Hayley Scott

Edinburgh in 2025: Well, we don’t need to say it, do we? Soon, Edinburgh will be in the midst of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025. Its official dates this year are August 1 to 25, but you’ll find brilliant cultural things to see and do here throughout the summer, and some Fringe shows will even start early in July. But as ever, there are plenty of reasons to visit this wonderful city, all year round. Read on for our ultimate guide.  Hayley Scott: ‘I grew up in Edinburgh and I still can’t get enough. Years spent living elsewhere have made me increasingly appreciative of the city, but it’s hard to pin point exactly where its charm lies. There’s its small size, making it extremely walkable (provided you aren’t afraid of some rain and the occasional hill), and there’s its rich and well-preserved history, meaning parts of the city feel otherworldly, even to someone who calls it home. Growing up I would wander the botanic gardens feeding bread to the squirrels, and now I stroll the cobbled streets via wine bars, restaurants and – depending on the time of night – chippies. Ready to walk, drink, dance and all the rest of it? Get your waterproof on and explore.’ 📍 RECOMMENDED: Ultimate guide to what to do in Edinburgh What free things are there to do in Edinburgh? Plenty. A number of our top museums have free entry year-round, including the National Museum of Scotland, the National Gallery, the Portrait Gallery and the Modern. But it’s not just galleries – some of Edinburgh’s most