Bus 21 in Edinburgh links Royal Infirmary and Gyle Centre. The route is 26.0 km long with 100 stops, and the official schedule from Lothian Buses puts the full trip at about 98 minutes. On a weekday it runs 71 trips in one direction, and 41 on a weekend day.
Route at a glance
| Mode | Bus |
|---|---|
| Route number | 21 |
| City | Edinburgh |
| Operator | Lothian Buses |
| Start → end | Royal Infirmary → Gyle Centre |
| End → start | Gyle Centre → Royal Infirmary |
| Route length | 26.0 km / 25.7 km in the opposite direction |
| Number of stops | 100 / 93 in the opposite direction |
| Travel time | about 98 minutes |
| Trips per day | 71 on weekdays, 41 on weekends one way (75 on weekdays → Royal Infirmary) |
| Frequency | peak 1–16 · midday 12–15 · weekend 17–36 |
| First / last trip from «Royal Infirmary» | 04:46 / 23:50 |
| First / last trip from «Gyle Centre» | 04:31 / 23:48 |
| Fare | 2.40 £ (fare in effect since 22 February 2026) |
| Updated | August 22, 2026 |
Route of Bus 21
Outbound: Royal Infirmary → Gyle Centre
This direction has 100 stops and runs 26.0 km. The route passes SCRM, Parker Road, Dudley Avenue South, Queensferry Road. Below is the full list with the distance from the first stop.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Royal Infirmary | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | SCRM | 0.3 km | |
| 3 | Sandilands Close | 0.7 km | |
| 4 | Greendykes Terrace | 1.1 km | |
| 5 | Niddrie House Avenue | 1.3 km | |
| 6 | Niddrie Marischal Drive | 1.5 km | |
| 7 | Wauchope Road | 1.9 km | |
| 8 | Hay Avenue | 2.2 km | |
| 9 | Hay Drive | 2.4 km | |
| 10 | Jack Kane Centre | 2.6 km | |
| 11 | Niddrie Mill Avenue | 2.7 km | |
| 12 | Niddrie Mill | 2.9 km | |
| 13 | Niddrie Mill Crescent | 3.0 km | |
| 14 | The Jewel | 3.3 km | |
| 15 | The Jewel | 3.4 km | |
| 16 | Magdalene Drive | 3.6 km | |
| 17 | Milton Road | 3.8 km | |
| 18 | Durham Place Lane | 4.3 km | |
| 19 | Southfield Place | 4.7 km | |
| 20 | Brighton Place | 4.9 km | |
| 21 | Portobello Town Hall | 5.2 km | |
| 22 | Bridge Street | 5.5 km | |
| 23 | King’s Road | 5.7 km | |
| 24 | Goff Avenue | 6.1 km | |
| 25 | Telferton | 6.2 km | |
| 26 | Parker Road | 6.4 km | |
| 27 | Moira Terrace | 6.7 km | |
| 28 | Piershill Cemetery | 7.0 km | |
| 29 | Craigentinny Avenue | 7.2 km | |
| 30 | Craigentinny Crossroads | 7.4 km | |
| 31 | Loganlea Road | 7.6 km | |
| 32 | Loaning Road | 7.8 km | |
| 33 | Restalrig Drive | 8.0 km | |
| 34 | Findlay Avenue | 8.3 km | |
| 35 | Sleigh Drive | 8.6 km | |
| 36 | Lochend Avenue | 8.8 km | |
| 37 | Hawkhill | 9.0 km | |
| 38 | Lochend Park | 9.3 km | |
| 39 | Hermitage Park Grove | 9.5 km | |
| 40 | Woodville Terrace | 9.7 km | |
| 41 | Burns Street | 9.9 km | |
| 42 | Duke Street | 10.1 km | |
| 43 | Academy Street | 10.3 km | |
| 44 | Kirkgate Centre | 10.5 km | |
| 45 | Junction Place | 10.7 km | |
| 46 | Cables Wynd | 10.8 km | |
| 47 | Mill Lane | 11.0 km | |
| 48 | Leith Theatre | 11.2 km | |
| 49 | South Fort Street | 11.4 km | |
| 50 | Dudley Avenue South | 11.5 km | |
| 51 | Newhaven Road | 11.8 km | |
| 52 | Craighall Road | 12.0 km | |
| 53 | Warriston Crematorium | 12.4 km | |
| 54 | Bangholm Place | 12.7 km | |
| 55 | Goldenacre | 12.9 km | |
| 56 | Wardie Road | 13.2 km | |
| 57 | Arboretum Road | 13.5 km | |
