Reviews of Edinburgh International Book Festival. (Event Planner) in Edinburgh (Edinburgh).

Edinburgh International Book Festival

351 Reviews

138 Comments

Event Planner

Festival

121 George St, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Edinburgh International Book Festival, Event Planner in Edinburgh (Edinburgh)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Open hours of Edinburgh International Book Festival

Popular times

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Reviews of Edinburgh International Book Festival

C. B.

A great festival. Not the same vibe as Charlotte Square but the location and buildings much better. The talks have been great, staff very helpful, and facilities good.

S. “. S.

Saw Harry Hill and Chae Strathie. Really entertaining and we'll organised event for all the family. Really promotes the joy of reading.

A. W.

Really enjoyed the event I attended. Well organised all staff helpful, very wet and muddy as usual on the central grassy areas which spoils it a bit

S. C.

Really enjoy the book festival - it's great that it's centrally located and all the events are on in the same place (although its quite a busy spot - and get there early to queue!). Disadvantages are that popular events instantly sell out and are only run once. Make sure you get your programme and are ready the day tickets go on sale. If you're lucky enough to get a warm summer evening Charlotte Square is a great place to spend it.

c. r.

The Edinburgh book Festival was very good. There were a huge amount of books available to buy, with a good and sensible wide range. Staff were helpful. Only downside was there was no sign for the way out when leaving.

f. l.

Wonderful as always. Lovely, welcoming and helpful staff. Clean toilets with no queues. Fantastic bookshops with and extra one now on George Street. Indoor cafe if you need to escape the rain!

L.

Excellent fun,a huge tent full of exciting books, with a big area for children, good toilets (always important) and really interesting talks from authors. Just lovely.

A. P.

festival for children and adults who love books

A. W.

Nice atmosphere and good vibe

D. H.

One of my favourite places to go to in August. Very friendly staff who are always willing to help and a brilliant variety of events. Seating all over the place for families, an entire tent devoted to kids books, one for new releases, and a book to let you know what's going on and where!

P. M. M.

Well worth a visit as part of your festival activity. If you have a love of words, it's the place to be.

R. H.

Amazing value for money - we went to see numerous authors this year and the pricing meant it was available to all. We had a fantastic time and can't wait until next year!

E. O.

Absolutely fantastic schedule of events. Really very enjoyable and a great place to relax with a coffee and a book.

F.

The EIBF has become a victim of its own success. I was struck this year that many years ago the buggy park had a handful of buggies in a little tent. Now there are 30+. We attended the Gill Arbuthnott / Darren Gate event today which was excellent. The book festival staff we met were great and we enjoyed using our (home)school book vouchers. But there are just too many people. The food is expensive and the catering service hit and miss. I preferred this years (schools) book festival event at Glenrothes. I would like to see the Edinburgh book festival become the Scottish book festival with events spread more diversely across Scotland and with fewer of the problems of trying to bring a great many people from across a wide area to one small space in an already busy city at an already busy time.

R. D.

Just heading to our fifth show of the book festival. All have been excellent so far. Fantastic!

V. M.

Brilliant had such a lovely few hours wondering the book shop!! Such a great atmosphere

B. M.

I am never disappointed by a visit to the book festival. The shows run like clockwork with a wide variety of interesting guests, the independent book shops have unusual and varied stock and the centre of it all is the seating area, the perfect place to reflect on what you just heard, read your new book or enjoy an ice cream cone.

n. m.

I have been coming to the Book Festival for many years, and I'm never disappointed! They have an interesting programme of events, always very current in their focus. The gardens are well laid out with ample spaces to relax in the sun, under cover or browsing books. The events are always interesting and I've picked up books I would never have normally read from them. Highly recommend coming for a visit!

T. S.

Amazing place. Great selection of books. Something for everyone.

S. M.

It was great to be a a part of the festival with the team from RAP Party. Glad to have been there again for another year.

