What happens in Edinburgh in the summer?
Edinburgh in the summer is the Festival City and definitely the place to be with six of Edinburgh's festivals taking place. They are all independently organised, but collectively they form one of the biggest and most intoxicating celebrations of the arts in the world. A whole jamboree of events takes place including film, theatre, books, children's events, talks, music, dance, comedy, military bands... and many more. So there is, quite literally, something for everyone.
How do I get programmes and tickets for the individual festivals?
All the individual programmes are available throughout Edinburgh in various arts venues, theatres, bookshops and cinemas.
Use our Listings Search to identify the show you wish to see then use the "Book Now" button. This will take you through to the individual Festival's website booking form.
What other festivals are in Edinburgh?
Other festivals in Scotland's capital city:
Pipefest
Over 400 marching bands from 28 different countries converge on Edinburgh.
Beltane Fire Festival
Annual fire festival on Calton Hill celebrating the coming of summer.
Edinburgh International Television Festival
The UK's leading event for broadcasting and television professionals.
Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival
Celebrating the interactive entertainment industry.
Edinburgh People's Festival
Billing itself as the "a ceelbration of the arts by the people and for the people", the EPF runs cut-price performances in many of the less fashionable areas of the city.
How do I find accommodation in August?
Edinburgh has a wide variety of accommodation to suit all budgets and tastes. Edinburgh in the summer gets pretty busy so it is best to plan well ahead of your visit.
Edinburgh & Lothians Tourist Board has a huge database of hotels, guest houses and B&B's that have all been inspected and graded. Visit their website to search for accommodation or call their Reservation Hotline on 0131 473 3800.
http://www.stayinedinburgh.net/. A wide range of hotels in Edinburgh from the Edinburgh Principal Hotels Association, with online availability and booking.
Other agencies:
Festival Beds: 0131 225 1101, http://www.festivalbeds.co.uk/
Festival Flats: 01620 810 620, http://www.festivalflats.net/
The Festival Partnership: 0131 478 1294, www.edinburghfestival.net/
Festival Apartments: 0131 2255 070, www.festivalapartments.com/
EdLets: (International Callers) +44 131 510 0020 / (UK Callers) 0870 777 5885, www.edlets.com/
University accommodation:
Edinburgh First Accommodation: 0131 651 2184, www.edinburghfirst.com/
Napier University: 0131 455 4331, www.napier.ac.uk/cca/
Queen Margaret University College: 0131 317 3310 www.qmuc.ac.uk/services/holiday_accommodation.htm
For more rental accommodation in and around Edinburgh, visit scotsman.com Property.
Getting to and getting around Edinburgh
Edinburgh airport (0131 333 1000) (website) is ten miles west of the city centre.
The Airlink Express runs between the airport and Waverley Bridge every 10 minutes during the day. The main pick-up/drop-off points in town are at the West End of Princes Street and Haymarket train station. A single ticket costs £3.30 and a return £5.00. The 25 minute journey time will be longer during the rush hours.
The fare to Edinburgh city centre in a taxi should be about £15.
Domestic scheduled airlines
BMI British Midland: www.flybmi.com/
British Airways: www.britishairways.com/
Eastern Airways: www.easternairways.com/
EasyJet: www.easyjet.com/
Flybe: www.flybe.com/
Jet2: www.jet2.com/
Scot Airways: www.scotairways.co.uk/
Train
All trains to Edinburgh go to Waverley Station at the east end of Princes Street. This is where the main ticket booking office is. Watch out for peak periods, when a wait of 40 minutes is not unusual. Leave at least 10 minutes to buy tickets for immediate travel.
Taxis pick up from the station concourse, but if the queue is very long there is another taxi rank on Waverley Bridge.
All trains to the north and to the west coast, including Glasgow, also stop at Haymarket Station. The number for all timetable and ticket enquiries is 08457 48 49 50.
Train operators:
First ScotRail Sleeper service to London Euston & trains to the rest of Scotland.
Virgin Trains West coast mainline to Carlisle, Manchester & London Euston, and UK cross-country services.
