Edinburgh at Festival time, just how busy is it?

[Metempsychosis]

We're going to be in Glasgow at the beginning of August (2 adults, 2 late teens), and would like to do some sightseeing trips to Edinburgh, either including a night or two staying over, or doing day trips by train.

How bad are the crowds midweek? If we wanted to do museums Arthur's Seat and a ghost walk and just generally mooch around would it be a problem? We're Londoners but one of the teens is ND and isn't great with noisy crowds.

During the week will be fine, busy but fine. Good luck getting a hotel booking, train from Glasgow is grand, really regular.

The streets are very very busy but museums etc are usually fine I’ve found.

It's very busy but manageable.
But accommodation rockets in price so you'd probably be better doing day trip

I'll investigate whether I can get a moderately priced Tuesday/Wednesday deal, because it takes a lot of the stress off, but yes a train day trip is no big deal, we'd be happy to catch the 10pm train back to Glasgow.

Edinburgh is very busy and crowded during August particularly in main tourist areas like the Royal Mile.Having said that,I don’t think there will be hoards of people tramping up Arthur’s Seat or visiting the museums.Whatever you choose to do enjoy!

Yes, as PP have said, really, really busy but worth it. Getting the train from Glasgow is an excellent idea.
Make sure you plan in advance and know what you want to do and see.

Really, really busy. TBH the old town, around the castle, is always busy anyway, but in August it will be rammed.

Massively busy in the city centre, and far busier than average even when it comes to things like Arthur's Seat or the popular museums/Edinburgh Dungeon/ghost walks.
Accommodation is extremely expensive, so you're probably better off getting the train from Glasgow rather than staying over, or look for a rental in East Lothian/Midlothian and travel into town.

busy but doable - especially mid week, and if not right at the start or the end of the Fringe. it's good though to mooch around the Royal Mile/city centre and see some of the street performers. Watched a really great one outside the Museum of Scotland last year with two teens and a preteen.
trains to Glasgow will run till midnight - and possibly later - if you don't want to stay over
but

Honestly there's no such thing as moderately priced in Edinburgh during August. Even mid week. We go to the fringe every year mid week. Yes it's busy but it's not uncomfortably busy. I'd hate it if it was.
Go on the train, you'll love it!

Yes train in for the day is great but just be aware that around the stations is very busy - it gets me every time even though I know

Avoid the royal mile between George IV bridge and north / south bridge which is full of street acts and people touting their shows. When it’s busy it’s like trying to move through a rugby scrum!

It will be very busy, even mid week.
There is no moderately priced accommodation, it will all be extortionate. Even when it's not peak tourist season the hotels etc in Edinburgh are incredibly expensive. Train to and from Glasgow will be best.

I would also recommend a walk up Calton hill instead of Arthur's seat. Takes less time and fantastic views across the city.

Getting tables in cafes for lunch etc can be tricky so I'd recommend buying a picnic and eating in a park. Lots of very lovely parts of Edinburgh are much quieter than than Princes St/ the Royal mile. I always love Stockbridge and Inverleith especially The Botanic Gardens.

I absolutely love Glasgow and Edinburgh but I'd never again go near Edinburgh at festival time, it's awful.

Unless you don't mind trammimg to the outskirts for lunch or dinner. Or you have bookings at restaurants.

It’s fine mid week

I'm sorry but when I visited Edinburgh during the Festival, I really disliked it. It was super busy and crowded, and the city was very dirty. It was my first time visiting Edinburgh (which I had wanted to do for many years). Going during Festival was a mistake I won't repeat.

Restaurants can get busy. Some will be booked up, some popular ones don't take bookings and have huge queues. You'll find somewhere to eat though.

The High Street, the castle, the Grassmarket and the Cowgate will be heaving.

Museums and galleries will be ok.

I live in central Edinburgh. I love it during the Festivals. There's nothing else like it.

It’s fine. I went at a weekend last year and had the best couple of days ever. Couldn’t get into the castle though it was all booked up. Was at a weekend.

You won't get a cheap midweek deal. It makes no difference during August.

There's not just one "Festival". The International Festival and the Fringe run from the beginning of August until the 28th. The Tattoo runs from the 2-24th. The Book Festival from the 10th to the 25th and the Film Festival from the 15th to the 21st. Only the Olympics and the World Cup exceed the number of tickets sold for the combined events.

It is busy, but I'm not sure that I've ever found it busier than central London is at the same time of year. If your DC would cope with that then they'd hopefully be ok with Edinburgh.

Thanks all, especially the people who recommended quieter areas. Sounds reasonably doable.

I'll check what's available for accommodation, but probably stick to the day trip plan.

The train to and from Glasgow is often full and standing during the festival, just in case that would be an issue for the ND person.