Edinburgh Art Festival

If art is your passion, the Edinburgh Art Festival, Scotland’s largest visual arts festival is simply unmissable as it is home to a wide array of visual arts, exhibitions and events held throughout the city.

The Edinburgh Art Festival started off in 2004 and is home to a diverse and vibrant programme of visual art exhibitions and events that are held throughout galleries and museums across the city.

Edinburgh’s galleries and art spaces come alive during this festival and display some of the most intriguing modern and contemporary art in the world.

The Edinburgh Art Festival combines new commissions, major solo exhibitions by the world’s leading contemporary artists alongside local and international artistic talent.

2011 saw the unveiling of The Scotsman Steps, a major new piece of public artwork by winner of the Turner Prize, Scottish artist, Martin Creed. Reinventing the famous Scotsman Steps, each of the 104 steps that lead from the Scotsman Hotel on North Bridge to Waverley Station is finished beautifully in a different colour of marble.

From internationally renowned artists to those whose work is more experimental, the Edinburgh Art Festival presents a compelling mix of exhibitions and events sure to suit all tastes. And best of all - it’s free. The 2013 Edinburgh Art Festival, part of the wider Edinburgh Festivals programme is set to run from 1 August to 1 September.

Festival of Politics

Enjoy the unique Festival of Politics in Edinburgh, which offers a range of talks, debates and exhibitions from some of the most influential players in British politics.

One of the more recent additions to the outstanding lineup of festivals in Edinburgh, the Festival of Politics is certainly worth checking out. This exceptional festival, which runs in 2012 from 17 - 25 August, combines the worlds of politics, media and the arts and provides an opportunity to gain some further insight into the exciting world of politics.

Starting out in 2005, the award-winning four-day Festival of Politics is now a main part of the festival summer season. Taking place in the impressive Scottish Parliament building, you are invited to take a look behind the scenes at the Open Parliament Day, attend one of the many talks, exhibitions and plays or get involved in the discussions and debates.

The Festival of Politics attracts participants from a wide array of backgrounds, from political party leaders to cabinet ministers and journalists who discuss their experiences. In the past, guest speakers have included Sir Menzies Campbell, Charles Kennedy, John Prescott and comedian/writer Armando Iannucci.

For those of a political mind, or for those simply looking to be entertained, this exciting and unique festival will no doubt have something to tempt you during a stay in Edinburgh.

A day of free fun at Edinburgh’s museums

Whether you want to experience 18th century Edinburgh, see a million pounds in cash or meet a Tyrannosaurus Rex, you can do it at Edinburgh’s museums, and it’s all free. Many museums also have excellent cafes and offer guided tours and events.

National Museum of Scotland

The Old Town is home to the National Museum of Scotland which was re-opened in July 2011 following a major re-development and now exhibits over 20,000 objects spread across 36 galleries. Adults and children alike will enjoy making their way through the stunningly bright Victorian Grand Gallery, and others such as the Natural World gallery which features an awe-inspiring Tyrannosaurus Rex. As well as having interactive exhibits and children’s galleries, the museum’s architecture is fun and playful, with little nooks and crannies to hide in throughout the adjoined modern galleries which tell Scotland’s story. It’s all free, of course.

The Writers’ Museum

The Writers' Museum, near the top of the Royal Mile, contains fascinating first editions, portraits and objects relating to the lives and work of Scotland’s great literary figures including Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson. Outside the museum be sure to visit Makars’ Court (Scots for poet), a peaceful courtyard which has carved paving stones celebrating writers from the 14th century to the present day.

Museum on the Mound

Cross the road at the bottom of Makar’s Court to make a trip to the innovative Museum on the Mound which displays a million pounds in cash, Scotland's oldest banknote and looks at the role of money in art, design, technology, crime, trade and security.

More museums

Experience the sights, sounds and smells of Edinburgh throughout the centuries at The People’s Story, or enter the Museum of Edinburgh which is packed with local artefacts and city history, from the earliest settlement to the present day. You can also discover a treasure house crammed full of toys from childhood past and present at the Museum of Childhood.

Free museums out of town

Towns and villages often have their own local museums which are normally free. One of these is Queensferry Museum which lies to the north west of the city. The museum traces the history of the local people, the historic ferry passage to Fife, the construction of the iconic Forth rail and road bridges and spotlights the estuary wildlife.