MINI GUIDE 2016

ON THE GROUND

EDINBURGH FESTIVALS

PROGRAMMES & TICKETS

All the festivals’ programmes are widely available in print form and online. The printed versions are free and can be found

across the city in venues and box offices.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE Edinburgh

International Film Festival

Edinburgh International

Festival

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival

Edinburgh FestivalFringe

Edinburgh International

Art Festival

Edinburgh International Book Festival

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Get Programmes/tickets

Get Programmes/tickets

Get Programmes/tickets

Get Programmes/tickets

Get Programmes/tickets

Get Programmes/tickets

Get Programmes/tickets

(often mispronounced as ‘Princess Street’, this busy

thoroughfare was actually named after the reigning King George’s sons, aka the Princes)

GEARING UP (WHAT TO BRING)

Map

Smartphone

Raincoat

Umbrella

Decent-sized bag

Comfy shoes

Camera

Bottle of water

Good book

PRONUNCIATION GUIDEDo street names like Cockburn, Broughton or Buccleuch have your tongue in a twist? Sound just like a local with our handy Edinburgh

pronunciation guide:

Cockburn Street

Buccleuch Street/Place

Crichton Street

Broughton Street

Costorphine

Raeburn Place

Edinburgh

Waverley

Holyrood

Princes Street

(Co-burn Street)

(Buck-loo Street/Place)

(Cry-ton Street)

(Bro-ton Street)

(Cor-stor-fin)

(Ray-burn Place)

(Ed-n-buh-ruh)

(Way-ver-lee)

(Holly-rood)

HINTS & TIPSTo avoid some of the trial and error of visiting the festivals we’ve rounded up some handy tips to help you make the most of your time.

Bring a bag for all the flyers you’ll pick up and keep a hold of them. You can look through them when you get a minute and decide what takes your fancy.

Wear comfy shoes – a day at the festivals can mean lots of walking.

Bring water. It’s very easy to get dehydrated running to every show!

Start your day early so you can secure the best festival tickets and see the most popular visitor attractions before they get too busy. Head to the Edinburgh VisitScotland Information Centre near Waverley Station on Princes Street and pick up a map to get your bearings.

Go for a mixture of performances and get a feel for everything that is going on.

Plan itineraries and book ahead – shows can sell very fast once August arrives so don’t rely on booking on the day if there’s something you really want to see.

But make sure to keep some time free and try a few word-of-mouth recommendations – you never know what gems you’ll uncover.

Don’t miss a Festival Fringe deal; look out for free shows, previews, discounted tickets, 2-for-1 tickets and the Virgin Money Half Price Hut.

Be careful when crossing roads. Like all major cities, Edinburgh’s streets can be busy and the trams move especially quietly.

For a late night snack, visit George Square or Summerhall to find a whole range of quality food stalls, serving delicious street food, from crêpes to curries.

TOP 10 MOST VISITED ATTRACTIONS IN EDINBURGH*

01 EDINBURGH CASTLE

02 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND

03 SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY

04 ST GILES’ CATHEDRAL

05 ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN

06 EDINBURGH ZOO

07 NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM

08 EDINBURGH BUS TOURS

09 THE ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA

10 SCOTTISH NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

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*© Moffat Centre, Glasgow Caledonian University

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1) Kyloe RestaurantRutland Street, Gourmet steak

2) Bread Meats Bread Lothian Road, Burgers

3) Pinto’sLothian Road, Mexican

4) The DogsHanover Street, Bistro

5) Henderson’sHanover Street, Vegetarian

6) The Boozy CowFrederick Street, Pub food

7) Taste of ItalyLeith Walk, Italian

8) Laila’s BistroCockburn Street, Mediterranean

9) Joseph Pearce’sElm Row, Swedish

10) The Ship on the ShoreLeith, Seafood

11) Khublai Khan’s Assembly Street, Exotic meats

12) Number One at the Balmoral HotelPrinces Street, Scottish and French

13) Restaurant Martin WishartThe Shore, Michelin-star

14) The KitchinCommercial Quay, Local

15) LovecrumbsWest Port, Tea and cakes

16) The Gateway RestaurantRoyal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