| 58 | Boswall Drive | 13.6 km | |
| 59 | East Fettes Avenue | 14.0 km | |
| 60 | West Winnelstrae | 14.2 km | |
| 61 | Pilton Drive | 14.5 km | |
| 62 | Crewe Toll | 14.7 km | |
| 63 | Crewe Toll | 14.9 km | |
| 64 | Ferry Road Drive | 15.2 km | |
| 65 | Drylaw Police Station | 15.4 km | |
| 66 | Groathill Road North | 15.8 km | |
| 67 | Muirhouse Green | 16.0 km | |
| 68 | Silverknowes Neuk | 16.4 km | |
| 69 | Silverknowes Road South | 16.8 km | |
| 70 | Corbiehill Road | 17.0 km | |
| 71 | Main Street | 17.1 km | |
| 72 | Quality Street | 17.4 km | |
| 73 | Hillpark Steps | 17.8 km | |
| 74 | Queensferry Road | 18.3 km | |
| 75 | Clermiston Road North | 18.6 km | |
| 76 | Clermiston Crescent | 19.0 km | |
| 77 | Drum Brae Hub | 19.3 km | |
| 78 | Drum Brae Drive | 19.8 km | |
| 79 | Drum Brae North | 20.0 km | |
| 80 | Duart Crescent | 20.2 km | |
| 81 | Drum Brae Park | 20.5 km | |
| 82 | Drum Brae Gardens | 20.6 km | |
| 83 | Templeland Road | 21.0 km | |
| 84 | Meadow Place Road | 21.4 km | |
| 85 | Gylemuir Road | 21.5 km | |
| 86 | Broomhall Road | 21.9 km | |
| 87 | Broomhall Gardens | 22.2 km | |
| 88 | Forester Park Avenue | 22.5 km | |
| 89 | Broomhouse Roundabout | 23.1 km | |
| 90 | South Gyle Access | 23.2 km | |
| 91 | Bankhead Drive | 23.5 km | |
| 92 | Forrester High School | 23.7 km | |
| 93 | South Gyle Wynd | 24.0 km | |
| 94 | South Gyle Mains | 24.2 km | |
| 95 | South Gyle Park | 24.4 km | |
| 96 | Redheughs Avenue | 24.9 km | |
| 97 | Lochside Place | 25.3 km | |
| 98 | Lochside Crescent | 25.5 km | |
| 99 | Gyle Centre | 25.9 km | |
| 100 | Gyle Centre | 26.0 km | Terminus |
Inbound: Gyle Centre → Royal Infirmary
This direction has 93 stops and runs 25.7 km. The route passes Lochside Crescent, Drum Brae Hub, Warriston Crematorium, Piershill Cemetery. Below is the full list with the distance from the first stop.
| No. | Stop | From start | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gyle Centre | 0.0 km | Terminus |
| 2 | Lochside Crescent | 0.4 km | |
| 3 | Lochside Place | 0.7 km | |
| 4 | Redheughs Avenue | 0.9 km | |
| 5 | Redheughs Avenue | 1.1 km | |
| 6 | South Gyle Park | 1.5 km | |
| 7 | South Gyle Mains | 1.8 km | |
| 8 | South Gyle Wynd | 1.9 km | |
| 9 | Forrester High School | 2.4 km | |
| 10 | Bankhead Drive | 2.5 km | |
| 11 | Broomhouse Roundabout | 2.9 km | |
| 12 | Forester Park Avenue | 3.4 km | |
| 13 | Broomhall Gardens | 3.8 km | |
| 14 | Broomhall Road | 4.1 km | |
| 15 | Meadow Place Road | 4.5 km | |
| 16 | Templeland Road | 4.8 km | |
| 17 | Pearce Road | 5.1 km | |
| 18 | Drum Brae Gardens | 5.2 km | |
| 19 | Drum Brae Avenue | 5.5 km | |
| 20 | Duart Crescent | 5.8 km | |
| 21 | Drum Brae North | 6.0 km | |
| 22 | Drum Brae Drive | 6.1 km | |
| 23 | Hoseason Gardens | 6.4 km | |
| 24 | Drum Brae Hub | 6.6 km | |
| 25 | Clermiston View | 6.8 km | |
| 26 | Clermiston Crescent | 7.0 km | |
| 27 | Clermiston Road North | 7.2 km | |
| 28 | Queensferry Road | 7.6 km | |
| 29 | Hillpark Steps | 8.1 km | |
| 30 | Quality Street | 8.4 km | |
| 31 | Main Street | 8.7 km | |
| 32 | Corbiehill Road | 8.8 km | |
| 33 | Silverknowes Neuk | 9.4 km | |
| 34 | Muirhouse Green | 9.8 km | |
| 35 | Groathill Road North | 10.0 km | |
| 36 | Drylaw Police Station | 10.3 km | |
| 37 | Ferry Road Drive | 10.5 km | |
| 38 | Crewe Toll | 10.9 km | |
