Accessible Edinburgh

Edinburgh is amongst the world’s most beautiful cities and welcomes thousands of visitors each year. A warm and vibrant city, we want all our visitors to get the most out of their time in the city and to be able to enjoy and engage with the city’s unique history, heritage and culture.

Many of the businesses listed on our website include information on accessibility, for example if they have accessible parking, wheelchair access, lift or stairlift, large print, braille or audio guides.

Getting here

If travelling into and out of Scotland’s capital city, there are a range of accessible transport options available which aim to provide passengers with a seamless journey, including flights, trains and buses.

For more information on accessible transport options please see our Transport Options page.

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Getting around

Edinburgh is vibrant and compact in size meaning visitors do not need to travel too far to take in all the capital’s delights. The city’s well-connected public transport system features a range of accessible options to to get you where you need to be in comfort. 

For more information on accessible transport options please see our Disabled Access page.

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Accommodation

Spread across the city are a range of accommodation types to suit all requirements, tastes and budgets. The centrally located Aparthotel Adagio Edinburgh Royal Mile is suitable for visitors with limited mobility with wheelchair access throughout and wet room or level entry shower rooms. If you’re coming to the city to see a show at Edinburgh Playhouse, Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh is just a few doors away. It has wheelchair access throughout, accessible toilets and lift or stairlift. The beautiful Fingal, Scotland’s only 5-star floating hotel, has several level access bedrooms, wet rooms or level entry shower and accessible parking, while Gleneagles Townhouse has a wide range of accessibility features, including drop-off point with ramp access, lift or stairlift access throughout the building and wet room or level entry shower in all bedrooms.

If you prefer the flexibility self-catering apartments can offer, KM Apartments offer both short and long stays. Lift or stairlift access is available to their bright and modern apartments. The ultra stylish YOTEL Edinburgh on Queen Street is suitable for visitors with limited mobility with lift or staircase access and level access to all public areas.

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Things to see and do

The Royal Yacht Britannia was Queen Elizabeth II’s floating palace for over 40 years. Today it is berthed at Leith and offers a fascinating insight into royal life at sea. The self-guided tour is available in English Braille and in British and American Sign Language and in audio format in basic English for visitors with learning disabilities. Britannia is classed as Category 1, the highest level for wheelchair access without assistance, by VisitScotland, with all five decks accessible via a central lift. Or why not pay a visit to Scotland’s most-visited paid-for attraction and the most iconic building in the city – Edinburgh Castle. There are a small number of parking spaces available for ticket holders with Blue Badges on the Castle Esplanade, available on a first-come, first-served basis. For visitors that require it, a mobility vehicle (which can accommodate most wheelchairs, motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters) takes passengers from the Esplanade to Crown Square.

If you fancy being transported to 1800s Edinburgh and learning more about the city’s dark past of crime and punishment, Mercat Tours’ Ghostly Tales of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile will be right up your street. Taking place entirely above ground, this walking tour has been tailored for guests with mobility and sensory needs, making it accessible to all.

Whether you’re interested in nature, science, art or history, the National Museum of Scotland has something for everyone. Lifts are available to all floors, with accessible toilets on most floors and a Changing Places (U) toilet in the Entrance Hall on Level 0. The museum has a number of resources to aid visits, such as sensory backpacks and maps, communication cards and relaxed sessions.

If you feel most relaxed in nature, don’t miss a visit to the world-renowned Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Largely accessible to wheelchair users, with marked routes and tarmac path, it’s a lovely place to spend the day. Or choose to meet a cavalcade of animals, from otter and lions to koalas and sloths at Edinburgh Zoo. Although several of the paths are steep, many can be accessed by wheelchair. Plan your visit with their accessibility map.

From art to science, jazz to storytelling, every year Edinburgh hosts a number of world famous fabulous festivals, and everyone should have the chance to enjoy them. BSL, audio-described and relaxed performances are just some of the ways that the Festivals are accessible. Find out more on the Edinburgh Festivals website.

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Further information

For disabled travellers, Euan’s Guide is a vital resource which features access reviews from disabled people and their friends and families. AccessAble provides detailed and accurate information on accessibility for thousands of shops, bars, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, railway stations, hotels and more from across the UK.

Edinburgh participates in the National Key Scheme (NKS), which offers disabled people access to locked public toilets across the country. For more details, see Disability Rights UK.

Hire a manual or powered wheelchair or powered scooter from a Shopmobility Centre.

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