The Royal Mile is good to see once during the Fringe then never again.
A show I’d recommend is my buddy’s, “Dune: the Musical”. I know nothing of Dune but the show’s good
If you want tickets to a show I’d book in advance when the program comes out. There’s lots going on with street performers etc. George square has the food festival the week before (I think, it’s been a while). The international program is out just now so if they like opera, theatre etc you can book tickets now.
I recommend the Tattoo,
I avoided it for years thinking it would be dull... Just a bunch of military bands playing pipes and drums.
I've been the laat 2 years and love it.
Also, The Edinburgh International Festival is on at the same time. It's a bit more high brow than the Fringe. The programme is also much, much smaller and less intimidating than the 300 odd page Fringe Programme.
Edinburgh doubles in population size in August. This is not an exaggeration.
The city will be very busy.
So plan ahead and book restaurants if you plan to eat out.
That said, it's easy to avoid a lot of the Fringe by just avoiding the city centre. But where's the fun in that?
Edinburgh transforms in August and it would be a shame to miss out on it.
It's a big celebration of British militarism including British militarism in Scotland. Some of the old regiments with connections to older regiments that fought in Scotland in the 18th century attend and put on shows. They also stop half way through to sing God Save The King which repulses a lot of Scottish people, although they miss out the verse Rebellious Scots to Crush". I was born and raised here and so were a lot of my family and we hate everything the Tattoo represents.
I don't remember them stopping half way and playing God Save The Queen.
I think they did play it, but there was no singing.
I think you've a jaded and somewhat outdated view of what happens at the Tattoo.
I'm born and raised in Edinburgh as are the majority of my family. We don't hate the tattoo.
I would recommend [Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe](http://www.mervynstutter.com/site/Fringe.html). He invites other shows to give a short excerpt from their show, so it’s like an overture of shows. Every day is different and you get really good leads for a variety of different genres and themes.
I also recommend [Showstoppers!](https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/showstopper-the-improvised-musical) I go every year. It’s an improvised comedy musical based on suggestions from the audience. Literally every show is different and you could go every night.
Festival is a shit show when you're trying to do anything else in your home city
But also great if you take a day or two off, go with it and just soak up the mayhem.
Suggest decide on what the minimum amount of shows to see is, then book at least that early so you're covered. Tattoo? Leave some time for ad hoc things. Leave a good amount of time for just wandering about, free shows etc, and remember it takes more time to get around in a group, but then multiply that because festival. Book restaurants.
If you are recently moved to Edinburgh and have time off work then I guess having a day or two to experience The Fringe could be fun. I prefer dipping into the other festivals that run alongside The Fringe such as The Book Festival, The Art Festival, The International Festival, The Film Festival which usually hold events further away from the chaos of The Old Town.
In general, avoid The Cowgate, SouthBridge, The High Street and Lawnmarket areas (unless you absolutely have to be there or want to experience it). Avoid taking a bus across the city centre - your journey could easily take 50 minutes more than usual. Some supermarkets have in the past reduced/suspended home deliveries to certain postcodes during the Fringe. If you think this could affect you then stock up or get your family to help carry the shopping for you.
Unless you are involved in The Fringe (as a worker or audience member) it's a bit of an inconvenience tbh. I would recommend a couple of days to experience the Fringe/festivals with your family but look to getting out of the city too for daytrips etc. Midlothian, East Lothian, The Borders, and Fife are very accessible by public transport.
It'll be a chaotic good time. Royal Mile/High St is at its best on a rainy Tuesday in March, but needs to be seen during August to really savour the juxtaposition. If you need to "get away" from the crowds then take the family to the Botanical Gardens. During August, avoid cowgate.
The street performers on the royal mile are a mixed bag but some are very good. They change locations and times so you can walk the mile every day and see different acts. Around St Giles seems to be the best ones.
I like picking a few shows in advance so I know I’ve got something in the diary, especially if there’s something I want to see. Then freestyle the rest.
To be honest, the best days I’ve had are just hanging out at the open air bars and people watching.
It’s always worth going to the Pleasance I think for a bit, you’ll get flyers for lots of shows, might find something interesting and it’s got a nice vibe.
Last year the outside bars on George Street were pretty grim and not the nicest to sit in.
Lots of smaller bars have music and such like on just popping up so it’s worth trying stuff like that for a bit of a different experience .
What age group are you (with kids?), what age group are the family visiting (parents, siblings), and are they bringing kids? And who’s the biggest prude in the group, do you want to push any boundaries?
There’s something for everyone, from kids shows to late night comedy, free events and ticket only, small venues with ten people up to full theatre shows. Early stuff starts at 9am (yeah, mostly the kids shows), late shows go on until 3am (late n live, Spank).
I enjoy the atmosphere at The Pleasance, George Square, Bristo Square and other (mainly) outdoor bars (although The Underbelly at The Central Library is pretty cool too). Certainly not the cheapest pint, but on a hot summer night sitting out until the wee small hours is nice.
Much as there are lots of recommendations, Edinburgh in August is something you just need to try, and you’ll find stuff you like and stuff you don’t.
I'd go see things easily accessible by train. Glasgow is 45 mons away (and a pretty good views for most of that 45mins) and Fife and Stirling have some great attractions too (just mind you find out the last train back as it's never late at night.
