Access
Edinburgh Science Festival is an annual two-week festival that runs over the Easter holidays.
Our programme includes more than 200 events in a variety of formats: from shows and performances to talks, discussions and debates, interactive workshops, drop-in activities and exhibitions.
Searching for Events
Events for the 2020 Science Festival will be available online and in our brochure once launched – stay tuned for dates!.
If you would like a copy of the brochure sent to your address, please email our marketing team on marketing@scifest.co.uk
If you would like a copy of the brochure in a different format, please also email our marketing team marketing@scifest.co.uk, and we will do our best to provide you with one in your desired format.
Online
You can search for events by date, title, age range and suitability, theme (which is labelled as Frontier), type of event, open access performances, venues and the #SciFive discount.
Each event listing will have the time, date, price and venue included as well as information about what the event entails.
Open Access Events and Additional Resources
We had a number of open access performances at the Science Festival in 2019 and plan to do the same in 2020. If there is something specific you would like to request for an event or ask a question, please call our Box Office on 0131 226 0005 or email boxoffice@scifest.co.uk. Below is a list of what has previously been made available:
Live Captioned discussions
Relaxed performances
Pamiloo
Sensory backpacks
Social story
With the help of Scottish Autism and PAMIS, we have developed a social story for anyone attending the Science Festival. The social story is available in downloadable PDF format. Please note that this will be updated before the next Festival.
How to book tickets
Edinburgh Science Festival is an e-ticket Festival. This means when you book tickets to an event you are emailed a ticket which you can present on your phone for scanning or showing at the door.
Box Office contact details:
Phone: 0131 226 0005
Email: boxoffice@scifest.co.uk
You can book tickets in a number of different ways:
Online:
You will need to log in or register an account in order to book tickets with us online. This means you will keep all your Science Festival transactions in one place. You can do this by clicking in the top right corner where it says ‘sign in’.
Once you have logged in and found which event you want to book tickets for, follow the prompts which will direct you to the booking page. If you have any troubles, please contact our Box Office.
If you are using a public computer and wish to sign out of your account, you can do so by scrolling to the bottom of our page and clicking ‘sign-out’ in the website footer.
In person:
During the Festival, you can book tickets at four venues around the city. The Fringe Box Office will be open to book tickets in person from early 2020.
The Fringe Box Office at Old Assembly Close, High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QS
- Level access via a steep slope, a hearing loop and a dropped counter
Pleasance Box Office at Pleasance Courtyard, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9TJ (open from the start of the Festival)
- Level access with a dropped counter, Box Office is located to the left as you come in the main glass doors
National Museum of Scotland at Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF (open from the start of the Festival)
- Level access, elevator available. Box Office is located on the first floor near the elevator
City Art Centre at 2 Market Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1DE (open from the start of the Festival)
- Level access, Box Office is located on the ground floor in front of the café
Phone
You can book tickets over the phone by calling the Science Festival Box Office on 0131 226 0005. Payment can be made over the phone and the e-ticket will still be sent to your email address.
Contact Scotland
If you are a BSL user Contact Scotland is a free interpretation service you can use for booking tickets. Log in to Contact Scotland here and you will be put through to an interpreter, who will then call our Box Office and help make the booking.
If you are having problems
If you are experiencing problems booking tickets, please contact the Box Office on 0131 226 0005 or boxoffice@scifest.co.uk and a member of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Access ticketing link
If you have booked a ticket via email with the Box Office, you will be sent a ticketing link to securely input your card details.
Additional support tickets
Carers and support workers are entitled to a free ticket for the event they accompany you at. Please note ID may be required.
Concession tickets
Concession tickets are available at a reduced rate for those who have a disability, are pensioners or unemployed. #SciFive tickets are available for students and teachers.
Babes in arms
Children under three years old do not require a ticket for events, except if the event is specifically for children under three years-old.
Our events happen at venues in and around Edinburgh. We welcome all visitors to our events and make every effort to ensure that the activities in our programme are as accessible as possible.
This page contains information on searching for events (including open access performances) how to book tickets and planning your visit to the Science Festival. If you have a specific requirement or any questions about what we offer, please email our box office on boxoffice@scifest.co.uk or phone on 0131 553 0005.
Planning your visit
Each venue we use has its own page with a more detailed breakdown of its access. You can download the full access statements from our core venues below.
City Art Centre: See the full access statement here.
Pleasance: See the full access statement here
National Museum of Scotland: See the full access statement here via AccessAble site
Dynamic Earth: See the full access statement here and the sensory map here
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: Download full access statement here
Toilets
Accessible
There are many accessible toilets around Science Festival venues. Below is a list of the venues that have accessible toilets.
- City Art Centre
- Pleasance
- National Museum of Scotland - click here for detailed dimensions of these toilets
- Dynamic Earth (2 toilets)
- Royal Botanic Gardens (6 toilets)
All our core venues have baby changing facilities too.
Changing places
There are three changing places toilets location around Edinburgh City Centre, two located in north Edinburgh and two located in Edinburgh west. A Pamiloo will also be available at Pleasance for 11, 12, 15 and 17 April.
City Centre
- National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF
- The Booking Office JD Wetherspoons 17 Waverley Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1BQ
- The Scottish Parliament, Horse Wynd, Edinburgh EH99 1SP
North Edinburgh
- Edinburgh College - Granton Campus - Catering Block, 350 West Granton Road, Edinburgh, EH5 1QE
- Edinburgh College - Granton Campus - Sports Block, 350 West Granton Road, Edinburgh, EH5 1QE
Edinburgh west
- Murrayfield Stadium, Roseburn Street, Edinburgh, EH12 5PZ
- Orwell Arts, 17 Orwell Place, Edinburgh, EH11 2A
Please see the Changing Places website for further information on the specifications of each of these toilets.
Transport
Our transport partner Lothian Buses provide transport around Edinburgh, with many short walking distances to and from our venues. Most buses also have wheelchair spaces.