Getting around
Most venues are in or near the city centre and can be easily reached on foot. Traffic in the summer can become very congested and parking is quite difficult, so it's a good idea to leave the car behind and travel around the city on foot, by public transport or taxi.
Buses run frequently to most parts of the city. There are two main companies - the maroon Lothian Regional Transport buses and First Edinburgh.
LRT insist that you have the exact fare ready, and will not give change.
Taxis are plentiful for the most part, but do become scarce at peak times. Tipping is discretionary, but around 10% is usual.
Central Radio Taxis accept euros if you tell the driver before your journey starts, but they won't accept coins and won't give you any change.
City Cabs allow you to book a taxi online.
How do I get a temporary job within the festivals?
Check out the individual festival websites or call their offices directly to find out the situation.
For more jobs check out www.scotsman.com/jobs
Maps
For a variety of maps of Edinburgh and the surrounding area go to the Edinburgh & Lothians Tourist Board website at www.edinburgh.org/ and look under Travel Tips.
Weather
For a five-day weather forecast go to this website.
Other arts links
BBC Online - the BBC's coverage of the Edinburgh Festival.
Inside Out Film - the latest on the Film Festival from Inside Out.
The Gallery Guide - exhibitions taking place in Edinburgh.
The Gig Guide - music gigs across Scotland.
Visiting Arts - a comprehensive guide to all international arts across the festivals (overseas artists at the festivals).
Radar - new music site and gig guide from scotsman.com.
Other Edinburgh links
Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board
Useful information for tourists.
Edinburgh.pubs
Listings and reviews of Edinburgh pubs.
Edinburgh247
Entertainment listings, Edinburgh info.
EdinburghGuide.com
News and events from Scotland's capital.
liftshare.com
The UK's free online journey matching service. Share a car, reduce
travelling costs and congestion.
VisitScotland.com
The official site of the Scottish Tourist Board.
Edinburgh: World Heritage City
Website of the Edinburgh World Heritage Partnership Group.
Use the details below to find out more about Edinburgh's Festivals . . .
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
4 - 31 August 2010
The Fringe Office
180 High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1QS
Tel: (+44) 0131 226 0026
Fax: (+44) 0131 226 0016
admin@edfringe.com
Edinburgh International Festival
13 August - 5 September 2010
The Hub
Castlehill
Edinburgh EH1 2NE
Tel: + 44 (0) 131 473 2000
Fax: + 44 (0) 131 473 2002
eif@eif.co.uk
Edinburgh International Book Festival
14 - 30 August 2009
5a Charlotte Square
Edinburgh
EH2 4DR
Tel: 0131 718 5666
Fax: 0131 226 5335
admin@edbookfest.co.uk
Edinburgh International Film Festival
16 - 27 June 2010
88 Lothian Road
Edinburgh EH3 9BZ
Tel: 0131 228 4051
Fax: 0131 229 5501
info@edfilmfest.org.uk
Edinburgh Art Festival
29 July - 5 September 2009
c/o British Council Scotland Arts Department
The Tun (3rd Floor)
4 Jackson's Entry
Holyrood Road
Edinburgh EH8 8PJ
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival
30 July - 8 August 2009
89 Giles Street
Edinburgh, EH6 6BZ
0131 467 5200
Edinburgh Military Tattoo
6 - 28 August 2009
The Tattoo Office
32 Market Street
Edinburgh EH1 1QB
Tel: 08707 555 1188
Fax: 0131 225 8627
edintattoo@edintattoo.co.uk
Edinburgh Mela
6 - 8 August 2009
The Arts Quarter
Gateway Theatre
Elm Row
Edinburgh EH7 4AH
Tel: 0131 557 1400
Fax: 0131 557 1400
info@edinburgh-mela.co.uk
Edinburgh's Hogmanay
29 December 2010 - 01 January 2011
The City of Edinburgh Council
City Chambers
High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1HQ
Edinburgh International Science Festival
1-18 April 2010
4 Gayfield Place Lane
Edinburgh
EH1 3NZ
Tel: 0131 558 7666
Fax: 0131 557 9177
esf@scifest.demon.co.uk
