Edinburgh Fringe is the world’s largest arts festival. Performers come to Edinburgh to take stage across multiple venues in the city. You will get see big names and also upcoming artists. There really is something for everyone. It’s also perfect for a long weekend getaway. With time to watch lots of different shows and explore some of the main sites in Edinburgh before you have to head back home. The atmosphere in the city is amazing during the month of August. It’s buzzing and there are so many people around. You don’t have to pack your schedule so it’s show after show. There are so many different gardens and venues to chill and have a drink at.
There are so many different shows to choose from at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and it can be quite overwhelming to decide what to go to! I would suggest downloading the app, it’s so convenient! Have a look at the shows on see if any take your fancy. Maybe you really want to see a magic show, or a comedy show or even a play, there’s something for everyone. Many shows will sell out so if there’s something you really want to see then definitely make sure you buy a ticket in advance. You can do this really easily on the app or online.
Once you’ve bought online you can collect your tickets from one of Box Offices around the city. It’s really organised I was so impressed. If you don’t really have a preference and are quite spontaneous then you can make the most of the half-price ticket hut. Here you may be able to grab a bargain for a show that day.
Some my favourite shows at Edinburgh Fringe Festival
- Adam Calvert: Declassified – This is hypnotist/magic show which is honestly just unbelievable! If you like hypnotism then you definitely have to see this show! It was intriguing to see how hypnotised some people were and what they ended up doing.
- Showstopper! The Improvised Musical – This is a fantastic musical theatre show where the actors/actresses make up the songs & story as they go. They often ask the audience as to what theme they would like the play to follow. There is more audience in picking the theme of the songs. It’s so much fun and the actors/actresses are so talented!
- Sh*tfaced Shakespeare: Oliver Twist – This is Shakespeare with a twist…one of the actors/actresses is chosen just before the show to drink two bottles of prosecco. This continues throughout the show as they are given more to drink whilst continuing to perform. This was such a funny show as it goes very off script! It’s hilarious watching the other actors/actresses adjust their lines to fit. It really helps to know the story of the show you’re going to see as then you know how far off script they have gone!
- Card Ninja – This was a really fun family friendly show! It was full of some serious card tricks that left me wanting to learn how to flick cards like a ninja.
On your final day explore some of Edinburgh’s finest sites, I would recommend walking up to Arthurs Seat. It’s not too difficult a hike, proper shoes are required though! Take a jumper as it can get quite cold up at the top. This was so much fun and you get some amazing views. You can also visit Edinburgh Castle if you have time.
Where to Stay?
It’s no surprise that accommodation prices sky rocket during the month of August. To get round this try and book as early as possible and consider accommodation that you may not usually go for. We ended up staying in student accommodation. It was about a 15/20min walk to the centre and it had a shared bathroom. Normally I would always go for private bathroom but for a couple of days it was totally fine! Also you’re not spending much time in the accommodation anyway. You’re either watching shows or chilling in one of the venues across the city, so you’re really on there to sleep. So have a think about how much you want to pay for accommodation and remember to book early!
If you’re looking for more UK breaks why not consider visiting the Seven Sisters or Stonehenge!
