Society for Conservation Biology

Visitor Information

Conference dates:     14-16 November 2026

Venue:         Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) 

150 Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EE

Note: Transport schedules, fares, weather, and visa rules can change. Delegates should check official websites again before travel.

About Edinburgh 

Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital city and a destination known for its historic Old Town, elegant Georgian New Town, natural beauty, and dramatic skyline. Much of the city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and many of the city’s best-known attractions are within easy reach of the EICC.

Popular highlights include Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat, Calton Hill, Royal Botanic Garden, and the National Museum of Scotland. The city’s open-top bus tours and walking tours are a great way to get orientated. To learn more, check out the link to VisitScotland below. 

Get to know the city: VisitScotland guide to Edinburgh

To help you explore the city, the EICC has arranged several discounts for delegates related to travel, activities, wellbeing, and restaurants, which you can view here: EICC Delegate Discounts 

* Please note these discount codes and opportunities are updated every two months, so check back here again to see the latest offers. 

General Visitor Information 

• Time zone: In November, the UK will be on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0). 
• Currency: The local currency is Pound Sterling (GBP, £). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, including contactless payments. 
• Cash: ATMs are widely available across the city. Currency exchange is available at Edinburgh Airport and in the city centre.
• Weather: November in Edinburgh is typically cold, windy, and changeable. Met Office averages for Edinburgh are around 9 to 10°C (48 to 50°F) daytime highs and 3 to 4°C (37 to 40°F) nighttime lows in November, so warm layers, a waterproof jacket, and comfortable shoes are recommended.
• Electricity: The UK uses 230V electricity at 50Hz and Type G three-pin plugs. Most phone and laptop chargers are dual voltage, but visitors should check any high-power appliances before travelling.

Travel to and within Edinburgh 

From Edinburgh Airport to the city centre and EICC 

• By tram: Edinburgh Trams run between the Airport through central Edinburgh every 7 minutes throughout the week with the first tram leaving the Airport at 06:30 and the last tram leaving the Airport at 22:52. Single, return, and multi-day tram tickets are available for purchase in advance via the Edinburgh Trams website, through the Lothian Bus & Tram app, or using a contactless card to TapOn and TapOff on the platform. The closest tram stop to the EICC is Haymarket Station, which is about a 5-minute walk. Learn more about tickets, timetables, and stops at the Edinburgh Tram website. 
• By Airlink bus: The Airlink 100 operates a frequent bus service (every 10 minutes at peak times and every 20 minutes at off-peak times) between Edinburgh Airport and the city centre, with designated stops en route. Tickets are available for purchase when boarding the bus or in advance via Lothian Buses; adult single tickets cost £6.00 and adult open return tickets cost £8.50. Delegates are advised to disembark at Haymarket Railway Station and to follow signs for EICC on foot (5 minute walk). Timetables, maps, and tickets are available via the Lothian Bus website. 
• By taxi: There is an excellent taxi service from the airport to the city. You'll find official airport taxis at the taxi rank outside the terminal building (follow the signs within the airport). It costs approximately £40 to get a taxi from the airport to the city centre and the journey takes 20 minutes depending on the time of day.
• Car services: Uber is operational at Edinburgh Airport. After you’ve landed at the airport and picked up your luggage, you can request a ride through the Uber app and you’ll receive step-by-step directions in the app for finding the pick-up location and meeting your driver. 

By train 

Edinburgh has two railway stations; check ScotRail or Trainline for more information:

By train

• Haymarket Station is approximately 0.4 miles (0.6 km) from the EICC and is usually the easiest station for delegates travelling to the venue.
• Waverley Station is approximately 1.3 miles (2.1 km) from the EICC and has direct services across the UK.
• Rail discount: Delegates may be eligible for a 25% discount on LNER trains; please see the EICC Delegate Discounts linked here for the current code and terms.

By bus

• Edinburgh's primary bus terminal is at St Andrews Square, offering connections across the UK. For routes, visit: National Express, City Link, or MegaBus. For local services, check Lothian Buses or download the Lothian Bus & Tram app. 

