Edinburgh Festival - Where to stay precisely and other advice?

[rollonholiday]

Planning to go to the Edinburgh Festival for the first time. For those that have been before where would you stay to visit - we want to go for 5 -7 nights. Prices of lots of the hotels are eye watering. Does anyone know some gem of a hotel or apartment I have not found? It can't be grotty though please. Planning on taking train there as seems like parking is an issue. Are there any nuggets of wisdom from those who have been before? Thanks.

It’s quite late now to be planning for August, you’ll have seen that most reasonable places get booked up very quickly. If you stay just outside of Edinburgh you may find better deals, stops along the Edinburgh - Glasgow train line are worth looking at because you can be into Edinburgh quickly but prices are generally cheaper. Linlithgow is worth a look in terms of easy access. It can also be good to step away from the city - it’s incredibly busy during the festival and I know I can find it overwhelming. Fantastic too though, definitely get the train if it’s at all practical, driving and parking in Edinburgh is hellish and public transport is excellent.

Sorry, do you mean you are planning now for this August?! Oh mate. Book it this autumn for 2027 would be my advice.

You have left it far too late for this year unless you are happy to spend££££

As the others have said ...

My partner and I stayed in Glasgow and got the train to Edinburgh

Could try booking somewhere north of the river and taking the train down... Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay, Kirkcaldy... Up to 30 mins on the train to Waverley... But otherwise, what they said....

We booked late a couple of years ago and used the University accommodation at Pollock Halls. Not fancy but very convenient.

While it's an hour on the train each way, Stirling has some nice hotels in walking distance of the station and is a nice place as well.
There's also a bus (Ember electric or City Link) that can sometimes be faster.

There's no hidden gems when it comes to Edinburgh accommodation pricing in August sadly, or if there is someone will have booked it a year ago! You stay wherever you can afford or wherever you're willing to travel in from. I'd booked anywhere that's on a decent train or bus route into the city.

Just be aware the last train home is around 11pm. There is a late bus though, and you can get an Uber for about £40

Forget staying in Edinburgh. Everywhere decent will be fully booked or an absolute fortune. Also I wouldn't drive into central Edinburgh as there are very few places to park.

I would suggest you look at staying somewhere with a good rail service as Waverley is right in the centre of Edinburgh. Not sure what standard of hotel you are looking for but I would first look at Falkirk which is about 30 mins by train. It has a number of chain hotels within walking distance of the stations.

Stirling is another possibility although more like 1 hour to get to on the train. Glasgow is a similar time. Both have a number of hotels in the centre and late trains from Edinburgh to get you home.

Also be aware of your accomodation being cancelled by the owner on Booking.com. Happened to us last time and we were left in the lurch.

You could try the airport area and the trams go right in there.

Seton sands caravan site. 26 bus into town. Stops right outside site ( Also stops at train st)

I hope you aren’t talking about ‘this’ August but suspect you are.

There is actually a hotel near Cameron Toll that people forget about a lot so you might get lucky. It’s the Travelodge Cameron Toll. Loads of buses into town and as it’s on the edge of the city it’s not as chaotic. Nothing much right around it but there’s a shopping centre and plenty of quick ways into the city - but quite a journey to any of the shows on the other side of princes street so plan your days carefully.

I went last year and stayed in Newcastle. There were absolutely loads of trains.

We’ve twice had accommodation cancelled by the owner last minute and both times it was Edinburgh. Buggers.

Newcastle??
ok for a day trip but not for multiple days! It’s 90min each way on the train and not always that cheap on the faster trains.

They’ll be stuff on Airbnb. Use that

Try Falkirk, Larbert, Polmont, Linlithgow - all on the line into Edinburgh. Can probably get a Railcard to help with costs. There's no peak fares anymore which helps. Have a great time, I'm sure you'll find some accommodation.

If its for this year you are basically stuffed, unless you are happy to travel every day into Edinburgh, possibly (more than likely at least 1 hour return) however, depending on what you want to do and how long you plan on being there.

Been for 4 days at the Fringe most years since 2014, this is my specialist subject!

You’ll be very very lucky getting decent accommodation within a reasonable distance at this point. Especially for that long. We got priced out of central hotels (this year the travel lodge hit £1000 for 3 nights) so we now stay further out in Air BnBs we book the day we get back the year before. Get the most choice and for a less than the price of a central hotel.

Also: 7 days is a lot. Pace yourselves, it’s very intense and crowded especially in the old town. Plan for a few hours out of town a couple of times during your stay. It’s why we go for 4 / 3.5 days - it’s enough.

Be prepared to spend. Shows are eye watering prices this year, and most are just an hour. Book any you deffo want to see in advance and download the tickets to your phone so they’re offline, the crowds mean phone signal can fail in some areas.

Check the location of venues when booking, I cannot emphasise that enough. Leave at least an hour between shows. If time between shows is a factor, plan your route. Learn from my experience! 😅

Don’t bother seeing any acts who’ve been on TV, they tour all the time. Take a chance on something random! If you walk past a long queue, ask what’s on and consider trying that the day after, for example.

Talk to people in queues, ask what they’ve seen. Word of mouth is king. If you find something you like, look them up and see who they might be compared to - join the dots between acts.

Also the Free Fringe is brilliant, where you put money in a bucket at the end. Don’t rule that out, some of the best acts I’ve seen have been free. But as they’re non-ticketed they might fill up! You might queue and not get in, so consider a back-up just in case.

I could go on!

I know it is, I was the one doing it!

It’s mid June, it might have to be Newcastle!

There are lots of decent premier inns in Edinburgh - just checked and they all have availability, 4 nights in mid -august (Monday - Friday) is about £1200 per room for 2. The Waverley one is new and pretty nice.

Premier inns out of town are all easily accessible by public transport - Musselburgh, South Queensferry, Livingston. They also have availability and about £500 - 700 each for same dates.

We’ve stayed at the West End Staycity apartments, they have parking, are easy to drive to and only a 15 minute walk to the city centre. If you get the train they’re a short taxi ride away.

I think a week in Edinburgh might be a bit much, I’d do 3/4 nights then (if driving) maybe book a country cottage or elsewhere nearby for 2/3. Airbnb has some lovely places within a 40 min drive of Edinburgh.