17) Frederick’s Coffee HouseFrederick Street, Coffee

18) Peter’s YardSimpson Loan, Baked goods

19) Elephant House CaféGeorge IV Bridge, Cakes, coffee, teas

20) Museum Brasserie and Balcony CaféNational Museum of Scotland, Homemade delicacies

21) SygnCharlotte Street, Cocktail

22) The Hanging BatLothian Road, Pub

23) Le MondeGeorge Street, Drinks

24) The White Hart InnGrassmarket, Edinburgh’s oldest pub

25) Milnes BarRose Street, Pub

26) Jeremiah’s Tap Room Elm Row, Pub

FOODEdinburgh is packed with places to eat that will suit everyone.

RESTAURANTS

MICHELIN-STAR

CAFÉ CULTURE

BAR & PUBS

CITY CENTRE

WEST END AND HAYMARKET

LEITH AND PORTOBELLO

SOUTH EDINBURGH

STOCKBRIDGE

EXPLORING EDINBURGHOn footWalking is one of the easiest ways to experience Edinburgh, and it’s also the best way to soak up the festival atmosphere.

By bikeEdinburgh is a cycle-friendly city with approximately 50 junctions with advance cycle stop lines. At peak times, cyclists are allowed to share the buses’ green lanes in and around the city centre.

By busEdinburgh’s extensive bus routes cover the entire city and its outskirts. Most festival venues are near, if not on, the main bus routes. Single tickets cost £1.60, while DAYtickets cost £4.00.

By car or motorcycleUseful information on all aspects of parking and driving in Edinburgh, including where to find on-street and multi-storeyparking, can be found on the City of Edinburgh Council parking pages.

By taxiBlack cabs and other taxi services are readily available throughout the city. Taxis can be pre-booked, picked up at one of the city’s many taxi ranks or black cabs can be flagged down on the street. A taxi ride across the city centre usually costs between £6 and £10.

By tramEdinburgh’s tram line runs from Edinburgh Airport to York Place in the city centre, with regular stops along the line including at Haymarket Train Station in the city’s West End. Tickets within the city zone cost £1.60.

By rickshawTravelling by bicycle-powered rickshaw can be a fun and unique way to see the city, but the fare can vary depending on the length and amount of uphill climbs in your journey.

AccessibilityEdinburgh is a compact city so wheelchair users or those with limited mobility will find it relatively easy to get around. Although Edinburgh can be busy during the summer months, as long as you give yourself plenty of time you shouldn’t have a problem getting from A to B.

HIDDEN GEMSThere’s so much more to Edinburgh than meets the eye. Keep an eye out for these hidden gems as you wander around the city.

SKY BAR AT THE DOUBLETREE BY HILTONEnjoy views of Edinburgh by night while you listen to live jazz and sip on a cocktail at the SkyBar, open on the first Thursday of every month.

LAURISTON CASTLEJust 3 miles west of Edinburgh’s city centre, this 16th century tower house is a treasure trove of beautiful ornaments.

GREYFRIARS KIRKYou may have heard of this church’s namesake, Greyfriars Bobby, the loyal terrier who faithfully guarded his master’s grave for 14 years.

COLLECTIVE GALLERY, CALTON HILLAmongst the monuments on Calton Hill sits Collective, one of Edinburgh’s foremost contemporary art galleries.

SCOTT MONUMENTPrinces Street’s ‘Gothic rocket ship’ is hard to miss, but many visitors don’t realise it’s possible to climb to the top of the Scott Monument.

WAVERLEY STATION MARKETCheck out the pop-up market on platform 2 of Waverley Station every Friday throughout the year.

ARCHIVIST’S GARDENThe little-known Archivist’s Garden is a hidden gem overflowing with 57 species of colourful plants.

DUNBAR’S CLOSE GARDENSThis lovely garden is hidden away in a little close just off the Royal Mile, providing a haven of tranquillity amidst the buzz of the city centre.

POMMERY CHAMPAGNE BARRelax in the beautiful Signet Library, one of Edinburgh’s architectural gems, as it opens the fabulous Pommery Champagne Bar just for the festival.

