48 hours in Edinburgh during the Fringe! Our director's 2019 picks of places to go, things to do and see

-
The Lady Boys of Bangkok is back at the Edinburgh Fringe for the show's 21st year! 
So by now, we like to think the Gandey World Class Productions team knows all the best places to visit. In this week's blog, our director Carol Gandey picks some of her favourite things from visiting the Fringe in 2019...


The Royal Mile, EH1 1SG

The most famous stretch of Edinburgh, and it's most certainly alive and at its best during the Fringe!


So many shows to choose from... but obviously The Lady Boys of Bangkok is our favourite! This year Carol's top picks included Assembly Festival's contemporary physical theatre shows My Land and Blizzard. 


The Edinburgh Fringe Shop and Box Office, 180 High Street, EH1 1QS

The Edinburgh Fringe Shop is home to all sorts of weird and wonderful merchandise. Shout out to the hard-working, supportive staff at the Fringe Box Office as well, who are doing an amazing job selling tickets for The Lady Boys of Bangkok. 


We Love Scotland, 20 Bank Street, EH1 2LN

We LOVE Scotland too! Sure, it's a bit cheesy, but buying something, anything printed in tartan... it has to be done on a visit to Scotland's capital! Did you know The Lady Boys of Bangkok even has its own officially registered tartan? 


Museum Context, 40 Victoria Street, EH1 2JW

This gift shop is paradise for lovers of Harry Potter. And where better to have a shop dedicated to witchcraft and wizardry, after all, JK Rowling famously wrote much of the first book inside the cafes and coffee shops of Edinburgh. 


The Edinburgh Natural Skincare Co, 57 Cockburn Street, EH1 1BS

 We buy our skincare and soaps from this beautiful shop whenever we visit Edinburgh, but you can also buy their products online. 


The Tattoo Office, 1-3 Cockburn Street, EH1 1QB

Still going strong since the very first Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1950, this spectacle celebrating the army's contribution to the Edinburgh International Festival, set at the Edinburgh Castle, is not to be missed - and you can get your tickets at the office on Cockburn Street. 


Spotted in Edinburgh: Haggis everywhere. There's even a Haggis Bible. We're intrigued...


You can get pretty much anywhere you want to go in Edinburgh via the trams - and check out the views of the gorgeous countryside while you're at it. 


Summers like these were made for sunny picnics on St Andrew Square. People watching outside Selfridges, Louis Vuitton and Burberry is one of our favourite afternoon pastimes. 


Brilliant Wullie, George Street, near to the Hard Rock Cafe

Chances are you'll spot quite a few of these around Edinburgh. This little lad is Oor Wullie, a Scottish institution from the fictional town of Auchenshoogle, who appeared in the Sunday Post for 80 years, and these statues are part of the BIG Bucket Trail, on the streets of Scotland's cities now until 30 August 2019. There's all sorts of themed Wullies to spot. Our favourite is probably Wullie's Rainbow. 



Hendersons Shop & Deli, 67 Holyrood Road, EH8 8AU

Hendersons vegetarian deli and shop has been going since 1962 and is still one of our favourite foodie places in Edinburgh...



Hendersons Vegan Restaurant, 25 Thistle Street, EH2 1DX

Now they even have a restaurant which exclusively serves vegan dishes!



Theatre Big Top, Venue 189, Fountainbridge, EH3 9RX

The Edinburgh site for The Lady Boys of Bangkok this year, at Fountainbridge. We love being here!



Lochrin Basin, Fountainbridge, EH3 9QG

...I mean just look at how peaceful and lovely it is around the Lochrin Basin, right on the doorstep of the Theatre Big Top. The perfect place for an early morning jog!



Edinburgh Printmakers, Castle Mills, 1 Dundee Street, EH3 9FP

This open access printmaking studio has fascinating exhibitions to dip into and an amazing cafe and herb garden to boot.



Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End, 166 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9RX

Just across the road from our venue at Fountainbridge is the perfect place to lay your head after a busy day at the Fringe (and a night dancing with The Lady Boys of Bangkok!)



