Festival Theatre

Planning a visit to Festival Theatre Edinburgh? Whether you’re coming to see a touring musical, dance production, opera or another live performance, this guide will help you plan your trip.
From what’s on and how to get there to nearby restaurants, parking, accommodation and accessibility information, you’ll find everything you need to start planning your visit to one of Edinburgh’s leading theatres.

What’s On at Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Festival Theatre welcomes a varied programme of performances throughout the year, including touring musicals, dance, opera, drama and family productions.

The theatre regularly attracts major productions to Edinburgh, making it an important venue to keep an eye on if you’re looking for your next musical.

Take a look at what’s coming to Festival Theatre and start planning your visit.

See What’s On at Festival Theatre Edinburgh

About Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Festival Theatre stands on Nicolson Street on a site that has been home to entertainment for generations. Today’s theatre combines a modern exterior and facilities with a historic auditorium, creating a venue that feels very different from many modern theatres.

With seating for more than 1,900 people, Festival Theatre is large enough to welcome major touring productions while also hosting dance, opera, drama and other large-scale performances. For musical fans, it is one of Edinburgh’s key venues alongside the Edinburgh Playhouse and regularly welcomes touring productions to the capital.

Festival Theatre

13–29 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9FT.
Telephone Bookings: 0131 529 6000.

Nicolson Street and the surrounding area are served by numerous Edinburgh bus routes, making the bus a convenient option from many parts of the city.
Bus routes and timetables can change, so check your journey before travelling rather than relying on a particular service number.
Allow a little extra time if you’re unfamiliar with the area or travelling during a busy period.

You can drive to Festival Theatre, but the venue does not have a large public car park of its own.
One nearby option is the NCP car park on Holyrood Road, which is within walking distance of the theatre.
Parking prices, opening arrangements and availability can change, so check the latest information directly with the car park before travelling.
Edinburgh city centre can also become particularly busy during weekends, festivals and major events, so leave plenty of time to park and walk to the theatre.

Edinburgh Waverley is the closest main railway station.
The walk from Waverley to Festival Theatre usually takes around 10–15 minutes, depending on your route and walking pace.
If you’re travelling into Edinburgh specifically for a performance, check your return train before you travel. This is particularly important for evening performances, as the finishing time of a musical may affect which services you can catch home.
Coming soon – Read Our Guide to Festival Theatre from Waverley Station

Edinburgh’s tram network doesn’t stop directly outside Festival Theatre, but it can still form part of your journey if you’re travelling from Edinburgh Airport, Haymarket or another location along the tram route.
You’ll need to continue to the theatre on foot or by another form of transport after leaving the tram.
Check your route before travelling and allow enough time to reach Nicolson Street before your performance.

Walking is often one of the easiest ways to reach Festival Theatre if you’re already in Edinburgh city centre.
The theatre is close to the Old Town and within walking distance of Edinburgh Waverley, the Royal Mile and several popular parts of central Edinburgh.
Remember that Edinburgh has hills, busy roads and uneven surfaces, so walking times can vary considerably depending on your route and mobility requirements.

Where to Eat Near Festival Theatre

Planning dinner before your performance? Festival Theatre is surrounded by plenty of places to eat, particularly around Nicolson Street, South Bridge, Infirmary Street and the nearby Old Town.

You’ll find everything from casual restaurants and cafés to Indian food, Italian restaurants and places suitable for a longer pre-theatre meal. When choosing where to eat, consider:

How long it will take to walk to Festival Theatre
Your performance start time
How long you’d like for your meal
Whether you need to reserve a table

Restaurants close to the theatre can become busy before popular evening and weekend performances, so booking ahead is often worthwhile. We’ve put together a dedicated guide to help you choose somewhere suitable.

Discover Restaurants Near Festival Theatre Edinburgh

You can also explore Edinburgh dining offers if you’re looking for a restaurant deal to combine with your theatre visit.

View Edinburgh Dining Deals

Hotels Near Festival Theatre Edinburgh

If you’re travelling from outside Edinburgh, staying overnight can turn your theatre visit into a full city break. Festival Theatre is particularly well placed for accommodation around the Old Town, Southside, Royal Mile and wider city centre.

Staying nearby can make an evening performance much easier because you won’t need to worry as much about catching a late train or travelling a long distance once the show finishes. Before booking, check the actual walking route between your accommodation and Festival Theatre. A hotel described as being in Edinburgh city centre isn’t necessarily right beside Nicolson Street.

Coming soon – Find Hotels Near Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Coming soon – Explore Edinburgh Hotel Deals

Parking Near Festival Theatre Edinburgh

Festival Theatre doesn’t have a large public car park attached to the venue. NCP Holyrood Road is one nearby option and is around a nine-minute walk from the theatre. There may also be other city-centre parking options depending on the direction you’re travelling from.

