I went to Edinburgh in August 2015, mainly for the annual Fringe festival. It was my first time going to the festival and my first time in Scotland. I arrived during the opening week of the month-long festival  and stayed for 3 nights from the 6th-9th August 2015.

Cost of My Trip
My flight from London Stanstead to Edinburgh airport cost £59 and my stay at Baxter’s Hostel cost £130, so in all I paid £190 for my flight and accommodation.

The weather
Even though it was August the weather was still chilly averaging about 16 degrees and windy, I was unprepared so I had to buy a scarf and a light jacket for extra warmth. The weather in London at the time was about 21-22 degrees and I assumed it would be the same in Edinburgh but I was very wrong.

Where I stayed
I stayed at Baxter Hostel which was centrally located. The staff was amazing, from the outside it doesn’t look like much but it is cool, clean and breakfast (scrambled eggs and toast) was made fresh for you everyday by the staff.

What I did
I went to Scotland mainly to visit Edinburgh and experience the  Fringe festival, so most of my activities centred around going to shows and watching street performances. But I did also explore the city and beyond.

Edinburgh Castle
This castle is truly impressive, it sit proudly up high overlooking the city like a guardian. The only downside about going to visit the castle are the hordes of people there, it is a big tourist attraction. The entrance fee is £16.50 for adults.

The Scott Monument
This was one of the most favourite part of my trip, the impressive Gothic structure dominates Princes Street, a popular shopping district. Located next to Princes Gardens it is a great place to visit and take some time out eat lunch, bask in the sun, sit and think or just get some fresh air. The best part is that admission is only £4, there are 287 steps to the top which offers a magnificent view of the city.

St Giles Cathedral
As a lover of old architecture, especially churches and cathedrals, I fell in love with St Giles Cathedral. It is not as grand as some other cathedrals I have visited but there is a special air about the place that pulled me in. There is no entrance fee and it was great for me to practice my photography skills.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse
Holyroodhouse  is the home of the Her majesty the Queen in Scotland,  entrance fee to the palace is £12 for adults.

Firth of Forth River Tour
For £20 you get a 24 hour hop on hop off bus tour of the city and a tour on the Firth of Forth river which included a visit to Inchcolm Island. The tour on the Firth of Forth river which goes along the Edinburgh and Fife coastlines alone is worth paying the £20, I went on a dry day and it was very beautiful and calming and I even got to see some seals.

The Harmonium Project
The Fringe Festival opened with a large, free, public outdoor event which saw a spectacular digitally animated artwork projected onto the front of the Usher Hall, set to music. The Harmonium Project, outside the Usher Hall celebrated Edinburgh’s relationship with architecture, learning, music and its role in developing technology.  I was very pleased I went along and witnessed the display.

Walking around
Doing what I love best when visiting a new city is to walk and explore and find new and exciting things. See below some of the sights and things I discovered.

Fringe Shows and Events
There were so many street performance and shows, and I managed to get free tickets for two shows and both were very good.

My Ratings of the City

My ratings are out of ten and are my own personal views therefore feel free to disagree.

Culture = 8/10
There is so much to do in Edinburgh during the festival but even without the festival there are loads to do in the city  which includes, museums, galleries, hiking, theatre and of course comedy shows.

People/Friendliness = 8/10
Scottish people are friendly and I find them more welcoming than the English, I can say that as I have spent all my life in England.

Attractiveness = 9/10
Edinburgh is a very attractive city with the perfect combination of history and innovative architecture.  If you love historic architecture Edinburgh is the city for you.

Affordability = 7/10
Edinburgh is affordable, my benchmark is London (my home) and I did not feel I was paying more that I would pay at home.

Vibe = 8.5/10
The vibe was excellent, I was on my own but did not feel alone, there was so much happening it was truly amazing. However please note that I visited the city at a time when the city is most alive and bustling.

Overall = 8.5/10
I really loved this city and if the weather was warmer I would love to relocate to the city.  The city affords a good lifestyle.

If you’ve enjoyed my review or not leave a comment.
Or if you want any advice for your trip leave a comment and I will be sure to do my best to help you.