Coach and Minibus Hire in the United Kingdom

Edinburgh Minibus Hire for Old Town Visits and Day Trips

Edinburgh's Old Town is steep, cobbled and busy, and its sights run from the castle down to Holyrood and out to Leith. A minibus with a driver saves tired legs, and on the days in between it opens up the Forth bridges, the Borders and St Andrews.

Getting close to the castle

Large coaches can't drive up Johnston Terrace, so groups are set down on Castle Terrace, where stopping is free for up to 30 minutes during the day. Everywhere else, a vehicle may pause on yellow lines for just two minutes, so a smooth pickup depends on everyone being ready on the pavement.

The council is working on a coach plan covering routes, set-down points and parking, so arrangements can change. Your driver will check them before your visit.

White minibus parked at the curb
White minibus parked at the curb

Low emissions and longer waits

The Low Emission Zone covers 1.2 square miles of the centre, all day, every day. For a coach that means Euro VI, while diesel cars and vans need Euro 6; we'll ask for a vehicle that clears the bar. The boundary roads sit outside the zone.

If your driver needs to wait most of the day, the council's medium-stay coach parking on Regent Road and Inverleith Place allows up to nine hours. There's no council long-stay coach parking.

Flying into Edinburgh

Places your group will want to see

  • The Scotch Whisky Experience — Castlehill, beside the castle
  • Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh — Inverleith
  • Edinburgh Zoo — Corstorphine, west Edinburgh
  • Arthur's Seat and Holyrood Park — Extinct volcano in the city
  • Scottish Parliament — Holyrood
  • The Royal Yacht Britannia — Ocean Terminal, Leith
  • National Museum of Scotland — Chambers Street
  • Palace of Holyroodhouse — Royal residence at the foot of the Royal Mile
  • Royal Mile — Old Town street from the castle to Holyrood
  • Edinburgh Castle — No large-vehicle access to Johnston Terrace; coach drop-off on Castle Terrace

Where groups usually stay

  • Edinburgh Airport / Ingliston
  • Leith
  • West End / Haymarket
  • New Town / Princes Street / George Street
  • Old Town / Royal Mile

Arriving by air

Landing at Edinburgh, you're roughly 25 minutes and 8 miles from Waverley Bridge when the roads are clear. Any minibus from eight seats up, like any coach, collects its passengers in the coach park just south of the multi-storey, which you reach on foot by the crossing at stand 10. The Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston is right next door, handy for shows and events.

Bridges, beaches and golf

South Queensferry and the Forth Bridges are only half an hour away, and North Berwick makes a breezy seaside afternoon. St Andrews, about 50 miles north, is a favourite for golf breaks. Rosslyn Chapel is closer still, and Pitlochry makes a gentle first taste of the Highlands.

Visiting in August? The 80th Fringe runs 6 to 30 August 2027, and the city is packed, so leave extra time between plans.

Your questions

Can the driver drop us at the castle gate?

No. Large vehicles can't use Johnston Terrace, so groups step off on Castle Terrace and walk up. It's a short, steep climb.

Can we play a round at St Andrews and be back for dinner?

Yes. It's about an hour and a quarter each way, which leaves a comfortable window for golf and lunch.

Where do we meet our driver at Edinburgh Airport?

In the coach park, reached on foot using the crossing at stand 10. Minibuses of eight seats or more collect there, not at the car drop-off zone.

More trips we can arrange

Vehicles