How to find us in Edinburgh

The City Centre of Edinburgh is shown on the map below, on arrival by airlink bus from the airport, by train to Edinburgh Waverley, or by coach to the Bus Station in St Andrews Square, with luggage you may wish to make use of the local buses (single fare £1.30 / day ticket £3.20 - no change given) or treat yourself to a taxi (£5 or less). Once free of your luggage you have the choice as the central area is all within comfortable walking distance of the Valentine.

Click to enlarge this view of Lothian Road facing South towards Tollcross and the Valentine. (Source: Lee Kindness, http://commons.wikimedia.org/)

This map is derived from the City Centre map of Lothian Buses, we are the only guest house that is in within this map area, more detail of bus routes throughout Edinburgh can be found on the Lothian Bus site, including for example direct buses to the Royal Yacht Britannia (11), and to Rosslyn Chapel (15) which both pass-by just metres from the Valentine.

IMPORTANT: Edinburgh Tramways Construction - Bus Diversions.

Edinburgh Tramways preparation and construction currently affects the 23 and 27 services significantly in the city centre, and all other buses are running along George Street parallel to Princes Street. For current details see - http://lothianbuses.com/ (select Princes St diversions from left hand menu) - but please check again prior to your visit.

Arriving by Car

Despite, our central location, we can offer free parking in our own car park when reserved at the time of booking (normal charge £6 per day), this is limited, however, with only a small number of spaces available. There is now a wide zone of restricted parking around Edinburgh, stretching well into the suburbs. Some accommodation websites are still offering 'free on-street parking' - this no longer exists in Central Edinburgh.

From the North (Stirling and Forth Road Bridge M90/M9/A90)

Take the A90 right into the city centre, then take Lothian Road (A702) for half a mile to Tollcross, at the very top of the hill take the right-hand fork into Leven Street, one block further turn right again into Gilmore Place at the King's Theatre, the Valentine City Centre Guesthouse is immediately on your left.

From the West & Airport (M8/A8) Two options - direct or easy! Direct: Take the A8 (East) all the way into the city centre to the junction passing Haymarket Station, moving to the far right lane and turning right at the first opportunity after the station. This brings you along Torphicen Street, which bends sharp right and uphill. Turn left at the junction at the end, passing the conference centre and then right at the next opportunity passing the Odeon cinema on the corner - this puts you near the end of Lothian Road almost at Tollcross and you can then follow the intstruction in the section above. Easy: If you are not confident at negotiating city centre junctions that you are unfamiliar with then you may alternatively wish to join the City Bypass (A720) at its beginning (junction with A8 around a mile East (left!) from the airport), which is a much easier route but a bit longer. Directions for this are below.

King's Theatre

From East & South (A1/A7/A68/A702)

The route via the bypass is very easy! Take the city by-pass (A720) to the Lothianburn exit (between Dreghorn and Straiton exits), then the A702 for 3 miles down to Morningside and back up to Bruntsfield, after the sharp right bend that the road takes in Bruntsfield, the road drops back down on a left curve, through several pedestrian crossing lights to a junction with the King's Theatre to your right. Turn left here into Gilmore Place (The sign for Lochrin Buildings is more obvious; it's the same street!), the Valentine City Centre Guesthouse is immediately on your left.

Arriving by Air

Detailed information on your transport options can be found on our Edinburgh Airport page, which explains your various taxi and bus options.

King's at night.

The local service 35 from the airport terminal will bring you to Lauriston Place just 200m from us for £1.30 (exact fare only, day ticket £3.20) which is ideal unless you have heavy and wheel-less luggage! Airlink buses run directly into the city centre, the cost is £3.50 single/£6 return and the journey time is 25 minutes. From the stop at Shandwick Place, walk around the corner to Lothian Road (the bus stop in the picture at the top of this page!) and catch one of the buses listed on the map up the hill to the King's Theatre stop- if it happens to be a 10 stay on until it turns right here and get off at the bus stop immediately afterwards outside our door. (or if you end up at the terminus in Waverley Bridge catch these services from the South St Andrews Square bus stop as shown on the map above (cross Prince's Street at the North end of Waveley Bridge and on the street just to your right the bus stop is on the right-hand side).

Arriving by Rail or Coach

An onward taxi is approximately £4-£5, buses as shown on the map from St Andrews Square or Princes' Street are £1.30 per person - exact change (Note that a day pass valid on all normal services is £3.20). The following services as shown on the map at the top of the page pass by seconds from us along Home Street (first stop after passing Tollcross clock in the middle of the junction at the top of Lothian Road) at the bus stop opposite the Cameo Cinema. 10,11,15,15A,17. From the mound (half-way along Princes Street or at the top [West] of Market Street) you can also take the 23 and 27. Note that the 10 and 27 continue into Gilmore Place and stop directly outside our door - both every 12 minutes at peak times.