheet has the edge over the Scotsman in terms of news. Any Glaswegian bias in its features coverage complements the Scotsman's east coast orientation. The Sunday Herald is the sister paper.

Daily Record & Sunday Mail
www.dailyrecord.co.uk & www.sundaymail.co.uk.
Published by the Mirror Group in Glasgow, Scotland's best-selling daily and its Sunday sibling are quite frothy, although sports coverage is strong and both papers have a campaigning instinct.

Evening News
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com.
Edinburgh's daily evening tabloid. The latest headlines from around the world are combined with a strong local Edinburgh flavour.

Magazines

Tradition still has a place on Scottish magazine shelves. First published in 1739, Scots Magazine (www.scotsmagazine.com) has pretensions to being a Scottish Reader's Digest, while the similarly old-school Scottish Field (www.scottishfield.co.uk) offers lifestyle features.

The country's thriving literary scene is reflected in the likes of the quarterly Chapman (www.chapman-pub.co.uk) and the biannual Edinburgh Review (www.englit.ed.ac.uk/edinburghreview). But there are also style and satirical magazines based in Scotland: Is This Music? (www.isthismusic.com) is the country's leading music magazine, while the Drouth (www.thedrouth.com) offers a mix of cultural and satirical writing.

The city's most high-profile publication is The List (www.list.co.uk). Issued fortnightly on Thursdays (weekly during August), it contains full listings for Glasgow and Edinburgh on everything from major gigs to readings by local writers, and also publishes a generally comprehensive annual Eating & Drinking Guide to both cities (£5.95). More specialist listings are provided by Scotsgay (www.scotsgay.co.uk), distributed free each month in gay venues and available in full online.

Radio

Most UK national stations are accessible in Edinburgh, chief among them the five main BBC stations (www.bbc.co.uk/radio): Radio 1 (97.6-99.8 FM, youth-slanted pop), Radio 2 (88-90.2 FM, adult pop and rock), Radio 3 (90.2-92.4 FM, classical), Radio 4 (92.4-94.6 FM, current affairs and culture) and Radio 5 Live (693 & 909 MW, news and sport).

However, several stations are unique to Scotland. BBC Radio Scotland (92.4-94.7 FM) commands respect for its mix of talk and music-based programming. Forth 1 (97.3 FM, www.forthone.com) is a sort of Scottish Radio 1 with added commercials, while Forth 2 (1548 AM, www.forth2.com) plays older music. Xfm (105.7-106.1 FM, www.xfmscotland.co.uk) offers indie music; Real Radio (100.3-101.1 FM, http://scotland.realradiofm.com) is a downmarket mix of music and chat; and Talk 107 (107 FM, www.talk107.co.uk) is Scotland's only speech-based commercial radio network.

Television

Both the BBC and ITV in Scotland opt in and out of the UK-wide output, with BBC Scotland and the independent Scottish Television (STV) contributing regularly to their respective networks.

Money

Britain's currency is the pound sterling (£). One pound equals 100 pence (p). 1p and 2p coins are copper; 5p, 10p, 20p and 50p coins are silver; the £1 coin is gold; the £2 coin is silver with a gold surround. Three Scottish banks - Bank of Scotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Clydesdale Bank - issue their own paper notes. The colour of the notes varies slightly between the three, but an approximation is as follows: green £1; blue £5; brown £10; purple/pink £20; red or green £50; bold red £100.

The euro is not used in the UK but is accepted in some shops in tourist areas.

Banks

In general, banks are open 9am-4pm Mon-Fri, but some remain open later. ATMs, usually situated outside banks, give 24-hour access to cash; most will also allow you to draw money on a credit card tied to international networks such as Cirrus or Plus.

There are branches of the three Scottish clearing banks throughout the city. Customers of English banks should be able to draw money from their ATMs at no charge; check with your bank. Some English banks do maintain a limited presence in the city; main branches are listed below.

Barclays
1 St Andrew Square, New Town (08457 555555/www.barclays.co.uk). Princes Street buses. Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri.