By car

• The EICC is centrally located at 150 Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EE.
• Parking is limited in central Edinburgh, so public transport is recommended where possible.
• The EICC does not have car park facilities and therefore vehicles need to park in authorized areas near the Venue. Please, find below a list with the nearest car parks around the EICC. Please access the following links for further details:
  • NCP – Castle Terrace Car Park: Download the free NCP ParkPass App. Register and add the SaverID: EICC326 to your park pass account before arriving at the car park and you must enter and exit by scanning your QR code to qualify for this discount. 
  • Edinburgh Quay – Britannia Parking Car Park
  • NCP – Bread Street Lane
  • Spaces near EICC available via Your Parking Space 

Getting Around Edinburgh 

• Walking: Edinburgh city centre is compact and many attractions and hotels are within walking distance of the EICC. Please note that some streets may be steep or cobbled. 
• Bus: Lothian Buses operates an extensive local network across the city. You can either use a contactless card to TapOn when entering a bus, purchase tickets via the Bus & Tram app, or pay in exact change (coins only) upon entering the bus. 
• Tram: Edinburgh Trams make several stops throughout Edinburgh. Single, return, and multi-day tram tickets are available for purchase in advance via the Edinburgh Trams website, through the Lothian Bus & Tram app, or using a contactless card to TapOn and TapOff on the platform. The closest tram stop to the EICC is Haymarket Station, which is about a 5-minute walk. Learn more about tickets, timetables, and stops at the Edinburgh Tram website. 
• Taxi and Uber: Black cabs and private hire vehicles (through Uber) are widely available. Availability and pricing vary by time of day.

Get to Know the Venue 

The Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) is a major city-centre conference venue within walking distance of Haymarket Station, hotels, restaurants, cafés, and shops.

The main entrance is at 150 Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EE. There are several grocery shops, cafes, and restaurants near the venue, and catering options will be available within the venue as well for delegates to purchase food and drinks during the event. Water filling stations are available throughout the venue, and we ask that you bring a refillable bottle with you. 

More information for visitors is available on the EICC website: 

• EICC homepage
• Virtual Tour and floorplans
• Accessibility information

Wi-Fi

Complimentary Wi-Fi is provided throughout the venue. In your Wi-Fi settings, select the network delegate and enter the password haymarket. 

Cloakroom

The cloakroom can be found on the left as you enter Strathblane Hall from Morrison Street. The cloakroom is complimentary and will be open for the duration of the meeting and will close at the same time as the last event of the day. If you can, please leave your suitcase with your hotel. Please be aware that queues for the cloakroom can be long after the closing plenary on the final day.

Toilets

Accessible toilets are available on each floor of the venue. 

Smoking Policy

Please note that smoking is not permitted anywhere in the venue.

Security

There will be on-site security during the event, and in the event of an emergency there will be staff on hand to assist. In the event of an evacuation, all EICC staff become fire marshals and will assist with clearing the building.

Where to Stay 

There is a wide range of accommodation near the EICC, from budget-friendly hotels to premium city-centre properties. Delegates may wish to book early, particularly if staying for several nights or combining the conference with tourism.

Official booking tool: The EICC Hotel Booking Service provides hotel options near the EICC venue, where delegates can typically save between 12–18% against published accommodation rates. 

Hotel Options near the EICC

• Budget: Point A Hotel Edinburgh Haymarket - compact, central rooms on Morrison Street, extremely close to the venue. Website
• Budget: Hub by Premier Inn Edinburgh Haymarket Hampton - around a 4-minute walk to the EICC. Website
• Mid-range: Leonardo Hotel Edinburgh Haymarket - around a 5-minute walk to the EICC. Website
• Mid-range: Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor - close to Haymarket Station and around a 5-minute walk to the EICC. Website
• Premium: Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa Edinburgh - immediately beside the EICC at Festival Square. Website

Please check cancellation policies, breakfast options, accessibility features before booking.

Visa Information 

All international delegates are responsible for ensuring they have the correct permission to travel to the UK. Some visitors will need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa before travelling. Others may need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead.

Requirements depend on your nationality, passport, and travel circumstances, so please check your personal situation well in advance.

• Standard Visitor visa: If you need a Standard Visitor visa, you must apply online before you travel and attend an appointment at a visa application centre if required. The earliest you can usually apply is 3 months before travel. GOV.UK currently lists the processing time for this visa if applying outside of the UK as three weeks and within the UK as eight weeks. 
• Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA): If you do not need a visa, you may still need an ETA before boarding travel to the UK. GOV.UK currently states that an ETA costs £20 and is usually valid for multiple journeys over 2 years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You can apply online, and it is recommended you allow up to 3 working days (Monday to Friday) to receive a decision. 
• How to check: Use the UK Government’s online checker to confirm whether you need a visa or an ETA. 
• Visa information is provided by the UK Government via their website. 

If you require a personalised event invitation for visa application purposes, please request this through the XCD registration platform.