S. R.

The book festival is great to visit whether into books or not. The authors who come here are excellent and there really is something for everyone. You may even get the chance to get your book signed!

C. R.

Lovely atmosphere, lovely food (or bring your own), books, it's free to enter (there are often free activities for children too), and the shows are affordable.

I. V.

Perfectly organisation and clear signs to all the events. Very helpful staff

A. K.

Wonderful selection of authors and events in a beautiful central setting

P. F.

One of my favourite book festivals the world around. Such a great programme each year, and such a lovely vibe at Charlotte Square.

C. C.

Wonderful part of the festival. Authors and audience come together.

M. T.

Amazing event !! So happy I came from France to meet great authors ! Books everywhere: a little paradise 👍

H. B.

There was only really one event that I was interested to attend, but would have liked to see more. The event I attended was good. The illustrator was allowed to use the session as he pleased which was nice.

N. D.

Great atmosphere on the first day of the festival, despite the rain. Good selection of books in both the adult and kids tents.

B. R.

I love the atmosphere and also enjoy the wude range of books old and new available.

S. S.

Scotland's biggest book festival, a wonderful event that brings together writers and thought leaders and loads of people with something to say about a huge range of topics

G. P.

It is a great event, carefully organized, with excellent guests. Every day is memorable

T. V.

The one book festival you have to visit. Fascinating speakers, superb location in the middle of Edinburgh surrounded by beautiful architecture and a host of eateries....and of course great and interesting books!

j. h.

Just about the best book festival I've ever been to. So many authors spoke at one of the book of the three theatres in Charlotte square. There were book signings and an incredibly diverse amount of genres. Even a children's section for the younger crowd . I whole heartedly suggest coming to this fest.

O. O.

I had a good time at the Edinburgh Book Festival... The environment was really lovely

a. r.

Britain’s best book fest - I should know, I have been to a few...

S. M.

Loved it here. Huge range of books.. If somewhat expensive

E. S.

What a buzz. Great for kids. Some big names like Poet Laureate too.

C. D.

Worth at least one full day trip into the festival madness a year. It is a good idea to spend a few hours browsing the bookshop.

R. H.

Literally my favourite time of the year. Go and hang out.

A. F.

Love Edinburgh book festival. Shame they don't have signed copies of books anymore in main selling area.

J. W.

Just one event - hearing a conversation with Tim Winton - would be enough to get five stars from me. And this is a whole festival of such events.

J. M.

Had a very good time at James Kelman - excellent authors and organisation: Weather not much fun and the expansion into George St was a bit of faff

S. C.

Good festival about books. Lots of interesting talks and events

I. E.

Everyone who works there is very laid back, friendly and approachable x 🙂🤗

s. s.

Very different feeling from the other festivals. Laid back and interesting events

D. W.

Too much gin, not enough coffee. Good for people watching though.

R. S.

One of the best times of year in Edinburgh 😊 my sister and I look forward to this every year.

D. N.

Just visited the bookshop, which is larger than in previous years with the cafe in the middle. A big improvement.

M. C. F. S.

Really interesting, went to the Horrible Histories 25 year event. Great audience participation. Terry Deary and Martin Brown were very entertaining from start to finish. Show lasted an hour which was perfect time for children to enjoy. Book signing afterwards was such a bonus.

H. S.

Brilliant session with Val McDermott! She's such good value and never fails to deliver.

S. L.

Best place to spend time. Shame it's only one month a year!

R. N.

Great variety of events! There's something for everyone :)

R.

It is a great place to be BUT why is it that they have the same authors books out every year - time to change that I think - but brilliant venue for it

D. S.

Brilliantly organised, wide ranging subject matters. Staff helpful,friendly and efficient.

a. K.

Went with thr school. Met julian clary. Kids had a blast

P. D.

Edinbrugh is a wonderful city of culture and well worth a visit.

