5 quiet spots when the Edinburgh Festival gets overwhelming

The Sunday Love List

The Edinburgh Festival kicked off this weekend and when I tell you Edinburgh is busy…

The streets are bustling, the pipers are playing and the biggest arts festival in the world has arrived to the city. Every fence has posters with shows upon shows attached, flyers are being thrust into hands and the Royal Mile is flooded with performers bidding for your attention.

And I LOVE it. But.. It can get a little wild and sometimes you just need to take a little breather. Here are five places to go when things get a little overwhelming and you need an escape:

1. Dean Village
Tucked away just 10 minutes from the city centre, you’ll have heard me talk about how idyllic this place is many times. I like to get a coffee in Stockbridge and take a slow walk along the water of Leith. Further along the water after your wander, you’ll find Modern 1 & 2, both excellent art galleries.

2. Arthur’s Seat
One of Edinburgh’s 7 hills, and one of the best views in the city, you can take a leisurely stroll, maybe pack a picnic and a book and just sit. Take in the sights and enjoy the quiet. Sometimes, if you pick the right day you’ll hear some of the local bag pipers practicing in the nooks of the hills. A little bit of Scottish magic.

3. Dr Neils Garden
A delightful wee spot that is so often missed. If you’ve seen The Secret Garden as a child, this is the real thing. Tucked away by Arthur’s seat is Dr Neils Garden. A medicinal garden, started by a husband and wife who encouraged their patients to assist in the garden to benefit their health. A beautiful stop and not to be missed if the festival is on or not.

4. Dunbars Close
The Royal Mile is one of the busiest spots in the city during the Festival. If you take a wander away from the crowds down the mile you’ll find yourself near Dunbars close. A ‘secret garden’ tucked away down a close, and again - often missed. There’s a lovely walk around and a few benches where you can sit and take a minute.

5. The Botanics
72 acres of beautiful gardens and its free to enter. The Glasshouse is currently under renovations but the rest of the gardens are incredible. There’s a mini waterfall, fairy gardens, an education centre and a duck pond. You can spend hours wandering around and still not get to see it all properly. A favourite stop with the kids, as it’s enclosed and perfect for a run around.

The Edinburgh festival brings such a wonderful atmosphere and the city gets so many amazing visitors and performers visiting in such a short period of time. If you are visiting in the next few weeks I hope you have an incredible visit!

Zoë xo