Conference Venue

Edinburgh International Conference Centre
The Exchange
150 Morrison St
Edinburgh, EH3 8EE

About Edinburgh

Edinburgh has been the capital city of Scotland since the 15th century. Located on the southern shore, it is the home of the Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament, and supreme courts of Scotland. It is the second largest financial center and tourist destination in the United Kingdom, behind London.

The city is known for its heritage, culture, and festivals. The city is famous for the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe, which is the world’s largest annual international arts festival. Historic sites include Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the New Town, built in the 18th century. Edinburgh’s Old Town and New Town are listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most of the city’s attractions can be found within a two-mile radius of the city center so it makes the city easy to explore by foot.

Edinburgh offers a wide variety of international cuisine alongside traditional British fare found in the local pubs. For those who want to try a traditional Scottish dish, be sure to order haggis. Pop into Greyfriars Bobby’s Bar for some of the best haggis in town. The area of Leith to the north is known for the freshest seafood thanks to its location on the water. Another local delicacy is the deep-fried Mars Bar!

Edinburgh is a very safe city to explore. Do be careful of older parts of the city as they are filled with winding alleys making it easy to get lost. As in any popular tourist area, exercise caution for pickpockets and thieves but this is generally less common than in other large European cities. Locals are known to be very approachable and some of the friendliest of the United Kingdom. Have a pint at a local pub, take in the sights, listen to bagpipers playing in New Town and Old (feel free to tip!), and enjoy what this charming city has to offer. One tip of advice: don’t mention Braveheart to locals!

Things to do

Convention Edinburgh

We are delighted to welcome you to Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city and to introduce your Edinburgh Rewards. We’ve secured exclusive discounts across the city from lunches, dinners, tours and shopping for conference delegates and their families and friends to enjoy. You will find your Edinburgh Rewards Passport and handy city map in your delegate bags on arrival. The city map and fully responsive website will also help you navigate the city. Browse the various categories online and let Google maps take you to the door. For all the latest offers for things to do and enjoy in the city visit www.edinburghrewards.com

We truly hope you enjoy your stay in our city, and make the most out of these exclusive discounts and value added offers available.

Traveling to Edinburgh

Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s busiest airport with over 12 million passengers per year. It is located 12km west of the city center and the journey takes about 25 minutes in light traffic by car.

Brexit Updates

Transfers at London Heathrow (LHR) and Gatwick (LGW) airports can be challenging at any time. Many airlines offer flights into Edinburgh (EDI) (a short tram-ride from the conference venue) or Glasgow (GLA) (bus and train transfer to Edinburgh available) which are likely to be easier entry points.

Conference Venue

Edinburgh International Conference Centre
The Exchange
150 Morrison St
Edinburgh, EH3 8EE

Getting to the City Centre

Taxis
Taxis are available widely in the city and at designated taxi stands. Taxis from the airport are available on the ground floor of the multi-story car park. A taxi to the city centre will take approximately 30-40 minutes and cost approximately £20-£30.

Public Transit

Quick Facts

Hotel

The Edinburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) has arranged for room blocks at numerous hotels within walking distance of the Edinburgh International Convention Centre (EICC) to house the FIRST attendees. These room blocks are being offered at discounted rates in multiple price points at 3 star and 4 star hotels. These are not hotels that FIRST has contracted but rather a list of hotels that work with the CVB to promote Edinburgh. The bookings are made directly with the individual hotels. Please be sure to read the Terms and Conditions before making a booking. Any changes or edits to future reservations will be subject to the Terms and Conditions listed on the booking site.

Please note that the FIRST staff will not be able to provide assistance with any changes and/or cancellations. All of that gets handled with the CVB and/or the hotel directly per the Terms and Conditions.