QUESTION:
I'm getting a little overwhelmed with choice of things to do in Edinburgh as there's so much that will be going on...I am going to be in Edinburgh from 20th-27th Aug, help what are the must-do's & must see's??? :)
ANSWER:
It'll still be festival time in Edinburgh, although near the end of the Edinburgh Fringe so not quite as mad as it is at the beginning of the month. But it can be a daunting task to do Edinburgh at this time of year - even for veterans of the Edinburgh festival.
If this is your first visit, combine a trip to Edinburgh Castle with a wander down the High Street with all its Fringe street performers to taste the festival atmosphere. The whole city is abuzz but you will have to do some homework to find good shows (assuming you are here for that).
The only programme for all the various Edinburgh festivals in August that has been launched is the Edinburgh International Festival. Tickets go on sale tomorrow! So check the programme to see if there is anything that grabs you.
The EIF is just a slice of the overall festival pie - you'll probably want to visit the Edinburgh Book Festival camped out each year in its tented village at Charlotte Square. So many authors reading here each year and book related events, it's a real hive of intellectual activity but also has an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. There's a huge strand of events - virtually a separate festival really - surrounding childrens books.
Many gallery and museum exhibitions are free which should be an added incentive to check out the Edinburgh Art Festival - if nothing else put a visit to the National Gallery Complex (10 minutes walk from the Fringe on the High Street).
The National Museum of Scotland will have re-opened a month earlier (29 July) following a £46 million renovation into a state of the art musuem. We'll be reviewing it when it re-opens, but it's anther to add to the list. Entrance is free too.
I haven't even got to the huge Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We'll be watching for what's hot this year when its programme comes out in June and then our Fringe reviews will start coming in late July/early August. As you are coming later in August you'll miss out on most of the special offers and cheap tickets that top acts run in the first few runs of their shows to get bums on seats.
On the plus side, you'll have plenty of time to do your homework, read the reviews and assess what shows you want to see. You can buy tickets for Fringe shows online of course to ensure you get tickets to that show that everyone's talking about. But in the true spirit of the Fringe, you should take a chance on some lesser-known show.
Start your week with the lesser known Fringe shows. Some theatre companies by this stage may resort to giving away tickets (or at least with big reductions) to fill houses. Check out the half price hut at the Fringe. Even if it's a poor production and a disaster, Fringe shows are often only an hour or so long so you're not going to be trapped there for ever. If your budget allows you to see only one or two highly priced shows (e.g. festival or fringe) maybe see it near the end of the stay, saving the best for last.
Ok, this is getting quite a long post so I'll just finish by saying you'll also want to check out Edinburgh parks, Visitor Attractions, our growing Edinburgh Restaurants section, and finally, Edinburgh Accommodation, although for festival time accommodation owners will be heavily booked by now.
Of course, you don't have to do the festival all the time. If you are in the city centre (esp on the Royal Mile) you can't avoid it but if you head down to Stockbridge or Leith (both with their fair share of food and drink places) the festival is more muted. Parts of the residential New Town are fairly sleepy even at festival time.
Edinburgh's a great city to walk in. If it's your first time, you might enjoy a day or two of just meandering around town stopping here and there as takes your whim.
Enjoy your stay...
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