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Five things you need to know today

July 19, 2024 7:45 am

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Summer road closures in the city centre

This week some streets in the Old Town are being closed for the rest of the summer to accommodate pedestrian traffic which increases so much during the Festival. Others are then closed or pedestrian and vehicle access may be altered from the end of the month.

These are the streets affected:

High Street, St Giles Street (in part), Parliament Squares and Cockburn Street – Edinburgh Fringe and Tattoo from 31 July to 25 August

High Street, St Giles’ Street and Cockburn Street – closed to vehicles between 10.30am and midnight (Monday to Saturday) and 10.30am to 9pm on Sundays.
Loading and unloading permitted from midnight until 10.30am. No waiting permitted at any time.
St Giles Street has an area restricted to allow loading 10.30am to 7pm in the east-west section (accessed from Bank Street/North Bank Street).
Cockburn Street waiting, loading and unloading permitted from midnight until 10.30am.

Blair Street – Edinburgh Fringe from 5 August to 26 August

Closed to vehicles from South Bridge for 30 metres westwards.
Normal one-way is rescinded and there is an area restricted to allow loading and turning at the northern end of the north-south section.

Lawnmarket (Castlehill to George IV Bridge) – Summer Streets – 15 July to 30 September

One way eastbound from Johnston Terrace for bus, coach, taxis and cycles only between 10.30am to 6.30pm daily.
Access for servicing, loading and unloading 6.30pm – 10.30am (access via Johnston Terrace).
Advisory 5mph speed limit.

Tattoo – 31 July to 24 August

Closed to vehicles from 4pm, 5pm or 5.30pm to midnight for the Tattoo (see
5pm on 31 July and 1 August, 5.30pm weekdays (except 9 August)
4pm on 3, 9, 10, 17 and 24 August.
General vehicle access, one way eastbound, midnight until 10.30am

Additional vehicle restrictions will be in place from 30 September to the end of July 2025 to allow the council to carry out major road repairs. More information will be provided at a later date.

Johnston Terrace – Summer Streets – 15 July to 30 September

Access for all vehicles from 15 July to 30 September.
No access into Lawnmarket except buses, taxis and cycles 10.30am – 6.30pm

Tattoo – 31 July to 24 August

Closed to vehicles from 4pm, 5pm or 5.30pm to midnight for the Tattoo
5pm on 31 July and 1 August, 5.30pm weekdays (except 9 August)
4pm on 3, 9, 10, 17 and 24 August.

Car boot sale this weekend

This weekend (and every weekend) there is an indoor car boot sale at Edinburgh College.

Cultural news

The new exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy which opens on Saturday is of Glasgow Boy, Sir John Lavery’s, art. It is refreshing to see the art displayed by National Galleries Scotland in a huge space with room for all the lovely works to breathe.

Vintage Vibes

Edinburgh-based charity project, Vintage Vibes has launched its new Wellbeing Prize Draw, encouraging Edinburgh locals to donate and enter the draw to win prizes that support their wellbeing while helping the charity project to tackle loneliness among older people in the city.

The multi award-winning charitable partnership brings people together through friendship matches, groups, and events to tackle social isolation and loneliness in the over the 60s across Edinburgh.

Prize draw tickets are now available online at Vintagevibes.org.uk, with local businesses supporting the cause by donating a wide range of fabulous prizes to encourage wellbeing and fun.

From tickets to shows at The Edinburgh Playhouse and The Cameo Picturehouse, to feel good treatments for your hair, body, mind and soul, a family photography session, and experiences such as a family day out at Edinburgh Zoo, or a meal at The Port of Leith Distillery Bar.

Gemma Wright, Fundraising and Communications lead at Vintage Vibes, said: “All proceeds from the prize draw go to supporting lonely and isolated older people in Edinburgh, which is one of the loneliest cities in the UK for older people. By supporting our new Wellbeing Prize Draw you could not only win a fabulous prize to improve your own happiness and wellbeing but know that you are in turn helping to improve the life of a lonely local older person too.”