HSBC
76 Hanover Street, New Town (08457 404404/www.hsbc.co.uk). Bus 13, 23, 27/Princes Street buses. Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri; 9.30am-12.30pm Sat.

Lloyds
TSB 28 Hanover Street, New Town (0845 300 0000/www.lloydstsb.com). Bus 13, 23, 27/Princes Street buses. Open 9am-5pm Mon, Tue, Fri; 10am-5pm Wed; 9am-6pm Thur; 10am-4pm Sat.

National Westminster
8 George Street, New Town (0845 366 1965/www.natwest.com). Princes Street buses. Open 9am-5pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 9.30am-5pm Wed; 9.30am-1pm Sat.

Bureaux de change

Bureaux de change charge fees for cashing travellers' cheques or exchanging foreign currency. Commission rates vary greatly; it pays to shop around. There are bureaux de change at the airport and Waverley Station; others are scattered around in areas popular with tourists.

Most banks offer currency-exchange facilities; rates are usually better than at bureaux de change. Commission is often charged for cashing travellers' cheques in foreign currencies, but not for sterling travellers' cheques, provided you cash them at a bank affiliated to the issuing bank; get a list when you buy your cheques. When changing currency or travellers' cheques, you will need photo ID, such as a passport or drivers' licence.

Lost/stolen credit cards

Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately both to the police and the 24-hour phone lines listed below. Inform your bank by phone and in writing.

American Express 0800 587 6023/www.americanexpress.com.

Diners Club 0870 190 0011/www.dinersclub.co.uk.

MasterCard 0800 964767/www.mastercard.com.

Visa 0800 891725/www.visa.com.

Money transfers

Western Union (0800 833833/www.westernunion.co.uk) is the UK's most widely used money transfer company, but fees are high. Alternatively, ask your own bank to find out with which British banks it's affiliated. You can then nominate a branch to which the money can be sent.

Opening hours

In general, business hours are 9.30am-5.30pm Mon-Fri. Most shops are open 9am-5.30pm Mon-Sat and 11am-5pm on Sun. Many restaurants are open all day; some stay open well beyond 11pm. Officially, closing time for pubs is 11pm, but most pubs have licences to sell alcohol until 1am. Many shops, restaurants, pubs and clubs operate longer hours during the August festivals.

Police

If you've been the victim of a crime, look under 'Police' in the phone directory for the nearest police station, or call directory enquiries (118 500). The Police Information Centre in the Old Town is both a museum and a working police centre.

Postal services

The UK has a fairly reliable postal service. If you have a query on any aspect of Royal Mail services, contact Customer Services on 08457 740740. For business enquiries contact the Royal Mail Business Centre for Scotland on 08457 950950.

Post offices are usually open 9am-5.30pm during the week and 9am-noon on Saturdays, although some post offices shut for lunch and smaller offices may close for one or more afternoons each week. Three central post offices, two in the New Town and one in the Old Town are listed below; for others, call the Royal Mail on 08457 223344 or check www.royalmail.com. For general customer services enquiries, call 08457 740740; for business enquiries, try 08457 950950.

You can buy individual stamps at post offices, and books of four or 12 first- or second-class stamps at newsagents and supermarkets that display the appropriate red sign. A first-class stamp for a regular letter costs 32p; second-class stamps are 23p.

It costs 44p to send a postcard to another EU country, and 50p to send one to all other countries. For details of other rates, see www.royalmail.com.

Post offices

Frederick Street
40 Frederick Street, New Town (08457 223344). Bus 28, 37, 41, 42/Princes Street buses. Open 9am-5.30pm Mon, Wed-Fri; 9.30am-5.30pm Tue; 9.30am-12.30pm Sat.

St James Centre
8-10 Kings Mall, St James Centre, New Town (08457 223344). Princes Street buses. Open 9am-5.30pm Mon, Wed-Sat; 9.30am-5.30pm Tue.

