Program Our home in Edinburgh
TEDGlobal 2012 will be held in Edinburgh, at the Edinburgh International Conference Center. Its beautiful main theatre, its foyer and its vast spaces, right in the middle of downtown, will be the central central hub of TEDGlobal.
An event strikes root and grows into a legend, when it has happened amongst congenial surroundings.
-- from Edinburgh: Picturesque Notes, by Robert Louis Stevenson, 1879.
Why Edinburgh?
Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, has a charming old town that is one of the best-preserved European medieval cities. The town's cultural life is vibrant and far-reaching (think of the Edinburgh Festival). The city and its university was one of the major centres of the Enlightenment. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, and poet Walter Scott were born in Edinburgh. Its tradition includes being the home of philosopher David Hume and of economist Adam Smith (and of Harry Potter author JK Rowling, too), among many others. If you are not familiar with the city, do spend a few minutes reading through the Wikipedia page, which also includes many photographs. We firmly believe that Edinburgh will be a fitting home for TEDGlobal. (Plus, there's the whole of Scotland to explore, for those among the attendees who combine TEDGlobal with a few days of early summer vacation.)
Getting there
Edinburgh is located about 380 miles north of London. If you plan to attend and have some flexibility, consider travelling by train from London's Kings Cross: it's a beautiful 5-hour train ride across the British countryside (with trains every hour or more often during daytime). If you prefer flying, it's a 1h20 flight from London airports. Edinburgh's airport is well-connected internationally. More details »
The EICC theatre
The Edinburgh International Conference Centre, which will host TEDGlobal, is a stunning piece of event architecture. It features an intimate theatre (with surprising features) and enough space and flexibility for arts and tech exhibits, simulcast lounges, networking spaces and more. Across the street, the classic Lyceum Theatre will host TED University. Your experience will make the best use of the many possibilities offered by this infrastructure.
Special events
Evening events will take place at intriguing landmarks around Edinburgh. The city is dominated by a castle and features great museums and other monuments. To deepen the sense of place, attendees will be offered a series of optional pre- and post-conference visits and special programs. These will be announced in the coming months.
