Arriving at Edinburgh Waverley: A Theatre Visitor’s Guide
Arriving at Edinburgh Waverley for a musical or theatre break? You’re already in one of the best locations for starting your day in the city.
Edinburgh’s main railway station sits right in the heart of the city, between the Old Town and New Town. From here, you can walk to major attractions, find somewhere for lunch or dinner and reach Edinburgh’s main theatres without travelling far across the city.
Whether you’re arriving for a matinee, spending the whole day in Edinburgh or staying overnight after an evening show, here’s how to make the most of your time after stepping off the train.
Edinburgh Waverley at a Glance
One of the biggest advantages of arriving at Waverley is just how much of central Edinburgh is within walking distance.
| From Edinburgh Waverley | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Edinburgh Playhouse | Around 10 minutes on foot |
| Festival Theatre | Around 10–15 minutes on foot |
| Princes Street | Immediately beside the station |
| Royal Mile | A short walk into the Old Town |
| St James Quarter | A short walk towards the New Town |
| Princes Street Gardens | Close to the station |
| City Art Centre | Beside Waverley on Market Street |
Edinburgh Playhouse officially describes Waverley as around a 10-minute walk away, while Festival Theatre is also within easy walking distance of the station.
However, remember that Edinburgh has hills, steps and cobbled streets. A journey that looks short on a map can feel quite different when you’re carrying luggage.
Which Edinburgh Theatres Are Near Waverley?
If you’ve arrived specifically to see a musical, both of Edinburgh’s main musical theatres are conveniently located for Waverley.
Edinburgh Playhouse
Edinburgh Playhouse is at the top of Leith Walk, close to Picardy Place and St James Quarter. It’s around a 10-minute walk from Waverley, making travelling into Edinburgh by train particularly convenient for a Playhouse performance. We won’t repeat all the directions, parking and venue information here. You’ll find everything you need for the theatre itself in our dedicated guide.
Edinburgh Playhouse – What’s On & Visitor Guide
Festival Theatre Edinburgh
Festival Theatre is on Nicolson Street, on the Old Town side of the city centre. It’s also within walking distance of Waverley, which means you can arrive by train and spend the rest of your theatre day exploring Edinburgh on foot if you wish. For directions, seating, accessibility, parking and venue information:
Which Way Should You Go From Waverley?
This is where Waverley’s location becomes particularly useful. You don’t necessarily need to arrive and immediately head towards your theatre. Instead, think about which side of Edinburgh you’ll eventually need to be on.
Seeing a show at Edinburgh Playhouse?
You could spend some time around:
- Princes Street
- St Andrew Square
- St James Quarter
- Calton Hill
- The New Town
Then gradually make your way towards your pre-theatre restaurant and Edinburgh Playhouse.
Seeing a show at Festival Theatre?
Consider exploring:
- The Royal Mile
- Old Town
- National Museum of Scotland
- South Bridge
- Chambers Street
Then head towards Nicolson Street for dinner and your performance. This avoids spending the day repeatedly crossing Edinburgh when you could gradually work your way towards the theatre.
What Can You Do Near Edinburgh Waverley?
If you’ve arrived several hours before your performance, you certainly don’t need to sit in the station waiting for curtain time. Some of Edinburgh’s best-known areas and attractions are close by.
Explore the Royal Mile
The Royal Mile runs through Edinburgh’s historic Old Town and is packed with historic buildings, attractions, shops, cafés and places to explore. It connects Edinburgh Castle with the Palace of Holyrood house. It’s particularly convenient if you’re attending Festival Theatre later because you’ll already be exploring the Old Town side of the city. You don’t necessarily need an itinerary either. Simply walking along the Royal Mile and exploring some of its closes can easily fill part of your afternoon.
Relax in Princes Street Gardens
If you’ve had a long train journey and don’t immediately fancy another attraction, Princes Street Gardens offer a much more relaxed start to your Edinburgh visit. The gardens sit alongside Princes Street between the Old and New Towns, with Edinburgh Castle overlooking them. This could be particularly nice on a summer theatre trip when you have a few hours to spare before dinner.
Visit the City Art Centre
The City Art Centre is particularly convenient because it’s on Market Street, beside Waverley Station. It hosts changing exhibitions of Scottish historic and contemporary art, and general admission is normally free, although some temporary exhibitions may have a charge. That makes it an excellent option if you’ve arrived earlier than expected and want something nearby without committing several hours.
Head Towards Calton Hill
If the weather is on your side and you want to stretch your legs after the train journey, you could head towards Calton Hill. This also takes you towards the Playhouse side of central Edinburgh, so it can fit particularly well into a day when you’re seeing a performance there later.Just remember that you’ll be doing plenty more walking during the day, so don’t exhaust yourself before you’ve even reached the theatre!
