Car
The test venue is in the south side of the city centre, and is easily accessible by car. The Edinburgh City bypass services most areas in the city, however, it may be more convenient to use the A90 or the A1 in the north and east of the city respectively. Given its city-centre location, there are plenty of local parking facilities nearby. However, please be aware that these are all relatively expensive sites. Lastly, please note that there is some on-site parking, so it’s worth checking whether there are any available spaces at the centre, before pursuing any of the options below.
The test venue is located on the ‘Sciennes’ road, just off the A700.
St. Leonard’s Car Park
This car park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. The following parking charges apply:
- 1 hour = £2.70
- 2 hours = £5
- 4 hours = £8.40
If parking up, conducting your test, and then immediately returning to your vehicle, you will most likely only require a ticket that permits two hours of parking. However, if you’re planning to extend your visit to Edinburgh longer than the duration of your testing arrangements, there are further options (including overnight passes). Please visit this page to learn more.
Payments for parking can be made via cash or using the Just Park service line. If looking to pay through Just Park, please either call 028-9124-8440, or text 07520. In both instances, please reference the relevant Location ID (186006).
To reach the test centre from this location, please head southwest beyond Edinburgh Printworks, and merge onto the A700. Continue southbound onto ‘Sciennes’, whereby the testing venue, located at building number 40, will be positioned on your left-hand side. This journey should take approximately 8 minutes to navigate.
27A Nicolson Square
Again, this site is open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. In similarity to St. Leonards Car Park, the prices listed below are not exhaustive, as 12-hour and 24-hour tickets available. Please visit the ‘linked’ website above to also discover more about extended hours parking at this facility.
- 1 hour = £2.40
- 2 hours = £4.50
- 3 hours = £6
- 4 hours = £8
Please note that this site only accepts cash, but does accommodate disabled parking.
The test centre is located roughly 1km away from this car park. This is a pretty simple walk, heading southbound on Buccleuch Street, progressing beyond East Meadows Playpark and then taking the slip road to ‘Sciennes’.
There is also a nearby bus route which will take you within close proximity of the test venue. To access this, please head east from the car park, turning the corner and locating the bus stop across the road from the Sainsbury’s Local store. Catch the number 30 Wester Hailes bus, and exit at East Preston Street. The test site is extremely close to this bus stop, and requires only a one-minute westbound walk to reach.
Bus
There are numerous transit lines heading into Edinburgh from various external towns and cities. We’ve highlighted six key services which may well be appropriate for your journey to the site.
2: The number 2 operates between the east and west of Edinburgh. If using this service, please exit at East Preston Street, and follow the instructions given under the Nicolson Square Car Park section.
30: This route connects the western outskirts of the city with Musselburgh, a town situated just five miles east of Edinburgh. Again, please leave this bus at East Preston Street.
31: Again, this bus originates (or terminates) in the western suburbs of the city, but this time heads south as opposed to east of Edinburgh. If taking advantage of this route, please leave at Newington Road. The test centre is a short, 300m north-westerly walk from this bus stop.
33: This service links in the southeast and southwest to the centre of Edinburgh. Once again, please exit at East Preston Street.
37: The number 37 shuttles between the southern and northern outskirts of the city. There are two bus stops along this route in close proximity to the ‘Sciennes’. There is the option of exiting the bus at the aforementioned Newington Street, Alternatively, you could alight at Bernard Terrace. These two stops are equidistant from the testing venue. If arriving from Bernard Terrace, head south-west, initially turning right onto Hope Park Terrace before advancing southbound towards ‘Sciennes’.
41: This service operates between the north-western and southern areas of the city. Please exit at Buccleuch Street if using this route. Onwards travel guidance to the venue from this bus stop mentioned previously.
Additional bus routes and supporting information can be found on the relevant ‘Moovit’ dashboard page, located here.
Train
The closest train station to the test centre is also the city’s largest, Edinburgh Waverley. This station presides over services from all different parts of the UK, therefore please be rest assured that you should be able to access this site from somewhere near to your locality.
Unfortunately, Edinburgh Waverley is around 1.6km away from the venue. The onwards walk to the test site will take approximately 22 minutes to conduct. However, this is a simple, straightforward walk down the A7, before once again turning right at Hope Park Terrace and then progressing onto ‘Sciennes’ If you would prefer to use public transport to make this journey, please be aware that the number 33 Millerhill service can be taken to East Preston Street from directly outside the train station. Guidance to the venue from this location has already been expressed in earlier sections.
For information on departure and arrival times, and also to check out the facilities that this station offers, please visit the relevant ScotRail page.
Station address:
Princes Street,
Edinburgh,
Lothian,
EH1 1BB