St Mary's Street
46 St Mary's Street, Old Town (08457 223344). Nicolson Street-North Bridge buses. Open 9am-12.30pm, 1.30-5.30pm Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri; 9am-1pm Wed; 9am-noon Sat.

Poste restante

If you intend to travel around the UK during your stay, friends from home can write to you care of a post office, where mail will be kept at the enquiries desk for up to one month. The envelope should be marked 'Poste Restante' in the top left-hand corner, with your name displayed above the address of the post office where you want to collect your mail. Take photo ID (a driving licence or passport) when you collect your post. The post office at the St James Centre (see above) offers this service.

Religion

Baptist

Charlotte Baptist Chapel
204 Rose Street, New Town (225 4812/www.charlottechapel.org). Princes Street buses. Services 11am, 6.30pm Sun.

Buddhist

Portobello Buddhist Priory
27 Brighton Place, Portobello (669 9622/www.portobellobuddhist.org.uk).
Offers daily Zen Buddhist meditation, with a resident monk and lay followers.

Edinburgh Buddhist Centre
30 Melville Terrace, Marchmont (662 6699/www.edinburghbuddhistcentre.org.uk).
Run by the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order and offers regular classes and meditation sessions. Other Buddhist groups in Edinburgh have no central meeting place and tend to share space with other faiths or organisations.

Catholic

St Mary's Cathedral
61 York Place, New Town (556 1798/www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk). Playhouse buses. Services 10am, 12.45pm Mon-Fri; 10am, 6pm (vigil mass) Sat; 9.30am, 11.30am, 6pm (vigil mass), 7.30pm Sun. Confessions heard 10.30am-12.30pm, 5-5.45pm Sat.

Church of Scotland

St Giles' Cathedral
High Street (225 4363/www.stgilescathedral.org.uk). Bus 2, 23, 27, 41, 42, 45. Services 8am (Holy Communion), 10am (Holy Communion), 11.30am, 6pm, 8pm Sun.

Episcopalian

St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral
Palmerston Place, New Town (225 6293/www.cathedral.net). Bus 2, 3, 3A, 4, 12, 25, 26, 31, 33, 38, 44, 44A. Services 7.30am, 1.05pm, 5.30pm Mon-Wed, Fri; 7.30am, 11.30am, 1.05pm, 5.30pm Thur; 7.30am Sat; 8am, 10.30am, 3.30pm Sun.

Hindu

Edinburgh Hindu Mandir & Cultural Centre
St Andrew Place, Leith (440 0084). Bus 12, 16, 35. Meetings 2-4pm 2nd & 4th Sun of mth.

Islamic

Edinburgh Central Mosque
50 Potterrow, South Edinburgh (667 1777). Bus 2, 41, 42. Prayer times phone for details.

Jewish

Synagogue Chambers
4 Salisbury Road, South Edinburgh (667 3144/www.ehcong.com). Bus 2, 14, 30, 33. Services times vary; call for details.

Methodist

Nicolson Square Methodist Church
25 Nicolson Square, South Edinburgh (667 1465/www.nicsquare.org.uk). Nicolson Street-North Bridge buses. Services 11am, 6.30pm Sun.

Quaker

Quaker Meeting House
7 Victoria Terrace, Victoria Street, Old Town (225 4825/http://quakerscotland.gn.apc.org). Bus 2, 23, 27, 41, 42, 45. Meetings 12.30pm Wed; 11am Sun.

Sikh

Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara
1 Mill Lane, Leith (553 7207). Bus 1, 7, 10, 11, 14, 21, 32, 34. Services phone for details.

Safety & security

Violent crime is relatively rare in central Edinburgh, but it still pays to use common sense. Keep your wallet and other valuables out of sight; and never leave bags, coats and purses unattended.

