The Edinburgh Fringe is back, who’s excited!? Bursting with unique characters, eccentric performers and side-splittingly good comedy, this month long event makes a fantastic family day out.

For those who have never been to the festival before, it can be a little overwhelming; there are so many shows to choose from and lots of things to do! Not to worry though, we’re here to help with our guide to family fun at the Edinburgh Fringe.   

Getting to the Edinburgh Fringe

One of the greatest perks about staying at Red Deer Village Holiday Park is our closeness to Scotland’s Capital.

If you’re travelling by car, Edinburgh is just over an hour’s drive away via the M9. Parking in the centre may be a little trickier during Fringe season so we recommend using the Park and Ride. The most convenient Park and Ride is located just outside the city in Hermiston.

Edinburgh is also easily accessible using public transport; there are regular bus services which, if booked in advance, can be as cheap as £3 each way. Alternatively, there are frequent train services from both Glasgow Queen Street and Glasgow Central Station- if you’re travelling with children under 16 don’t forget about Scotrail’s Kids Go Free offer!!

The Royal Mile

There’s nothing quite like the buzz of energy you get walking up and down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile throughout the festival. In fact, we’d go as far as to say that you’ve never truly experienced the hustle and bustle of the Royal Mile until you see it during Fringe season.

If you’re heading to the festival with no prearranged plan, this location is the perfect place to begin your journey. On the Royal Mile you’ll be witness to some of the most incredible street performers, from musicians and acrobats to dancers and magicians. You’ll also have the chance to chat to eccentric cast members and comedians promoting shows which are running that day; prepare yourself to be hounded with a whole host of leaflets and flyers!

Child-Friendly Entertainment

While the Fringe is particularly famous for its adult-only comedy shows, it has also become home to a wealth of fantastic child-friendly entertainment and shows. You and your family will be spoiled for choice!

Some of our top picks include The Amazing Bubble Man, Children are Stinky, Are We There Yet? Acrobat Pirates, the Light Puppet Show and Science Magic. Of course, these are just a TINY amount of the shows running over during the course of the festival; there are plenty more to chose from!

Top Tip: There are both free and ticketed shows so remember to check if an event is ticketed; we recommend purchasing tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.  

Eating Out

First things first ladies and gentlemen, make sure you book a restaurant table in advance!!! We cannot stress how difficult it can be to get a table at popular restaurants, particularly during peak times.  

Edinburgh hosts an incredible array of family friendly restaurants across various cuisines. Some of our favourite places include burger joint, Burger Meats Bun; Mexican eatery Pancho Villa’s; Italian restaurant Bar Italia; Chinese restaurant Jasmine and Gastropub the Doric. Of course, if you have fussy mouths to feed there are always big chain restaurants such as Pizza Express and Nandos.

If you plan on taking some time away from Red Deer Village Holiday Park to visit the Edinburgh Fringe, we hope you have a fantastic time! To book accommodation for your visit, contact us here!