World Events: Hotels for… Edinburgh Fringe

“Edinburgh Festival Fringe takes over the Scottish capital each summer in a joyous citywide spectacle of comedians, dancers, fire-breathers, and, erm, mime artists. The Fringe is famously the world’s biggest arts festival and doubles Edinburgh’s population for the month of August, with theatres abuzz and the whole city turned into a carnival of street performances. There are many different experiences to be had from the Fringe and it pays to know where to base yourself according to the kind of shows you want to see. Here’s our guide to hotels for Edinburgh Fringe.

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For top comedy acts: Ballantrae Hotel
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The Stand is legendary in comedy lore and regularly hosts big names, as well as up-and-coming acts. It’s on many a comedian’s bucket list, and should be on yours too if you’re heading to the Fringe for comedy acts. Laughaholics camp out here; if you want to join them and see several shows at the Stand then book a stay in the Ballantrae Hotel opposite the venue.

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For street performances and last-minute bargains: Fraser Suites
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Some parts of the city are livelier than others during Fringe season, and the Mound Precinct is one of two major hubs where you’ll find top street performances throughout the day. Right by the Scottish National Gallery, the area is turned into a huge performance space, packed with buskers giving free outdoor performances. This is where people mean when they talk about the Fringe’s carnival atmosphere. Here you’ll also find the Half-Price Hut, where you can get last-minute discounted tickets to lots of shows. Put yourself in the thick of it at the Fraser Suites serviced apartments.

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For sneak previews: ibis Edinburgh Royal Mile
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The other focal point for street performances is right in the heart of Edinburgh Old Town on the High Street section of the Royal Mile. As well as the buskers you’d expect, you can also catch free previews of Fringe shows on the stages here, so it’s the place to come if you don’t already have your festival planned out. Seconds from the High Street is the ibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile – hotels really don’t get more central than this, so it’s perfect for really soaking up the festival atmosphere.

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For a bit of everything: Ten Hill Place, BW Premier Collection
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The Pleasance is the closest thing there is to the epicentre of the Fringe. From veteran stand-ups to avant garde theatre troupes, the bill here never fails. But it also hosts an exceptionally varied line-up of spoken word, cabaret, kids’ shows and more, with several different venues under one roof and outdoors. Base yourself at Ten Hill Place to be less than five minutes’ walk from the Pleasance, with views over nearby Holyrood Park.

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For ‘the gorilla show’: The Old Waverley Hotel
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If you’re confused, let us enlighten you. Probably the biggest cult show at the Fringe, A Young Man Dressed as a Gorilla Dressed as an Old Man Sits Rocking in a Rocking Chair for 56 Minutes and Then Leaves… delivers exactly what it promises. And, unfathomably, it’s genius. Trust us. Now a long-running franchise, ‘the gorilla show’ has found its home at Voodoo Rooms near Waverley station. It’s free but you’ll need to get there a good two hours before the start to stand a chance of getting in; base yourself nearby at the Old Waverley Hotel to get ready and start your night early with some head-scratching primate silliness. It’s also convenient if you’re catching the train to Edinburgh.

If you want to see more hotels in Edinburgh, visit our Edinburgh travel guide page.”