FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Edinburgh

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Edinburgh each year. The main ones are listed below.

The new year is enthusiastically celebrated in Scotland! People gather on the streets, in pubs and restaurants to dance and toast to new beginnings. On January 1^st, the tradition of Loony Dook encourages the brave to swim in the icy waters of the River Forth. The city also offers performances, film screenings, and parades… and, to recover from the festivities, January 2^nd is also a holiday.

On January 25^th 1759, Robert Burns, “Scotland's favourite son”, and one of the country's most famous poets, was born. To celebrate the event each year, the Scots gather at nightfall around a traditional meal, punctuated by speeches and lectures, and eat the famous haggis, a dish prepared with stuffed mutton, about which Burns wrote, 'Address to a Haggis'.

As in the rest of the United Kingdom, Good Friday is a bank holiday in Scotland (while Easter Monday is not).

The people of Edinburgh celebrate the coming of summer with an immense Celtic festival. Costumes, lights, and music make for a delightful night. In the morning, the crowd climbs up to Holyrood to wash their face in the dew of the park.

To celebrate the arrival of spring, the Scottish capital is the scene of an official parade: kilts and bagpipes are a must!

Historically, banks alone were closed on this day, but it has now become a holiday for all the people of Britain.

August traditionally offers a holiday for workers. Be aware that it falls on the first Monday of the month in Scotland and the last Monday of the month in the rest of Great Britain.

Every year since 1947, when it was created to celebrate the end of the war, this world-renowned cultural event has brought together a broad variety of musical events, as well as theatre, dance, and opera.

The patron saint of Scotland is celebrated throughout the country on November 30^th. On the programme: festive meals, public performances of traditional dances and theatre, as well as pub-crawls.

This holiday is an opportunity for Scots to gather with family around the traditional Christmas Lunch.

A tradition from the Middle Ages, this holiday was the day when a present or gratuity was given to an employee, or a gift was given to the needy in addition to food distributions, and collections for the poor... In recent years, it has also become known as the day sales are launched in Britain.

In Edinburgh, starting on December 30^th, a torchlight parade is organized in the city. The Hogmanay Street Party, held from December 30^th to January 1^st, attracts tens of thousands of people each year. Bagpipe and pop music concerts precede the fireworks, set off at midnight.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Edinburgh

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	1/34	6/43	57/2.2	Not the best period to go
February	1/34	6/43	42/1.7	Not the best period to go
March	2/36	8/46	51/2.0	Not the best period to go
April	4/39	11/52	41/1.6	Good period to go
May	6/43	14/57	51/2.0	Good period to go
June	9/48	17/63	51/2.0	Good period to go
July	11/52	18/64	57/2.2	Good period to go
August	11/52	18/64	65/2.5	Good period to go
September	9/48	16/61	67/2.6	Good period to go
October	7/44	12/54	65/2.5	Good period to go
November	4/39	9/48	63/2.4	Not the best period to go
December	2/36	7/44	58/2.2	Not the best period to go

Edinburgh International Airport

The Edinburgh international airport is located 13 km (8 miles) west of the city centre.

• 1 terminal

• By car:
  • Access: the centre of Edinburgh is a 20-minute drive from the airport, on the A8 freeway.
  • Parking facilities:
• A short-term parking lot is located at the exit of the terminal (a 2-minute walk). Price: GBP 9 for 30 minutes, GBP 12 for 1 hour.
• Long-term parking, easily accessible with a free shuttle (7-minute ride), costs GBP 7 for 1 hour, GBP 40 for 24 hours and GBP 75 for 48 hours.
• • Several car rental companies are available in the airport arrivals area.
• By tram: A tramline runs between the airport and the city centre in 30 minutes (every 15 minutes, between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.).
  The price of an adult ticket is GBP 6.50 for a one-way ticket and GBP 9 for a return ticket. For a child the fare is GBP 3.30 one-way and GBP 4.80 for a return ticket. Tickets are on sale in distributors located at the tram station. Please note that the price of tickets sold on board the tram is much higher: GBP 10.
• By shuttle: The Airlink 100 buses operate a shuttle between the airport and the city centre. They run 24/7, all year long, at a rate of one bus every 12 minutes. Fares: GBP 4.50 for an adult one-way ticket and GBP 7.50 for a return ticket, GBP 2 for a child one-way ticket and GBP 3 for a return ticket. You can purchase your ticket from the shuttle driver.
• By taxi: You will easily find taxis outside the airport arrivals area. Fares to Edinburgh city centre range from GBP 25 to GBP 30, depending on the time, the day of the week and the traffic. Allow about 25 minutes for the journey.
• Services: shops, bars and restaurants, duty-free, free Internet access (Wi-Fi), currency exchange desks, ATMs, post office, left baggage and lost objects counter are all available in the airport.
• Telephone: 0844 448 8833 (charge of a local call) / +44 (0)131 348 4203
• Website: https://www.edinburghairport.com