Edinburgh's city centre is a pretty safe and civilised place, but the rather lairy pub culture on the Cowgate and Lothian Road can be a little unpleasant at closing time. Ill-lit parks such as the Meadows have been the scene of (infrequent) assaults down the years. Women should avoid the Leith backstreets, one of the region's main red-light districts. Away from the centre at Edinburgh's various peripheral housing schemes, things get a lot dicier; these areas are best avoided.

Smoking

Smoking has been banned in enclosed public spaces across Scotland, including all restaurants and pubs, since early 2006. The sight of smokers huddled around their cigarettes on street corners is now common around town.

Study

A good deal of Edinburgh's character is defined by its big student population. Most study at one of four universities, of which the most prestigious is the University of Edinburgh (Old College, South Bridge, South Edinburgh, 650 1000, www.ed.ac.uk). Founded in 1583, it's since been joined by Heriot-Watt University (Riccarton Campus, Currie, 449 5111, www.hw.ac.uk), Napier University (Craiglockhart Campus, 219 Colinton Road, South Edinburgh, 0845 260 6040, www.napier.ac.uk) and Queen Margaret University (Corstorphine Campus, Clerwood Terrace, West Edinburgh, 317 3000, www.qmuc.ac.uk). There's also the well-regarded Edinburgh College of Art (Lauriston Place, South Edinburgh, 221 6000, www.eca.ac.uk).

For language courses, check the Yellow Pages.

Telephones

The area code for Edinburgh is 0131. From outside the UK, dial the international access code (011 if you're in the US), then the country code (44 for the UK), then the area code omitting the first 0, then the rest of the number. To reach the Edinburgh Convention Bureau from the US, for example, dial 011 44 131 473 3666; for Edinburgh Airport, call 011 44 870 040 0007. Glasgow's area code is 0141.

Dialling codes

Mobile phone numbers begin 075, 077, 078 and 079. It's free to call numbers prefixed 0800 or 0808. Calls to numbers beginning 0845 are charged at local rates; calls to 0870 numbers are charged at national rates. Premium-rate numbers begin 09.

International codes

• Australia 00 61.
• Belgium 00 32.
• Canada 00 1.
• France 00 33.
• Germany 00 49.
• Ireland 00 353.
• Italy 00 39.
• Japan 00 81.
• Netherlands 00 31.
• New Zealand 00 64.
• Spain 00 34.
• USA 00 1.

Mobile phones

Mobile phones in the UK operate on either the 900 MHz or 1800 MHz GSM frequencies common throughout most of Europe. If you're travelling to the UK from Europe, your phone should be compatible; if you're travelling from the US, you'll need a tri-band handset. Either way, you should check that your phone is enabled for international roaming, and that your service provider at home has a reciprocal arrangement with a UK provider.

Operator services

• Operator 100.
• Speaking clock 123.
• Automated alarm calls *55*.
• Directory enquiries This service is now operated by a variety of different firms. The most reliable is BT (call 118 500); a similar service is available from other companies by calling 118 118, 118 247, or 118 800.

Public phones

Public payphones take coins, credit cards or prepaid phonecards (and sometimes all three). The minimum cost is 20p. BT phonecards are available from post offices and many newsagents in denominations of £2, £5, £10 and £20. Most public phones in the city centre also have now an integrated internet facility.

Time

Edinburgh operates on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Clocks go forward to run on British Summer Time (BST) at 1am on the last Saturday in March, and return to GMT on the last Saturday in October.

Tipping

Tipping 10-15% in taxis, restaurants, hairdressers and some bars (but not pubs) is normal. Some restaurants and bars add service automatically to all bills; always check to avoid paying twice.

Toilets

It's generally not acceptable to use the toilets of cafés or bars unless you're a customer or have a small and desperate child in tow. However, the department stores on and around Princes Street all have public lavatories, while the city maintains a decent number of public toilets around town. A number of them are listed below. Those at Tollcross, the Mound, Nicolson Square and Hamilton Place have disabled facilities; the Tollcross toilets also have baby-changing facilities.