Rainy daysURBAN PAINTBALLScotland’s first indoor paintball arena. EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL CLIMBING ARENAOlder kids can tackle the bigger walls while little ones can keep busy at Scrambles.

KEEP THE KIDS HAPPYEdinburgh’s festivals offer more than enough to keep you busy, but do leave time to check out some of the capital’s fantastic attractions too.

The Royal MileCAMERA OBSCURA AND WORLD OF ILLUSIONSMind-blowing visual entertainment. MUSEUM OF CHILDHOODToys and games from yesteryear.

Further outSCOTTISH OWL CENTRELearn more about these amazing birds. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF FLIGHTExplore Scotland’s Concorde. FOXLAKE ADVENTURESScotland’s first wakeboarding park.

Spooky stuffREAL MARY KING’S CLOSEA hidden network of underground streets. EDINBURGH DUNGEONSpine-chilling entertainment. GHOST TOURSScary tales of Edinburgh’s past.

MuseumsNATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLANDLearn about Scottish and world history. OUR DYNAMIC EARTHJourney back millions of years to a fantastic interactive centre.

The natural world EDINBURGH ZOOSee the UK’s only giant pandas and the famous penguin parade. GORGIE CITY FARMFree to enter and a great day out. EDINBURGH BUTTERFLY & INSECT WORLDSee gorgeous butterflies and colourful creepy-crawlies from around the world.

EXPLORING FURTHER A trip to Edinburgh can be the perfect starter or climax to a

longer holiday around Scotland.

THE KINGDOM OF FIFE30 MINUTES – 2 HOURS

MIDLOTHIAN15 MINUTES

WEST LOTHIAN30 MINUTES

PERTHSHIRE1 HOUR

SCOTTISH BORDERS1 HOUR 15 MINUTES

STIRLINGUNDER 1 HOUR

THE HIGHLANDS2.5 HOURS - 6 HOURS

EAST LOTHIAN30 MINUTES - 1 HOUR

GLASGOW1 HOUR

GLASGOW1 HOUR

ESSENTIAL NUMBERS

250,000VISITORS TO EDINBURGH

INTERNATIONAL ART FESTIVAL

70TH EDITION OF THE EDINBURGH

INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

220,000 SPECTATORS

100 MILLIONVIEWERS WORLDWIDE

FOR THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO

ESTIMATED TICKETS SOLD FOR THE 2015 EDINBURGH

FESTIVAL FRINGE

2,298,090

10 DAYS OF EDINBURGH JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL

36PERFORMERS FROM

NATIONS IN THE EDINBURGH

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

750AUTHORS AT

THE EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL

FESTIVAL CHEAT SHEETS

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL15 – 26 June 2016 Edinburgh International Film Festival welcomes actors, directors and film fans from around the world to Scotland’s premier celebration of cinema. This year’s exciting programme features hundreds of screenings in cinemas across the city, including everything from student shorts to big budget features, challenging documentaries to innovative animations. Tickets are priced between £5 – 15, with discounts for concessions. Various screenings are FREE and you can also make savings by buying in bulk. HIGHLIGHTSFilm FestivalUK premiere of Disney-Pixar animation Finding Dory.

In-person events include Kevin Smith, whose new film Yoga Hosers, will be showing, and Kim Cattrall.

World premieres of Tommy’s Honour and Whisky Galore!

UK premiere of ET The Extra Terrestrial with John Williams’ score performed live by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at Festival Theatre Edinburgh.

EDINBURGH JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL15 - 24 July 2016

From afrobeat and beat-box to swing and trad, the festival is stuffed with musical gems and great surprises. Tickets range in price; see the full programme for details. There are also FREE events, specials and on-the-day concessions. HIGHLIGHTSDavina & The VagabondsSPIEGELTENT, GEORGE SQUARE, 17–26 JULYOften compared to Fats Domino, Etta James and Amy Winehouse, American singer and pianist, Davina Sowers, was one of the hottest tickets at last year’s festival. The Mouse OutfitLA BELLE ANGELE, 19 JULYNow an international phenomenon this 9–piece band from Manchester are famed for their horn heavy and funk driven hip-hop. Jan Garbarek Group featuring Trilok Gurtu FESTIVAL THEATRE, 20 JULYPerhaps the best known European Jazz musician of the last 50 years.

