Edinburgh Fringe for the budge traveller

Edinburgh's Fringe Festival is famous around the world. It serves up some world-class culture, theatre and dance and shouldn't be missed! Unfortunately due to its popularity, the festival is far from being budget-friendly. Hotel room prices soar in August, making it impossible to find last-minute rooms let alone something even remotely affordable. So, is the Fringe a total write off for anyone with a budget?

NO WAY!

If you want to explore the Fringe Festival this year in Edinburgh, here's how to do it!

Getting to the festival: 

If you visit the festival for only a weekend, expect to dish out hundreds (literally) for flights from London. Your cheapest option is the Megabus which runs overnight and costs around £20. But if that's too slow for you, the train is also good. Off-peak return fares hover around the £120 mark and are even cheaper if you hold a railcard. Advance tickets are cheapest so book ASAP. 

Staying in Edinburgh:

Now there is the issue of finding a hotel in Edinburgh during the busiest weeks of the year. Your best bet is during the week but even then you can expect hundreds for a single room right in the city. The cheapest option? The University of Edinburgh's student accommodation in Chancellor's Court, Baird House and Holland House for less than £80/night. Alternatively, you can camp in a wood-frame wigwam at Mortonhall Caravan Park.

Fringe tickets:

Look for 2-4-1 deals and take a friend or make one while you're there. As well, not all shows are ticketed so you can enjoy around 300 performances for free. Find half price tickets at The Mound on the day for only selected performances. Also, the festival iPhone app is a must to find last-minute ticket ofers available 30 minutes before a show starts.

This year the Fringe Festival runs from August 2nd to 26th. 

Image:laura suarez / Flickr cc.