Public toilets

• Canonmills Stockbridge. Open 10am-8pm daily.
• Castlehill Old Town. Open Summer 10am-8pm daily. Autumn-spring 10am-6pm daily.
• Hunter Square Old Town. Open 10am-10pm daily.
• The Mound Princes Street, New Town. Open Men 10am-10pm daily. Ladies no facilities. Disabled 24hrs daily using National Key Scheme.
• Nicolson Square Old Town. Open 10am-8pm daily.
• Tollcross Old Town. Open 10am-8pm daily.
• West Princes Street Gardens Princes Street, New Town. Open Summer 8am-8pm daily.

Tourist information

The Edinburgh & Lothians Tourist Board operates the main tourist office in the city, at the east end of Princes Street. As well as distributing a wealth of information on tours and attractions, staff can book hotels and event tickets (via Ticketmaster), car hire and coach trips. There's also internet access and a bureau de change. The information point at the airport has a smaller range of services, but can help with tours and hotels. There are other centres around the Lothians; see www.edinburgh.org for details.

If you're travelling via London, the Scottish Tourist Board office may be worth a visit. The range of services is similar to that offered at the office in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh & Scotland Information Centre
Above Princes Mall, 3 Princes Street, New Town, EH2 2QP (0845 225 5121/www.edinburgh.org). Princes Street buses. Open Apr, Oct 9am-6pm Mon-Sat; 10am-6pm Sun. May, June, Sept 9am-7pm Mon-Sat; 10am-7pm Sun. July, Aug 9am-8pm Mon-Sat; 10am-8pm Sun. Nov-Mar 9am-5pm Mon-Sat; 10am-5pm Sun.

Edinburgh Airport Tourist Information Desk
Edinburgh Airport (0870 040 0007/www.edinburgh.org). Open Apr-Oct 6.30am-10.30pm daily. Nov-Mar 7am-9pm daily.

Scottish Tourist Board
19 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5BL (0845 225 5121/www.visitscotland.com). Piccadilly Circus tube. Open May-Sept 9.30am-6.30pm Mon-Fri; 10am-5pm Sat. Oct-Apr 10am-6pm Mon-Fri; noon-4pm Sat.

Visas & immigration

EU citizens do not require a visa to visit the UK; citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand can also enter with only a passport for tourist visits of up to six months as long as they can show they can support themselves during their visit and plan to return. Use www.ukvisas.gov.uk to check your visa status well before you travel, or contact the British embassy, consulate or high commission in your own country. You can arrange visas online at www.fco.gov.uk.

Home Office Immigration & Nationality Bureau
Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 1AT (0870 606 7766/applications 0870 241 0645/www.homeoffice.gov.uk).

Weights & measures

As part of Europe, Scotland uses kilos and metres, but only nominally: natives still tend to think in Imperial measures.

Women

Women travelling on their own face the usual hassles, but this is generally a safe city. Take the same precautions you'd take in any big city. Many of the city's black cab firms now give priority to lone women, whether booked by phone (recommended after midnight) or flagged in the street.

Working in Edinburgh

Finding temporary work in Edinburgh can tough, but if you speak English and are an EU citizen or the owner of a work permit, you should be able to find a job in catering or labouring, or in a bar, pub, café or shop. Graduates with an English or foreign-language degree could try teaching. For more, see Summer Jobs in Britain (available from www.vacationwork.co.uk).

To find work, check the Scotsman and other national newspapers, and in windows of newsagents. There's often temporary and unskilled work available: look in the Yellow Pages under 'Employment Agencies'. Restaurants and bars often advertise jobs in their windows.

Work permits

EEA citizens, residents of Gibraltar and certain categories of other overseas nationals (such as citizens of other Commonwealth countries aged 17-27) do not require a work permit. However, Citizens of non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries need a permit to work legally in the UK.

Our listings

While every effort and care has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this guide, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors it may contain. Before you go out of your way, we strongly advise you to phone ahead and check the particulars.

More travel information

Getting to Edinburgh
Getting around Edinburgh
When to go to Edinburgh