Bus 18 in Edinburgh links Fort Kinnaird West and Terminal. The route is 28.0 km long with 83 stops, and the official schedule from Lothian Buses puts the full trip at about 86 minutes. On a weekday it runs 38 trips in one direction, and 28 on a weekend day.
Route at a glance
| Mode | Bus |
|---|---|
| Route number | 18 |
| City | Edinburgh |
| Operator | Lothian Buses |
| Start → end | Fort Kinnaird West → Terminal |
| End → start | Terminal → Fort Kinnaird West |
| Route length | 28.0 km / 27.7 km in the opposite direction |
| Number of stops | 83 / 83 in the opposite direction |
| Travel time | about 86 minutes |
| Trips per day | 38 on weekdays, 28 on weekends one way |
| Frequency | peak 9–36 · midday 23–30 · weekend 30–60 |
| First / last trip from «Fort Kinnaird West» | 03:08 / 23:50 |
| First / last trip from «Terminal» | 04:12 / 23:10 |
| Fare | 2.40 £ (fare in effect since 22 February 2026) |
| Updated | August 22, 2026 |
Route of Bus 18
Outbound: Fort Kinnaird West → Terminal
This direction has 83 stops and runs 28.0 km. The route passes Peacocktail Close, Gilmerton Crossroads, Cockit Hat, Calder Drive. Below is the full list with the distance from the first stop.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Kinnaird West | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | Peacocktail Close | 0.2 km | |
| 3 | Jack Kane Centre | 0.5 km | |
| 4 | Hay Drive | 0.7 km | |
| 5 | Hay Avenue | 0.9 km | |
| 6 | Wauchope Road | 1.3 km | |
| 7 | St Teresa Church | 1.4 km | |
| 8 | Niddrie Marischal Drive | 1.8 km | |
| 9 | Niddrie House Avenue | 1.9 km | |
| 10 | Greendykes Terrace | 2.1 km | |
| 11 | Sandilands Close | 2.5 km | |
| 12 | SCRM | 2.9 km | |
| 13 | Royal Infirmary | 3.1 km | |
| 14 | Nether Craigour | 3.9 km | |
| 15 | Craigour Drive | 4.2 km | |
| 16 | Craigour Avenue | 4.3 km | |
| 17 | Craigour Grove | 4.5 km | |
| 18 | Moredun Park Drive | 4.8 km | |
| 19 | Moredun Park Road | 5.1 km | |
| 20 | Guardwell Glen | 5.3 km | |
| 21 | Gilmerton Primary School | 5.6 km | |
| 22 | Gilmerton Crossroads | 5.9 km | |
| 23 | Newtoft Street | 6.1 km | |
| 24 | Burndale Place | 6.5 km | |
| 25 | Gilmerton Dykes Avenue | 6.7 km | |
| 26 | Gilmerton Dykes Crescent | 6.9 km | |
| 27 | Lasswade Grove | 7.2 km | |
| 28 | Gracemount Leisure Centre | 7.4 km | |
| 29 | Southhouse Loan | 7.7 km | |
| 30 | Kaimes Crossroads | 8.1 km | |
| 31 | Mortonhall Park Gardens | 8.5 km | |
| 32 | Mortonhall Park Avenue | 8.7 km | |
| 33 | Marie Curie Hospice | 9.8 km | |
| 34 | Margaret Rose Avenue | 10.0 km | |
| 35 | Winton Drive | 10.2 km | |
| 36 | Frogston Avenue | 10.5 km | |
| 37 | Fairmilehead Crossroads | 10.8 km | |
| 38 | Fairmile Avenue | 11.0 km | |
| 39 | Caiystane View | 11.3 km | |
| 40 | Swanston Road | 11.6 km | |
| 41 | New Swanston | 11.8 km | |
| 42 | Cockit Hat | 12.0 km | |
| 43 | Oxgangs Library | 12.2 km | |
| 44 | Oxgangs Avenue | 12.4 km | |
| 45 | Oxgangs Terrace | 12.7 km | |
| 46 | Colinton Mains Road | 12.9 km | |
| 47 | Colinton Mains Loan | 13.1 km | |
| 48 | Oxgangs Primary School | 13.3 km | |
| 49 | Firrhill High School | 13.5 km | |
| 50 | Elliot Road | 14.0 km | |
| 51 | Redford Barracks | 14.4 km | |
| 52 | Merchiston Castle School | 14.7 km | |
| 53 | Rustic Cottages | 14.9 km | |
