Travelling to the Games from around Scotland
Please refer to our transport section for details on the best way to travel around Scotland for the Games.
Accessibility services from the city
Accessibility Services: For those who require accessibility services please visit our accessibility services section.
Travelling to Edinburgh from further away
Important – For those travelling to Edinburgh from further away, we strongly advise that you plan your journey to the city then use one of the many options below to travel from the city to the venue. Please allow sufficient time to transfer. Edinburgh has excellent transport links from the UK and Europe we recommend that you make use of these suggestions and that you start to plan your journey soon.
From the south
Rail – Edinburgh Waverley links to the West Coast Main Line connects Edinburgh with the major cities of London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.
The East Coast Main Line also links Edinburgh with London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle.
Bus – National Express provides coach services from several cities in England and in Wales such as Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff and London. Megabus, owned by Stagecoach, also provides similar services to and from Edinburgh to destinations in England and Scotland. They offer direct bus routes to European destinations such as Paris in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in The Netherlands. Citylink provides a service to Stranraer from Edinburgh that coincides with a direct journey to Belfast City Centre via ferry. They also provide travel from Blackpool in England. First Bus provides a bus link to other southern regional towns such as Penicuik and Peebles, and Stagecoach to West Linton.
From the north
Rail – The East Coast Main Line links Edinburgh with northern Scotland. Services operate via the Forth Bridge and Fife to the north, and on to Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, Dundee, Perth, Aberdeen and Inverness.
Bus – Megabus and Scottish Citylink provides services to and from Edinburgh to destinations in northern Scotland including Stirling, Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness. First Bus and Stagecoach offer some regional services to northern towns from Edinburgh such as Dunfermline and North Queensferry.
From the east
Rail – There are trains to Edinburgh from North Berwick and Dunbar.
Bus – First Bus offer services from Edinburgh to outlying towns in East Lothian including Musselburgh, Haddington and Dunbar. Also Lothian Buses operate a number of services linking Edinburgh with East Lothian.
From the west
Rail – Glasgow Queen Street Station is the main rail link between Glasgow and Edinburgh with frequent, fast services connecting the two cities. Services from Ayrshire and Inverclyde connect at Glasgow Central Station, with those from Oban and Fort William connecting at Glasgow Queen Street Station.
Bus – Megabus, Citylink, First Bus and National Express all offer direct bus services to the West of Scotland from Edinburgh. All provide a direct service to Edinburgh whereas Citylink also stops at Harthill in North Lanarkshire.
First Bus offer several services to the West from Edinburgh to towns such as Livingston, Broxburn and Lintinhgow.
Local Travel Arrangements
Details of local transport arrangements are set out below
Walking to the venue in 25 minutes from city centre
Edinburgh Waverley Station is located 1.3 miles from the Royal Commonwealth Pool which is approximately 25 minutes’ walk.
You can view the best walking route here.
The preferred route is:
Exit Waverley Station – Head east on Jeffrey St toward East Market St – Slight right to stay on Jeffrey St – Continue onto St. Mary’s St – Continue onto Pleasance/The Pleasance – Continue onto St. Leonard’s St – Continue onto Dalkeith Rd – Pedestrian Screening Area (PSA) on left.
Why not cycle? It’s only eight minutes from the city centre
The Royal Commonwealth Pool is approximately eight minutes’ cycle from the city centre.
You can view the route here.
The recommended cycling route is as follows:
Exit Waverley Station – Head east on Jeffrey St toward East Market St – Slight right to stay on Jeffrey St – Continue onto St. Mary’s St – Continue onto Pleasance/The Pleasance – Continue onto St. Leonard’s St – Continue onto Dalkeith Rd – Pedestrian Screening Area (PSA) on left.
Cycle Parking at Preston Street Primary School. There is space for 40 cycles.
Travelling by bus – city to venue in 25 minutes
From Edinburgh City Centre, Waverley Bridge – Lothian Bus Services 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 14, 29, X29, 30, 31, X31, 33, 37, X37, 47, 49, X95
Newington Road, five minutes’ walk to venue (3, 5, 7, 8, 29, X29,
31, X31, 37, X37, 47, 49).
Dalkeith Road, one minute walk to venue (2, 14, 30, 33, X95)
Leave your car behind!
You are advised not to drive to the Royal Commonwealth Pool. Parking around the venue is strictly reserved for residents and local businesses only. There are no set down/pick up points. Information about limited pre-bookable facilities for Blue Badge holders is available on our accessibility page.
Roads will be busy and subject to closures and restrictions.
Busy Periods
Public transport is expected to be particularly busy in this area from 09.00–14.00 and 17.00–22.15 from 30 July–2 August 2014.
Roads are expected to be particularly busy in this area from 09.00–14.00 and 17.00–22.15 from 30 July–2 August 2014.