Getting Around the Fringe as a Group
In 2027 the Fringe turns 80, running from 6 August to 30 August and filling venues across the Old Town and New Town. Most shows are close enough to walk between, so a minibus really earns its keep getting your group into the city and home again.
Walk between shows, ride in and out
Edinburgh is extremely busy in August, and even short walks take longer than the map suggests. Leave plenty of time between shows, and use the minibus for the parts of the day walking can't cover: the airport, a hotel outside the centre, or a group coming through from Glasgow for the evening.
The airport lies roughly 8 miles west of town. At the airport, coaches and minibuses with eight or more seats use the coach park, and passengers walk across at the crossing by stand 10.
Where your driver can stop
The council's official coach set-down is on Castle Terrace, where a vehicle may stay up to half an hour during the daytime hours listed below. Anywhere else, a coach is allowed a two-minute stop on yellow lines to let people on or off, and none at all where loading is banned. In practice, that means your group needs to be at the kerb when the vehicle arrives.
There's no short-stay coach parking at present, and the medium-stay spaces on Regent Road and Inverleith Place are open weekdays only. These rules are written for coaches and the council is working on a new coach plan, so the operator will confirm what applies to your minibus this summer.
When and where
- Venues across Edinburgh city centre, including the Old Town and New Town
- 6-30 August 2027 (the 80th Fringe)
Late shows and the Low Emission Zone
The Castle Terrace bay closes at 18:30, which is early by Fringe standards. For a late show, agree a pick-up spot where a quick stop is allowed, and keep your phones on.
Edinburgh's Low Emission Zone runs every hour of every day, and Scottish zones can't be paid to enter. Diesel coaches must meet Euro VI, so check the vehicle you're offered is compliant if your route enters the zone.
Your questions
When is the Fringe in 2027?
From 6 to 30 August 2027. It's the 80th Fringe, so expect the city to be especially full.
Can the minibus wait outside our venue?
Usually not. Away from Castle Terrace, a quick set-down on yellow lines is limited to two minutes.
Is there a tram from the airport?
Yes, the tram links the airport with Princes Street. A minibus is simpler if your group has luggage or is staying away from the tram line.