The Best Conference Venues in Edinburgh

What kind of Edinburgh conference venues are available?

In short, there are plenty. You’ll find pubs and more casual conference venues around George Street, while the Newtown area is home to a mixture of corporate-focused venues both small and large. The good news is that there are venues that can be easily adapted to suit your own needs right across the city.

With so many landmarks and sights to see around Scotland’s capital, an Edinburgh business conference offers the perfect chance for attendees to experience what it is that makes the city so special. VenueScanner has close to 150 conference venues in Edinburgh, catering for large capacities and much more intimate gatherings alike.

How to Choose The Right Venue for Your Event

With lots of potential spaces to choose from, anything you can do to narrow down your search will naturally save you lots of time. Below are the key criteria to keep in mind when assessing potential venue options. 

The Cost 

Your budget is going to be the most important factor in determining which venues you can realistically consider, and which are going to be beyond your range. Edinburgh is home to a diverse range of venues, some of which are relatively affordable, while others are going to set you back quite a bit. 

It is best to establish exactly how much money you have to work with and then look for venues within that price range, rather than trying to find a reasonably priced venue without a solid idea of how much money you have. 

The Location 

As with most major cities, Edinburgh can be divided into different sections, each of which has its own personality and style. In finding the right Edinburgh training and conference venue for your event, you should consider the kind of atmosphere that you are aiming to cultivate. You may also want to investigate the local amenities if you are planning on doing anything with attendees after the event. 

Finally, you should consider how accessible your chosen venue is for people who will be travelling in on public transport. Edinburgh has a robust public transport network, so getting about the city is pretty simple and straightforward. 

The Time of Year 

This factor is often overlooked when searching for Edinburgh conference venues. You can never be 100 per cent certain about the weather, but scheduling your conference in the traditionally warmer months is likely to make things easier on your attendees. 

If you are going to be indoors in a conferencing centre then the weather is less of an issue, although it can affect public transport. On the other hand, if you are planning for a conference followed by another event or meeting, you may well need the weather on your side. It’s also worth remembering that spaces are going to be much harder to come by during August’s Fringe Festival.

Capacity 

Aside from the cost of a venue, the other main factor in determining whether it is suitable for your conference or not is going to be its capacity. You should be wary of paying over and above for a conference venue that offers more space than you are ever going to need.

Tips for Planning a Conference in Edinburgh

You’ll already know that planning is everything when it comes to putting on a corporate event. Here are a few things to consider as you get started.

Establish the purpose of your conference

Before you can do any serious planning for your conference, you need to work out exactly what its purpose is. Edinburgh has conference venues that are suited to conducting debates, training new workers, or even meeting with potential clients. The best venue for your conference will depend entirely on what the event is for.

Give yourself plenty of time to plan

The more time you are able to spend planning for your conference, the better. As a lack of planning often ends in disaster, a conference is not something that you can convincingly throw together at the last minute or make up as you go along! 

Be realistic with your budget

Knowing exactly how much money you have to work with from the very beginning will make it much easier for you to compile a shortlist of suitable venues. If you don't give yourself enough of a budget to work with, you are going to struggle to achieve your aims. On the other hand, there’s no sense in spending more than you need to and doing so can ultimately be bad for your business.

Beautifully vibrant Edinburgh is a city overflowing with spaces to host an inspiring and memorable conference. Here on VenueScanner, we’ve got places available to hire throughout the city; from Old Town to Stockbridge to South Gyle. 

Take your pick between some of the finest conference venues Edinburgh has to offer, and if you need any more guidance just send us a message on [email protected]