A. M.

As always a joyous vibe for book lovers young to old

M. M.

This is part of the Edinburgh Fringe and lasts for most ofAugust. We have been going for few years and always come away with couple of books we would not probably have gone looking for. The event accommodates many well known writers talking about latest books but you usually have to book well in advance to get seats. Also events for children. They have couple of cafes and bars and ample outside seating (weather permitting)!

M. G.

great place for kids. lot of activities.

M. G.

A compact festival in the middle of the city. Along with the Wigtown Book Festival, one of the literary treats offered by Scotland in the late summer and early autumn. The venue is surrounded by pubs and restaurants, so there is no shortage of choice.

P. W.

Well organised and layed out. Always interesting.

A. G.

Good food and drink, followed by a great show with Vic Galloway

P. R.

Best talk show at the festival Sue is sooo interesting in her story telling of her travels and life fantastic cheers Sue

T. M.

Brilliant place to go. Recommend x

M. M.

Lots of lovely books to view and buy. One cashier was quite rude to us however which tainted the experience.

A. H. P.

Too many authors to count, great speaker and opportunity for signing

N. O.

Best book festival ever.

S. P.

Wonderful outdoor atmosphere. Saw Jo Nesbo do a talk, wished I could spend the day in Charlotte Square.

C. W.

The main tent this year is a very good idea, merging the adult tent and the children's tent together and moving the tables and the chairs to the centre of the tent. It is very well lit up and very clean. It makes it easier for evefyone to brouse all the titles and to ( hopefully) socialize in the central area and to exchange ideas. It's been over too quickly, it should be extended next year by an extra week ( probably still not enough!). I would like to see an exhibition with work from all the freelance photographers who come to the festival.

A. S.

The Edinburgh book festival sure is a great way to spend the summer and celebrate the #edfringe

C. S.

The world's best book festival and I believe still the biggest. Authors descend from around the world and the programme reflects the most pressing, important, interesting and challenging ideas as well as a fantastic range of fiction and poetry. The children's programme is great and varied - also a great oasis to drop into, kids or not, to relax & eat ice cream in the garden. The only place to be if you love literature. Tickets for talks can be bought on site or booked on their website.

r. l.

Fantastic listening to Doddie Weir very entertaining for a very good cause

B. D. G. E.

A great experience with many an entertaining guest.

A. H.

Always great but always different. Charlotte Square is an oasis of calm amidst all the frenzy of the festival.

N. C.

It's a wee bit early to be offering an opinion on the Book Festival just before midday on the first day but the real joy is that it has started. I'm sitting I a tent waiting to hear Robin Robertson listening to some free saxophone. How do you want to spend a Saturday? There's a while fortnight of winder ahead in this little tented Brigadoon. I can't wait

M. P.

Great experience. As a disabled attendee, was impressed to be asked how I felt set up was. Imparted my knowledge to Executive Director who assured me issue would rectified. More importantly the event with Kit de Waal and Damian Barr was insightful, thought provoking and filled me with hope of still being able to achieve my dream of writing, nothing is a barrier, age, race, orientation, class. Thank you Edinburgh Book Festival!

D.

Great place to spend an afternoon. Getting tickets can be difficult but plenty other activities to see and do.

T. W.

This unique festival is set in the heart of Scotland's capitol. There are opportunities to see authors, hear talks and attend workshops and there were two large book stores (one for kids and one for adults) featuring signed works of featured authors. There are a range of places to get coffee on site. It was crowded and could have benefited from a bigger venue with more indoor seating and seating was difficult to come by. I would go again as long as it was a sunny day.

R. M.

Great eventful children and adults lots of books and authors to see. Face to Face with Julia Donaldson and Helen Oxenbury re their work in childrens books.

A. T.

Amazing. Thousands of book to read and buy.

F. C.

We had a wonderful night seeing and hearing the Last Poets. Their words were inspirational and their story at times heart breaking but a triumph over racism poverty and drug abuse. These guys didn't just invent rap, 50 years on they still have more to say than most. The conga accompaniment was perfect. They spent ages afterwards chatting at the book signing and were so friendly and interested yet modestly majestic.