| 39 | Crewe Toll | 11.1 km | |
| 40 | Pilton Drive | 11.4 km | |
| 41 | East Fettes Avenue | 11.8 km | |
| 42 | Boswall Drive | 12.1 km | |
| 43 | Wardie Road | 12.5 km | |
| 44 | Goldenacre | 12.8 km | |
| 45 | Bangholm Place | 13.1 km | |
| 46 | Warriston Crematorium | 13.4 km | |
| 47 | Craighall Road | 13.7 km | |
| 48 | Newhaven Road | 14.1 km | |
| 49 | Dudley Avenue South | 14.3 km | |
| 50 | Leith Theatre | 14.4 km | |
| 51 | Mill Lane | 14.7 km | |
| 52 | Cables Wynd | 15.0 km | |
| 53 | Kirkgate Centre | 15.3 km | |
| 54 | Duke Street | 15.5 km | |
| 55 | Burns Street | 15.8 km | |
| 56 | Woodville Terrace | 16.1 km | |
| 57 | Hermitage Park Grove | 16.3 km | |
| 58 | Lochend Park | 16.5 km | |
| 59 | Hawkhill | 16.7 km | |
| 60 | Lochend Avenue | 17.0 km | |
| 61 | Sleigh Drive | 17.2 km | |
| 62 | Findlay Avenue | 17.4 km | |
| 63 | Restalrig Drive | 17.6 km | |
| 64 | Loaning Road | 17.8 km | |
| 65 | Loganlea Road | 18.1 km | |
| 66 | Craigentinny Crossroads | 18.2 km | |
| 67 | Craigentinny Avenue | 18.5 km | |
| 68 | Piershill Cemetery | 18.9 km | |
| 69 | Moira Terrace | 19.1 km | |
| 70 | Parker Road | 19.3 km | |
| 71 | Goff Avenue | 19.6 km | |
| 72 | King’s Road | 19.9 km | |
| 73 | Bridge Street | 20.2 km | |
| 74 | Portobello Town Hall | 20.4 km | |
| 75 | Brighton Place | 20.7 km | |
| 76 | Southfield Place | 21.1 km | |
| 77 | Durham Place Lane | 21.4 km | |
| 78 | Milton Road | 21.6 km | |
| 79 | Magdalene Drive | 22.1 km | |
| 80 | The Jewel | 22.2 km | |
| 81 | Niddrie Mill Crescent | 22.6 km | |
| 82 | Niddrie Mill | 22.7 km | |
| 83 | Jack Kane Centre | 23.0 km | |
| 84 | Hay Drive | 23.2 km | |
| 85 | Hay Avenue | 23.4 km | |
| 86 | Wauchope Road | 23.8 km | |
| 87 | St Teresa Church | 23.9 km | |
| 88 | Niddrie Marischal Drive | 24.2 km | |
| 89 | Niddrie House Avenue | 24.4 km | |
| 90 | Greendykes Terrace | 24.6 km | |
| 91 | Sandilands Close | 25.0 km | |
| 92 | SCRM | 25.4 km | |
| 93 | Royal Infirmary | 25.7 km | Terminus |
Schedule and frequency
According to the official schedule from Lothian Buses, the route runs 71 trips in one direction on a weekday, and 41 on a weekend day.
| Direction | Weekdays | Weekends and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| From «Royal Infirmary» | 04:46 — 23:50 | 04:55 — 23:50 |
| From «Gyle Centre» | 04:31 — 23:48 | 04:37 — 23:48 |
Frequency calculated from the departure table: in the morning peak buses run every 1–16 minutes, most often every 15; midday every 12–15 minutes; in the afternoon peak every 12–20; on weekends every 17–36 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 21 cost?
2.40 £ for a single ride — fare in effect since 22 February 2026.
When do the first and last trips run?
From Royal Infirmary the first is at 04:46 and the last at 23:50. From Gyle Centre they are 04:31 and 23:48.
How long does the trip from Royal Infirmary to Gyle Centre take?
About 98 minutes end to end — the median of full trips in the official schedule.
How many stops does the route have?
100 outbound and 93 inbound according to the official GTFS feed. The two lists do not match exactly.
Does bus 21 run on weekends?
Yes. On weekends and holidays there are 41 trips in one direction, running from Royal Infirmary between 04:55 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)).