Top 10 tips for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe: our guide to the festival

Author: kirsten mccroskrie

Thursday, 31 July 2014

Thousands of shows, forever changing weather and endless pints of beer. Here are our top tips for Edinburgh's biggest festival.!

1. Invest in some good footwear

Edinburgh is not the city to wear-in new shoes or make a fashion statement. It is a maze of hilly, cobbled streets, stairways and grassy parks. You’ll also spend a lot of time dashing in between venues. So leave the stilettos and winkle-pickers at home and opt for those oh so comfy trainers. You may not be best-dressed, but it’s the only way to make it through a full day of ‘fringing’.

2. Dress for the elements

Scotland has a funny way of showcasing all its seasons in one day. You can leave the house in shorts and shades only for the heavens to open two hours later and for the sun to reappear once you’ve been soaked to skin and forced into buying a tartan umbrella from the gift shop. Our tips? Wear layers. Keep a waterproof rolled up in your bag. And always bring your sunglasses. You may get to use them for at least 10 minutes.

Edinburgh's weather is forever changing and impossible to predict!

3. Get to know the venues

As we said, there are venues all across the city officially taking part in the festival – don’t try and find them 10 minutes before your show is due to start. Get yourself a Venue Map (there is a handy one at the back of the official Fringe catalogue) and mark out the places you need to be on each particular day. It is also worth noting that certain venue names can cause confusion. The Assembly rooms on George Street share a similar name to the Assembly Production Company that operate in the venues on George Square. To make matters more confusing, George Square is a good 20-minute walk away from George Street – not ideal if you realise you’re at the wrong venue just before your show is due to start. When in doubt, ask a local – they’re the ones in work clothes looking grumpy.

4. Keep your phone charged

There are so many photo opportunities that you’ll be pretty upset if you realise you’ve let the battery on your phone die. Imagine meeting a celebrity and realising that you have no way of tweeting your friends about it? If you think your phone won’t last the full day, come find us at the Festival and get a free Skyscanner portable charger (among many other cool prizes and giveaways). You’ll be thanking us when you get your 10th ‘like’ for that instagrammed plate of haggis you had.
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5. Who needs the buses (or the trams!)

Edinburgh’s usually excellent bus system and fancy new trams may take a little longer than normal once the Fringe masses descend upon its streets. You’ll often find what should be a 5 minute journey turns into a half hour stand-still as the bus tries to compete with the increased traffic and hoards of pedestrians flooding the roads. In most cases it will be quicker to walk and it means you can use your bus money for an extra beer! (And… you know… take in the scenery and whatnot).

Pedestrians rule all during the Fringe. ©Chris Scott

 

6. Where to drink

Edinburgh as a city has a plethora of good bars and clubs, in fact it has the most pubs per square mile in the world! From historic pubs such as Greyfriars Bobby and Deacon Brodie’s to modern cocktail bars such as Tiger Lily and Amicus Apple to dingy but wonderfully cheap student haunts, there are plenty of options for festival goers. During the Fringe, many beer gardens pop up around the city that offer the best atmosphere for the festival goer. Spiegletent, Underbelly (a giant floating purple cow!) and the Gilded Balloon are the best spots to get a true feel for the Fringe spirit.

7. Where to eat

Remember remember remember to eat. Sounds obvious, but when you are dashing between shows, being bombarded by flyers and street performers and enjoying ANOTHER pint you may forget to get a decent meal in. During the day you’ll have plenty of choice, from greasy burger vans, to quirky cafes or full slap-up meals in one of the cities many restaurants. There are still some great options late into the night, why not act like a local and head to the local chippie - remember to ask for ‘Salt and Sauce’ on your fish supper- or if you fancy something a little more refined head to Bar Napoli for the best pizza you’ve ever had at 3 o’clock in the morning.
More: Best Cafés, Pubs & Restaurants in Edinburgh: Skyscanner recommends

8. Be spontaneous

To really get the full experience you have to be spontaneous. Don’t plan your trip by the book and leave yourself some time to do something completely unplanned. Whether it be eating from an interesting looking fusion-cuisine van you find off the Royal Mile, or going to a show ‘that starts in five minutes round the corner’, it’s part of the fun. You may discover that Finnish-Brazilian food is a terrible combination or that the ‘free-show’ was free for a reason. But these situations will also be the funny stories that you tell your friends back home.

Spend some time watching the street performers in between shows. ©Jan Kranendonk

9. Plan in advance

Yes we are contradicting ourselves, but a little preparation is necessary if there are certain shows you really want to see. If you are desperate to catch a certain play/comedian/ dance-troupe, chances are so are a hundred other people. Peruse a guide, pick a handful of must-see shows and book your tickets in advance. It avoids disappointment and also gives your trip some structure.

10. Escape the crowds

The Fringe is the most exciting, creative and exhilarating month of the entire year, but it certainly takes its toll. Escape the crowds and head up Calton Hill and take in the views of this beautiful city and the surrounding countryside. Then gear yourself up for round two!

Escape the crowds - via stilts if possible. ©Jan Kranendonk

More: 10 Beautiful Places to visit in Edinburgh