Join us in beautiful Edinburgh
The event will be held at the “Assembly Rooms.” For more than two centuries, the Assembly Rooms have been at the very heart of the capital and touched the lives of almost all of its residents. It has hosted both monarchy and celebrity royalty, played its part in two world wars and has celebrated artistic excellence.
Following a major redevelopment that was completed in 2012, this important Georgian venue has been transformed into spaces with preserved and enhanced architectural significance, well-suited for contemporary use.
What to know before you go
Edinburgh is a magical place. It’s a city of around one million people and sits amongst seven hills, with a medieval town centre, a gorgeous castle and many incredible museums. You will discover weaving cobbled lanes, explore an underground city and learn the history of the place that inspired the writers of Treasure Island, Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes. Take a tour of Edinburgh and combine the magical city with the majesty of the Highlands, Borders and islands of Scotland.
Rabbie’s Tours offers OCLC delegates a discount on their tours. Visit their website for more information. Inspired? Send us an email, and we will send you the discount code.
“Scott Monument” by This is Edinburgh is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Conference dinner
If you registered for the conference dinner, we invite you to join us at the Playfair Library of the University of Edinburgh. The Playfair Library can be found on the first floor of Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL.
Photo courtesy The University of Edinburgh
Photos and videos
Photographers and videographers will be present at the event. Please note that images may be taken and used for the OCLC website, social media, and other non-commercial publicity purposes. If you refuse to be photographed, please let us know.
Lodging
OCLC staff will stay at the Principal Hotel (19–21 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PB), which is a five-minute walk from the conference venue. Meeting attendees can access special discounted rates in various hotels in Edinburgh, thanks to Convention Edinburgh. We recommend booking as soon as possible to ensure availability at the preferred rates.
Principal Hotel
Convention Edinburgh has negotiated rates for the OCLC EMEA Regional Council Meeting 2018 and is pleased to offer a free online accommodation booking service to delegates attending the conference. To view and book the various accommodation options, please click on the link above. Credit card details are required to make a booking and confirmation shall be sent to your email address. Payment should be made directly with the accommodation provider at the time of your stay.
Transportation
Airport
Edinburgh Airport lies 8 km to the west of Edinburgh.
Transportation from the airport:
- Estimated taxi fare: £30 (one way). A journey to the city centre typically takes about 25 minutes. You can pick up a black cab from the taxi rank located on the ground floor of the multistory car park.
- Tramway service from the airport to the city: Buy your ticket before you board. Tickets can be purchased from ticket vending machines at the airport tram station. Ticket vending machines accept most debit and credit cards. One way £5.50; return £8.50.
Train Stations
Edinburgh has two major railway stations: Waverley and Haymarket. Both operate regular services to other parts of Scotland and the UK on a frequent basis.
- Virgin Trains East Coast provide links from Edinburgh to London, Newcastle, York, Leeds and Aberdeen. Rail travellers can get to London in approximately five hours.
- Virgin Rail operates a service on the west coast to London via Lockerbie, Preston, Birmingham and Coventry.
Visas
If you are coming to Edinburgh from overseas, the Home Office website provides useful information on the types of visas required to enter the country.
If you require an invitation letter, please inform us on your registration form or contact us directly at communications-emea@oclc.org.