Overview

Edinburgh book festival is becoming one of the places to hang out during August now. During the festival this year I was lucky enough to see authors like Will Self, Naomi Alderman and my personal hero Colm Toibin. Edinburgh in August can be pretty full on, but the book festival in its location of Charlotte Square has a feeling of serene.

Transport & Parking

Not great for cars or taxi drop off. I would tend to walk about 10-15 minutes from the nears bust stops from Saint Andrews Square, George Street or Princes Street, depending on my mood.

Access

Great access, the paths are wide and all seem to be on the same level with ramps. Some of the grass in the square is protected by a flat white surface which is easy to walk on and too see. Plenty of space at the front of the theatres for wheelchairs, the seating is tiered and space is narrow between chairs - which can be a bit straining after a hour. The stages in the theatre's have ramps up, this is a nice touch as it recognised that authors and speakers can also have access requirements. In the Spiegeltent tent the access is good, a wheelchair user would find it difficult going down the ramp the whole back round but there's space at the booths and at the bar. The bookshop is a joy and is really assessable with wide aisles, though it can be really busy! The signing tables where the authors signed their books was at table height.

Toilets

Brilliant large, easy to use and large accessible loos.

Staff

Always really happy and willing to help you at every opportunity. Everyone working there seemed to be really happy to be there and it was infectious. Any problem or question I would be confident that they would do their best to help you out.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Entry to the festival village is free - so it's really accessible from that point of view. The talks with the authors are not that expensive and usually a hour long so you never get bored, f you're like me with a low attention span! I would really recommend checking out the Unbound events which are usually on it in the evening, they are free and you are treated to imitate readings, gigs and the atmosphere is always great. Yorkston/Thorne/Khan one of my favourite live acts played one night and it was really special.

Photos