17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
The Fringe accommodation pegged at under £300 a week
The Fringe Society has revealed more than 100 rooms are currently available at an official 'Festival Village' at Queen Margaret University's campus on Musselburgh and at Edinburgh University accommodation near the Meadows in the city centre.
The arts charity is also recommending an 'Artist Village' glamping site which is being created in a walled garden at the historic Drum Estate in south Edinburgh, where bell tents for up to four people will cost £100 per night.
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It is also urging performers and companies to consider staying in outlying neighbourhoods rather than the city centre to help keep their costs down and let them experience the 'real' Edinburgh off the city's main tourist trail.
The Fringe Society has admitted concern over the affordability and availability of accommodation is one of the biggest barriers to taking part in the festival, which has an 'open access' ethos.
Queen Margaret University has pledged to peg the price of accommodation for Edinburgh Festival Fringe performers. (Image: Queen Margaret University)
New challenges this year include the first ever concerts at Murrayfield Stadium which will clash with the Fringe this summer and the introduction of the city's proposed new tourist tax, which apply to bookings made after this October for people staying in the city during the 2026 Fringe.
Demand for accommodation has seen hotel prices soar above £1000 a room for some leading hotels in August on nights when Oasis and AC/DC are appearing at Murrayfield.
Edinburgh University accommodation in the Sciennes area is being pegged back for Fringe performers at £287 per week.(Image: Edinburgh University)
A spokesperson for the Fringe Society said: 'It's incredibly important for Fringe participants to be able to access affordable accommodation this August and beyond, to allow artists to focus on their work instead of an additional financial pressure.
'As part of our support services for artists, we work with the TheatreDigsBooker website and a range of universities and to ensure provision of and signpost to affordable accommodation to artists performing at the Fringe.
'We have an online accommodation portal which signposts availability across these organisations.
'Our artist services team works throughout the year to help with any specific queries, in addition to working to develop new partnerships to secure more affordable accommodation opportunities.'
Official advice on the Fringe Society's accommodation portal states: 'Edinburgh is a small city and travel times and distances may appear greater than they actually are, so don't be afraid to venture outside the city centre.
'This comes with many benefits: not only is it usually much cheaper, but you'll also benefit from quieter neighbourhoods, parks and green spaces to reflect and recover, plus more space and larger properties for larger groups.
'You'll get to experience the 'real' Edinburgh that most tourists miss, and you'll generally still be within a 15–20 minute journey from the centre, whether you're travelling on foot, by bike or on the bus.'
The Fringe Society has joined forces with Queen Margaret University in Musselburgh, around six miles from the Royal mile, to run an official 'Festival Village' for artists and performers who stay there, who get access to rehearsal spaces, networking events, outdoor yoga classes, an onsite café and gym facilities.
Single rooms at QMU are available for Fringe performers at £294 per person per week, while six-bedroom apartments are available at £2034%.
The cheapest Edinburgh University accommodation, for four and five bedroom flats in and around the Sciennes area in the south side, have been pegged at £287 per week per person. The university has other accommodation available at its Pollock Halls site, near Holyrood Park, for £371 a week.
Lyndsay Wilkie, director of commercial operations, accommodation, catering and events at Edinburgh University, said: 'Edinburgh's Festivals are renowned all over the world, bringing thousands of artists and visitors to our city each year.
'We are fully committed to supporting the festivals and in particular recognise the need for artists and events professionals to have access to affordable accommodation during the summer months.
'We offer performers and festival workers an excellent choice of accommodation across the city, providing a base close to all the major festival venues and hubs.
'We are also pleased to offer a range of price points this year, with availability remaining across options for this summer.
'We are looking forward to welcoming performers to our city once again and are pleased to be able to continue to offer our support by making sure the city's festivals can be accessible to all.'
Lynn Barclay, commercial manager at Queen Margaret University, said: 'We are really excited about welcoming Fringe performers to the QMU.
'As specialists in creative arts and cultural management, we are delighted to support the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with much needed modern, good quality, affordable accommodation.'
Scott Gibson, managing director of the Sports Pathway Group, which will be running the Fringe glamping site at the Drum Estate, said: 'We've been working with the Fringe Society to assist with affordable accommodation for artists.
'Our exclusive 'Artist Village' will be a private area within our site which will have luxury bell tents available from August 3-25. The site will include toilets and hot showers, a marquee with charging points, pamper room, Wi-Fi, and arcade games, and a firepit and communal bar area open from 6pm.'
