Taxis from Edinburgh Airport to Holiday Inn Express hotels
IHG lists five Holiday Inn Express hotels in Edinburgh. One sits at the airport itself and one at City West; the other three are in town, at Picardy Place, on the Cowgate and on the Leith waterfront, and none of the three runs a free airport shuttle. So from arrivals it is the tram, the Airlink or a car, and which one wins depends on the hotel. This page prices the car to each of the three from our quote engine's latest check, with the road distance and drive time it returned. (IHG Hotels & Resorts, checked 18 October 2026; IHG Hotels & Resorts, checked 18 October 2026; IHG Hotels & Resorts, checked 18 October 2026; IHG Hotels & Resorts, checked 18 October 2026)
Holiday Inn Express branches, priced from Edinburgh
Saloon, single, pre-booked. Lowest live operator quote, checked 26 October 2026.
| Hotel | Road distance | Drive time | Fixed fare | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City CentrePicardy Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3JT (IHG Hotels & Resorts, checked 18 October 2026) | Road distance: 7.7 miles | Drive time: 27 minutes | Fixed fare: from £45 | Get my fixed price |
| Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh Royal Mile300 Cowgate, Edinburgh, EH1 1NA (IHG Hotels & Resorts, checked 18 October 2026) | Road distance: 8.7 miles | Drive time: 30 minutes | Fixed fare: from £47 | Get my fixed price |
| Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh Leith WaterfrontBritannia Way, Ocean Drive, Edinburgh, EH6 6JJ (IHG Hotels & Resorts, checked 18 October 2026) | Road distance: 10.0 miles | Drive time: 29 minutes | Fixed fare: from £49 | Get my fixed price |
Tram, Airlink or car
For the City Centre hotel the tram is the strongest rival. The airport stop is right outside the terminal, the ride into the city centre takes about 30 minutes, and IHG says the hotel is a short stroll from the York Place stop, which has a direct connection to the airport. Trams leave the airport from 06:30, every 7 minutes for most of the day, and the last one goes at 22:52. (Edinburgh Airport, checked 18 October 2026; IHG Hotels & Resorts, checked 18 October 2026)
IHG puts the Royal Mile hotel about 30 minutes from the airport on public transport. The Airlink 100 runs around the clock between the airport and the city centre, with city departures from Waverley Bridge, up to every 10 minutes from 04:12 to 01:00 and up to every 20 minutes through the night. An adult single is £6.00. (IHG Hotels & Resorts, checked 18 October 2026; Lothian Buses, checked 18 October 2026)
IHG's page for Leith Waterfront points guests to the buses into the city centre from directly opposite the hotel, and says nothing about the tram, although the line does run on to Newhaven with a stop at Ocean Terminal. With luggage, after the last tram, or with more than two of you, this is the branch where a car earns its fare. (IHG Hotels & Resorts, checked 18 October 2026; Edinburgh Airport, checked 18 October 2026)
When the tram or the Airlink wins: one or two of you, light bags, a daytime landing, and the City Centre hotel by York Place. When a car wins: a family with cases, a landing after 22:52, or Leith Waterfront. (Edinburgh Airport, checked 18 October 2026; Lothian Buses, checked 18 October 2026; IHG Hotels & Resorts, checked 18 October 2026)
Holiday Inn Express near Edinburgh: questions
Do the Holiday Inn Express hotels in Edinburgh run an airport shuttle?
No. IHG's pages for the City Centre, Royal Mile and Leith Waterfront hotels each say there is no complimentary local area shuttle, and suggest asking the front desk about ride-share services and local shuttle providers.
Can I take the tram to Holiday Inn Express Edinburgh City Centre?
Yes. IHG says the hotel is a short stroll from the York Place tram stop, which has a direct connection to the airport, and Edinburgh Airport puts the tram ride to the city centre at 30 minutes. The last tram leaves the airport at 22:52.
How much is the Airlink bus into Edinburgh?
Lothian Buses lists the Airlink 100 at £6.00 for an adult single and £8.50 for an adult return. It runs 24 hours a day, up to every 10 minutes from 04:12 to 01:00.
Is a car worth it over the tram?
For one person travelling light in the daytime, the tram is hard to argue with. For two or more with luggage, or a landing after the last tram at 22:52, compare the tram and Airlink fares with the car fare in our table, which covers the whole car.
What happens if my flight lands late?
We use flight tracking, so a delayed arrival moves your pick-up time, and you get 60 minutes free waiting after your flight lands.
Airport Taxi Hub is not affiliated with Holiday Inn Express.
Last updated , from the most recent verified fact on this page rather than the build date. Sources are listed with each fact.