World Traveller December 2018

Scottish National Portrait Gallery interior views
© Keith Hunter & National Galleries of Scotland
Literary fans can
sip a brew at The Elephant
House tea and coffee shop
in the historic quarter,
which authors including J.K.
Rowling and Ian Rankin
have used as a
writing den
ON THE
FRINGE
Shona McCarthy,
chief executive
of the Edinburgh
Festival Fringe
Society, talks art
and culture
1The Edinburgh Fringe Festival,
which takes place every August,
brings together acts and audiences
from all over the world to create an
international melting pot of arts and
culture, from theatre and comedy to
circus, opera, children's shows and
spoken word performances. There’s
nothing quite like wandering through
the city when the Fringe is on and
soaking up the electric atmosphere.
2The impact of the festival is
felt keenly through the year,
with many Fringe artists and
companies adding to a thriving local
creative scene that has transformed
the city into a bucket-list
destination for anyone who
is passionate about the arts.
There are events all year
round, from the Edinburgh
International Science
Festival in April through to
Hogmanay, which rounds
off the annual cultural
offering at the turn of the
New Year – it's always a hive of activity.
3
There are lots of amazing
galleries featuring all kinds of
art and exhibitions, both past
and present. Some favourites include
the Scottish National Portrait Gallery
and the Scottish National Gallery. The
former tells the story of Scotland and
its people with portraits of historical
figures such as Mary Queen of Scots
and Robert Burns, while the National
Gallery has an outstanding fine art
collection, including masterpieces
by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Monet and
Van Gogh, among many others.
The Elephant House
Photo © VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
4The National Museum of
Scotland is another must-see,
with fascinating permanent
exhibits from nature, science, art,
design, fashion and more. Here, you
can find out more about the history
of the area, from pre-history to the
present day, in the Scottish galleries.
5
People often talk about there
being a sense of an artistic
community in the city, one that is
not bound by geography or nationality,
but can give a real sense of belonging
in a different way. What better reason
to visit Edinburgh this winter?
WORDS BY OLIVIA CUTHBERT
28 World Traveller