Latest news with #FringeFestival


Scottish Sun
29 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Five hidden gems within miles of Edinburgh to escape the Fringe crowds
Read on to discover the full list of great places DAY AWAY Five hidden gems within miles of Edinburgh to escape the Fringe crowds Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MILLIONS of revellers flock to Edinburgh each year for the Fringe Festival. However there are several locations where people can escape the hustle and bustle. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Cammo Water Tower, Cammo Estate, Edinburgh, Lothian Credit: Alamy 3 John Muir Country Park is picturesque Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd Muiravonside Country Park is ideal for families with kids and is a hidden gem. The park is in Falkirk and offers gorgeous walks and picnic benches. Cammo Estate is perfect for dog walkers and is located on the outskirts of the Capital. There are 18th century ruins for history lovers and it's great for couples looking for a romantic walk. John Muir Country Park is another green space for punters looking to escape the city and catch some fresh air. The park boasts breathtaking views out to the sea and is perfect for families. Castlelaw Hill is an Iron Age building located close to Fairmilehead, Midlothian. The area is free to access and has an active farmyard with panoramic views. And finally, Cramond Island which can be walked to when the tide is down. The site is extremely impressive, with spectacular views of the Forth Bridge. Elsewhere a kids' show creator has launched a potty job ad to find someone to dress up as a massive poo. Lindsey Cole, of The Mermaid, the Otter and the Big Poo, is casting for a 19-day Edinburgh Fringe run. Edinburgh Fringe tourist wins year worth of free beer


Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Have we met? My life as a comedian who can't remember a single face
The plane began to shudder and bounce. I gripped my arm rest as the worst turbulence I'd ever experienced rocked the flight. I thought: 'This is it — this is the moment I'm going to die.' My mind turned to my mum and dad but I was unable to picture their faces. Some people might see their life flashing before their eyes at that moment, but I was unable to conjure up anything. Days before the flight, a comedian I was gigging with told me he couldn't picture things in his head, a condition called aphantasia. I told him I couldn't either. I've never been able to picture anything in my mind's eye. It dawned on me that I had the same thing. I find it crazy that people can think in images. We simply assume our brains work the same way as everyone else's. We're constructing our reality but our constructions of the world are completely different. Mine is all about language. I think in words. The main way in which it affects me is that I've got a terrible memory, particularly when in Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival because there are so many people. I've no idea if they are comedians, audience members or if I'm just madly waving at a stranger. Once, after a gig, a guy started talking to me. He was really friendly but I'd no idea who he was. Because I was at the festival I took a punt and asked him how his show was going. It turned out he was a school friend and he then figured out I'd been talking to him for a quarter of an hour pretending I knew who he was. People think I'm rude. But I'm not rude, I just really struggle to remember faces. If you try to explain aphantasia it sounds a bit mad to a lot of people, as many are unable to conceptualise not being able to see images in your head. • Up to 5% of people can't visualise things. What's that like? When I watch films, I forget what happened. There are a lot of films I've watched two or three times and I wouldn't be able to tell you anything about them. But the main effect aphantasia has had on me is that I have a poor autobiographical memory. I remember little of my childhood. It affects your sense of self. For a few years I was like: 'Why can't I remember who I am?' Later on, when my former girlfriend would ask me about our first date, I couldn't remember the details. It's frustrating. I have a lot of pictures on my phone to help remind me. Finding out I had aphantasia made me realise my 'problems' were because my brain worked in a different way. For ages I would think: 'What's wrong with me?' I'd go to therapy and be asked to visualise something but I just couldn't. Now I can think: 'This is just how my brain works.' It's a hardware issue, not something bad-bad. When I understood that, a lot of the self-recrimination went away. Aphantasia is thought to affect about 4 per cent of the population, 2.7 million people nationwide, and it helps to know I'm not alone. I'm quite emotionally numb in my life, which is apparently a characteristic of people with aphantasia. Because I don't remember moments like other people do — I can't picture them — I feel things a bit less strongly. I can't remember that scene of breaking up with someone, which makes life slightly less intense. When I think of that breakup, I'm not playing it back and feeling the emotionals. Most people experience their memories as some kind of film playing in their head. I don't. I'm quite a dark comedian sometimes, without particularly meaning to be, and I wonder if that's because of my condition. When I started out I was always shocked by the reaction of audiences and I think that's because I'm not seeing the visuals I'm creating. I don't have that visceral reaction to jokes other people do. Instead, I see them as word puzzles. Aphantasia hasn't yet made it into my Fringe show this year. I forgot what a strange thing it was. But there is still a bit of time before it starts, so I can imagine some jokes about it might make their way in. I like to think it makes me a better comedian because all that I have are words.


Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
Popular Scottish street now full of souvenir shops that 'lack authenticity'
Edinburgh's Royal Mile draws millions yearly, but locals say it's now overrun with tourists and souvenir shops One of Scotland's most iconic streets is facing criticism as locals say it has become overwhelmed by tourism and cheap souvenir shops, stripping the area of its historic charm. Edinburgh's Royal Mile, which runs through the heart of the city's Old Town, is renowned for linking two major landmarks, Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The 1.81-kilometre cobbled stretch attracts more than four million visitors each year, especially during August when the world-famous Fringe Festival takes over the city, Express reports. But long-time residents and critics say the area is now a far cry from its former self, increasingly dominated by gift shops and throngs of tourists. According to BBC Scotland News, there are now 72 souvenir shops along the Royal Mile, many of which have been accused of selling 'plastic tat' and contributing to the street's decline in authenticity. Jimmy Robertson, 77, who has lived at the foot of the Royal Mile all his life, told the BBC he has witnessed the changes firsthand. 'I would sit on that bench and you'd watch the world go by, saying hello to folk you knew coming by,' he said. 'Now I sit there and it feels like it is just tourists that pass me by. I'm not against tourism, I just think it has gone far in how it affects people who live here.' The street, once bustling with locals, is now under scrutiny after it was named one of the world's top tourist traps for 2025. Travel experts at Nomad analysed global tourist data and combed through online reviews to identify locations that often leave visitors underwhelmed. In the UK, the Royal Mile topped the list. According to Nomad's analysis, the Royal Mile racked up 539 online reviews labelling it a 'tourist trap'. Reviewers cited the area's 'complete lack of authenticity' and over-saturation of souvenir shops as key concerns. Nomad explained: 'This 1.81 km stretch of cobbled street in Edinburgh links two of the city's top attractions, the Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "It attracts more than four million visitors annually. But with that heavy foot traffic comes an overwhelming number of souvenir shops, and complete lack of authenticity.' Despite the criticism, the Royal Mile remains one of Edinburgh's busiest and most popular tourist spots. Alongside its headline landmarks, it is also home to attractions such as the Real Mary King's Close and St Giles' Cathedral. Many well-known pubs and restaurants, including The Witchery, The World's End and the Royal Mile Tavern, also line the historic street. However, concerns about over tourism in Edinburgh are growing. Residents have voiced fears that the city's historic character is being lost under the weight of commercialisation and crowding, particularly during peak tourism periods.


Daily Record
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Park and Ride options for Oasis at Murrayfield as hotly-anticipated gigs near
Getting to the gig will be busy, but there are a few Park and Ride options available. Oasis' Murrayfield gigs are just a couple of weeks away, so it's high time fans started planning how to get there. With over 67,000 revellers attending each of the brothers' three gigs in Edinburgh, which are taking place on August 8, 9 and 12, it's safe to say that traffic will be BUSY. And what's more, the Scottish capital will already be overrun with crowds due to Edinburgh's Fringe Festival, which coincides with the three Oasis tour dates. We've outlined how to get to the gig by public transport and what road closures fans can expect, along with which items are allowed or prohibited from the venue. But another way of getting to the stadium to consider is making use of Edinburgh's many Park and Ride services. Those brave enough to tackle the traffic may wish to opt for a Park and Ride service over driving the whole way to the gig to save themselves from the worst of the jams. Here's everything you need to know about getting to the gig via Park and Ride. Park and Ride options to get to Murrayfield Stadium Citylink is offering several special bus services from various cities, including some Park and Ride spots. Halbeath Park and Ride and Kinross Park and Ride will see these extra Citylink services that will deliver you straight to Murrayfield's doorstop. But because these are special additional services, Citylink has warned that NEC cards such as the Young Scot Card or Over 60s concession card will not be valid on these particular buses. Ingliston Park and Ride is a great option for those taking the M8 from Glasgow or elsewhere in the central belt, due to its proximity to the motorway. The Edinburgh tram can take fans straight to Murrayfield from there in under 20 minutes, or the Airport Express bus also goes through Ingliston and stops outside the stadium. Also just off the M8, Hermiston Park and Ride is another option, from where you can hop a number 25 bus to Restalrig. If you get off on Gorgie Park Road, you're a mere 13 minute walk from Murrayfield, according to Google Maps. Other Park and Ride facilities in Edinburgh include Straiton and Newcraighall, but these both involve longer and more complicated bus routes to get to Murrayfield. Of all the available options, Ingliston or a specialist Citylink Park and Ride service are the quickest and most convenient, but beware to give yourself plenty of time to get to and from the gig as things are guaranteed to be extremely busy. With so many fans expected to descend on Murrayfield, and with Edinburgh already seeing thousands of holidaymakers and crowds for Fringe, planning out your journey to and home from Oasis is vital to avoid frustrating delays and traffic. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!


CTV News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Fringe highlight: The Auntie Show
Jo MacDonald and Ryan Osodo bring sketch comedy with sass, secrets, and sold-out shows to this year's Fringe Festival.