GETTING AROUND Edinburgh

The city of Edinburgh has an excellent bus network. This is the ideal means of transport to discover the Scottish capital.

By car

The centre of Edinburgh is comprised of many narrow and one-way streets and offers a limited number of parking spaces. Renting a car is only the best option if you plan to leave the capital, perhaps to visit the Scottish countryside.

By bus

Sixty bus lines (including 12 night-time bus lines) are available throughout the city and serve its main axes between 6:00 a.m. and midnight. Night buses (Lines N) then operate for the remainder of the night.

The price of a ticket is GBP 1.80 per adult (GBP 4.50 for a day ticket) and GBP 0.90 for children 15 and under (GBP 2.20 for a day ticket). For the night bus, tickets are one price: GBP 3. For further information, please visit https://www.lothianbuses.com.

By tram

Only one tramline, connecting the airport to the city centre, is currently active in Edinburgh.

The price of a ticket in the 'city zone' is GBP 1.80 for adults and GBP 0.90 for a child. A 'city zone' round trip is GBP 3.40 for adults and GBP 1.80 for a child. A day pass is also available for GBP 4.50 (adult) or GBP 2.20 (child). For further information, please visit https://edinburghtrams.com.

By taxi

Taxis can easily be hailed in the streets (they can be identified by their black colour and yellow 'taxi' sign), or in areas reserved for them. They are a reliable way to get around the city, but more expensive than public transport (daytime fares are around GBP 6-7 for a three-kilometre fare in the city centre with a premium of 30 to 50% at night and on weekends).

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Edinburgh, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.

Offers practical information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.) and brochures.

• Address: 249 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1YJ

• Telephone: +44 (0)131 473 3868
• Website: https://www.visitscotland.com/

Currency and Exchange Rates

The currency used in Scotland is the Sterling Pound (GBP).

CNY 1 = GBP 0.11

GBP 1 = CNY 9.09

The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.

Medical information

In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/

Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire

See your doctor before you travel. Edinburgh counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip.

No vaccine is required for entry into Scottish territory.
For more information, contact the Air France Vaccination Centre:

• Address: 38 quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
• Website: https://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Phone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at (0)1 43 17 22 00

Tap water is safe to drink in Scotland. In some regions, however, it can taste slightly ‘peaty' and appear lightly coloured. These characteristics do not affect its safety.

ADMINISTRATIVE FORMALITIES

Entry requirements for the United Kingdom

As a French citizen, you do not need to obtain a visa if you will be visiting the United Kingdom for less than 90 days. You must be in possession of a national identity card or a passport valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Edinburgh and the United Kingdom, be sure to check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your home country for the latest travel information and recommendations. Comprehensive information that may be helpful for international visitors is also provided on the United Kingdom page of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/united-kingdom/#

Useful addresses

British Embassy in France

• Address: 35, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 44 51 31 00
• Website: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-embassy-paris

French Consulate in Edinburgh

• Address: West Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH1 1RF
• Telephone: no front desk phone number
• Website: https://uk.ambafrance.org/-Consulate-in-Edinburgh-
• Email address: contact.edimbourg-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr

Good to know

+44

+ phone number (without 0)

-8 : 00
of time difference with
Beijing

Daylight Savings Time start date: Last Sunday in March
Daylight Savings Time end date: Last Sunday in October

BANKS
Usually open Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Usually open Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

230 V / 50 Hz

Tipping
In Edinburgh, as in the rest of Scotland, tipping is only common in restaurants, where one generally tips 10% to 15% of the bill. In bars, hotels and taxis, tipping is not expected.