Edinburgh Festival - anyone been? Any tips?

[DFOD]

Thinking of taking my 15 year old - don’t need to stay in the city and need to be on a budget. Will drive up from London maybe stop over in Northumberland - so will have a car.

Early morning shows (10am onwards) tend to be for little kids (eg puppet shows).

The main shows start from 11am, and are definitely thriving in the afternoon. It goes well into the evening/night.

What you do most of depends on what you like. Without seeing the programme, you can't really tell.

As someone posted upthread, try to go to a 'pick of the fringe' event (Mervin and others). These tend to run around lunchtime in the main areas (Pleasance, George Square), and will give you a taste of about six shows.

When you buy tickets, try to cluster them in one area, so that you are not dashing across town, eg Pleasance one day, George Square the next.

Most shows are around 60 - 75 minutes, and you really need a gap of about an hour between shows (to get some lovely Edinburgh Gin and snacks, and then to join the queue for the next show).

The atmosphere in the Pleasance and George Square is really buzzing. I haven't done George Street, but it looks the same.

Don't underestimate how exhausting it can be, especially as Edinburgh city centre is quite hilly.

Look at staying in south Queensferry (there's a premier inn + several other hotels and B&Bs), North Queensferry has Doubletree by Hilton + B&Bs, Burntisland or Aberdour.

They're all on the coast, quick and easy train line into city centre and have stations with parking

You might find more reasonable accommodation just over the Forth Bridge, in Dunfermline / West Fife area.

Park the car at Halbeath or Ferrytoll P&R for quick buses into the centre, or get a train over.

Download the app and start planning what you would like to do. There are usually two days near the start that have 2 for 1 tickets. Also spend time on the royal mile. Lots of street acts and people handing out flyers. Sometimes if your lucky you will get free tickets to a show if you stop and chat to the actors who hang out there.

The tattoo is worth going to see.

Great time of the year but as others have said it's expensive to stay in the city. Travel in by train if you can from another town close by.

Went with my friend a few years ago and we were on a bit of a budget. We stayed in a Premier Inn which was about £200/night I think, which seemed reasonable at the time!

We tended to load up at the hotel breakfast, head out about 11am to catch some early shows, came back for an hour or so late afternoon (grabbed some takeaway food from the Tesco Metro across the road) then headed out again about 6pm for all the evening stuff and got food from the stalls etc.

I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't rush back, as it's a bit hit and miss and totally exhausting. The funniest thing was going to see a comedian who was slagging off the rental house they were staying at - funny because we knew whose house it was - they were friends of ours who'd moved out to rent it out during festival month! She was really quite offended and said it was all untrue!

Look at places to stay in Fife, Livingston, East and West Lothian or maybe Falkirk. All on the trainline into Edinburgh in less than 30 mins.

Do not drive anywhere near the city centre when the Fringe is on - it's bad enough at other times. Parking can cost upwards of £8 an hour if you even manage to navigate the road closures and the tram line extension.

Most Fringe shows are within a 15 min walk of Edinburgh Waverly train station.

Remember Edinburgh trains are also busy and expensive so I'd recommend off-peak. I speak as a seasoned commuter into the city which is a NIGHTMARE during the Fringe.

If you're on a budget, I'd recommend pack lunches where you can. Edinburgh is expensive all the time but is crazy at festival time.

If you don't need to stay in Edinburgh then look at Dunfermline or Livingston. Much cheaper and good train links.

Don't take a car in to Edinburgh. Parking is a nightmare and extortionate.

The Fringe is cheap and often free. The Festival be pricey.

The Fireworks and the Tattoo are awesome.