Access Guide
Route Overview (King's Buildings to Edinburgh University Students' Association, Potterrow)
- The start point for this guide is King's Buildings.
- The end point for this guide is Edinburgh University Students' Association, Potterrow.
- This guide covers the bus stop within the King's Building's Site beside Murchison House, the bus stop on Potterrow at the top of Bristo Square, and Bristo Square.
- Public transport facilities near the start point include: a bus stop.
- Public transport facilities near the end point include: a bus stop.
- This route involves taking a bus from King's Buildings to Bristo Square.
The journey can be made using the university shuttle bus, or Lothian Buses Service 9 (public bus route).
The bus journey takes approximately 11-15 minutes via the university shuttle bus, or 15-20 minutes via Service 9 (see bus journey section for more details).
The walking part of the route is less than 0.1 miles in length, but is entirely through areas with heavy pedestrian footfall.
Related Access Guides
Starting Point - King's Buildings
- King's Buildings is one of the campuses of the University of Edinburgh, located in the Blackford area of the city.
- It houses most of the schools forming the College of Science and Engineering.
- There are multiple buildings on site containing teaching spaces, laboratories, study spaces and places to eat and drink.
- Standard and Blue Badge parking and EV charging bays are available on the campus.
- View information on travelling to King’s Buildings.
Bus Stop - King's Buildings - Beside Murchison House
- The route begins at the bus stop within the King's Buildings site, located between Murchison House and Max Born Crescent, to the northwest of the campus.
- You must cross at least one access road within the site in order to reach the bus stop; if approaching from Murchison House, there is a zebra crossing over the car park which has dropped kerbs with a very slight gradient and no tactile paving.
- If approaching from the rest of the King's Buildings campus, there is a zebra crossing over an access road which has dropped kerbs with a slight gradient and tactile paving. From each of these crossing points, the bus stop itself can be reached via a level path (that has very slight slopes in places) with a smooth and even block-paved surface.
- The bus stop itself has a large shelter with bench seating and an even concrete surface. There are no doors into the shelter, but it has an open gap with a width of 108cm.
- A standard bus stop sign with printed timetable is available; this is not clearly written, and is presented in small print. There is no digital display with live bus times or audible announcements.
Bus Journey - King's Buildings to Potterrow
- From this bus stop, take either the Central Area - King's Buildings University Shuttle Bus or Lothian Buses Service 9 (public bus) to Bristo Square.
- The University Shuttle Bus is a free service for university staff and students - simply show your university student or staff card to the driver when boarding. It runs from approximately 08:15 - 17:45, from Monday to Friday during term time only, with services approximately every 20 minutes. The journey takes between 11 and 15 minutes depending on the time of day, and is a near-direct service to Bristo Square, stopping only on Chapel Street opposite the Pear Tree pub on route.
- Lothian Buses Service 9 is a public bus service which runs from King's Buildings to Muirhouse, via Bristo Square - the same bus stop served by the University Shuttle Bus. This service runs daily from approximately 07:15 - midnight, usually around every 20 minutes, with the journey taking between 15 and 20 minutes depending on the time of day. Alight after 15 stops at the Bristo Square bus stop, situated on Potterrow.
Bus Stop - Potterrow
- The bus will deposit you at this bus stop, situated at the top of Bristo Square on Potterrow.
- There is a bus shelter with an even tarmac surface. A standard bus stop sign and printed timetable is available, along with an easy-to-read digital display showing live bus times. No audible announcements are made.
- The bus shelter has bench seating with no armrests. Further bench seating is available just behind the bus stop on Bristo Square.
Potterrow Bus Stop to Edinburgh University Students' Association, Potterrow
- This section heads east through the top portion of Bristo Square towards the end of the route at Edinburgh University Students' Association, Potterrow, covering a distance of approximately 35 metres.
- With your back to the road, head diagonally left across the top portion of Bristo Square towards Edinburgh University Students' Association, Potterrow.
- This section of the route is entirely pedestrianised. The surface consists of smooth, even tarmac and concrete paving slabs.
- There is a very slight uphill gradient along the length of this section.
- There are street lamps and street trees in the area which could pose obstructions.
- Bench seating is available in Bristo Square, and the area is likely to be crowded with heavy footfall. Wayfinding maps and signage are provided, although the entrance to Edinburgh University Students' Association, Potterrow is visible from the bus stop at the start of the section.
Finishing Point - Edinburgh University Students' Association, Potterrow
- Edinburgh University Students' Association, Potterrow is the main student hub for the Central Campus. It plays host to a wide range of events and EUSA services, and is centrally located off Bristo Square, close to numerous other university buildings.