Major city · United Kingdom
North Queensferry
Give it half a day: walk the Forth Road Bridge, see the aquarium, then move on. One night only if you want the bridges at dusk.
North Queensferry is a small Fife village under the Forth bridges, 20 minutes by train from Edinburgh. Three bridges cross the water here: the 1890 rail bridge, the 1964 road bridge you can walk across, and the 2017 Queensferry Crossing. The village itself is quiet, with an aquarium, a tiny lighthouse and the Fife Coastal Path. Most travellers see it as a half-day stop or a single night between Edinburgh and Fife.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- GBP
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Dec–Feb (short days, wind and bridge closures)
- Airport
- EDI
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for North Queensferry999 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about North Queensferry, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £).United Kingdom-wide
- SIM or eSIMEE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines…United Kingdom-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe everywhere.United Kingdom-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.United Kingdom-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets G. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): fits · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United Kingdom-wide
- SafetyA quiet, low-crime village; the real risks are wind on the bridge footpaths, unlit paths after dark and fast traffic on the A9000 approach.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 (≈ US$2) or are card-only.United Kingdom-wide
- Emergency numbers999 police, fire, ambulance · 101 police non-urgent · 111 NHS non-urgent
- Sundays & holidaysShops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 or 11:00–16:00 or 17:00).Shops in England and Wales open six hours on Sundays (usually 10:00 AM or 11:00 AM–4:00 PM or 5:00 PM).United Kingdom-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportEDI Edinburgh Airport (Stagecoach Jet 747 from airport stop G across the old Forth Road Bridge, about 30 min to the north end…
- Getting aroundThe village is small and walkable.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee£3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
- Sit-down mealRestaurant main course£15–28 (≈ US$20–40)
- BeerPint in Inverkeithing£4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8)
- Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person£30 (≈ US$40)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, hotel or B&B, a night, per room£140 (≈ US$190)
- High-end bedDouble room, hotel or B&B, a night, per room£220 (≈ US$300)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget £45 (≈ US$60) · Mid £85 (≈ US$120) · High £150 (≈ US$200)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- EDI Edinburgh Airport (Stagecoach Jet 747 from airport stop G across the old Forth Road Bridge, about 30 min to the north end, then steps down to the village; runs 24 h, every 20 min daytime)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Feb
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Mar
not flagged
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Apr
not flagged
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
May
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Jun
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jul
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Aug
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Sep
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Oct
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Nov
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Dec
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C) low), wettest Jan (13 rain days), driest Apr (9). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
North Queensferry: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
13 rd
Feb
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
10 rd
Mar
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
11 rd
Apr
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
9 rd
May
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
10 rd
Jun
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
10 rd
Jul
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
11 rd
Aug
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
11 rd
Sep
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
11 rd
Oct
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
13 rd
Nov
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
12 rd
Dec
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
13 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The village is small and walkable. Inverkeithing is a two-mile walk over the ridge, fine in dry weather. Stagecoach Bus 89 runs hourly Monday–Saturday from Dunfermline via Inverkeithing and Ferrytoll park-and-ride, about 40 min; Bay Travel Bus 87 takes about 70 min on a longer loop. Bus 7B/7D runs every 30–60 min on Sundays, with only some 7D journeys entering the village. Taxis are available locally and know the airport run.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 40–50 min
Train from North Queensferry via Inverkeithing, or Bus 89
Abbey ruins and Andrew Carnegie's birthplace; a half day.
Door to door: About 20 min to Haymarket, 30 min to Waverley
Train every 30 min via Haymarket
The obvious base; North Queensferry works as a quiet alternative.
Door to door: About 1 h 30 min
Train to Leuchars via Inverkeithing, then bus
Full day; cathedral, castle and golf links.
Door to door: About 2 h
Train to Leuchars or Kirkcaldy, then bus along the coast
Better as a Fife coast day with a car.
Door to door: About 45 min
Train via Inverkeithing
Mostly a transport stop; the coast east of it is industrial.
Glenrothes
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Train to Markinch, then bus
Use it for Falkland Palace, not the town itself.
Burntisland
goDoor to door: About 50 min
Train via Inverkeithing and Kirkcaldy
Small coastal town with a beach and a heritage railway.
Leven
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
Train to Markinch or Kirkcaldy, then bus
Long for a day trip without a car.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
North Queensferry village
One hotel and a few guesthouses; walkable to the bridge path, station and aquarium.
Inverkeithing
Two miles north, a bigger transport hub with more trains and cheaper rooms; walk over the ridge or take a bus.
South Queensferry
Across the road bridge in Edinburgh; historic pubs and more choice, but you cross the water each day.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- £45–75 (≈ US$60–100) excl. bed
- Mid
- £75–130 (≈ US$100–180) excl. bed
- High
- £130 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, hotel or B&B1 × 1 night × £140 | £140 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × £85 | £170 |
| Jet 747 bus, airport to the bridge, both ways2 × £14 | £28 |
| Deep Sea World adult ticket2 × £19 | £38 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × £10 | £20 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | £40 |
| Trip total≈ £218 per person per day, bed included | £436≈ US$600 |
2026 estimate in pounds; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | £3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Café lunch | £8–14 (≈ US$11–19) |
| Restaurant main course | £15–28 (≈ US$20–40) |
| Pint in Inverkeithing | £4.50–6 (≈ US$6–8) |
| Train, North Queensferry to Edinburgh | £6–9 (≈ US$8–12) return (check) |
| Taxi, village to Edinburgh Airport | £35–50 (≈ US$50–70) (check) |
| Deep Sea World adult ticket | £19 (≈ US$30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The Forth Road Bridge footpath closes in high winds and sometimes for maintenance; use the west-side path when the east side is shut.
- North Queensferry station is unstaffed: buy your ticket from the machine before boarding.
- The village has no pub and few places to eat in the evening; check kitchen hours before you rely on them.
- Inchgarvie island under the rail bridge is uninhabited and has no access.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 999
- Police non-urgent
- 101
- NHS non-urgent
- 111
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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North QueensferryNorth Queensferry
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance999
- Police non-urgent101
- NHS non-urgent111
Embassy
No embassies here; the US consulate-general is in Edinburgh, and most others are in London or Edinburgh (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Train North Queensferry → Edinburgh Waverley: about £6–9 (≈ US$8–12) return, 30 min (check)
- Jet 747 bus, airport → Forth Road Bridge north end: about £7 (≈ US$10) single, 30 min (check)
- Taxi village → Edinburgh Airport: £35–50 (≈ US$50–70) (check)
Say or show
- Thank you — Thank you
- Please — Please
- Excuse me — Excuse me
- How much is it? — How much is it?
- Where is the station? — Where is the station?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
English is spoken throughout; no local phrases needed.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for North Queensferry. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Dec–Feb (short days, wind and bridge closures) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 8 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for EDI: last Jet 747 departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: village and station, bridge footpaths, Deep Sea World and Battery Quay.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Forth Road Bridge path, Deep Sea World, Harbour Light Tower) and eat pages with last orders.
- Wind and closure fixtures so bridge-walk gates can go green or red.
Sources
- officialVisitScotland — Fife
- officialScotRail
- officialStagecoach East Scotland
- officialEdinburgh Airport
- officialDeep Sea World
- officialNorth Queensferry Heritage Trust
- secondaryWikivoyage: North Queensferry, revision 5207598 (CC BY-SA 4.0)