The Edinburgh Festival: An Insiders Guide
Before this year's Edinburgh Festival comes to a close, Sky Travel look at some of its best bits, and we have some tips on how to survive it.
By Kristen McGorry
With the current trend for "staycations" why not experience what the Edinburgh Festival has to offer.
The Edinburgh Festival is actually the collective name for a group of arts events including the Edinburgh International Festival, Book Festival and Fringe. Whatever your medium, there is literally something for everyone.
Don't expect a relaxing holiday though, for most visitors it's all about cramming as many shows as possible into a long weekend.
When people think of the Edinburgh Festival they think of the Fringe.
Two girls watch a Frindge performance on Edinburgh's Royal Mile
Now in its 63rd year it's become the largest arts festival in the world. Its appeal lies in its diversity. There is always an eclectic mix of the mainstream and the underground. Big name comedians and theatre companies rub shoulders with small unknown groups and performance artists across a multitude of venues. You can see the Chippendales one night and An Audience With Beardyman the next.
But ultimately the Fringe equals comedy.
Seven years ago it was improv, then the rock star stand-ups took the limelight, now it's the turn of the sketch shows. Groups like Idiots of Ants, Kiosk of Champions, and Pappy's Fun Club are taking the art form to new heights. Edinburgh's always been the place you can catch the stars of tomorrow and then be incredibly smug when they hit the big time. The Mighty Boosh and Flight of the Conchords both got their start here.
Although it appears chaotic and sprawling at first, clusters of venues form in entertainment hubs such as the Gilded Balloon and Pleasance so you can easily base yourself in any of those for a day.
The fashionable venue shifts year to year, and this year the place to be seen is the Udderbelly Pasture. Big hitters such as Rhys Darby, Reginald D Hunter and Richard Herring can be found at the giant purple upside down cow in Bristol Square.
→ See more and find deals in our Edinburgh Destination Guide
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