Bus 4 in Edinburgh links Queen Margaret University and Snowsports Centre. The route is 22.0 km long with 64 stops, and the official schedule from Lothian Buses puts the full trip at about 80 minutes. On a weekday it runs 51 trips in one direction, and 37 on a weekend day.
Route at a glance
| Mode | Bus |
|---|---|
| Route number | 4 |
| City | Edinburgh |
| Operator | Lothian Buses |
| Start → end | Queen Margaret University → Snowsports Centre |
| End → start | Snowsports Centre → Queen Margaret University |
| Route length | 22.0 km / 21.4 km in the opposite direction |
| Number of stops | 64 / 66 in the opposite direction |
| Travel time | about 80 minutes |
| Trips per day | 51 on weekdays, 37 on weekends one way (48 on weekdays → Queen Margaret University) |
| Frequency | peak 20–24 · midday 20–22 · weekend 22–35 |
| First / last trip from «Queen Margaret University» | 04:54 / 23:10 |
| First / last trip from «Snowsports Centre» | 05:54 / 23:48 |
| Fare | 2.40 £ (fare in effect since 22 February 2026) |
| Updated | August 22, 2026 |
Route of Bus 4
Outbound: Queen Margaret University → Snowsports Centre
This direction has 64 stops and runs 22.0 km. The route passes Queen Margaret Drive, Piershill Square East, Shandwick Place, Craiglockhart Campus. Below is the full list with the distance from the first stop.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Queen Margaret University | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | Queen Margaret Drive | 0.4 km | |
| 3 | Milton Link | 3.3 km | |
| 4 | Corbiewynd | 3.5 km | |
| 5 | Parrotshot | 3.7 km | |
| 6 | The Jewel | 3.9 km | |
| 7 | Durham Road South | 4.2 km | |
| 8 | Bingham Crescent | 4.3 km | |
| 9 | Bingham Avenue | 4.7 km | |
| 10 | Duddingston View | 5.0 km | |
| 11 | Duddingston Avenue | 5.4 km | |
| 12 | Duddingston Mills | 5.8 km | |
| 13 | Northfield Gardens | 6.1 km | |
| 14 | Northfield Square | 6.4 km | |
| 15 | Northfield Road | 6.6 km | |
| 16 | Royal High Primary | 6.9 km | |
| 17 | Piershill Square East | 7.2 km | |
| 18 | Piershill Square West | 7.4 km | |
| 19 | Meadowbank House | 7.7 km | |
| 20 | Meadowbank Stadium | 8.0 km | |
| 21 | Wishaw Terrace | 8.3 km | |
| 22 | Marionville Road | 8.5 km | |
| 23 | Abbeyhill | 8.7 km | |
| 24 | Brunton Place | 9.1 km | |
| 25 | Wellington Street | 9.3 km | |
| 26 | Brunswick Street | 9.5 km | |
| 27 | Leopold Place | 9.7 km | |
| 28 | Leith Street | 10.1 km | |
| 29 | Princes Street (Waverley Steps) | 10.5 km | |
| 30 | Princes Street (Scott Mon.) | 10.8 km | |
| 31 | Princes Street (west) | 11.4 km | |
| 32 | Shandwick Place | 11.8 km | |
| 33 | Atholl Crescent | 12.1 km | |
| 34 | Haymarket Station | 12.5 km | |
| 35 | Caledonian Village | 12.9 km | |
| 36 | Dalry Primary School | 13.1 km | |
| 37 | Murieston Crescent | 13.4 km | |
| 38 | Springwell House | 13.5 km | |
| 39 | St Michaels Church | 13.7 km | |
| 40 | Shandon Place | 14.0 km | |
| 41 | Hermand Street | 14.3 km | |
| 42 | Hutchison Crossway | 14.7 km | |
| 43 | Hutchison Place | 14.9 km | |
| 44 | Slateford Station | 15.2 km | |
| 45 | Allan Park Road | 15.5 km | |
| 46 | Craiglockhart Church | 16.0 km | |
| 47 | Craiglockhart Campus | 16.4 km | |
| 48 | Craiglockhart Park | 16.6 km | |
| 49 | Craiglockhart Road | 16.8 km | |
| 50 | Oxgangs Primary School | 17.2 km | |
| 51 | Colinton Mains Loan | 17.6 km | |
| 52 | Oxgangs Terrace | 17.9 km | |
| 53 | Oxgangs Avenue | 18.3 km | |
| 54 | Oxgangs Library | 18.5 km | |
| 55 | Cockit Hat | 18.6 km | |
| 56 | New Swanston | 18.8 km | |
| 57 | Swanston Road | 19.1 km | |
| 58 | Caiystane View | 19.3 km | |
| 59 | Fairmile Avenue | 19.6 km | |
| 60 | Fairmilehead Crossroads | 19.7 km | |
| 61 | Swanston Avenue | 20.1 km | |
| 62 | Swanston Drive | 20.3 km | |
| 63 | Golf Club | 20.9 km | |
| 64 | Snowsports Centre | 22.0 km | Terminus |
Inbound: Snowsports Centre → Queen Margaret University
