Edinburgh in August is a place like no other, with our residents and visitors enjoying access to thousands of outstanding shows and events that we’d otherwise have to travel the world to find.
With careful planning and efficient management with all of our partners, we welcome the world while keeping our city running smoothly for everyone.
There’s a lot to think about when planning ahead for the busy summer months. With so many more people we need to think about
- keeping people safe
- keeping traffic and public transport moving
- managing busy areas
- improving city infrastructure
- providing advice for event organisers and partners
We’re also always on hand to respond to specific issues or where we need to change our plans, for example if the weather is affecting things or there are unrelated incidents affecting traffic.
Throughout the year, we work really hard with partners to understand and balance the needs of residents, visitors and businesses whilst making sure that the summer festivals and other major events take place successfully and safely.
Road restrictions or closures – why we use them and what’s involved
The popularity of the attractions in and around the Old Town as well as a full festivals programme means we have a lot of visitors during the summer months.
In summer, we see over 5,000 people moving through the Lawnmarket every hour.
It is essential that we manage and restrict general traffic through the area to make it safer and easier for everyone to get around.
More information about the traffic restrictions we put in place and advice on how best to get around the city.