Hank's Sandwich Bar, 162 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9RX

Is this the best sandwich bar in Edinburgh? Probably! The perfect, filling way to fuel up.



Grow Urban, 92 Grove Street, EH3 8AP

Grow Urban is a rustic gardening shop and cafe combined. Set in a gorgeous gothic building it has everything you'd need for a spot of urban gardening and the dreamy cakes are something else - don't leave without one! You can read more about it in this article from Edinburgh Live. 

Brooks Hotel Edinburgh, 70-72 Grove Street, EH3 8AP
Just a short high-heeled strut away from our Theatre Big Top at Fountainbridge, you'll find the brilliant Brooks Hotel (and you'd definitely think it was more than a three star hotel from how luxurious it feels!) A real hidden gem that's as contemporary as it is comforting.
Loudons, 94B Fountainbridge, EH3 9QA
It's no surprise that there's often queues for this insanely aesthetically pleasing, understated brunch stop, stocked up with homemade treats, including gluten and dairy free options.
Fieldwork, 105 Fountainbridge, EH3 9QG
When Loudons is really busy, we sneak off to Fieldwork to tuck into one of their Scottish artisan coffees or organic hot chocolates. 
The Usher Hall, Lothian Road, EH1 2EA
Take a bike ride down to Usher Hall and see the Fringe's original big sister the Edinburgh International Festival in action. A highlight is definitely the production of Peter Gynt at the Festival Theatre on Nicholson Street, a collaboration with the National Theatre. 
What are your favourite places to go in Edinburgh? Let us know in the comments below... 

Comments

Post a Comment

Thanks for your feedback!

Popular posts from this blog

A brief history of clowns to celebrate Andreea's birthday!

-
Image
Hip hip hooray! It’s our crazy clown Andreea’s birthday! The lovable Andreea has been appearing in shows with Gandeys Circus for nearly a decade. Now Andreea is actually French – so perhaps we should say ‘bon anniversaire’! We’re proud to have Andreea as part of our current team in the big top at Butlin’s Skegness . While our other clowns – currently performing at Butlin’s Bognor Regis and Minehead – Bippo and Chico Rico are more traditional, Andreea opts to show off her sense of style with an offbeat modern look. We think her pink tutu / Converse / blazer combo is pretty iconic… especially paired with her blasting boombox! (she’s never been shy of making an entrance). Andreea likes interrupting the action with her silly routines. And you know something else… she is the UK’s only female clown! So you could say she’s a bit of an innovator when it comes to clowning around. With that in mind, let’s look at how much clowns have changed ov
Read more

Origins of the Chinese Circus

-
Image
200 BC – 200 AD – Han Dynasty, Sichuan Province – Juggler with balls and knives – Carving, stone of the “Hundred Games.” [source: Chinese Acrobatics Through The Ages, p15] The origins of the Chinese circus are not entirely crystal clear. There are debates and differing opinions when it comes to the exact history behind the circus, which is not a surprise when you take into account how long it has been around! First records of the Chinese circus - including carvings and mural paintings - date back more than 2,000 years to the Warring States period (475–221 BC), with evidence of performances developing further during the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC - 230 AD). Although it is believed that the art may have actually started around 3,000 years ago! One theory is that the acts originated in imperial courts, with performers entertaining the houses in a manner similar to western court jesters. However, it is more likely that the circus was a folk art that was later adopted by
Read more

Strong Women in Circus

-
Image
In honour of International Women's Day and the 'Women in Circus' movement, we would like to share these photos of strong women with whom we have worked - past and present. Women who inspire us here at Gandey World Class Productions , and who influence and empower other women across the world. There are many strong circus women who we have not mentioned here. Please be aware that this list is by no means definitive – there are so many more strong women whom we would have loved to include, and who remain an important part of the Gandey family. The pictures can also be found in a Flickr album here . Mary Gandey: Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Performer – the foundation upon which Gandeys as we know it was built Carol Gandey: Director and Producer – Gandey World Class Productions Hayley Gandey: Circus Director and Performer – Gandeys Circus Coral Gandey: Brand Manager, London Mariska Gandey: Circus Performer – Gandeys Circus Andreea D
Read more