| 54 | Colinton Village | 15.2 km | |
| 55 | Spylaw Bank | 15.8 km | |
| 56 | Viewfield Road | 16.3 km | |
| 57 | Clovenstone Road | 17.0 km | |
| 58 | Wester Hailes Park | 17.2 km | |
| 59 | Hailesland Place | 17.5 km | |
| 60 | Murrayburn Park | 17.9 km | |
| 61 | Westside Plaza | 18.2 km | |
| 62 | Calder Drive | 18.8 km | |
| 63 | Bankhead Loan | 19.1 km | |
| 64 | Bankhead Medway | 19.6 km | |
| 65 | Edinburgh College (Sighthill) | 19.8 km | |
| 66 | Bankhead Drive | 20.1 km | |
| 67 | Forrester High School | 20.3 km | |
| 68 | Gyle Square | 20.5 km | |
| 69 | South Gyle Trade Park | 20.8 km | |
| 70 | South Gyle Crescent Lane | 21.0 km | |
| 71 | Teviot House | 21.3 km | |
| 72 | Drummond House | 21.4 km | |
| 73 | Redheughs Avenue | 21.6 km | |
| 74 | Lochside Place | 22.0 km | |
| 75 | Lochside Crescent | 22.2 km | |
| 76 | Gyle Centre | 22.8 km | |
| 77 | Gyle Roundabout | 23.1 km | |
| 78 | Gogar Roundabout | 23.7 km | |
| 79 | Gogarburn A8 | 24.5 km | |
| 80 | Gogarstone Road | 25.4 km | |
| 81 | Ingliston Park & Ride | 26.4 km | |
| 82 | Airport Hotel | 27.2 km | |
| 83 | Terminal | 28.0 km | Terminus |
Inbound: Terminal → Fort Kinnaird West
This direction has 83 stops and runs 27.7 km. The route passes Airport Hotel, Westside Plaza, New Swanston, Newtoft Street. Below is the full list with the distance from the first stop.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terminal | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | Airport Hotel | 0.7 km | |
| 3 | Eastfield Road | 1.1 km | |
| 4 | Gogarstone Road | 2.1 km | |
| 5 | Gogarburn A8 | 3.5 km | |
| 6 | Gogar Roundabout | 3.7 km | |
| 7 | Gyle Roundabout | 4.3 km | |
| 8 | Gyle Centre | 4.7 km | |
| 9 | Lochside Crescent | 5.2 km | |
| 10 | Lochside Place | 5.5 km | |
| 11 | Redheughs Avenue | 5.7 km | |
| 12 | Drummond House | 6.0 km | |
| 13 | Teviot House | 6.2 km | |
| 14 | South Gyle Crescent Lane | 6.5 km | |
| 15 | South Gyle Trade Park | 6.6 km | |
| 16 | Gyle Square | 6.9 km | |
| 17 | Forrester High School | 7.4 km | |
| 18 | Edinburgh College (Sighthill) | 7.8 km | |
| 19 | Bankhead Medway | 8.1 km | |
| 20 | Bankhead Loan | 8.4 km | |
| 21 | Calder Drive | 8.9 km | |
| 22 | Westside Plaza | 9.4 km | |
| 23 | Murrayburn Park | 9.9 km | |
| 24 | Hailesland Place | 10.1 km | |
| 25 | Wester Hailes Park | 10.4 km | |
| 26 | Clovenstone Road | 10.7 km | |
| 27 | Viewfield Road | 11.3 km | |
| 28 | Cross Road | 11.5 km | |
| 29 | Spylaw Bank | 11.8 km | |
| 30 | Colinton Village | 12.4 km | |
| 31 | Rustic Cottages | 12.7 km | |
| 32 | Merchiston Castle School | 13.0 km | |
| 33 | Redford Barracks | 13.2 km | |
| 34 | Elliot Road | 13.6 km | |
| 35 | Elliot Place | 13.8 km | |
| 36 | Oxgangs Primary School | 14.2 km | |
| 37 | Colinton Mains Loan | 14.5 km | |
| 38 | Oxgangs Terrace | 14.9 km | |
| 39 | Oxgangs Avenue | 15.2 km | |
| 40 | Oxgangs Library | 15.4 km | |
| 41 | Cockit Hat | 15.5 km | |
| 42 | New Swanston | 15.8 km | |
| 43 | Swanston Road | 16.1 km | |
| 44 | Caiystane View | 16.3 km | |
| 45 | Fairmile Avenue | 16.6 km | |
| 46 | Fairmilehead Crossroads | 16.7 km | |
| 47 | Frogston Avenue | 17.1 km | |
| 48 | Margaret Rose Avenue | 17.5 km | |
| 49 | Marie Curie Hospice | 17.8 km | |
| 50 | Mortonhall Gate | 18.7 km | |
