This year the symposium will be entirely based in the Grassmarket area of the Old Town in Edinburgh, with the main events and the social gatherings all in this area.  It is very central, being the original market area for the old city. 

Edinburgh is very well served for train and plane travel with regular flights to many key European and even North American destinations.  Trains run all the time down both the east and west coast mainlines.   The station also has the advantage of being very central and only a 10 minutes stagger with a sword bag to the event location.

The one point to make at the outset is that parking is very limited in central Edinburgh and very expensive, it being in part an old medieval town.  Therefore check if your accommodation has parking if you intend to drive.   The good news is that being so central the area is very easy to get to via public transport and once you are here you will likely be able to walk the entire time.

Basically get the train and book near the venue if you can and life will be pretty easy for you.

Being in the main tourist area of the city means that there are many, many options for your accommodation.  From backpackers hostels up to luxury hotels with original 4 poster beds* there should be an option to suit most people’s budgets within 2/3 minutes of the Grassmarket.

October is not high season in Edinburgh, but we do still recommend booking accommodation early.

As always we will try to help with any questions you may have but bear in mind that as we live here we have never had a need to actually stay in any of the hotels ourselves.

* Every four poster in Scotland bed once hosted Mary Queen of Scots.  She changed bed a lot.