C. C.

Interesting speakers, well organised and great fun!

D. M.

Great location in this the first City of Literature. It is worth checking out the Amnesty International Imprisoned Writers events daily at 5:30 . Tickets from box office on the day are free. Usually supported by readings of Imprisoned Writers by some the guest authors of the days events.

D. T.

Great people, super energy, worth a visit.

J. D.

What a fantastic city Edinburgh is in August. The festival, fringe, film and of course the BOOK festival. Ian Rankin was entertaining and most illuminating. Reminded me of the joy of book festivals Thanks Edinburgh - enjoy a rest in September.

M. J.

Exceptional use of a usually private garden. The book store is open until 10pm and is free to enter which is awesome when you need to take a break from the busy hustle of the Edinburgh Fringe! The marquees and quality of the café/bars is up there with the best of the best and the experience is second to none. Thanks! MJ.

K. H.

EdBookFest events are always interesting, and Charlotte Square is such a lovely place to be when the festival is on. One star knocked off for the desperately uncomfortable seats though 😉

J. P.

Tents, books, cafes, authors, etc .... What's not to love. Happy to spend hours here browsing, buying, celebrity spotting, eating, drinking. The site is great and compact, but the vagaries of Scottish summer weather do impact. A full day of rain in first weekend is inevitable, and site can turn into a bit of a quagmire!

J. P.

Heavenly for lovers of new and popular books

G. R.

The most amazing atmosphere in the year

P. T.

A little bit of sanity in the madness of the Edinburgh Festival.

R. A.

Brilliant, we come every year

D. V.

Mainly a bookshop but also with talks given many authors on numerous topics.

A. P. F.

Outstanding venue of Edinburgh Book Festival! Situated on the gardens of Charlotte square, one of the finest Neo Classical architecture example in the New Town. Even the First Minister of Scotland has her residence there at Bute House.

R. S.

Always well organised and friendly.

M. O.

Excellent events Great speakers

G. K.

Great shows and fantastic food

I. H.

Not as much inside as I'd hoped and too shut off from Edinburgh itself.

M. R.

Worked at this event, really cool

M. G.

Buzzing and fun for everyone no matter your age

D. R.

Julia Donaldson show was amazing. Happy Birthday Gruffalo, 20 years old.

D. M.

The Book Festival is a fab yearly event. Charlotte Square comes alive when it starts, and there is a real buzz about the place. The Guardian Spiegel tent is a lovely place to hang out, and their sausage pasta is an excellent choice if you plan to eat there.

J. B.

16 days of books awesome

M.

Really lovely event

I. B.

Excellent. Something for everyone.

T. O.

Every August Charlotte Square Gardens becomes the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Even if you don't go to an event the festival is still worth a visit for the tented bookshops, signings, cafés (three that I counted) and chance to spot well known authors.

J. R.

Alan Johnson - good guy

R. F.

Tremendous range and variety

L. S.

Great day out

n. L.

Many fascinating talks

D. R.

Amazing shows!

J. G.

Great day out

J. O.

Always fun.

a. d.

As brilliant as ever.

R. H.

Caramel Brownies to die for!!

S.

Beautiful city

D. S.

Great setting...

z. r.

Lovely experience

G. M.

Hot, very very hot

f. t.

Great fun

m. r.

Great!

D. D.

Totally Ace

D. W.

Smashing

L. M.

Wonderful

A. M.

Excellent

A. A.

Amazing

E. P.

(Translated) My daughter bought some and loved the book tent. I took a cup of coffee in the sun! (Original) Min dotter köpte en del och älskade boktältet. Jag tog en fika ute i solen!

T. B.

(Translated) Can only recommend (Original) Kann man nur empfehlen

K. M.

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G. W.

K. M.

S. A.

G. O.

A. S.

D. M.

E. M.

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