The Edinburgh Festival, arguably the world's greatest arts festival, opens tomorrow and runs until August 30. Ticket sales seem poised to top more than $3 million, and, as tickets to events become scarcer, the prices are getting higher. Quite helpfully, the Guardian tracked down some bargains for last-minute festival-goers.
Some tips:
* If your clients are visiting from London or outside the city, skip the planes and take the train to Edinburgh. Get a Super Off-Peak Return ticket, now around $172 and reduced to $113 for railcard holders.
* At $15-$19 for a typical fringe show, visitors could quickly spend close to $100 in a single day just on tickets. Two-for-one deals tend to run early in the festival, but also consider becoming a Friend of the Fringe. As well as supporting the event you gain access to various two-for-one deals.
* Check out the Free Festival at freefestival.co.uk, promising 300 free shows. Keep an eye out for events hosted by the BBC, which are sometimes free. The half-price hut at The Mound sells on-the-day tickets for selected performances. You might find a great show you wouldn't otherwise have seen!
For more tips, read on...