Venue address

The 2018 Colloquium will be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) on the 16-18 September 2018. There will also be a number of pre- and post-Colloquium events which will be confirmed in 2018. 

EICC
The Exchange
Edinburgh EH3 8EE
Scotland, UK

Getting there

The EICC is located in The Exchange district of central Edinburgh and can be reached by several routes with plenty of accessible travel options to choose from.

Accessible Parking near the venue

Dedicated accessible parking spaces are available in the following facilities:

• Sheraton Hotel Car Park located 150 metres from the EICC, with limited accessible parking spaces
• Semple Street Car Park located 300 metres from the EICC
• Castle Terrace NCP Car Park located 650 metres from the EICC

In addition, there is on street parking on Morrison Street near the EICC's main entrance and in surrounding streets, such as Gardner's Crescent, which is free and without time limit for Blue Badge holders.

Visitors from outside the European Union can apply for Blue Badge status for the duration of their visit. They should contact the City of Edinburgh Council with as much notice as possible via their Request a Blue Badge webpage.

Please note that you should not park:

• In bus lanes during the hours of operation
• In cycle lanes
• On single or double red lines during the hours of operation or in a dangerous section of the road
• On zig-zag pedestrian crossings at school entrance
• In bus stops

Bus

Several local buses stop at Lothian Road, approximately 300 metres from the EICC. Lothian Buses service No. 2 stops just a few metres from the EICC’s main entrances.

All Lothian Buses have:

• Low entrances that can “kneel” to kerb height to give step free access where possible
• Retractable boarding ramp for wheelchair access
• Completely flat areas on the lower deck (with no internal steps)
• High visibility handrails
• A dedicated wheelchair space

Taxi

There is a drop-off area for taxis and cars directly outside the venue’s two entrances.  The taxi rank is at the front of the EICC where there is a dropped kerb.  Taxis can be booked at the EICC’s Concierge Desks.

The preferred taxi supplier is Central Taxis. All Central Taxis are wheelchair accessible and offer a mix of 5-seater and 6-seater vehicles. All are supplied with a wheelchair ramp, seatbelts and additional safety anchors. All drivers have completed training in Wheelchair Access and Disability Awareness.

Train

The closest train station to the EICC is Haymarket. This is accessible and is less than 500 metres from the venue.

Waverley Station is one mile from the EICC. All entrances to the station are step-free. Further details can be found in Waverley Station’s accessibility guide.    

Tram

Edinburgh Trams stop directly outside Haymarket Station, which is the closest tram stop to the EICC.  The trams provide frequent connections from the city centre to Edinburgh Airport.

On foot

The approach to the EICC from Lothian Road is flat with a gentle slope down towards the two main entrances - the Strathblane and the Lennox. From this direction you will arrive at the Lennox entrance first.

Arriving from Haymarket Station to the venue, after the step-free pedestrian crossing the pavement slopes upwards – from this direction you will arrive at the Strathblane entrance first.

Venue access

The EICC is a modern, purpose-built and fully-accessible venue. It has been designed to be inclusive to people of all abilities and their team has received full Equality and Diversity Training.

The EICC’s two main entrances, the Strathblane and the Lennox, both have automated sliding doors which are operated by a push button from the outside and by sensor from the inside. During an event these doors are manned and assistance can be offered.

Navigating the venue

Helpful staff are on-hand to assist with navigational and accessibility needs.

Lifts

All areas of the venue can be reached by lift. All lifts have spoken messages indicating which floor the lift is on and whether the doors are opening or closing. All lifts have grab bars.

Toilet facilities

On each floor of the venue there are adapted toilets, with grab rails, emergency buttons, lowered mirrors and fittings. These toilets allow for either a left or a right lateral transfer, not both.

Induction loop

In the Pentland Auditorium an Induction Loop is located in the central section of seats from row F to the rear of the auditorium. To use this, delegates should switch their hearing aids to the "T" position.  Additional induction loops are installed as required.

Wheelchair Spaces

There are three spaces in the front of the Sidlaw and Fintry Auditoria, which are available for wheelchair users.  There are also six wheelchair spaces in the Pentland Auditorium.

The EICC can make adjustments to facilities and provide wheelchair ramps, which can be used to access the stage in the Lomond Suite, breakout rooms, Cromdale Hall, and Strathblane Hall.

Buggies

Buggies are welcomed at the EICC. There are Baby Changing facilities on all floors within the EICC. Leith’s, our catering partners, offer baby bottle and food warming if required.

Assistance dogs are welcome.

Autism aware

The EICC is committed to promoting equality and improving accessibility for everybody.  We understand that for some people with autism spectrum conditions (ASC), sensory or additional needs, attending an event can be a daunting experience. The EICC aims to be a leading international venue which is accessible to visitors with ASC. Working with The National Autistic Society, the EICC team has been equalities trained and is committed to following the company’s ethos of being inclusive to all EICC visitors. 

Download their Autism Friendly Visitors Guide

Download their Autism Friendly Event Organisers Guide

Keeping safe

The EICC is proud to be a Keep Safe premises, meaning that we will provide help, if required, to vulnerable people when they are out in the community.  Find out more about the Keep Safe initiative.