Driving in Edinburgh 2022

[zedmtrappe]

Hi, I've got a Scottish road trip coming up September 2022 which will require a weekend in Edinburgh city.

Last time I drove in Edinburgh was 10 years ago and was a total nightmare with most roads closed due to laying the tram tracks.

Just wondering what the state of play is now - will be taking Huracan and so also looking for a decent hotel with parking ( Sheraton ?).

Or would be better off avoiding driving in the city and staying at a hotel on the outskirts and tramming / taxing in?

Any thoughts / suggestion would be much appreciated!

[jm8403]

zedmtrappe said:

Hi, I've got a Scottish road trip coming up September 2022 which will require a weekend in Edinburgh city.

Last time I drove in Edinburgh was 10 years ago and was a total nightmare with most roads closed due to laying the tram tracks.

Just wondering what the state of play is now - will be taking Huracan and so also looking for a decent hotel with parking ( Sheraton ?).

Or would be better off avoiding driving in the city and staying at a hotel on the outskirts and tramming / taxing in?

Any thoughts / suggestion would be much appreciated!

Sheraton is the best shout for barriers/no steep ramps and walkable distance to all the shops/bars. Roads are fine, obviously, like any city, much busier at peak times. Dakota on south queens ferry would result in less city driving (it has good parking, but no barriers like sheraton) but a taxi into town (benefit being exploring close to some of the restaurants @ s.queensfeerry)

[footsoldier]

footsoldier said:

Lots of potholes at the moment, and the usual random roadworks, but probably no worse than anywhere comparable, just feels like it sometimes!
September will feature roadworks which generally relax a bit for festival in August then fire up again, but again nothing to stop you bringing car.

Can’t think of a better option than Sheraton in town for parking centrally, but not sure if others have parking/valet arrangements offsite.
Depending on what you want, Prestonfield is a nice place to stay out of centre, and lots of safe parking.
Personally speaking, Dakota is a decent place to start a tour, and nice hotel, but would feel a bit soulless location if I was there too many days.
Parking in centre is generally ok during the day, especially since Covid, as long as not trying to find a space at lunchtime, so can always drive in from your hotel. Very safe parking in ‘New Town’ area during day, never had a problem

[zedmtrappe]

Many thanks - looking at the Dakota I reckon that would be perfect 👍

[justin220]

Dakota is a great place to base yourself. I did 3 weeks there a few years ago with work, and surprisingly really enjoyed it. The restaurant is good aswell

[jm8403]

zedmtrappe said:

Many thanks - looking at the Dakota I reckon that would be perfect ??

Yeah. Can enjoy the restaurants at south queens ferry. The one right under the bridge (Scotts) is very good and popular, book early. (you can walk from dakota). The place next to it (down the hatch) does a good breakfast.

[craig511]

Unless you want to use a fairly long and expensive taxi everytime you want to go Into Edinburgh, the Dakota is a terrible idea. Also morning traffic from south queensferry along the a90 and Queensferry Road is brutal.

Parking isn’t secure, middle of no where with a Tesco next door to keep you company. South queensferry is ok but not lambo safe, I know, I live 10 mins away. Thinking awful roads and cobbles, new one way system and very tight parking.

Either the Sheraton or the Maybury hotel or even any of the hotels at the airport where you can very easily jump on a tram and be in the centre within 30mins are all better. Heck even the Leonardo at Haymarket is better and has barrier parking.

[zedmtrappe]

craig511 said:

the Dakota is a terrible idea.

... and it was all looking so promising !

I know what you are saying about the roads in SQfy but we will arrive Friday PM and the car stays parked until we leave Sunday am - don't envisage any driving in the actual SQfy area.

We also have relatives in SQfy so at the very most it would be 1 night / taxi into Edinburgh. ( and the other way round if we stayed in the city)

All in all maybe not so bad ..?

[jm8403]

zedmtrappe said:

... and it was all looking so promising !

I know what you are saying about the roads in SQfy but we will arrive Friday PM and the car stays parked until we leave Sunday am - don't envisage any driving in the actual SQfy area.

We also have relatives in SQfy so at the very most it would be 1 night / taxi into Edinburgh. ( and the other way round if we stayed in the city)

All in all maybe not so bad ..?

I don't think so, its also very close to the main road so not very far off the motorway at all (so very few st roads and a nice walk down to the restaurants/bars/ice cream/chipper).

People often don't appreciate what's on their doorstep. Sheraton would be good, a fair bit more cash though and depends on your appetite for a little longer in a traffic (also st roads, like most of edin)

Actually, last time I stayed there, there was a hurrucan and some other nice cars.

[footsoldier]

As I said earlier, wouldn't be my choice for 'ambience'
It is a nice enough hotel though, and plenty nice cars have parked there overnight at the start of tours over last few years.
if you are spending time in SQF it does makes more sense, if I was visiting Edinbugh I'd want to stay in Edinburgh and wouldn't want to commute to and from Dakota.

[zedmtrappe]

Many thanks for all your input guys.

[mako111]

We stopped at the Macdonald Holyrood Hotel in the centre of town after our highlands tour in October which has secure underground parking (have to book in advance and about £30/day from memory). Driving in Edinburgh was ok but the tram works have been replaced by cycle lanes which have made a mess of the road layouts.

[craig511]

Just to add on from my comments.

Reading what you have said about having family there etc then yes, it’s fine.

Restaurant is good, their fried duck salad was amazing.
If you were spending any real time in Edinburgh then my original point stands.

[hornbaek]

Admittedly it is some time ago that I was in Edinburgh but we stayed at Prestonfield House which was excellent. Located outside the town but within walking distance. Great place.

[OLDBENZ]

Have you thought of the Dunstane Houses which are boutique hotels in Edinburgh run by Derek Mowatt (the classic car dealer in Edinburgh specialising in Rolls and Bentley) and his wife? I have heard they are sympathetic to guests with car parking anxiety.

[zedmtrappe]

Turns out Dakota was a great choice for us !

Decent hotel & restaurant yes (actually felt like a hotel rather than a Tourist Processing Facility ) .... but even better is that if you have a bunch of nieces, nephews & their friends who want the Lamborghini experience then Dakota is a great base to work from.

First, leaving the hotel you've got a nice couple of roundbaouts to demonstrate the grip, then launch it onto the B800 to Kirkliston to demonstrate the acceleration.

Then you've got the bridge under M90 where you can really demonstrate the crazy volume of the screaming V10 with it's mental cracks, pops & bangs on the overrun..

Highly recommended !

[pete_esp]

I hope you tried out the 904 from SQ to Linlithgow? Would’ve leant you a space on the driveway for you to go exploring too