11 ways to escape the Edinburgh Festival madness
With so much going on in Edinburgh this month, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the hustle and bustle. We've picked out some spots to retreat to for some peace and quiet
The Edinburgh Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh Book Festival – there's a lot going on in the city, with the population (allegedly) doubling over the month of August. Break out of the madness and catch a flick, go to a quaint coffee shop or head out of town for a day to recoup.
Cafes
Lowdown Coffee, 40 George St
This little nook right in the heart of the city has your coffee and cake needs covered. Not only will you get time to recuperate before your next booked festival show, but you’ll be distracted by the city crowds with the attentive and friendly service, delicious artisan coffee and the too-hard-to-ignore sweet treats and light bites on the menu.
Soderberg, 310 Morningside Rd (opening soon)
With six cafes and bakery shops already scattered around the city, this famous Scandi-inspired Swedish café has found a new spot in Edinburgh’s quaint Morningside and will be opening its doors very soon. If you’ve never stepped into this space for a coffee and a cinnamon bun, you’re really missing out. Get away from the crowds for an hour or two and adopt the Swedish ethos of lagom A.K.A. contentment.
Cinnamon bun pastries at Soderberg
Cinemas
Cameo Cinema, 38 Home Street
There’s nothing better than escaping into a dark room and immersing yourself into the movie-theatre experience. Cameo (now part of Picturehouse) is one of the oldest cinemas in Edinburgh, starting back in 1914; this spot has history, character and most importantly recliner chairs. Catch a new release you’ve been eager to see or watch your favourite vintage classic. August includes showings of Hitchcock’s Rebecca, Toy Story, Wall-E and Up, to name a few.
The Dominion, 18 Newbattle Terrace
If you want to go a bit further out from Tollcross, head to Morningside for a film at art-deco inspired independent cinema, The Dominion. Treat yourself to first class and enjoy friendly service, food and drinks right to your seat and a complimentary bowl of sweets and Pringles. As you know, once you pop the fun don’t stop!
Yoga
East Side Yoga, 109 Broughton St
What better way to find peace and quiet than to go to a yoga class? New to Broughton Street is East Side Yoga offering Vinyasa, Power, Hatha and Yin classes for all levels. They also have an early bird membership offer for unlimited classes for £50 or an intro offer of 5 classes for £25. We’re down (dog).
Calm on Canning Street, 16 Canning St
Calm on Canning Street yoga studio is nestled in the heart of the West End and offers a variety of different of yoga classes including 30-minute guided meditation sessions run on a donation and a Fri-Yay Veeno Vinyasa class – that's right, 60 minutes of yoga followed by a post-class glass of wine! The best kind of wine down.
Calm on Canning Street yoga studio
Outdoors
Dean Village
Just a 10-minute walk from Princes Street, the Dean Village is situated right by the Water of Leith and was a mining area for hundreds of years. Walk along the cobbled streets of this village and look around at the iconic buildings in Well Court. Walk along Dean Bridge designed by famous Scottish architect Thomas Telford or take a short walk to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art for a gander.
Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill
Not a lot of Fringe-goers will know about the Hermitage of Braid Nature Reserve. Take a stroll along the woodland paths and enjoy the sound of the birds and the dogs being walked in nature. You’ll eventually ascend to Blackford Hill where you can take in the panoramic views of Edinburgh, including Arthur’s Seat, The Firth of Forth and The Pentland Hills.
With Edinburgh Castle being one of the focal points in the city, attracting all of the tourists who visit in August, Lauriston Castle is the next best thing with its peaceful atmosphere, idyllic views across the Firth of Forth and their award-winning Japanese Gardens. No need to head on a 14-hour journey to Japan.
Lauriston Castle's Japanese Gardens
Set in the 80 acres of Bonnington House, Jupiter Artland is a picturesque sculpture park owned by Nicky and Robert Wilson. With sculptures scattered across the landscape, you can walk around the grounds in any direction you please, unfolding all of the stories about the artwork.
Cells of Life, Charles Jencks, 2005, Photo by Allan Pollok
Out of the city
Tyninghame
We love Portobello Beach, but with it busy as ever on scorching days, we’ve found another beach to dip your toes into. Tyninghame Beach is a 30-minute drive from the city centre on the way towards Dunbar. Unfortunately, you can’t get here by public transport, but if you’ve got a car, you’ve got your Fringe getaway sorted.
What are your go-to options for relaxing during the Edinburgh Fringe? Let us know in the comments...
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