We visited the Edinburgh festival for the very first time this year, after a few years of 'promising to go'. After looking at the hike in flight costs, we decided to drive, so stayed in Lancaster on the way up and Liverpool on the way back.

We stayed in Kirkhill Mansion, about 10 miles outside Edinburgh. We had no trouble at all driving into the middle of festival-ville and parking. The car parks are plenty and costs are on a par with other UK cities.

We saw 5 shows, from pantomime, to Japanese 'comedy', to theatrical performances. The piece de resistance were the Japanese Taiko drummers and the Chinese State Circus. Who could believe that 3 people could make a whole church vibrate and that it was possible to unicycle with one foot!?!! We also saw some street performers and stalls doing excellent portraits and I was lassoed by a lovely knife throwing texan!

We're planning to go back next year and we're already planning our trip! If you haven't been you must go! Definitely something to add to your 'do before I die' list!!