Past Conferences

IVA 2012
IVA 2011
IVA 2010
IVA 2009
IVA 2008
IVA 2007
IVA 2006

Local Information

Travel to Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a world - class destination

Scotland’s capital city and home to the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh is a fusion of fabled streets and historic buildings, contained within a vibrant modern city.
Quite simply, it is a brilliant destination in which to hold an international conference.
The city and surrounding area have a wide range of unusual, historic and world famous venues in which to hold conferences or social events - including elegant stately homes, The Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Museum and historic underground ghostly vaults.
Edinburgh, Scotland’s inspiring capital city, is at the heart of Scotland and easy to reach by air, rail and road.

• BY AIR

Edinburgh International Airport is only 12 kilometres (8 miles) from the city centre and has very good connections to the city via taxi, express coach and shuttle bus.
Over 100 destinations are served by more than 40 airlines including New York, Toronto, Amsterdam, Brussels, Geneva, Frankfurt, Paris, Prague, Madrid, Munich, Stockholm and Warsaw.
There are over 100 flights from London airports every day, and numerous flights to other major cities in the UK including Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol.
See www.edinburghairport.com for full information

• BY TRAIN

Edinburgh is linked to all the major cities and airports in Britain.
The high-speed link to London gets you from the heart of one city to the other in just over four hours, while the Eurostar service connects Paris to Edinburgh in around eight hours. See www.nationalrail.co.uk

• BY ROAD

Motorways and a network of quiet trunk roads ensure Edinburgh is easily - and pleasantly - accessible by road.
The recently-refurbished coach station at St Andrew Square in the heart of the city offers connections to all major cities in Britain. See www.nationalexpress.com `

• From Edinburgh Airport to the city

Taxi - no need to book, always available at the Airport taxi rank - approx £18-20
Airport Express bus - approx 30 minutes £3.50 each way, or £6.00 return.

Visa Information

Please see the UK Border Agency web site to see if you require a visa. We can issue a visa support letter, which describes the technical nature of the conference. Send your request for a visa support letter to iva2013@googlegroups.com with the following information:

• Name as it appears on your passport
• Current Institution address (visa support letters cannot be sent to personal addresses.)
• Preferred email address

Please indicate any involvement that you have with the conference. For example, if you have submitted a paper to the conference, include the number assigned to the paper. If you are on the programme committee for the conference or one of its workshops, please give details.

Tourism

Visitor information can be found at the official Edinburgh tourism site. Popular attractions include Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyrood House, and the Royal Yacht Britania. Many tour operators, with shops on the Royal Mile, run trips to explore other parts of Scotland.

• Experience Edinburgh

With listings for bus tours, pubs & restaurants, shopping and golf courses and adventure packed activities, your delegates will be spoiled for choice.

• Reduced Bus Fares

Marketing Edinburgh, Convention Bureau have negotiated a special discount for bus travel with Edinburgh & Lothian buses.
Not only to reduce fares on the Airlink bus ticket but also on the exciting city sightseeing bus tours.
The link will allow you to book and print your Airlink bus tickets as well as your sightseeing ticket, before you arrive in the city! Here is the discount link

Eating out

There are several informal restaurants and bars close to the Informatics Forum, and many more on George IV Bridge and the Royal Mile, a few minutes' walk north. The List has reviews of many of the dining options.