Six Nations 2020: A Rugby Guide to Edinburgh

Thinking of making a weekend of it? Then you’ll need somewhere to get your head down. Any of our four Edinburgh hotels will offer you a comfortable bed, a good night’s sleep, and a whole load more, so let us help make your Six Nations 2020 experience the best it can be.

On the last minute? We still have availability in our Leonardo Edinburgh Haymarket hotel.

The rugby Six nations is one of the most tantalising tournaments for fans of the sport, and there’s nothing quite like soaking up the occasion in one of the host cities. As if Edinburgh isn’t spectacular enough, the capital comes alive when the tournament comes to town - the buzz around Murrayfield is like nothing else.

In 2020 Murrayfield will host two Six Nations matches: 

• Scotland vs England on February 8th at 4.45
• Scotland vs France on March 8th at 3pm

To help you squeeze every drop of enjoyment from your visit we’ve put together a handy guide to Edinburgh. Let’s get stuck in. 

Getting to Edinburgh

As with most big cities, you’ve got plenty of options when it comes to making your way to Scotland's capital.

Edinburgh Airport

The city’s main airport consists of one terminal with plenty of duty-free shops, an exchange bureau, WiFi and places to withdraw some cash. When you’re ready to head into the city you’ve got several options to choose from:

• Bus - jump on the Airlink 100 (yellow line) and you’ll be in the centre in just 20 minutes (you can expect a bus every 10 minutes), or you can stay on and travel directly to A one-way adult ticket costs £4.50 and returns are £7.50.

• Tram - trams depart from the airport station on route to the city centre every 7 minutes.

• Train - the airport itself doesn’t have a station, but the tram will take you to the nearby Edinburgh Gateway Station which runs services into the city.

• Taxi - head to the ground floor of the car park (opposite the terminal) to jump in a taxi that’ll have you in the city within 25 minutes. Expect to pay £25-30 for your journey.

• Car hire - the airport hosts its own car rental centre with a multitude of companies to choose from. Check out this search engine to find the best match for your stay. 

Via train

Edinburgh offers two major stations - Waverley and Haymarket, both of which host arrivals and departures from all over the UK.

Waverley Station

Edinburgh’s main station and the second-largest outside of London is situated between the capital’s Old Town and New Town. If you’re arriving into Waverley, here’s what you need to know:

• To travel onwards by bus use ‘exit 1’ on Princess Street where you’ll find Lothian buses which regularly depart and take you around the city. 

• The nearest taxi ranks are outside the station on Waverley Bridge and Market Street. 

• Your nearest tram is a short walk over Princess Street and you’ll find a stop on St Andrews Street.

To Murrayfield: Lothian buses 12, 26 and 31 will take you directly to the stadium from Waverley.

Haymarket Station

Despite being the original, Haymarket is now the city’s second station. It’s located slightly further from the West End of Edinburgh but is close to Murrayfield Stadium (perfect!). Here’s everything else you need to know:

• When leaving the station head to Haymarket Terrace to catch bus 12, 26 or 31 to Murrayfield, or make your way to Dalry Road for a bus ride to the city centre. 

• The nearest tram stop (Haymarket) and taxi rank can also be found on Haymarket Terrace. 

• If you’re arriving into Edinburgh by train, don’t be fooled into getting off at Haymarket if you’re aiming for the city centre. Waverley is more central and will be the next stop along - only 1.5 miles away. 

By bus

If you’re heading into town by bus or coach you’ll find yourself at the city’s bus station on Elder Street - right in the city centre. 

• Your nearest tram stop is a 5-minute walk away at St Andrews Square

• There’s a taxi rank on North St Andrews Street where you’ll be able to hail a cab 24/7

• Or, to travel onwards by bus stay put and check out the station’s info boards for all the details.

To Murrayfield: You’re pretty spoilt for choice when it comes to buses. Jump on Lothian buses 1, 3, 12, 22, 25, 26, 30, 31 or 33 to head straight to the stadium.

Getting about

Once you’ve made it, you’ll no doubt want to check out a few sights as well as get to the main event, Murrayfield. Of course, if you’re feeling flush you can always jump in a taxi to get from A to B, but buying a city pass is a great, cost-effective alternative.  

Edinburgh PlusBus

For unlimited journeys within the city centre, the PlusBus is a great option. It’ll only set you back £3.80 a day for adults and £1.90 for children and you’ll have access to all the main bus operators, as well as the Edinburgh tram - including access to and from Murrayfield. 

A word of warning for those flying into the city - the PlusBus doesn’t cover travel on the Airlink 100.

Tip: You can save yourself hassle and buy your pass ahead of time online, at a rail ticket office, self-service ticket machine or most train ticket websites. 

Food & drink

You’ll find places to eat and drink around every corner in this magical city, with a whole host of cuisines on offer to meet every budget. 

After an exhilarating afternoon of rugby, you’ll probably want to wet your whistle and you’ll be in the right place, since Edinburgh’s heaving with the finest pubs and bars. The average pint costs £4.35 but if you’re after something extra-special, here are our top picks:

• The Last Drop - you’ll find this atmospheric pub on Grassmarket, right in the city centre.

• The Bow Bar - head to Victoria Street for a selection of fine cask ales.

• Cafe Royale - a beautiful Victorian bar on West Register Street offering real ale, whiskeys and heaps more. 

Places to see

If you’ve got any time left over for sightseeing, this historical city is packed with culture. Some of the most popular spots include:

• Edinburgh Castle - capture your imagination at one of the most stunning historical sites in Western Europe. Adult tickets cost £17.50, children £10.50 and under 5s go free. 

• Palace of Holyrood House - why not take a nosy at the Queen’s official residence in Edinburgh and see how the other half live? Adults will pay £15, children £8.70 and under 5s are free again.

• Arthur’s Seat - a short walk from Edinburgh’s royal mile is this 640-acre royal park, within which you’ll discover Salisbury Crags, St Anthony’s Chapel and Duddingston Loch.

Thinking of making a weekend of it? Then you’ll need somewhere to get your head down. Any of our four Edinburgh hotels will offer you a comfortable bed, a good night’s sleep, and a whole load more, so let us help make your Six Nations 2020 experience the best it can be.

Discover our Six Nations guide in Cardiff.