EDINBURGH ART FESTIVAL28 July - 28 August 2016

The Edinburgh Art Festival is a visual treat, with new public art commissions and an innovative programme of special – and often free – events that are open to everyone. HIGHLIGHTSAlt-w: Blush ResponseCITY ART CENTRE, 28 JULY–28 AUGUSTAs part of the Festival of Architecture 2016 the Alt-w Fund has commissioned a series of new works by artists based in Scotland. Facing the World: Self-portraits from Rembrandt to Ai WeiweiSCOTTISH NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, 16 JULY–16 OCTOBERFrom Rembrandt to Ai Weiwei’s Instagram posts, head to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street to see an impressive range of self-portraits. The Scottish Endarkenment: Art & Unreason 1945-PresentDOVECOT GALLERY, 13 MAY-29 AUGUST Featuring around 40 exhibits, the Scottish Endarkenment explores the challenging concerns which have obsessed Scottish artists since the end of World War Two.

THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO5-27 August 2016

Experience a tremendous outdoor spectacle of sight and sound and take part in the Tattoo’s annual ‘global gathering’, all set against the stunning backdrop of bewitching Edinburgh Castle. Tickets start from £25. HIGHLIGHTSThe Tattoo is a highlight all of its own: a mind-blowing performance of military precision and expertise in dance and music. This year’s incredible spectacle will pay tribute to HM The Queen’s 90th birthday while celebrating Tunes of Glory, with hundreds of pipers, drummers, singers and dancers from across the world coming together in a breathtaking spectacle.

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE5-29 August 2016

During August, thousands of performers, from students to superstars, converge on the city, bringing their talents to the city-wide extravaganza that is the world’s largest arts festival. Tickets range in price from FREE to around £30, though most paid-for tickets cost between £5 - £15 per person.

HIGHLIGHTSShowstopper! The Improvised Musical PLEASANCE COURTYARD, 3–15 & 17-28 AUGUST The preposterously talented Showstoppers take audience suggestions to build a new musical every night made up on the spot.

The Amazing Bubble ManUNDERBELLY, GEORGE SQUARE, 4-18 & 20-29 AUGUSTTake your little ones for a spellbinding hour of art, magic, science and lots of fun with bubbles. Alistair McGowan: 12th ImpressionsGILDED BALLOON TEVIOT, 16-22 & 24-28 AUGUSTJoin Alistair McGowan for a show packed with strikingly accurate impersonations.

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL5 - 29 August 2016 For three exhilarating weeks each year, the Edinburgh International Festival brings the very best in theatre, classical music, opera and dance to Scotland’s capital. Tickets range in price from FREE to around £45, with most shows between £12 – £35 per person. HIGHLIGHTSAlan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs!THE HUB, 6-27 AUGUSTJoin Alan Cumming for an evening of intimate secrets, raucous anecdotes and very personal reinterpretations of the songs he loves to perform. The Glass MenagerieKING’S THEATRE, 7-21 AUGUST Cherry Jones stars in Tennessee Williams’ heart breaking family drama, which follows the struggles of matriarch Amanda Wingfield, her son Tom and vulnerable daughter Laura. Scottish BalletFESTIVAL THEATRE, 18-20 AUGUSTCombining sensuality, brutality and spellbinding spectacle, Scotland’s national ballet company bring you a double bill of contemporary dance works - Emergence and MC 14/22.

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL13-29 August 2016

Experience the largest and most dynamic book festival in the world. The Edinburgh International Book Festival’s programme features hundreds of events for visitors of all ages, including a highly regarded children’s programme. Head to the tended village in picturesque Charlotte Square Gardens, enjoy a coffee in the relaxed festival atmosphere and hear the thoughts, opinions and inspirations of some of your favourite authors from the UK and beyond. Tickets range in price from FREE to £15, with most events around £10.

HIGHLIGHTSThe festival will host the world premiere of a specially commissioned theatrical adaptation of Nobel Prize-winner Alice Munro’s short stories. The View from Castle Rock imagines the experiences of Munro’s Scottish ancestors who sailed from Leith in 1818 hoping for a better life in Canada. Daily performances 11-29 August.