If you’re planning to drive, check current parking prices, opening times and restrictions before setting off. It’s also sensible to leave extra time, particularly during weekends and Edinburgh’s busy festival periods.

Festival Theatre Seating

Festival Theatre has a large auditorium with seating across several levels. With a capacity of more than 1,900, your experience can vary depending on where you’re sitting and the type of production you’re seeing.

Some visitors prefer being closer to the stage, while others may prefer a more central position that gives them a wider view of a large musical, dance or opera production. If you have particular mobility or accessibility requirements, check the theatre’s current seating and access information before choosing your seats.

View Festival Theatre Seating Information

Accessibility at Festival Theatre

Festival Theatre offers a range of accessibility services and accessible performances. Depending on the production, these can include Audio Described, Captioned, British Sign Language Interpreted and Relaxed performances, along with Touch Tours for selected shows.

If you have mobility requirements or need particular assistance during your visit, check the latest access information before booking. The theatre’s team can also advise on suitable seating and any support you may need. Because accessibility arrangements can vary between performances, we’d recommend checking directly with Capital Theatres when planning your visit.

Check Official Festival Theatre Accessibility Information

Things to Do Near Festival Theatre

Festival Theatre’s location makes it easy to combine a performance with more of Edinburgh. The theatre is close to the Old Town, and you can reach areas around the Royal Mile, National Museum of Scotland and other central Edinburgh attractions on foot.

If you’re attending an evening performance, you could spend the afternoon exploring the city before having dinner near the theatre. A matinee can work just as well as part of a longer day out, leaving your evening free for dinner or more sightseeing. If you’re staying overnight, you’ll have even more time to explore Edinburgh before or after your show.

Coming soon – Explore Things to Do in Edinburgh

Coming soon – View Edinburgh Attractions & Experience Deals

Planning Your Festival Theatre Visit

A little preparation can make your theatre trip much more relaxed.

Before you travel, check:

Your performance start time
The expected running time
How you’re getting to Festival Theatre
Your return transport
Where you’d like to eat
Whether your restaurant needs to be booked
Any accessibility requirements
Your accommodation if you’re staying overnight

Try to arrive around 30 minutes before your performance begins. This should give you enough time to enter the theatre, find your seats and get settled before the show starts.

For particularly busy performances, you may prefer to arrive a little earlier.

FAQ

Planning your first visit to Festival Theatre? These quick answers cover some of the most common questions about getting there, parking, food and planning your performance.

Yes, it is possible to walk between the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Playhouse. The distance will depend on which part of the Royal Mile you’re starting from, and Edinburgh’s hills should be taken into account.

Aim to arrive around 30 minutes before your performance begins. This gives you time to enter the theatre, find your seats and get settled without rushing. Allow a little longer if you need assistance or want to visit the café or bar before the show.

Edinburgh Waverley is approximately a 10–15 minute walk from Festival Theatre. Your journey may take longer depending on your walking pace, route, mobility requirements and how busy the city centre is.

Festival Theatre doesn’t have a large public car park of its own. NCP Holyrood Road is one nearby option and is around a nine-minute walk from the theatre. Always check current parking information and prices before travelling.

Yes, although Festival Theatre is further from Princes Street than some other central Edinburgh venues. The route takes you towards the Old Town and Nicolson Street. Allow extra time for hills, road crossings and busy pedestrian areas.

There are plenty of restaurants around Nicolson Street, Infirmary Street, South Bridge and the surrounding Old Town. Choosing somewhere within easy walking distance of Festival Theatre can make your pre-show meal much more relaxed.
See Our Restaurants Near Festival Theatre Guide

The Old Town, Southside and wider city centre all provide convenient accommodation options. If being close to Festival Theatre is important, check the actual walking route between your hotel and Nicolson Street before booking.

Festival Theatre provides accessibility services and accessible performances, with options that can include Audio Description, Captioning, British Sign Language Interpretation, Relaxed performances and Touch Tours. Check the latest information with Capital Theatres before booking if you have specific access requirements.

Make More of Your Festival Theatre Visit

Seeing a show at Festival Theatre can easily become part of a bigger day or weekend in Edinburgh. You could explore the Old Town, visit an attraction, enjoy a pre-theatre meal, stay overnight or spend more time discovering the city before travelling home.

Our Edinburgh visitor guides will help you bring everything together, from choosing your musical and getting to the theatre to finding restaurants, accommodation and things to do around your performance.

Plan Your Perfect Edinburgh Visit

See What’s On at Festival Theatre Edinburgh