Accessibility

We are committed to ensuring that the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is as inclusive as possible.

Our vision and values include a series of development goals to guide the long-term success and sustainability of the festival, including efforts to make the Fringe more equitable.

Access booking service

The Fringe Box Office has staff in place specifically for access enquiries and ticket bookings. This service is here to assist anyone with an access requirement to make the most of what the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has to offer. To find out more about the access tickets service please email accessbookings@edfringe.com. 

The access booking service is available to anyone who:

• would like to book specific accessibility services, eg a hearing loop, audio description headsets, captioning units or seating in relation to the location of a BSL interpreter
• requires specific accessibility information for each venue
• requires extra assistance when at a venue, including avoiding waiting in queues and busy environments
• has specific seating requirements
• is a wheelchair user
• requires a complimentary personal assistant ticket to attend a performance.

We also offer accessible show listings, with information on performances that are audio-described, BSL interpreted, relaxed or offer touch tours.

How to contact and book through the access booking service

Booking tickets online or the Fringe app

To book complimentary personal assistant / companion tickets online, please complete the following form and a member of team will get back to you. 

Following your account set-up you will be able to view and book personal assistant tickets alongside your paid tickets on our website or Fringe app 24 hours a day. 

Unfortunately, we are currently only able to offer this service to non-wheelchair users, but have plans to expand it over the course of the next few years – in the meantime, if you use a wheelchair and would like to use the access bookings service, please get in touch with us using the contact methods above.

Booking tickets by email or WhatsApp

Please include the following information in your message:

• the show you would like to book
• the date, time and venue of the show
• number of tickets required
• your access requirements
• a phone number we can contact you on if you would like us to phone you
• your full billing address.

Booking tickets over the phone or in person

Our access booking team is here also to assist you over the phone or in person. 

Booking Half Price Hut tickets

Half Price Hut tickets are available in person at the Fringe Box Office (180 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QS) from the first Wednesday of the Fringe. As an access booking customer, you can also book these tickets via phone, email or WhatsApp. 

BSL at the Fringe street events

We are delighted to work with Deaf Action to provide British Sign Language interpretation at the Fringe street events.

Accessible toilets

Changing Places are accessible toilets with an adult-sized changing bench and hoist, for people who are unable to use a standard accessible toilet.

Here's the data we have for Changing Places toilets and accessible toilets:

• Changing Places toilets, including previous pop-up venues in Edinburgh
• Accessible toilets across Edinburgh, including pop-up venues

Changing Places available year-round

• The Booking Office Pub, Waverley Bridge, EH1 1BQ, Sunday to Thursday 07:00 – 00:00, Friday and Saturday 07:00 – 01:00.
• Edinburgh Waverley Station, Edinburgh, EH1 1BB, Monday to Saturday 04:00 – 23:45, Sunday 06:00 – 23:45.
• Johnnie Walker Princes Street, 145 Princes Street, EH2 4BL, 10:00 – 00:00.
• National Gallery Scotland, level 3, The Mound, EH2 2EL, 10:00 – 17:00. Partial Changing Places toilet with all the required facilities and floorspace (13.54m2), but as it’s in a listed building, it is a few inches too narrow to be a full Changing Places toilet. The room width is 1.9m at the narrowest point.
• National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, EH1 1JF, 10:00 – 17:00.
• The Scottish Parliament, 1 Horse Wynd, EH99 1SP, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 – 17:00. Last entry 16:30.
• St James Quarter, St James Crescent, level one of the Galleria, Edinburgh, EH1 3AD, Monday to Saturday 09:00 – 20:00, Sunday 10:00 – 18:00. This facility can only be accessed with a key which can be collected from the Guest Services Desk located on level one of St James Quarter (a radar key will not work).
• Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, ModernOne carpark, 75 Belford Rd, Edinburgh, EH4 3DR, 09:45 – 17:30.

Sensory resources

The Fringe can be an overwhelming place. We offer free sensory tools for anyone who needs them during August. These can be ordered in advance for delivery before the Fringe or picked up from Fringe Box Office throughout August. Please note that items may vary from the image.

Visual timetables are back for 2024. Created in collaboration with Tzipporah Johnstone, a neurodivergent artists from the Neuk Collective, the visual timetable aims to help neurodivergent people plan their trips to the Fringe. Timetables will be available to pick up at the Fringe Box Office during August or to download:

• Visual timetable instructions (.pdf download)
• Black and white visual pack (.pdf download)
• Colour visual pack (.pdf download)

These resources were created with the help of the proudly neurodivergent-led Neuk Collective and Door in the Wall Arts Access CIC.

If you would like more information on the sensory resources, please contact accessbookings@edfringe.com.

Counteractive Compositions

Counteractive Compositions is a collaboration between Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Drake Music Scotland, originated by Kirstin Abraham, transforming the frenetic sounds of the Fringe into a mellow sound world. The music has been created by members of Digital Orchestra, iPad Lab and MusicSPACE – projects led by Drake Music Scotland, a creative organisation working with Disabled Musicians to compose, record and perform new music.

Useful links

• Blue badge car parking in Edinburgh
  Search for a parking space for a disabled person on this map from the City of Edinburgh Council.
  Find out more at edinburgh.gov.uk
  
  
• Lothian bus access information
  Lothian buses aim to make travel easier for everyone, including passengers with disabilities and those traveling with young children. 
  Find out more at lothianbuses.co.uk
  
  
• Artlink Edinburgh - Arts Access
  Artlink works towards making the arts accessible to people with experience of a disability. The Arts Access service creates links between people who want to discover and enjoy the arts in Edinburgh. The service works to ensure that the trickiest part of an Arts Access outing is choosing where to go. They provide "What’s On" information, book tickets, match members with volunteers and organise transport.
  Find out more at artlinkedinburgh.co.uk
  
  
• Euan’s Guide
  Euan’s Guide is the disabled access review website that aims to "remove the fear of the unknown" and inspire people to try new places. 
  Find out more at euansguide.com
  
  
• Gig Buddies
  Gig Buddies is a befriending project in Midlothian, which aims to link music fans who have a learning disability with volunteers who share a common interest. Many Gig Buddies enjoy coming to a variety of shows at the Fringe.
  Find out more on the Gig Buddies webpage

Covid-19

In line with Scottish Government guidance, there is currently no legal requirement for Fringe venues to observe covid safety measures such as compulsory face coverings, minimum social distancing, etc.

However, we recognise that covid and other illnesses are still a serious concern for people who are clinically vulnerable. If you'd like to visit the Fringe but have health concerns, please get in touch with our access bookings team on accessbookings@edfringe.com and we'll explore what options are available to make your visit as safe as possible.