Hello! We will be in Scotland for a wedding mid August, and might make the most of it and extend our stay but I’ve noticed that hotel prices in Edinburgh are already three or four times more expensive during August. Apparently there’s some kind of festival on? I’m not really sure what that means but will prices calm down, or should we plan to go to somewhere else for our time (and where elsemight be a good base)?
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Hello, so the fringe/international festival in Edinburgh is incredible. There are all sorts of comedy/drama/opera/dance/art shows on the go through the town, including lots of freebies. Most stand up comedians in the UK got their break during the fringe, and if you know the shows Fleabag, or Taskmaster, these both started as fringe shows before getting TV deals.
That being said, there’s a lot of rubbish on offer too, but that’s part of the magic of it.
The population of Edinburgh is said to at least double for the month of August so if you’re not into crowds and live theatre etc, then its probably not the month for you. Walking up the famous royal mile without someone trying to sell their show to you is impossible, but it’s busy and popular for a reason!
You’ll still have a great time in Edinburgh whenever you come, and if you’re conscious of your budget I’d say to come another month to appreciate the city for what it is, then come back another time for the festival 
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Totally agree. Done the Fringe a few times and it is magical, but also very intense, crowded and pricey! but you get to see some big comedy and ftv names like Craig Ferguson or Stephen Fry!
but like @KevinKool says, another month might be better! April or May or September/October, for example
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I haven’t been to Edinburgh in August (because it costs too much for the reasons above!
), but have been to Scotland many times, it is a beautiful country! If you’re looking to stay somewhere else outside of the city, but not too far away:
- Stirling - it is great for history, has an amazing castle and a monument to William Wallace (Braveheart is partly based off him) as it’s where he led his troops to victory. It is also easy to get a train to Edinburgh from there (less than an hour), so if you did want to check out the festival you could! (Although I don’t know how much accommodation prices might be affected there)
- Pitlochry - one of my personal favourite places in Scotland, it really has a highland feel and is the entry way to the highlands with stunning landscapes. There is Lock Faskally nearby, and lots of whiskey distilleries nearby!
- Loch Ness - I’m sure you’ve already considered this, but it is definitely worth visiting, it is magical there, I especially recommend Urquhart Castle (on the banks of the loch) and a boat trip to appreciate the grandness of it.
There are so many places in Scotland I would love to go, many people say the Scottish islands are where the scenery is the most breathtaking. Another option could be to take a tour and see a few places, and some islands!
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