Working in Edinburgh United Kingdom
The capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is the second most populated city in the country behind Glasgow with almost 500,000 people. Edinburgh origins stretch back to the prehistoric age before it became an integral part of the Kingdom of Scotland in the 10th century.
Modern Edinburgh is well-known for its international arts and it hosts several major festivals, such as Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Edinburgh International Festival. The city experiences a maritime climate where temperatures in summer stay below 20 °C for most of summer and drop even further to an average of about 7 °C during winter.
- Airport
- Railway Station
- Transportation
- Cost of Living
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Emergency
- Insurance and Healthcare
Location
Tourism Video
Airport
Edinburgh Airport
One of the busiest airports in the United Kingdom, Edinburgh Airport handles more than 9 million passengers on an annual basis. The airport is currently being redeveloped and is expected to be one of the top facilities in the UK by 2030.
Less than 10km from central Edinburgh, to reach Edinburgh Airport visitors have several options, including a light rail link and shuttle bus service. Both leave from central Edinburgh.
Railway Station
Edinburgh Waverley Rail Station
The main rail station in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh Waverley Rail Station is the second busiest in Scotland and the fourth busiest in the United Kingdom. It consists of 18 platform and services travel to throughout Scotland and south to many major cities in England. It is located in a narrow valley in central Edinburgh and also services a key bus depot for the city.
Transportation
Getting around Edinburgh is easy as it is a smallish city and its landmarks are mostly located in close proximity to each other. The city does have an efficient public transport network, which strongly services both the Old Town and New Town. It also features a bus and train network.
Edinburgh has two bus services, known as Lothian and First. Both share the same bus stops and provide an extensive network to all parts of Edinburgh. There are also several sightseeing buses found around the city at its major landmarks. Edinburgh only features a small number of suburban rail services, but can help visitors reach most major areas.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Edinburgh is fairly average by western standards and the average monthly wage is typically about $3,200 equivalent.
According to online cost of living database Numbeo (http://www.numbeo.com/), prices for typical items on current exchange rates (June 2013) are as follows:
| Food | |
| Cheap meal (inexpensive restaurant) | $16.80 |
| Three-course meal for two at mid-range restaurant | $79.70 |
| Domestic beer (500mL) | $5.00 |
| Coke (330mL) | $2.00 |
| Milk (1 litre) | $1.60 |
| Loaf of bread | $1.85 |
| Eggs | $5.40 |
| Transport | |
| One way ticket (local transport) | $2.35 |
| Monthly pass | $80.55 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | $2.30 |
| Rent (monthly) | |
| One bedroom apartment (central area) | $1000 approx |
| Three bedroom apartment (central area) | $1700 approx |
| Accommodation | |
| Hostel bed (one night) | $35 |
| Five star hotel room (one night) | $250 |
Accommodation
Edinburgh is well established for business travelers and tourists when it comes to accommodation. The most popular area to stay is in the Old Town, where visitors can consume the city’s great history, while also being close to all of the major facilities.
A few options to consider in Edinburgh include:
Budget
Westend Hostel
Caledonian Backpackers
Castle Rock Hostel
Mid-range
Jurys Inn Edinburgh
Regent House Hotel
Holiday Inn Edinburgh
High-end
The King James by Thistle
Le Monde Hotel
The Glasshouse
Shopping
Edinburgh is well equipped for shoppers. The shopping experience in the Old Town is memorable for travellers. Stores of all types can be found in the historic centre. This is also a great area to take in the city’s culture through shopping and buying a few souvenirs.
Some of the other key shopping districts or areas in Edinburgh include Princes Street, George Street, Cockburn Street and the Grassmarket.
Emergency
Emergency telephone services:
Police, ambulance, fire brigade and coastguard 999
Australian Consulate, Edinburgh
Mitchell House
5 Mitchell Street
Edinburgh EH6 7BD, SCOTLAND
Telephone +44 (0) 131 538 0582
Facsimile +44 (0) 131 554 3646
Office hours: Tuesday – Friday, 9.00am –11.30am & 12 noon – 4.30pm
Insurance and Healthcare
Insurance is recommended, but not compulsory for working holidaymakers on the Youth Mobility Scheme in the United Kingdom. With that in mind, once your visa has been approved and your flights booked, it would be suggested to take out some form of insurance for your stay. Check out www.workingholidaytravelinsurance.com/ for more advice.
The UK has an outstanding health care system featuring extensive public and private sectors. The public sector, known as the NHS, is organised by the government and funded by taxes. Every registered individual is welcome to service through the NHS, including expats living in the UK. Expats in the UK can also take out private care, with an extensive range of services available for those willing to pay extra. Costs for private health treatment in the UK are comparable to those in Australia.
According to the government supported Smart Traveller website, the standard of health facilities in the UK is comparable with that in Australia. In addition, it strongly recommends that travellers take our comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before departing Australia.