Edinburgh Travel Guide: London City to Edinburgh Flights

Take an extinct volcano, magical Old Town and packed festival calendar…

…Add to that Michelin-starred restaurants, epic history and elegant rows of Georgian townhouses. No wonder Edinburgh is recognised as a city with truly universal appeal, winning it the title of Time Out’s Best City in the World in 2022.

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Flying to Edinburgh from London City

Flying direct to Edinburgh Airport, Scotland (EDI) from London City Airport (LCY) takes just over an hour. The simplest route into the centre (7 miles/11km away) is to catch one of the regular trams or airport buses.

Pack your walking shoes! Edinburgh is best explored on foot and it’s pretty compact – you can walk from the medieval Old Town to the Georgian New Town in around 10 to 15 minutes. The city is built on hills, but public transport is reliable and wide-ranging.

The Lothian bus and tram networks take you around Edinburgh city centre and suburbs. For a more leisurely scenic route, jump onto an open-top sightseeing bus. You’ll find stops for every transport mode in the heart of the city around Waverley Station and Princes Street. If you want to explore beyond the centre, you can hire a car with LCY for collection at Edinburgh Airport.

There can be several direct BA flights between London City Airport and Edinburgh Airport each week, so whatever your travel plans, here's what you need to know about getting there. 

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Edinburgh Travel Guide

Edinburgh is alive with local culture, excellent restaurants and a global arts scene that sees it host festivals throughout the year. The city’s equally ideal for a romantic weekend, a family break or a celebration trip with friends. Browse our Edinburgh travel guide to learn more about essential sights to see, the city’s vibrant nightlife, food and drink scene, plus events worth checking out.

Essential Sights

Old Town:magical historic sights

Atmospheric ancient buildings, cobbled alleys and a bustling vibe characterise this area. Work your way down from the famous Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse set below towering Arthur’s Seat and the Salisbury Crags, exploring the historic Royal Mile as you go.

New Town:for stylish shopping & dining

This area’s 18th-century neo-classical architecture earned the city its nickname as ‘Athens of the North’, spread across broad avenues and elegant squares. You’ll discover impressive galleries, world-class shopping, restaurants, bars and clubs galore.

Leith:for waterfront buzz

The dynamic port of Edinburgh welcomes you in with picturesque harbour views, a lively social scene and some of the city’s best restaurants.

Edinburgh Castle

You can’t miss it, so make sure you explore it! Edinburgh Castle is home to serious royal bling – the Scottish crown jewels – and lunchtime visitors might need to take earplugs for the firing of the One O’clock Gun.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Live like a King… or at least get a feel for it by checking out King Charles III’s official Scottish residence. Nose around the State Apartments and royal chamber and hear the dramatic stories of its famous residents, including Bonnie Prince Charlie and Mary Queen of Scots.

National Museum of Scotland

From Dolly the Sheep (the first cloned adult mammal) to dinosaur bones, the interactive displays bring discovery to life across multiple galleries – all for free, in a stunning old-meets-new building.

National Galleries of Scotland 

Like your art fine? Drop into the Scottish National Gallery. More personal? See Billy Connolly rub shoulders with Sir Walter Scott and a tartan-swathed Alan Cumming at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Or walk a little out of the centre to enjoy tea at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art under Paolozzi’s lofty Vulcan statue.

Arthur’s Seat

There’s nowhere better for amazing views over the city and surrounding countryside than the top of this extinct volcano, towering 251 metres above sea level. It’s accessible from different directions so you can choose to scale it via a bracing stroll across Salisbury Crags or a winding drive up to the peak.

Royal Yacht Britannia

Tour the apartments on this floating palace berthed in the lively port of Leith, then enjoy champagne and scones in the Royal Deck Tearoom while you try to figure out where they kept the onboard Rolls Royce.

Nightlife

Edinburgh’s creative spirit makes for an absolutely buzzing nightlife scene offering something for everyone. Take your pick from theatre, comedy, dance, cinema, classical music, live gigs and clubbing in venues ranging from grand concert halls to ancient vaults.

If you’re seeking a traditional Scots atmosphere, you’ll find music, whisky and a good old singsong in many of the Old Town bars. Deep in the city’s medieval heart, the Grassmarket is home to centuries-old pubs – and some tourist traps, so take your time to explore.

For different vibes, cross to the New Town to find glossy cocktail bars and big club nights along George Street. Or for charming low-key fun, head to the 14th-century Sheep’s Heid Inn in Duddingston for a game in their old-fashioned skittle alley.

Food & Drink

If you haven’t visited Scotland for a while – or ever – prepare your palate! Edinburgh’s waiting to treat you to an impressive range of local and international cuisines.

Scotland's finest

While you’re in Edinburgh, you’ll definitely hear about haggis. Scotland’s national dish is worth trying at least once – and there are delicious veggie versions if the meaty one doesn’t appeal. For those keen to sample Scotland’s traditional foodstuffs, menus are bursting with wild salmon, fresh seafood and succulent beef and venison.

Eating out

Edinburgh boasts several Michelin-starred restaurants and a vibrant eat-out scene. Your choices range from refined hotel afternoon teas to casual wine bars and top-notch fish ’n’ chips all over the city. You’ll find plenty of places serving more traditional fare around the Old Town and Royal Mile, and international eateries scattered city-wide.

Markets

The main farmers’ market is set up every Saturday against the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Stock up on goodies including local meats and charcuterie cuts, Arbroath smokies (smoked salmon), sweet baked treats and fresh produce. Look out for other street markets at Stockbridge, Leith, Grassmarket and Potterrow.

Events

Edinburgh International Festival & Edinburgh Festival Fringe August

Edinburgh’s reputation as a festival capital spans the seasons... Each summer thousands of entertainers perform in venues and streets from dawn until the wee hours of the next day. Then they do it all again. For a month. 

Don’t miss the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a feast of international music, dance and bagpipes on the castle esplanade at sunset or the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

More festivals!Year round

August is the busiest month, as it’s also the date for the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the world’s largest public celebration of the written word. Other festivals throughout the year include the International Science Festival in March, the Children’s Festival in May/June, plus the Jazz & Blues Festival in July.

Edinburgh’s HogmanayDecember

Bring in your New Year at an iconic event! Three days of fireworks, live music, and celebrations culminating in a packed street party, ceilidhs beside Edinburgh castle and showstopping fireworks. An especially memorable way to start the year.

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