Explore the wonders of Edinburgh at our International Congress

This summer we will be returning to the wonderful city of Edinburgh for our 2024 International Congress.

Our early bird rates will end on 28th March so you have just one month left to secure your place at our lowest rates and save up to £100 on your ticket. 

While we hope to enthuse you throughout the four days of the Congress with over 60 sessions, 15 keynote speakers, a full cultural fringe programme (soon to be released) and a number of social events, there is also plenty to explore outside the Conference centre, to make your trip worthwhile. 

Edinburgh is steeped in history and culture and is the perfect location to experience the sights, sounds and tastes of a diverse and vibrant city. Whether this is your first time visiting or 100th, there are several amazing places to visit and fascinating stories to discover. 

The great outdoors 

Edinburgh has plenty of parks and gardens for you to explore and the city’s compact size make it all easily accessible on foot. Why not take a short walk to Holyrood Park, a 640 acre Royal Park next to Holyrood Palace, the official residence of His Majesty the King in Scotland. The park’s highest point is Arthur’s Seat, an 800 ft extinct volcano. After a sort climb to the summit you’ll be able to enjoy breath-taking panoramic views of the City.

You could also join our Congress run taking place on Tuesday 18 June, which will be a 5km jog through some of Edinburgh’s highlights including the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle and the Meadows. Whatever your pace, this jog is open to all!

Explore the history of Edinburgh and Scotland…

Edinburgh is a city filled with history and culture, from an underground city of vaults which have changed very little since the 18th Century, a castle sitting atop a dormant volcano to a number of museums and art galleries, including Surgeon’s Hall Museums, exploring the history of medicine.

We will be working hard to bring some of this history and culture to our Congress including activities within our Congress fringe celebrating dance, music, film, and art.

Why not get involved in celebrating the College’s own history and links in Scotland? This year the College will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the RCPsych in Scotland and has launched a unique competition for members to design their own tartan! The winning tartan, which must embody mental health in some way, will be unveiled at Congress this year. You can find out more information on our website.

Food and drink

After the Congress day ends, Edinburgh offers a diverse range of restaurants, cafes and bars, which appeal to all tastes and budgets from traditional Scottish dishes to international flavours. Join with colleagues and friends, of new and old to relax, unwind and continue socialising beyond the conference setting. 

We will also be hosting a number of social activities, including a student and trainee social, giving you the chance to meet and connect with your peers in an informal setting and we will be returning with our ever popular Congress party for a night of food, music, socialising and a traditional Scottish Cèilidh! More details for these events will be coming shortly.

Plan your travel and accommodation

To help you plan your travel and accommodation we have put together some helpful guidance on our website.

We would recommend booking accommodation as early as possible as Edinburgh tends to be quite busy during the summer months.

Wherever possible we would encourage you to travel by train and consider the carbon footprint of your journey. The EICC has teamed up with you.smart.think to help you plan your journey in the most sustainable way possible. 

Access at the EICC

We have also put together a venue guide to help you plan your visit to the EICC in Edinburgh. This guide includes more detailed information on how to get there, a map of the venue, venue access and other accessibility requirements. If you have any questions regarding accessibility at the International Congress please contact our Congress manager, Katie Newton via email (katie.newton@rcpsych.ac.uk) or by phone (0208 618 4144)

We can’t wait to see you in Edinburgh this summer! Don’t forget you have until the 28th March to secure your ticket at the early bird rate, and save up to £100!