EDINBURGH 2017: Guide to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Plan.

If you have limited time at the festival I strongly advise planning your day. Shows run to a fairly strict schedule (performers are fined if they run over) so take note of start times and length. When calculating travel time between venues remember that everything looks closer on a map and that Edinburgh is full of hills.

But also - don't plan.

While planning is typically how I operate at the Fringe, sometimes it is nice to just go with the flow. Flyerers can seem pushy when you're in a hurry but if you have the time, it is worth letting them tell you about their show. You may also hear recommendations when you get to the festival or see a review for a show once you've already booked for something else. Allow yourself some flexibility because spontaneous decisions are one of the best things about the Fringe!

Step outside your comfort zone.

I had a last-minute cancellation of a show one year just as I received an invitation to go to a circus performance. While it was not something I would have ordinarily chosen, it wound up being one of my favourite shows of that Fringe.

Eat.

It seems like an obvious one but when you are booking back-to-back shows, it can sometimes slip your mind. There are many pop-up food outlets during the festival but they can be fairly pricey if you are staying for a while. Between the Pleasance venues on Waverley bridge there are several supermarkets which are excellent for stocking up on snacks and drinks.

Wifi.

Edinburgh is pretty well equipped with free public wifi, especially at the Fringe. Starbucks is an obvious choice but often busy. The Pleasance is my favourite spot for checking emails and writing reviews. Both Pleasance venues have reliable free wifi, comfy chairs and serve hot food. The Bristo Square location also has ATMs which don't charge fees.

Check, double-check and triple-check your venue!

I have been attending the Fringe for around twenty years and I still find myself at the Pleasance Dome when I'm meant to be at the Pleasance Courtyard. Most of the same named venues are reasonably close together but that isn't helpful when you realise five minutes before show start! The worst ones to watch out for are the Assembly venues which are spread a little further and it can take you a good half-hour to make your way across town. Don't get overly confident if you've been to the Fringe before - venues can move location!

Dress appropriately.

Edinburgh weather has a mind of its own and it is easy to find yourself unprepared. I've sat in venues where the temperature has hit both extremes so it is advisable to wear layers and you can adapt to either. Rain is inevitable so I would recommend packing some kind of waterproof with a hood. The Royal Mile especially gets very crowded and nobody wants to be poked in the eye with an umbrella. Footwear is also very important as you will be walking a lot and a lot of the streets in Edinburgh are cobbled and uneven.

Any other tips? Tweet us and let us know @BWWScotland !

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