Avante Pharmacy and Travel Clinic on Brougham Place sits where Tollcross meets the top of Bruntsfield Links, a few minutes' walk from the Meadows — the branch most people in the city centre, Southside and university areas reach on foot rather than by car. It opens earlier than Avante's other branch, from 8:30am on weekdays, and unlike Westfield Road, appointments here are booked by phone rather than online.
Who this branch suits
Brougham Place works well for three groups in particular: people working in the city centre who want an appointment before their day starts, since the branch opens at 8:30am; students at the University of Edinburgh's central campus nearby, heading off on a year abroad, exchange placement or gap year; and residents of Tollcross, Bruntsfield, Marchmont and the wider Southside who would rather not drive out to a retail park for a pharmacy appointment. None of that changes what happens once you are in the room — the same consultation and vaccine range applies whoever you are.
Booking by phone
Book by calling 0131 229 7948 directly. The clinic's online booking page is set up for Westfield Road, so using it here puts you into the wrong branch's diary; there is no separate online booking route for Brougham Place at present. The Saturday slot at Brougham Place runs until 1pm, an hour earlier than either of the other two branches, which is worth knowing if you are trying to fit a weekend appointment around other plans.
What to expect at your appointment
A pharmacist starts by asking about your trip, not by reaching for a vaccine: your destination, dates, accommodation and any medical history, checked against current TravelHealthPro country guidance, the NaTHNaC resource UK clinics rely on. Anything due can usually be given in the same visit; where a course needs a second or third dose, that follow-up is booked in before you leave rather than left for you to chase.
"Bring your itinerary and any past vaccination record you have — it means we're planning around your actual trip, not a generic list." — Emmanuel Ebube Umezulike, superintendent pharmacist
Vaccines available at Brougham Place
The pharmacist advises on and provides yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, typhoid, rabies, meningitis ACWY, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis and cholera vaccination, along with malaria prevention advice. Hepatitis B is a useful example of why timing matters: the standard course is four doses spread across twelve months, though a faster schedule exists for anyone whose travel date is already close, according to NaTHNaC. Anyone travelling for study should also see student vaccinations in Edinburgh, since university-age travellers can be eligible for vaccines, such as meningitis ACWY, that are not routinely offered to older age groups.
A yellow fever vaccination centre
Brougham Place is a designated UK Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre, Avante Pharmacy centre number UKYFVC10709, so it can give the vaccine and issue the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis some destinations require at the border, something only designated centres can do. Not every day has a yellow fever vaccinator on site, so call ahead and say specifically that is what you need when you book. A single dose protects for at least 35 years for most travellers, so it is rarely something you will need repeated.
How much notice should you give?
Enough for any multi-dose course to finish before you fly is the short answer — several weeks at minimum, since courses like hepatitis B or rabies are spaced over weeks rather than given in one sitting. NHS Lothian, which runs the area's NHS travel clinics, describes its own service as regularly full six to eight weeks ahead, and the same pressure shows up here in busy months. If your trip is already close, it is still worth calling: a single-dose vaccine like yellow fever can often still be arranged, and this branch holds some slots back each week for travellers who are flying soon.
Getting here from Tollcross, Bruntsfield and beyond
Brougham Place is at the top of Bruntsfield Links, on the Tollcross side, an easy walk from the Meadows for anyone coming from Marchmont & Morningside or Newington & Southside. Coming from further towards Bruntsfield itself, it is the same short walk in the other direction. Check current Lothian Buses routes before relying on a specific number, since services along this corridor are periodically revised; if Gorgie or the west side of the city suits you better, Westfield Road is the other Avante branch.
Opening hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 8:30 to 17:30 |
| Saturday | 9:00 to 13:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Booking before term starts or a placement begins
September and the weeks before a spring exchange placement tend to be the busiest time of year for this branch, as students across the central campus try to arrange travel vaccinations around the same few weeks. If you already know your placement or travel dates, it is worth calling well before that rush rather than in the final fortnight, particularly for anything that needs more than one dose, since squeezing a multi-dose course into a short window gets harder the closer you get to departure.
Planning a family trip from the city centre
Families living in Tollcross, Bruntsfield or the Southside sometimes assume a central pharmacy suits adults better than children, but the same consultation applies regardless of age, and it is usually simpler to bring the whole household in for one appointment slot rather than several separate calls. Bring each child's vaccination record if you have it, since recommendations can vary by age even for the same trip, and mention any pregnancy, as that changes which vaccines are suitable and how they are given.
NHS or pharmacy for travel vaccines?
NHS Lothian's travel clinics, run from a hub at the Western General Hospital, can give some vaccines free of charge to people who meet the criteria, but the service is regularly booked six to eight weeks out and its booking line, 0131 537 2823, only operates Monday to Friday. Brougham Place complements that service rather than competing with it: it stocks yellow fever, which the NHS service in this area does not routinely provide, and appointments here are generally easier to get at short notice. See current prices for anything outside the NHS-funded list.
Booking your appointment
Call 0131 229 7948 to book. If your course needs more than one dose, book with enough runway to finish it before you travel; if you are already close to departure, call anyway, since there is usually still something worth doing.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get travel vaccinations in Edinburgh?
Avante Pharmacy and Travel Clinic on Brougham Place in Tollcross offers pharmacist-led travel vaccinations, as does Avante's Westfield Road branch and Murrayfield Pharmacy. NHS Lothian also runs six travel clinics across the area, though these are usually booked several weeks ahead.
Do NHS offer free travel vaccinations?
Some are. NHS Scotland covers diphtheria, polio and tetanus combined boosters, hepatitis A, typhoid and cholera vaccines for eligible patients through local health board travel services. Yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis and rabies are normally charged for, whether on the NHS or privately.
How can I book an appointment at the NHS Lothian Travel Clinic?
NHS Lothian's travel clinics take bookings online or by calling 0131 537 2823, staffed Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. The service is regularly fully booked around six to eight weeks in advance, so it's worth contacting them, and a pharmacy clinic, as early as possible.
Do you have to pay for vaccines at a travel clinic?
Some vaccines are NHS-funded through your local health board; others, including yellow fever and rabies, are normally a private charge wherever you have them. At Brougham Place, anything outside the NHS-funded list is charged; see current prices rather than assuming a figure.
How far ahead of travel should I get vaccinated?
Aim for six to eight weeks before you fly, since courses such as rabies or hepatitis B need multiple doses spaced weeks apart. If your trip is sooner, single-dose vaccines like yellow fever can often still be fitted in.
Is Avante Brougham Place a yellow fever vaccination centre?
Yes. It is a designated UK Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre and can issue the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis some countries require for entry. Not every day has a vaccinator available for this vaccine, so call 0131 229 7948 to confirm before you visit.
How do I book an appointment at Brougham Place?
Booking at Brougham Place is by phone rather than online; call 0131 229 7948 to arrange your appointment. The clinic's online booking page books into the Westfield Road diary instead, so calling is the reliable route for this branch.
Is the Brougham Place clinic suitable for students?
Yes. Its location near the University of Edinburgh's central campus makes it a convenient stop before a year abroad, placement or gap year. See the student vaccinations in Edinburgh page for vaccines university-age travellers are often eligible for.
Sources
- NHS Lothian Travel Clinics — NHS Lothian
- Rabies — NaTHNaC (TravelHealthPro)
- Yellow fever — NaTHNaC (TravelHealthPro)
- Hepatitis B — NaTHNaC (TravelHealthPro)
- Countries — NaTHNaC (TravelHealthPro)
General information, not a substitute for a consultation. Your pharmacist will recommend what is right for you after assessing your health and plans.
