It doesn's cost a penny to watch the street entertainers on the Royal Mile in August - although they'd be grateful for a donation if you enjoy the performance.placeholder image
It doesn's cost a penny to watch the street entertainers on the Royal Mile in August - although they'd be grateful for a donation if you enjoy the performance. | Getty Images

Edinburgh Festivals For Free: Here are 11 fun things to enjoy in August without spending a penny

By David Hepburn

Writer-at-large

Published 30th Jul 2024, 17:09 GMT

Edinburgh is preparing to transform into the cultural capital of the world - but you don’t need deep pockets to enjoy the festivals..

It’s nearly time for the various Edinburgh festivals to take over the theatres, gyms, hotels, streets and pubs of Scotland’s Capital.

Taking place on a variety of dates from August 2-26, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme alone contains over 3,500 shows - then there’s the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the Edinburgh International Film Festival, and several more.

Of course the majority of shows, events and attractions require you to shell out cash for tickets and, as with most things, recent years have seen prices creep up.

But there’s no need to spend a fortune to enjoy Edinburgh in August.

Here are 11 things to enjoy for free.

It may not be part of the festivals, but the National Museum of Scotland is right in the middle of the August madness and is a great place to escape the bustle...for free. With everything from dinosaurs and Dolly the Sheep, to the Lewis Chessmen, the Chambers Street museum is a favourite for those looking for a fun day out with their family.

9. Take a break

It may not be part of the festivals, but the National Museum of Scotland is right in the middle of the August madness and is a great place to escape the bustle...for free. With everything from dinosaurs and Dolly the Sheep, to the Lewis Chessmen, the Chambers Street museum is a favourite for those looking for a fun day out with their family. | Canva/Getty Images

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It's unlikley that you won't see a few celebs on the street during August if you are out-and-about in Edinburgh. Everybody from Hugh Grant to Tom Hanks has been spotted in the city in recent years. The best time to see the big stars is when the Edinburgh Television Festival (August 20-23) and the Edinburgh International Film Festival (August 15-21), meaning that the city will be hosting the most famous people from August 20 and 21. The ideal place to happen upon famous faces is unquestionably the Pleasance Courtyard. Whether in town to perform, see friends or just to catch some shows, that's where they tend to head to drink in some festival atmosphere (and a couple of actual drinks).

10. Celebrity spot

It's unlikley that you won't see a few celebs on the street during August if you are out-and-about in Edinburgh. Everybody from Hugh Grant to Tom Hanks has been spotted in the city in recent years. The best time to see the big stars is when the Edinburgh Television Festival (August 20-23) and the Edinburgh International Film Festival (August 15-21), meaning that the city will be hosting the most famous people from August 20 and 21. The ideal place to happen upon famous faces is unquestionably the Pleasance Courtyard. Whether in town to perform, see friends or just to catch some shows, that's where they tend to head to drink in some festival atmosphere (and a couple of actual drinks). | Pleasance Theatre Trust

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The Meadows really comes alive during the festivals - it's the perfect place for a picnic if the weather's nice and there's usually a variety of street entertainment on offer from the city end of Middle Meadows Walk. You're also just next to George Square Gardens - home to a multitide of venues from Underbelly and Assembly - with plenty of fun on offer. You might even get offered a free ticket to a show.

11. Try a little parklife

The Meadows really comes alive during the festivals - it's the perfect place for a picnic if the weather's nice and there's usually a variety of street entertainment on offer from the city end of Middle Meadows Walk. You're also just next to George Square Gardens - home to a multitide of venues from Underbelly and Assembly - with plenty of fun on offer. You might even get offered a free ticket to a show. | Canva/Getty Images

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