Hogmanay in Edinburgh

[HereComesYourMam]

OK I know this is a way off... but I'm thinking of booking a few days in Edinburgh over New Year for me, DH and DS (who will be 15). I just had a look online to see how it works with tickets for Hogmanay and now I'm confused...

So it seems there is the Street Party, with tickets available to book now, at about £30 each. But then there is also the Concert in the Gardens, tickets not available until summer, no idea of price. Which would be the best experience for the three of us? How much are the concert tickets usually, roughly, and do they sell out quickly? If I hold out until the summer for concert tickets and then can't get them, are the street party tickets likely to still be available?

Would really appreciate some advice - thanks 🙂

My son went to the princess street gardens a couple of years ago tickets around £80 I think. Says it was really poorly policed and people were getting in without showing tickets and a lot of very drunk people. My Son in law did an emergency shift in the streets and said crowds quite scary and he's 6'6.

Takes ages to get home afterwards.

I'm a grumpy old woman at 60 and am normally in bed by 10 pm though.

I dont recommend the street party. you pay alot of money to stand on a road and watch fireworks. It's so over crowded you will get easily lost. There are lots of drunk people and it's very likely to rain. Plus you have to arrive hours early to get a good spot.

If you have the budget book yourself in for a Hogmanay ceilidh. It's really worth it to splash out on an organized event.

I took DS to the street party a couple of years ago. I used to live on Rose Street so lived the street party in my 20s also. Firstly, it’s Edinburgh. As long as you’ve got google maps and a place to meet if you do get lost, getting lost isn’t the end of the world. Secondly, yes there are some drunk people but it’s Hogmanay. You’d get that at everything from a wedding to a work night out.

The fireworks are good. I’d say, if budget allows try and book a princes street facing hotel. They may all be gone now though or very expensive. Yes, there is a bit of hanging around. I never bothered trying to get a good spot. The fireworks are in the air, you just look up.

You do need to dress for all weathers. It may rain, it may not. It is likely to be cold. I am sure there was a good thread on here where someone asked for advice as she adored pulp who headlined last year. Have a search and see if you can find that.

Edited to add book restaurants for dinner, close by or on Princes Street as soon as possible.

I wouldn't take a 15yr old to the street party. In fact, I wouldn't even go to Edinburgh for Hogmanay! Overpriced hotels and most things close early on NYE and don't open on NYD. There's almost no public transport on the 1st Jan and limited on the 2nd Jan as it's also a public holiday. I live there and actively avoid being in the city for new year now!

I have a 15 year old and would not take them to the party. It’s just drunk people milling around.

We went to Edinburgh for the Hogmanay street party 1996/97 ( when it was a free street party) and we had a blast, very friendly, well policed, everyone having fun however I’ve heard it’s changed a lot and I don’t think it’s somewhere I’d take a teenager to.

So imagine a huge circle and a tiny circle. The Street Party is the huge circle, it's absolutely rammed with people. There are music stages but getting near them can be difficult because of the sheer mass of people. Everyone is drunk. You can hear the main concert but it's not a 'stand still and listen' type thing. You'll be able to see the fireworks, they're amazing but only last for 10 or so minutes at midnight. Getting out and then home will be a totally rammy.

The tiny circle is the concert in the Gardens. If you look up the Ross Bandstand on street view, that's where the concert is. It is also rammed but a much smaller event and there are toilets etc. It feels like a 'standard' outdoor event. Everyone is drunk. You'll be able to see and hear the main concert perfectly, it really is a small space. Obviously the risk you're taking if you wait for Concert tickets is that you might not like the bands, but you'll be in a reasonably controlled environment. You'll be able to see the fireworks. Getting out then home will be a total rammy.

Oh and Concert tickets sell very quickly, but you can register for alerts etc. Street Party tickets do sell out but you'll usually be able to get them with fairly late notice.
Indoor events as a pp mentioned above are also great fun by the way, and everyone usually goes out at midnight to watch the fireworks. They also sell out very quickly though.

Thanks everyone - will have a think, maybe it's not such a great idea!

Honestly, if you want to visit Edinburgh there are 363 better days of the year to come!

This. Hogmanay and the Christmas Markets turn Edinburgh into an absolute hellscape, in my opinion. As someone mentioned above, you can find nice hotels (Troon, is one that I've been to) that does nice Ceilidh/Hogmanay party nights. Fun without the chaos.

Went once, it was about -10, couldn’t see much of the fireworks due to freezing fog. Hotels will also be a fortune. I’d go somewhere/anywhere indoors!

There's loads on for over the days leading up to it and after. It's not just about the night itself.

You could have a great time. My DH went to the concert this year with friends and had a great time.

Accommodation can be very expensive though so look into that first.

I agree, come another time. I live in Edinburgh and the city centre on Hogmanay is hell on earth. When I lived in town, I would always make plans to go elsewhere over new year!

Can I make an alternative suggestion. Instead of Edinburgh go to Pitlochry in Perthshire. They have a fabulous street party every year on Jan 1st. Starts at 1pm. I was there 4 years ago and it was amazing.

Pipe bands in procession along the main st which is closed to traffic all day. A live ceilidh band on the open air stage and thousands of folk dancing together the length of the main st. Food and drink stalls, local chippy open and selling suppers at much reduced prices with proceeds going to local charities. Great raffle prizes donated by local businesses for hotel breaks, restaurant meals etc. Local butcher shop set up a stall providing a hot pie and a cup of lentil soup free to everyone or a small charity donation . Free soft drinks and mulled wine. We had a wonderful time.

Accommodation was pricier than usual but I suspect lower than Edinburgh. The street party finished in the evening then hotel bars and pubs had live music. The town was buzzing. Pubs were open but it was all family orientated and no rowdy drunks.

Lots of clips on YT if you search Pitlochry street party. Here’s a sample. (I promise I’m not associated in any way with it. Just that we had a great time and hoping to go again)

PS the event was free, no ticket required!

That looks amazing!

I’m from Edinburgh and remember when the ‘street party’ was free and I was still irritated that I had to get a ticket to enter my own city centre. In the years before that, you’d just wander to the Tron Kirk at midnight and see if you could snog someone, none of this crazy hype.
That Pitlochry Hogmanay sounds brilliant - honestly, you’d be so better off. Edinburgh has tourists all year round but I think my English DH really appreciates us being able to visit at non-crazy busy times of the year when it’s nicer and calmer.

We’ve been a few times with kids that age but just to the street party, it’s bloody marvellous! Loads to see and do, great multi cultural atmosphere with people from all over the world. Toilets are an issue but we had do do much Gi I’d go again in a shot. The torch parade on the 30th is also worth doing

Edinburgh in a nutshell, this thread I love the whole Hogmanay thing and there's loads and loads to do around the day itself. However I tend to go to the Concert rather than the Street Party and it's true, accommodation is £££