DO: Edinburgh Festival Fringe
You read that right – it's Festival Fringe, rather than the Fringe Festival. Now we've got that sorted, we'll tell you that last year, Edinburgh saw 45,464 performances in 2,871 shows, making it the largest arts festival in the world – and all on our shores. Lots of shows are free, from comedy to dance to theatre, and there's everybody from big names to the, er, not so big names. Even if you don't catch anything, the atmosphere alone in the city is worth the trip.
STAY: Hotel G&V, 1 George IV Bridge. Rooms from £200
Hotel G&V used to be called Hotel Missoni, and still gives a nod to the eclectic Italian fashion label with its design-focused rooms full of trademark bright zigzags and geometric patterns. It's right in the heart of Fringeaction just off the Royal Mile, but if you can't bear to leave G&V's clutches, its in-house restaurant Cucina does a neat line in classic Italian nosh.
EAT: Holyrood 9A, 9A Holyrood Road
Close to the eponymous Scottish parliament building, you might spot a couple of politicians scoffing one of Holyrood 9A's gourmet burgers, and washing it down with a pint of craft beer. OK, you probably won't, but that doesn't mean you can't try some of its excellent seasonal beers (on rotation, so there's always something different) and locally sourced grub.
