My Edinburgh Festival Survival Guide

I've been to Edinburgh many times. Some of it I know, some of it I don't. It's the most amazing and wonderful place during the festival. You'll see some of the best shows you've ever seen (and some of the worst - but that's all part of the fun!) please don't just take my advice below - you need to go and find out for yourself. So get your bum up here!
David Jensen/EMPICS Entertainment

I've been to Edinburgh many times. Some of it I know, some of it I don't. It's the most amazing and wonderful place during the festival. You'll see some of the best shows you've ever seen (and some of the worst - but that's all part of the fun!) please don't just take my advice below - you need to go and find out for yourself. So get your bum up here!

1. NEVER see a show by an American High School theatre group. The more of them wearing matching hoodies, the worse the show will be. I've made this mistake so you don't have to.

2. Bring walking shoes. Even if you don't plan on a trip up Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh is a very hilly and cobbly place. You'll do yourself no favours if you only pack a pair of plimsolls.

3. Eat lunch at Lucano's on George IV Bridge. It is hands down the best pasta I've ever had (and if you see me in there crying into my spag bol, come and comfort me).

4. Try and see some free shows with comics you've never heard of. I did a free show once with Angela Barnes who's now on the telly, and Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett did a free show together too. Brag you saw the stars of the future way back when - it's a great feeling.

5. If you live in London you won't be shocked at drink prices. If you don't... be prepared to not get too much change from a tenner if you buy two pints. A tenner might not be enough now I think about it.

6. Book your accommodation early. Hotels get very, very expensive. If you don't want to be staying at a bleak B&B I'd book NOW for 2017. The Hotel Du Vin is my favourite and it's right in the heart of all of the big venues.

7. Don't feel impolite turning down flyers on the Royal Mile. Once you've accepted one, performers descend on you like a plague of attention seeking locusts. You'll be carrying around more paper than you know what to do with. No, you don't want a flyer to see an interpretative dance version of Othello.

8. Do come and see my show at The Tron. It's great. I promise.

9. Talk to other people in queues, in bars, in venues. Find out what they've seen that's great. Edinburgh is one of the few places where word of mouth is still key so if you see something you like, spread the word. It's good for us comics!

10. Edinburgh is amazing during the festival - brilliant and mad but quite hard to get your head around if you've never been before, so read as much as you can about it before you go.

Matt Richardson presents Drivetime on Virgin Radio every weekday from 4pm - 7pm. Listen online, on mobile, and through the app. For more information visit virginradio.co.uk

Close

What's Hot