Lothian Buses Edinburgh

Hop-on hop-off for less

Tamsin from Edinburgh

"In Edinburgh, you don't have to get on a tourist bus at all - get a day ticket for the local "Lothian Buses" and you can explore the city for cheap!"

All major cities have bus tour companies, many of which have open-top varieties and take you around the tourist sites. However, Edinburgh is renowned for its efficient, local bus service, Lothian Buses, and given the weather, you may prefer to take one of those. Day tickets, where you can jump on and off as many as you want, are £4.40 per adult if you use your bank card to tap in, which is great value.

The Lothian Buses number 1 will take you to Gorgie City Farm (live animals for all the family), the Usher (concert) Hall which is opposite the fantastic, independent Filmhouse, the whole length of Princes Street and Seafield Cemetery with its Commonwealth War Graves.

Number 16 will take you from Edinburgh city centre to Leith, the Shore, Ocean Terminal, Britannia, Newhaven Harbour and Wardie Beach.

The 35 begins at Heriot Watt University Campus with its famous lawn, left over from the 18th-century pleasure gardens of Riccarton House. It passes Burton’s Biscuit Factory, St Michael’s A-listed Parish Church, goes along Bread Street where the milk wagons once rattled over the cobbles, and through Pubic Triangle (guess the establishments there!). It then takes you past the Museum of Childhood, the Canongate Kirk and Scottish Parliament where you can alight for Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags.

There are 40 Lothian Buses in all, special deals on night buses (midnight - 4.30 am), and the Lothian Country and East Coast buses will take you right out of town to our neighbouring beaches and castles.

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Edinburgh Spotter Tamsin

About me I am a writer, bodyworker, walking artist and psychogeographer living in Edinburgh. I have an extensive travel blog and my writing/walkshops have been featured in the Wee Review, The List, Caught By the River, Walking Artists Network, Social Art Library, the Urban Tree Festival, 4WCoP and Walking Encounters. Death and Loss in Shiatsu Practice was published in 2020. Why Edinburgh? The best parts of Edinburgh are the green spaces. Then again there is the proximity to the sea. There are also seven hills actually inside the city boundaries and easy access to the B...

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Waverley Bridge

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Oct 29, 2025

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