The EICC is a modern, purpose-built and fully accessible events venue. The venue has been designed to be inclusive to people of all abilities and our team has received full Equality and Diversity Training.
Getting to the conference:
Located in The Exchange district of central Edinburgh, the EICC can be reached by several routes with plenty of accessible travel options to choose from.
Accessible Parking near the EICC
Dedicated accessible parking spaces are available in the following facilities:
- Sheraton Hotel Car Park located 150 meters from the EICC, with limited accessible parking spaces
- Semple Street Car Park located 300 meters from the EICC
- Castle Terrace NCP Car Park located 650 meters from the EICC
In addition, there is on-street parking on Morrison Street near the EICC's main entrance and in surrounding streets, such as Gardner's Crescent, which is free and without a time limit for Blue Badge holders.
Visitors from outside the European Union can apply for Blue Badge status for the duration of their visit. They should contact the City of Edinburgh Council with as much notice as possible via their Request a Blue Badge webpage.
Please note that you should not park:
- In bus lanes during the hours of operation
- In cycle lanes
- On single or double red lines during the hours of operation or in a dangerous section of the road
- On zig-zag pedestrian crossings at the school entrance
- In bus stops
Bus
Several local buses stop at Lothian Road, which is approx. 300 metres from the EICC. Additionally, Lothian Buses service No. 2 stops just a few metres from the EICC’s main entrances.
All Lothian Buses are easy to access, they are equipped with:
- Low entrances that can “kneel” to kerb height to give step-free access where possible
- Retractable boarding ramp for wheelchair access
- Completely flat areas on the lower deck (with no internal steps)
- High visibility handrails
- A dedicated wheelchair space
- Drivers who are specially trained to help customers enjoy the full benefit of their buses
Taxi
The EICC benefits from a reserved drop-off area where taxis and cars can park temporarily, directly outside the venue’s two entrances. The taxi rank is situated at the front of the EICC where there is a dropped kerb. Taxis can be booked at the EICC’s Concierge Desks.
The preferred taxi supplier is Central Taxis. All Central Taxis are wheelchair accessible. They offer a mix of 5-seater TX Hackney cabs, 6-seater Mercedes M8 taxis and Peugeot E7 taxis each of which is supplied with a wheelchair ramp, seatbelts and additional safety anchors. All drivers have completed training in Wheelchair Access and Disability Awareness.
Train
The closest train station to the EICC is Haymarket. The station is accessible and is less than 500 metres from the venue.
Waverley Station is one mile from the EICC. All entrances to the station are step-free. Further details can be found in Waverley Station’s accessibility guide.
Tram
Edinburgh Trams stop directly outside Haymarket Station, which is the closest tram stop to the EICC. The trams provide frequent connections from the city centre to Edinburgh Airport.
Pedestrians
The approach to the EICC from Lothian Road is flat with a gentle slope down towards the two main entrances - the Strathblane and the Lennox. From this direction, you will arrive at the Lennox entrance first.
Arriving from Haymarket Station to the venue, after the step-free pedestrian crossing the pavement slopes upwards – from this direction you will arrive at the Strathblane entrance first.
Venue Access
The EICC’s two main entrances, the Strathblane and the Lennox, both have automated sliding doors that are operated by a push button from the outside and by sensor from the inside. During an event, these doors are manned with security who can offer assistance if required.
Navigating the venue
An effective concierge service, as well as prominent signage and lighting, ensure smooth navigation of the venue. In spite of the building’s complexity and size, it is highly functional yet welcoming. A helpful team of staff is on-hand to assist with navigational and accessibility needs.
Lifts
All areas of the venue can be reached by lift. All lifts have spoken messages indicating which floor the lift is on and whether the doors are opening or closing. Additionally, all lifts have grab bars for delegates with impaired mobility.
Toilet Facilities
On each floor of the venue there are adapted toilets, with grab rails, emergency buttons, lowered mirrors and fittings. Currently, these toilets allow for either a left or a right lateral transfer, not both.
Induction Loop
In the Pentland Auditorium, an Induction Loop is located in the central section of seats from row F to the rear of the auditorium. To use this, delegates should switch their hearing aids to the "T" position. Additional induction loops are installed as required.
Wheelchair Spaces
There are three spaces in the front of the Sidlaw and Fintry Auditoria, which are available for wheelchair users. There are also six wheelchair spaces in the Pentland Auditorium.
The EICC can make reasonable adjustments to facilities where required, such as providing a wheelchair ramp, which can be utilised to take wheelchair users onto the stage in the Lomond Suite, breakout rooms, Cromdale Hall, and Strathblane Hall.
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