Edinburgh fringe for a first timer

We heart the Edinburgh Fringe. It's the perfect mix of creativity, fun, friendly-ness and culture - all packed into a charming little city. We are off tomorrow for a short three day visit and we're ever so excited. 

For those of you who have never been this is our TTW guide to why you should go, and what to do when you're there: 

1) Take a walk - Edinburgh is lovely anyway but in August it's full to the brim with tourists, artists, actors, schools, families and performers. There are tons of make shift and pop up events, booths and stages where all sorts of entertainment appears. There are brilliant street performers throughout the city centre and you'll also have the chance to see little tasters of shows performing at the fringe on open air stages

2) The Royal {very slow} Mile - for the atmosphere this is worth a walk down however it's SUPER CRAMPED so if you're with young children who don't like crowds then this might not be for you. The whole high street of Edinburgh is pedestrianised during the fringe and people make their way there all day long to check out the entertainment on display, grab some lunch or just to soak up the atmosphere. Worth walking down once, not everyday. 

3) Watch, watch and watch some more - There are thousands of shows during the festival so the choice can get rather overwhelming. Don't worry about seeing everything {it's impossible} and don't agonise over choosing the 'wrong' show. Part of the fun is going to see something which maybe isn't the best performance in the world - especially if it's free! Make yourself see a different genre or style than you're used to - there really is something for all tastes and ages so get out there, pick a show and enjoy! 

4) A pleasance experience - The Pleasance courtyard is an Edinburgh must see. It's a fantastic atmosphere without the claustrophobic feeling you'll get on the Royal Mile; there are tons of places to sit / eat / drink and it's got some of the best people watching in the city. There are loads of eclectic little venues crammed into this space and whatever show you see {and some of the best comedy shows are here} you'll be guaranteed an enjoyable time. 

5) Embrace the free - Don't be afraid of the free shows! Yes some of them are awful but some of them are funny and endearing and downright brilliant. Lots of performers offer free shows because a) they want to, b) to entice an audience or c) because they aren't well known enough to sell tickets. Even some of the big names offer a free show {or a pay what you want show} sometimes. These are a great way to see a range of different genres and even if it doesn't turn out to be your cup of tea...you haven't actually paid for it so it's not the end of the world is it? 

We'll be seeing a range of shows while we're in Edinburgh so stay tuned to hear what we saw and what we thought!