cathedral
St Giles' Cathedral
The High Kirk of Edinburgh with its distinctive crown spire, mother church of Presbyterianism on the Royal Mile.
0 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomScotland
Edinburgh
Scotland, United Kingdom · Europe
About Edinburgh
Edinburgh works well as a base: 10 minutes from Colinton, right by St Giles' Cathedral.
Edinburgh is in Scotland, United Kingdom, with about 510,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Colinton, about 6 km away.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Edinburgh.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Edinburgh.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Edinburgh?
Within an hour or so of Edinburgh: St Giles' Cathedral (0 km), National Museum of Scotland (1 km), The Royal Mile (1 km), Calton Hill (1 km).
Are there any good drives near Edinburgh?
The nearest famous roads are College Valley, A68 Jedburgh to Edinburgh (Carter Bar) and Holy Island Causeway.
How long does it take to drive to Edinburgh?
Birmingham to Edinburgh is about 5 hr 38 min (461 km). Edinburgh to Aberdeen is about 2 hr 37 min (195 km). Edinburgh to Fort William is about 3 hr 9 min (217 km).
Where is Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is in Scotland, United Kingdom, about 6 km from Colinton.
Road trip
Drive to Edinburgh
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Edinburgh. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 514,990
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Scotland
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 55.9521, -3.1965
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Edinburgh
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
museum
National Museum of Scotland
A stunning Victorian and modern building housing diverse collections from Scottish history to world cultures and natural science.
1 km · about 5 min drive
historic highway
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh's historic spine of cobbled streets and closes linking the castle to Holyrood Palace, lined with landmarks.
1 km · about 5 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Calton Hill
An accessible hilltop crowned with neoclassical monuments, giving the classic skyline view of Edinburgh at sunset.
1 km · about 5 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh
Ancient volcanic peak rising 251 metres in the heart of Edinburgh, offering panoramic city views from its dramatic summit.
2 km · about 5 min drive
landmark
Edinburgh Zoo
Scotland's capital zoo home to the UK's only giant pandas and over 1,000 rare and endangered animals.
5 km · about 10 min drive
cathedral
Rosslyn Chapel
A 15th-century chapel of astonishing carved stonework near Edinburgh, made famous by The Da Vinci Code.
11 km · about 20 min drive
film location
Rosslyn Chapel (The Da Vinci Code)
The intricately carved 15th-century chapel south of Edinburgh is the film's final destination.
11 km · about 20 min drive
Driving roads near Edinburgh
- Right hereThe Royal MileEdinburgh's historic spine of cobbled streets and closes linking the castle to Holyrood Palace, lined with landmarks.
- Right hereCalton HillAn accessible hilltop crowned with neoclassical monuments, giving the classic skyline view of Edinburgh at sunset.
- Right hereArthur's Seat, EdinburghAncient volcanic peak rising 251 metres in the heart of Edinburgh, offering panoramic city views from its dramatic summit.
- Right hereQueensferry CrossingThe world's longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge, opened in 2017, carrying the M90 high over the Firth of Forth alongside its famous Victorian and 1960s neighbours: three centuries of bridges in one view.
- 79 kmCollege ValleyA remote Cheviot valley reached by a permit-only single-track road, one of the quietest drives in England.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Edinburgh.
Plan a trip around Edinburgh
Scotland road trip plannerBirmingham → Edinburgh drive · 5 hr 38 minEdinburgh → Aberdeen drive · 2 hr 37 minEdinburgh → Fort William drive · 3 hr 9 minEdinburgh → Glasgow drive · 1 hr 4 minEdinburgh → Inverness drive · 3 hr 24 minEdinburgh → Newcastle drive · 2 hr 31 minEdinburgh → York drive · 4 hr 6 minLeeds → Edinburgh drive · 4 hr 23 min
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Edinburgh.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.