| 51 | Mortonhall Park Avenue | 18.9 km | |
| 52 | Mortonhall Park Gardens | 19.1 km | |
| 53 | Kaimes Crossroads | 19.4 km | |
| 54 | Southhouse Loan | 19.8 km | |
| 55 | Gracemount Drive | 20.0 km | |
| 56 | Gracemount Leisure Centre | 20.2 km | |
| 57 | Lasswade Grove | 20.4 km | |
| 58 | Gilmerton Dykes Crescent | 20.6 km | |
| 59 | Gilmerton Dykes Avenue | 20.7 km | |
| 60 | Burndale Place | 21.0 km | |
| 61 | Hyvot Park | 21.2 km | |
| 62 | Newtoft Street | 21.4 km | |
| 63 | Gilmerton Crossroads | 21.6 km | |
| 64 | Gilmerton Primary School | 21.9 km | |
| 65 | Guardwell Glen | 22.2 km | |
| 66 | Moredun Park Road | 22.6 km | |
| 67 | Moredun Park Gardens | 22.8 km | |
| 68 | Moredunvale Green | 22.9 km | |
| 69 | Moredunvale Loan | 23.1 km | |
| 70 | Nether Craigour | 23.5 km | |
| 71 | Royal Infirmary | 24.4 km | |
| 72 | SCRM | 24.7 km | |
| 73 | Sandilands Close | 25.1 km | |
| 74 | Greendykes Terrace | 25.5 km | |
| 75 | Niddrie House Avenue | 25.7 km | |
| 76 | Niddrie Marischal Drive | 25.9 km | |
| 77 | Wauchope Road | 26.4 km | |
| 78 | Hay Avenue | 26.6 km | |
| 79 | Hay Drive | 26.8 km | |
| 80 | Jack Kane Centre | 27.0 km | |
| 81 | Niddrie Mill Avenue | 27.2 km | |
| 82 | Peacocktail Close | 27.5 km | |
| 83 | Fort Kinnaird West | 27.7 km | Terminus |
Schedule and frequency
According to the official schedule from Lothian Buses, the route runs 38 trips in one direction on a weekday, and 28 on a weekend day.
| Direction | Weekdays | Weekends and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| From «Fort Kinnaird West» | 03:08 — 23:50 | 03:07 — 23:50 |
| From «Terminal» | 04:12 — 23:10 | 04:44 — 23:10 |
Frequency calculated from the departure table: in the morning peak buses run every 9–36 minutes, most often every 33; midday every 23–30 minutes; in the afternoon peak every 23–30; on weekends every 30–60 minutes.
Fare and payment
A single ride costs 2.40 £ — fare in effect since 22 February 2026. The same fare applies to Lothian buses in Edinburgh.
A single bus journey costs £2.40 and covers one journey only — it gives no transfer and is not valid on Edinburgh Trams. A City DAYticket is £6.00 and works on both bus and tram; contactless travel is capped at £5.70 a day.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ride on bus 18 cost?
2.40 £ for a single ride — fare in effect since 22 February 2026.
When do the first and last trips run?
From Fort Kinnaird West the first is at 03:08 and the last at 23:50. From Terminal they are 04:12 and 23:10.
How long does the trip from Fort Kinnaird West to Terminal take?
About 86 minutes end to end — the median of full trips in the official schedule.
How many stops does the route have?
83 outbound and 83 inbound according to the official GTFS feed. The two lists do not match exactly.
Does bus 18 run on weekends?
Yes. On weekends and holidays there are 28 trips in one direction, running from Fort Kinnaird West between 03:07 and 23:50.
Every route number with its termini, operating hours and travel time is collected in the Edinburgh buses overview.
Data current as of August 22, 2026. Schedule and termini — Lothian Buses. Fares — Lothian Buses. Stop list, schedule and route geometry come from the official GTFS feed (Bus Open Data Service (BODS)).