This direction has 66 stops and runs 21.4 km. The route passes Golf Club, Craiglockhart Road, Haymarket Station, Royal High Primary. Below is the full list with the distance from the first stop.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snowsports Centre | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | Golf Club | 1.0 km | |
| 3 | Swanston Drive | 1.5 km | |
| 4 | Swanston Avenue | 1.7 km | |
| 5 | Fairmilehead Crossroads | 2.1 km | |
| 6 | Fairmile Avenue | 2.3 km | |
| 7 | Caiystane View | 2.6 km | |
| 8 | Swanston Road | 2.9 km | |
| 9 | New Swanston | 3.1 km | |
| 10 | Cockit Hat | 3.3 km | |
| 11 | Oxgangs Library | 3.5 km | |
| 12 | Oxgangs Avenue | 3.7 km | |
| 13 | Oxgangs Terrace | 3.9 km | |
| 14 | Colinton Mains Road | 4.2 km | |
| 15 | Colinton Mains Loan | 4.4 km | |
| 16 | Oxgangs Primary School | 4.6 km | |
| 17 | Firrhill High School | 4.8 km | |
| 18 | Craiglockhart Road | 5.1 km | |
| 19 | Craiglockhart Park | 5.3 km | |
| 20 | Craiglockhart Campus | 5.5 km | |
| 21 | Craiglockhart Drive | 5.7 km | |
| 22 | Craiglockhart Church | 5.9 km | |
| 23 | Allan Park Road | 6.3 km | |
| 24 | Slateford Station | 6.6 km | |
| 25 | Hutchison Place | 6.8 km | |
| 26 | Hutchison Crossway | 7.0 km | |
| 27 | Moat Drive | 7.4 km | |
| 28 | Shandon Place | 7.9 km | |
| 29 | St Michaels Church | 8.1 km | |
| 30 | Springwell House | 8.3 km | |
| 31 | Murieston Crescent | 8.5 km | |
| 32 | Dalry Primary School | 8.8 km | |
| 33 | Caledonian Village | 9.1 km | |
| 34 | Haymarket Station | 9.3 km | |
| 35 | Shandwick Place | 10.0 km | |
| 36 | Princes Street (west) | 10.6 km | |
| 37 | Princes Street (Scott Mon.) | 11.0 km | |
| 38 | Leith Street | 11.5 km | |
| 39 | Leopold Place | 12.2 km | |
| 40 | Brunswick Street | 12.4 km | |
| 41 | Wellington Street | 12.5 km | |
| 42 | Brunton Place | 12.8 km | |
| 43 | Abbeyhill | 13.1 km | |
| 44 | Marionville Road | 13.4 km | |
| 45 | Meadowbank Stadium | 13.7 km | |
| 46 | Meadowbank House | 14.2 km | |
| 47 | Piershill Square West | 14.4 km | |
| 48 | Piershill Square East | 14.5 km | |
| 49 | Piersfield Terrace | 14.8 km | |
| 50 | Royal High Primary | 14.9 km | |
| 51 | Northfield Road | 15.1 km | |
| 52 | Northfield Square | 15.5 km | |
| 53 | Northfield Farm Avenue | 15.8 km | |
| 54 | Duddingston Mills | 15.9 km | |
| 55 | Duddingston Avenue | 16.4 km | |
| 56 | Duddingston View | 16.7 km | |
| 57 | Bingham Avenue | 16.9 km | |
| 58 | Bingham Avenue | 17.2 km | |
| 59 | Bingham Crescent | 17.4 km | |
| 60 | Durham Road South | 17.7 km | |
| 61 | The Jewel | 17.9 km | |
| 62 | Parrotshot | 18.1 km | |
| 63 | Corbiewynd | 18.4 km | |
| 64 | Milton Link | 18.6 km | |
| 65 | Queen Margaret Drive | 21.0 km | |
| 66 | Queen Margaret University | 21.4 km | Terminus |
Schedule and frequency
According to the official schedule from Lothian Buses, the route runs 51 trips in one direction on a weekday, and 37 on a weekend day.
| Direction | Weekdays | Weekends and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| From «Queen Margaret University» | 04:54 — 23:10 | 04:54 — 23:10 |
| From «Snowsports Centre» | 05:54 — 23:48 | 05:57 — 23:48 |
Frequency calculated from the departure table: in the morning peak buses run every 20–24 minutes, most often every 20; midday every 20–22 minutes; in the afternoon peak every 20–26; on weekends every 22–35 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 4 cost?
2.40 £ for a single ride — fare in effect since 22 February 2026.
When do the first and last trips run?
From Queen Margaret University the first is at 04:54 and the last at 23:10. From Snowsports Centre they are 05:54 and 23:48.
How long does the trip from Queen Margaret University to Snowsports Centre take?
About 80 minutes end to end — the median of full trips in the official schedule.
How many stops does the route have?
64 outbound and 66 inbound according to the official GTFS feed. The two lists do not match exactly.
Does bus 4 run on weekends?
Yes. On weekends and holidays there are 37 trips in one direction, running from Queen Margaret University between 04:54 and 23:10.
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)).