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<\/a>JEFF J MITCHELL\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\nThe cast of \u2018How To Win Against History\u2019, a tragi-comic musical based on the Edwardian aristocrat Henry Paget. Runs 30 July \u2013 24 August at Underbelly.<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s theatre you\u2019re after, Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare<\/strong> is an annual mainstay on the programme, taking on different of the Bard\u2019s plays every year. However, providing a chaotic, comedic twist, one member of the cast gets drunk ahead of each performance. It promises hilarious results with a good dose of culture.<\/p>\n There\u2019s improv musical comedy in the form of Shamilton!<\/strong> Taking a historical figure or celebrity nominated by the audience \u2013 anyone and everyone from Donald Trump to Scooby Doo \u2013 the cast then improvise a show complete with original hip hop songs made up on the spot to tell that person\u2019s story in the style of Hamilton. It\u2019s impressive and wildly funny.<\/p>\n As well as big-name comedians (think Nish Kumar and Bridget Christie) showing work-in-progress shows or limited runs, the Fringe is a great opportunity to check out rising stars in the stand-up comedy game, thanks to shows like \u2018Best of So You Think You\u2019re Funny<\/strong>\u2019 featuring emerging talents including Fab Goualin and Ciara O\u2019Connor. We also need to shout out Kate Dolan\u2019s one-woman show \u2018The Critic<\/strong>\u2019. Not only is she hilariously funny, but Cosmo features in her set, well and truly winning us over.<\/p>\n When the sun goes down, late-night entertainment takes centre stage with drag queen cabarets, burlesque and circus shows, along with (more) boundary-pushing, chaotic comedy takeovers running into the early hours. One must-see? Batsu!<\/strong> This wild, laugh-out-loud show inspired by Japanese game shows sees comedians compete in ridiculous challenges to avoid bizarre punishments. Think Squid Games, but with fewer fatalities \u2013 thankfully.<\/p>\n The Fringe isn\u2019t just for late-night laughs and edgy stand-up; it\u2019s also packed with family-friendly fun. Magicians, puppeteers and storytellers take over the city by day, offering entertainment for all ages from bubble-filled spectacles to interactive theatre, especially for little ones. Whether you\u2019re wrangling toddlers or tagging along with teens, the festival\u2019s got something to delight every generation. One of the true joys of the Fringe is the fact you don\u2019t need a ticket to be entertained. Edinburgh\u2019s streets come alive with street performers offering free shows on every corner. Acrobats, musicians and amateur magicians turn the Royal Mile into an open-air stage, whether you pause for five minutes or stay for the full act. Just a word of warning \u2013 audience participation is always expected. <\/p>\n A street performer during the 2025 Fringe Festival<\/p>\n Alternatively, simply head to one of the Fringe hubs scattered across the city \u2013 like Assembly George Square or Bristo Square \u2013 where food trucks, pop-up bars and picnic benches offer the perfect break between shows. No plan? No problem. These buzzing social spots are where the Fringe comes to you. Performers hand out flyers and pitch their shows in an attempt to entice in new audiences, and you might even get lucky with free tickets to a show happening nearby. It\u2019s a laidback way to discover hidden gems, chat to the creatives behind the chaos, and soak up the festival atmosphere without rushing from venue to venue.<\/p>\n Aside from the shows, there is plenty to experience in the City itself during August. IKEA Museum\u2019s Magical Patterns exhibition is on for the duration of the 2025 Fringe, celebrating 60 years of playful Swedish textile design. Take the time to explore Edinburgh\u2019s winding streets with an array of independent shops of vintage finds and artisan gifts, or head to the chic Multrees Walk for a more luxe shopping experience and find tucked-away boutiques like Strathberry\u2019s flagship store. The leather accessories brand is one of Scotland\u2019s best exports (in the opinion of this fashion lover) and it will be hard to resist not leaving with a souvenir. <\/p>\n Where to eat and drink<\/p>\n Fuelling up is half the fun at the Fringe, and Edinburgh doesn\u2019t disappoint. Across the main hubs, you\u2019ll find food trucks galore catering to every cuisine, from bao buns to wood-fired pizza \u2013 perfect for grabbing something quick between shows. If the weather\u2019s not great (this is Scotland, after all), head indoors and support the city\u2019s brilliant independent food scene by visiting one of the number of local restaurants lining Edinburgh\u2019s many streets.<\/p>\n Ting Thai Caravan<\/strong> is a cult favourite for fast, flavour-packed Thai, while The Outsider<\/strong> offers dreamy views and modern Scottish plates. For Mediterranean magic, book a table at Baba<\/strong>, or indulge in handmade pasta at the ever-buzzy Notto<\/strong>.<\/p>\n After dark, start with a cocktail at Under The Stairs<\/strong> or Little Capo<\/strong>, or go glam with a negroni at The Spence<\/strong>. Prefer something classic? A pint of Tennent\u2019s<\/strong> in a no-frills pub is practically a rite of passage – it\u2019s an authentic Scottish drinking experience. Many bars double as surprise comedy spots, so don\u2019t be shocked if someone hops on a mic mid-pint. <\/p>\n Embrace the chaos, make friends in queue lines, and let the city guide your night. At the Fringe, every snack stop and drinks run could lead you to your new favourite show, or your new best friend. From rubbing shoulders with the locals to chatting to fellow tourists, everyone is friendly and sharing your Fringe with total strangers really fits with the spirit of the festival.<\/p>\n How to get there<\/p>\n The easiest \u2013 and most environmentally friendly \u2013 way to get to Edinburgh from a UK major city (we\u2019re talking London, Birmingham, Manchester) is via the train. With no need to worry about traffic or staying awake behind the wheel, you can sit back and relax with endless snacks and Real Housewives episodes to keep you entertained on your journey. If you\u2019re not distracted by the breathtaking countryside views that whizz past your window, that is. <\/p>\n Tickets for London and Edinburgh start at \u00a342 and can be found on avantiwestcoast.co.uk<\/p>\n Related Stories Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK<\/a>. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments<\/a> worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there\u2019s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she\u2019s passionate about sustainable fashion<\/a> and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Every August, Edinburgh is taken over by the Fringe. More than a festival, it\u2019s a month-long mood for…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":325538,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8816],"tags":[748,2083,117464,1331,1102,4884,1330,712,117463,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-325537","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-edinburgh","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-content-type-default","10":"tag-contentid-5cb7519b-f76a-442f-9832-8b6f4b94036a","11":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","12":"tag-edinburgh","13":"tag-great-britain","14":"tag-locale-gb","15":"tag-scotland","16":"tag-shorttitle-plan-your-trip-to-the-edinburgh-fringe-festival","17":"tag-uk","18":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114988238069453013","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/325537","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=325537"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/325537\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/325538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=325537"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=325537"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=325537"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/p>\n<\/a>Anadolu\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/p>\n