Edinburgh Festival

Missed it this year and was so gutted. The best arts festival in the world, no question about it.

Edinburgh at festival time is one of those things you should aim to do at least once in your lifetime. The whole city is transformed and there's always something to see. It can be a bit daunting first time around, but you soon get a feel for how it all works. Book your place to stay well in advance though, last year I ended up stranded out near Leith harbour.

As a native I can recommend this experience to anyone who wishes to spend four of the best weeks of their lives. I get to take part every year and I still love it. Every moment of every day is a whirl of new sights and sounds, and the best part is most of it is free. I love being surrounded by every nationality in the world and celebrating their talents. This is a must for everyone!

The Edinburgh Festival (and Festival Fringe) is one of the most exciting performance festivals in the world. It consumes the entire city. Go for at least a week and take side trips into the beautiful countryside.