What started in 1947 as a fringe to the official Edinburgh International Festival has become the largest arts festival on the planet: over 3,000 shows daily for three weeks, performed in 250+ venues from Georgian crypts to converted lecture halls. It’s where careers are launched, reputations are made, and you can see ten shows in a day for the price of a London West End ticket.

Pro tip: the Free Fringe circuit is genuinely free (tip the performer at the end). For ticketed shows, book the most-hyped acts before arrival; for everything else, walk the Royal Mile, take flyers from performers in costume, and trust your instincts.