Explore the New Town
Alternatively, head towards Princes Street, St Andrew Square and Edinburgh’s New Town. This works particularly well if you’re seeing something at Edinburgh Playhouse because you can gradually move towards the Playhouse area rather than returning across the city later.
Arriving at Waverley With Luggage?
This is worth thinking about before your visit.
If you’re staying overnight, the easiest option may simply be to go to your hotel first and leave your luggage there. That allows you to explore Edinburgh, have dinner and visit the theatre without carrying bags around all day.
If that isn’t practical, Edinburgh Waverley has a left-luggage facility. Network Rail currently lists it on Platform 2 near the Calton Road entrance, with step-free access. Check the latest opening times and prices before relying on it.
This can be particularly useful if you’re visiting Edinburgh for the day.
And there’s another reason to deal with your bags before heading to the theatre: Edinburgh Playhouse doesn’t have cloakroom facilities and asks visitors to bring only smaller bags, specifically directing people with large bags or suitcases to Waverley’s left-luggage facility.
So don’t arrive at the Playhouse with your weekend suitcase!
Where Should You Eat After Arriving at Waverley?
Rather than choosing a restaurant simply because it’s close to the station, think about where you need to be later.
If you’re seeing a show at Edinburgh Playhouse, choose somewhere around the Playhouse side of the city. Restaurants Near Edinburgh Playhouse
If you’re heading to Festival Theatre, choose somewhere around Nicolson Street and the Old Town. Restaurants Near Festival Theatre Edinburgh
Or, if you’re still deciding: Best Pre-Theatre Restaurants in Edinburgh
This makes your evening much easier because once you’ve finished dinner, the theatre is only a short walk away.
Arriving for an Edinburgh Matinee
Travelling into Edinburgh by train can work particularly well for a matinee. Your day could be as simple as:
Waverley → Coffee or early lunch → Walk to the theatre → Enjoy the matinee → Dinner or drinks afterwards → Return to Waverly.
One advantage of a matinee is that you don’t have to worry as much about catching the last train home after the performance. You’ll also have the evening available if you’d like to stay in Edinburgh for dinner before travelling back. Why not check out our guide for more hints and tips: Matinee vs Evening Shows: Which Is Best?
Arriving for an Evening Performance
An evening musical gives you much more time to explore Edinburgh before the show. You could arrive late morning or around lunchtime and turn the performance into a full day out. For example:
Waverley → Explore the Old Town or New Town → Visit an attraction → Pre-theatre dinner → Musical → Return to Waverly.
What time is your last train?
Don’t wait until the interval to discover your journey home doesn’t work. Check the expected running time of your musical and allow enough time to leave the theatre and walk back to Waverley. Have a look at our handy guide for more information: How Long Is a Typical Musical? What to Expect?
If the timings are uncomfortable, staying overnight may turn the trip into a much more relaxing experience.
Staying Overnight After Your Show
An overnight stay changes the whole pace of your theatre trip. Instead of building your evening around a return train, you can enjoy dinner, see the musical and head back to your accommodation afterwards. You’ll also have more time to explore Edinburgh either before your performance or the following morning.
When choosing accommodation, consider its location in relation to Waverley and your theatre. A hotel that’s convenient for both can make the entire visit much easier.
Where to Stay in Edinburgh for a Theatre Break
Explore our Edinburgh Deals pages for all the latest are prices: Explore Edinburgh Hotel & Theatre Break Deals
Three Easy Theatre Trips From Edinburgh Waverley
If you’re not sure how to plan your visit, here are three simple ways to approach it.
🎭 Quick Matinee Trip
Waverley → Lunch → Matinee → Dinner/Drink → Waverley
Best if you’re visiting Edinburgh primarily for the show and travelling home the same day.
🍽️ Edinburgh Theatre Day
Waverley → Sightseeing → Pre-Theatre Dinner → Musical → Waverley
Best if you’re attending an evening performance and want to make a full day of your visit.
🛏️ Overnight Theatre Break
Waverley → Hotel → Explore Edinburgh → Dinner → Musical → Hotel → More Edinburgh the following day
Best if you want to make the musical part of a short Edinburgh break rather than worrying about the last train home.
FAQ
Edinburgh Waverley puts you right in the centre of the city, making it an excellent starting point for a theatre visit. Here are some quick answers to common questions about planning your day after arriving by train.
Start Planning Your Edinburgh Theatre Day
Arriving at Waverley puts you in the perfect position to start exploring Edinburgh. Whether you’re heading straight to a matinee, spending the afternoon sightseeing before an evening musical or staying overnight for a theatre break, a little planning will help you make much more of your visit.
Getting Around Edinburgh: A Theatre Visitor’s Guide
Plan Your Perfect Edinburgh Visit
Edinburgh Deals & Theatre Night Out Offers