Edinburgh accommodation soars ahead of Fringe return

One flat increased by 1,125 per night for month of August

- EMMA GUINNESS

Accommodation prices in Edinburgh are being inflated by as much as £1,125 a night during the Fringe festival, sparking backlash across the arts sector. In one case, festivalgoers could pay as much as £2,000 to stay in a prime Edinburgh location for the night, The Independent has discovered.

The £2,000-a-night Royal Mile flat costs a considerably cheaper – but still expensive – £875 a night, including service and cleaning charges, in July as opposed to August. The problem is reportedly worse than ever because of new short-let regulations introduced in Scotland in October 2023, which require hosts and hotels to have a licence or face a fine of up to £2,500.

Other notable examples of the problem include a Georgian townhouse that typically rents for £450 a night on Airbnb (or £702 including the cleaning and service fees), but during this year’s festival, it costs a total of £1,111 a night – once again reflecting an almost 50 per cent increase in the base price at festival time.

While these are extreme examples, even the most basic accommodation will set festivalgoers and performers back a significant amount of money. The cheapest available private rooms in August, according to Booking.com, will set festivalgoers back just under £100 a night and many of these are available in student accommodation as opposed to actual hotels.