Useful Information

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Language | Population | Weather _ Time | Tourist Information
Shopping Times | Smoking | Places of Worship

Language
As in the rest of the UK, English is the official language of Scotland.
Gaelic is still spoken in parts of the western Highlands and in the Western Isles, with English as a second language.

Population
Edinburgh has a population of just under 500,000 people.

Weather _ Time
Average temperature in May in Edinburgh is 17ºC. Average rainfall in May is 54 mm. It is advisable to bring a rain coat and umbrella.
Time Zone - GMT/UTC 0 (Greenwich Mean Time)

Tourist Information
Edinburgh and Scotland Information Centre
3 Princes Street
Edinburgh EH2 2QP
Telephone: 0845 22 55 121

Shopping Times
In general, on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday shops are open from 9.00am to around 6.00pm. Late night shopping is usual on a Thursday – until 8.00pm. Weekend shopping hours tend to be Saturday 9:00am to 7:00pm, and Sunday 11:00am to 5:00pm.

A special arrangement has been made with Harvey Nichols to allow delegates and accompanying persons an exclusive shopping evening at the store on Monday 29th May from 7.15pm onwards.

Smoking
Smoking is enclosed public places is banned in Scotland. This includes premises like restaurants, bars, shops, cinemas, offices, hospitals, work vehicles and sports centres. Only a few exemptions to the law have been made, mainly on humanitarian grounds. For further information on this new law, please go to www.clearingtheairscotland.com

A-Z Places of worship Listing
In Scotland, people of many different religions, denominations and beliefs co-exist. The most widely practised faith in Scotland is Christianity, of which the most common denomination is Presbyterianism (represented by the Church of Scotland). Your nearest place of worship can be obtained from the appropriate contact point listed below:

Baptist
Bristo Baptist Church
1 Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh, EH4 3DJ
Tel: 0131 332 3682
www.bristobaptist.org

Buddhism
Edinburgh Buddhist Centre
10 Viewforth, Edinburgh EH10 4JF
Tel: 0131 228 3333
www.edinburghbuddhistcentre.org.uk

Church of Scotland
St George's West Church
Queensferry Street Lane, Edinburgh, EH2 4PF
Tel: 0131 225 7001
www.stgeorgeswest.com/about

Hinduism
Hindu Mandir _ Cultural Centre
St Andrew Place, Leith, EH6 7EG
Tel: 0131 440 0084
www.nchtuk.org/content.php?id=79

Islam
Edinburgh Central Mosque
50 Potterow, Edinburgh, EH8 9BT
Tel: 0131 667 1777
www.icetrust.org

Jehovah's Witnesses
Edinburgh Waverley Congregation
Kingdom Hall, 1st Floor, Buzzer 2, 95 Broughton Street, Edinburgh
Tel: 0131 443 5168

Judaism
Jewish Synagogue _ Community Centre
4 Salisbury Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5AB
Tel: 0131 667 3144
www.ehcong.com

Methodist
Central Hall
2 West Tollcross, Edinburgh, EH3 9BR
Tel: 0131 229 7937

Roman Catholic
St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral
61 York Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3JD
Tel: 0131 556 1798 / 0027
www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk

Scottish Episcopal Church
St John's Church
Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4BJ
Tel: 0131 229 7565
www.stjohns-edinburgh.org.uk

Sikh Temple
1 Sheriff Brae, Edinburgh, EH6 6ZZ
Tel: 0131 553 7207