Last Updated on August 1, 2018
Everything you need to know about this epic arts festival in the Scottish capital city, from tips on how to make the most of your time at the festival, to how to get there from the airport.
From 3-27 August 2018 the Edinburgh Festival Fringe opens the doors, streets, shops, churches, schools, and alleyways of Edinburgh to a cornucopia of street performers, circus acts, singers, dancers, visual artists, comedians, spoken word artists and children’s performers as the biggest arts festival in the world takes over the city for three weeks. With so much on, it’s a good idea to get your head around the city, the festival, and how you’re going to get there before you descend into the excitement.
Getting there
The closest airport is Edinburgh Airport, located 12 kilometres from the city centre. The most convenient way to ensure a smooth trip to the festival is by pre-booking an airport transfer; whether you’re travelling with friends and need a shuttle, would prefer to arrive in style with a private transfer, or something in between, you can search and compare airport transfers from Edinburgh Airport to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Jayride.com. As the festival spans across the whole city, an airport transfer is the easiest way to get exactly where you need to go from the airport.
The history
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, often just called The Fringe, began in 1947, the same year as the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival, a celebration created to enrich European culture and life after the Second World War. That year, eight performance acts turned up uninvited to the International Festival. Despite not being part of the official program, they performed none-the-less, albeit in the fringes of the city, earning the festival its name. Since then, The Fringe has simply continued to evolve into a proudly brash, raw and beautifully chaotic celebration of every type of art, ‘defying the norm’ and attracting thousands of visitors and performers to Edinburgh each year.
Present day
There’s a whopping 2,500+ shows to choose from this year across more than 250 performance venues throughout Edinburgh. From modern photography exhibitions, speakeasy jazz and adaptations of classic theatre, to original musicals, urban circus and comedy, family friendly events, big household names delighting fans and unknown acts trying to build their careers; it’s easy to see why the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is now the biggest arts festival in the world. For a full program, venue maps and how to purchase tickets, head on over to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe website.
Festival tips
- Dress for all weather. Even though the festival is in August, it’s a good idea to be prepared for rain – this is Scotland, after all! You’ll likely be on your feet quite a bit too, so good, comfortable footwear is a must.
- Make the most of the free shows – there are plenty on offer throughout the festival. The same goes for discounted tickets; simply search for free and discounted shows when you’re looking for tickets on The Fringe website. Note: The Virgin Money Half-price Hut offers half-price tickets for various shows, so if you don’t have a concrete schedule, it’s worth seeing what discounted tickets they have on offer.
- Take it slow – with so many incredible performances on the agenda it can be easy to get carried away trying to fit everything in. Pace yourself, you don’t want to burn out.
- The earlier the better – if you’re buying tickets in person, you’re more likely going to snag the tickets you want if you get there nice and early.
Going to The Fringe? Pre-book your airport transfer and enjoy a seamless travel experience from home to airport to hotel. Search and compare local transfer companies on Jayride.com.
