Practical information guide - Arts Festivals Summit 2025
This page helps you plan your trip to Edinburgh and find out about the hotel and the various venues where the Arts Festivals Summit will be held.
Who needs to apply for a visa
The United Kingdom requires a Standard Visitor Visa for some countries such as Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Nort Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine.
Check if you need to apply for a visa: Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK
To apply for the visa follow the instructions on the following link: Select your language
Check here for the documents needed: Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor: Apply for a Standard Visitor visa - GOV.UK
Documents required
- the dates you’re planning to travel to the UK
- where you’ll be staying during your visit
- how much you think your trip will cost
- your current home address and how long you’ve lived there
- your parents’ names and dates of birth (if known)
- how much you earn in a year (if you have an income)
- details of any criminal, civil or immigration offences you may have committed
Who needs to apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation)
Please check the following link for further information on how to apply for an ETA: Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) - GOV.UK
As of 5 March 2025 the following countries need to apply for an ETA to be able to enter the United Kingdom after 2 April 2025.
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Vatican City
Documents required
- The passport you will travel with – not a photocopy or digital passport
- Access to your emails
- A credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
You will need to upload or take photos of the:
- Passport
- Face of the person applying
The fastest way to apply is using the UK ETA app (App Store or Google Play). You can also apply online. If you apply for someone else who is not with you, you should apply online.
How to apply
- Take or upload a photo of the passport you will use to travel to the UK.
- Scan your face with your device, if it has a camera. Children aged 9 and under will not be asked to scan their face.
- Take or upload a photo of yourself.
- Answer some questions about yourself.
- Pay for your application.
How to get to Edinburgh
Edinburgh airport to the city center
By taxi
It is a 20 minute drive from the airport to the city center/ You can found the taxi rank in the East Terminus. The official taxi company is Capital Cars. You can also book a taxi in advance.
By bus
There are several Edinburgh city bus links you can take to get to the center: the Airlink 100, Skylink 200 and 400 and Airport Express services. You can find more detailed information here.
By tram
Trams are provided from 6:26 until 22:48 with stops in the city centre. The tram stop is right outside the main terminal next to the plaza. You can found all the stops here.
By train from the continent
There are several cities you can take the train from to get to Edinburgh:
- London
- Glasgow
- Aberdeen
- Inverness
- Liverpool
- Manchester
- York
- Newcastle
More information can be found here.
By boat
You can take a boat to Newcastle and from there then you can take the train up to Edinburgh. You can find more information here.
Carbon Footprint Compensation
To compensate your carbon footprint, we encourage you to plant trees in the European Festivals Forest. Each tree costs just €2, and three trees sequester one metric tonne of carbon over a 30-year cycle. Every tree helps the planet. Donate here.
Summit Venues
The Hub
Castlehill
Edinburgh, EH1 2NE
T: +44 (0) 1314732000
Email: email hidden; JavaScript is required
City Chambers
253 High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1YJ
T: +44 1315294003
Website: The City of Edinburgh Council
Where to stay
Holiday Inn Express - Edinburgh City Centre
Picardy Place
Edinburgh, EH1 3JT
T: +44-131-5582300
Email: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Website: Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre
Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh Haymarket
1 Morrison Link
Edinburgh, EH3 8DN
T: +44 870 4100800
Website: Leonardo Hotels
Motel One Edinburgh - Princes
10-15 Princes Street
Edinburgh, EH2 2AN
T: +44 1315509220
Email: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Website: Hotel Edinburgh-Princes Motel One
Motel One Edinburgh - Royal
18-21 Market Street
Edinburgh, EH1 1BL
T: +44 131220073-0
Email: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Website: Hotel Edinburgh-Royal Motel One
Four Points by Sheraton Edinburgh
90 Haymarket Terrace
Edinburgh, EH12 5LQ
T: +44 0131-3859077
Website: Four Points by Sheraton Edinburgh
Restaurants recommended in Edinburgh
Landmarks of Edinburgh
- National Museum - With thousands of amazing objects across multiple galleries, the Museum offers you a world of discovery all under one roof.
- National Gallery - Immerse yourself in this breath-taking art collection. Experience paintings by internationally renowned artists such as Vermeer, Titian, Rembrandt, Velázquez and the Impressionists. Explore the newly opened Scottish galleries where you can encounter the very best of Scottish art from 1800 to 1945.
- National Portrait Gallery - A neo-Gothic palace dedicated to exploring various aspects of the Scottish story, this gallery is a hidden gem right at the heart of Edinburgh. The art tells you stories of the land and its people, through the medium of imagery.
- Arthurs Seat - experience a proper hill walk in the heart of the city. Arthur's Seat's rocky summit – formed from the remains of a volcano - towers over Edinburgh, with fabulous views in all directions, and the extensive parkland surrounding it is an oasis of calm as a retreat from the busy city.
- The Real Mary Kings Close - Shrouded in myths and mysteries, The Close and its underground warren of streets, homes and passageways offer a truly unique 5-star visitor experience
- Palace of Holyroodhouse - the official residence of King Charles when he is in Scotland. It's steeped in history and a must for anyone who wants to discover more about Scotland's past.
- Scotch Whisky Experience - award-winning, five star visitor attraction at the top of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, where they've been inspiring visitors to Edinburgh about the joys of Scotch whisky for over 35 years.