Venue Description

This two week celebration of the written word is the largest of its kind in the world and offers something for all ages and interests. Entry to the Book Festival village is free. Here visitors can soak up the atmosphere, browse the bookshops, enjoy refreshments from the cafe or bar and choose from a programme of hundreds of events. There’s a great variety of events on offer for both children and adults, featuring established authors and rising stars. Previous special guests have included J K Rowling, Ian Rankin, Harold Pinter, Alan Bennett, Germaine Greer and Zadie Smith. Many events are free to attend, including daily readings, signings, workshops and children’s activities. For more information, visit the Edinburgh International Book Festival website: www.edbookfest.co.uk

From 2021, the Book Festival will move to its new location of the University of Edinburgh's Edinburgh College of Art at Lauriston Place.

Accessibility

The Edinburgh International Book Festival has a fully accessible site for wheelchair users with level access or ramped access into all venues and wooden walkways around the Book Festival village, as well as an Accessible WC and Changing Places toilet. Wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge and staff are on hand to assist anyone should they need it. The Book Festival also works with Artlink’s Access Service which offers support to disabled visitors to Edinburgh to attend events with a volunteer escort.

Accessibility Guide

Accessibility Guide Link: https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/visiting-the-festival/access

Accessible Performances

The Book Festival schedules some British Sign Language (BSL) performances in advance in the adult and children’s programmes however it also operates an ‘on request’ service. Anyone can request a BSL interpreter for any event in the programme. In 2017, for the first time, the Book Festival also has a selection of captioned events.

Toilets

There are toilets for everyone on site, including a wheelchair accessible toilet and a fully accessible Changing Places toilet – complete with a hoist and changing table. There is no sling in the Changing Places toilet and the Book Festival encourages individuals to bring their own.

Staff

The venue staff have accessibility training prior to the Festival and are on hand to assist anyone should they need it. The Front of House staff can help seat disabled visitors somewhere appropriate for their needs if they have seeing, hearing or mobility issues.

Assistance dog facilities

Assistance dog exercise facilities

All assistance dogs are welcome at the Book Festival at Edinburgh College of Art. The Book Festival encourages you to inform them of your visit with an assistance dog before arriving.

Other assistance dog facilities

There are drinking water taps available on site which could be used to fill up water bowls for assistance dogs.