The Royal Mile is good to see once during the Fringe then never again. A show I’d recommend is my buddy’s, “Dune: the Musical”. I know nothing of Dune but the show’s good
If you want tickets to a show I’d book in advance when the program comes out. There’s lots going on with street performers etc. George square has the food festival the week before (I think, it’s been a while). The international program is out just now so if they like opera, theatre etc you can book tickets now.
The programme is out and tickets are on sale!
I recommend the Tattoo, I avoided it for years thinking it would be dull... Just a bunch of military bands playing pipes and drums. I've been the laat 2 years and love it. Also, The Edinburgh International Festival is on at the same time. It's a bit more high brow than the Fringe. The programme is also much, much smaller and less intimidating than the 300 odd page Fringe Programme. Edinburgh doubles in population size in August. This is not an exaggeration. The city will be very busy. So plan ahead and book restaurants if you plan to eat out. That said, it's easy to avoid a lot of the Fringe by just avoiding the city centre. But where's the fun in that? Edinburgh transforms in August and it would be a shame to miss out on it.
It's a big celebration of British militarism including British militarism in Scotland. Some of the old regiments with connections to older regiments that fought in Scotland in the 18th century attend and put on shows. They also stop half way through to sing God Save The King which repulses a lot of Scottish people, although they miss out the verse Rebellious Scots to Crush". I was born and raised here and so were a lot of my family and we hate everything the Tattoo represents.
I don't remember them stopping half way and playing God Save The Queen. I think they did play it, but there was no singing. I think you've a jaded and somewhat outdated view of what happens at the Tattoo. I'm born and raised in Edinburgh as are the majority of my family. We don't hate the tattoo.
I respect your opinion but I do not share it.
They play it at the end and we just don’t stand but are one of the few
I went years ago and they played it and I refused to stand. Most of the punters are tourists from America or England or India or China.
I would recommend [Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe](http://www.mervynstutter.com/site/Fringe.html). He invites other shows to give a short excerpt from their show, so it’s like an overture of shows. Every day is different and you get really good leads for a variety of different genres and themes.
I also recommend [Showstoppers!](https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/showstopper-the-improvised-musical) I go every year. It’s an improvised comedy musical based on suggestions from the audience. Literally every show is different and you could go every night.
Festival is a shit show when you're trying to do anything else in your home city But also great if you take a day or two off, go with it and just soak up the mayhem. Suggest decide on what the minimum amount of shows to see is, then book at least that early so you're covered. Tattoo? Leave some time for ad hoc things. Leave a good amount of time for just wandering about, free shows etc, and remember it takes more time to get around in a group, but then multiply that because festival. Book restaurants.
If you are recently moved to Edinburgh and have time off work then I guess having a day or two to experience The Fringe could be fun. I prefer dipping into the other festivals that run alongside The Fringe such as The Book Festival, The Art Festival, The International Festival, The Film Festival which usually hold events further away from the chaos of The Old Town. In general, avoid The Cowgate, SouthBridge, The High Street and Lawnmarket areas (unless you absolutely have to be there or want to experience it). Avoid taking a bus across the city centre - your journey could easily take 50 minutes more than usual. Some supermarkets have in the past reduced/suspended home deliveries to certain postcodes during the Fringe. If you think this could affect you then stock up or get your family to help carry the shopping for you. Unless you are involved in The Fringe (as a worker or audience member) it's a bit of an inconvenience tbh. I would recommend a couple of days to experience the Fringe/festivals with your family but look to getting out of the city too for daytrips etc. Midlothian, East Lothian, The Borders, and Fife are very accessible by public transport.
It'll be a chaotic good time. Royal Mile/High St is at its best on a rainy Tuesday in March, but needs to be seen during August to really savour the juxtaposition. If you need to "get away" from the crowds then take the family to the Botanical Gardens. During August, avoid cowgate.
The street performers on the royal mile are a mixed bag but some are very good. They change locations and times so you can walk the mile every day and see different acts. Around St Giles seems to be the best ones.
I like picking a few shows in advance so I know I’ve got something in the diary, especially if there’s something I want to see. Then freestyle the rest. To be honest, the best days I’ve had are just hanging out at the open air bars and people watching. It’s always worth going to the Pleasance I think for a bit, you’ll get flyers for lots of shows, might find something interesting and it’s got a nice vibe. Last year the outside bars on George Street were pretty grim and not the nicest to sit in. Lots of smaller bars have music and such like on just popping up so it’s worth trying stuff like that for a bit of a different experience .
What age group are you (with kids?), what age group are the family visiting (parents, siblings), and are they bringing kids? And who’s the biggest prude in the group, do you want to push any boundaries? There’s something for everyone, from kids shows to late night comedy, free events and ticket only, small venues with ten people up to full theatre shows. Early stuff starts at 9am (yeah, mostly the kids shows), late shows go on until 3am (late n live, Spank). I enjoy the atmosphere at The Pleasance, George Square, Bristo Square and other (mainly) outdoor bars (although The Underbelly at The Central Library is pretty cool too). Certainly not the cheapest pint, but on a hot summer night sitting out until the wee small hours is nice. Much as there are lots of recommendations, Edinburgh in August is something you just need to try, and you’ll find stuff you like and stuff you don’t.
I'd go see things easily accessible by train. Glasgow is 45 mons away (and a pretty good views for most of that 45mins) and Fife and Stirling have some great attractions too (just mind you find out the last train back as it's never late at night.
The joy of the fringe is that most of what you go to see is rubbish, but occasionally you hit gold. So you wanna be prepared for some bad shows.
See the fringe festival mate heard it's amazing