The Edinburgh Insider Blog

The free two-day Edinburgh Doors Open Day on 26 and 27 September looks guaranteed to bring some fun to the city after the Fringe ends in August. The event will give access to dozens of city buildings normally out of bounds to the public - and free entry to many places that usually charge. The seventy-plus buildings participating in Edinburgh Doors Open Day range from a lighthouse to a curling house, and from the City Chambers to an infantry barracks. For the first time, the Cockburn Association, (The Edinburgh Civic Trust), is holding the event over two days instead of one, so visitors can see more of Edinburgh's buildings than ever before.

Sales for this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe are breaking records on previous years, with tickets in high demand, despite the recession. At the end of the first week of sales, the Fringe had already sold just under £800,000 of tickets. Fringe Chief Executive Kath Mainland said: "This is the first time the Fringe has sold more than half a million pounds worth of tickets in its first week." She added: "It is extremely heartening that so many people are still seduced by the appeal of the Fringe." In 2008 bad weather and problems with the ticketing system meant sales slumped by 10% on the previous year, falling to 1.5 million tickets sold.

Edinburgh is lucky enough to have two modern art galleries standing just across the road from each other. Both are former schools set in extensive parkland close to the city centre. Both make for great days out. The Gallery of Modern Art, at 75 Belford Road, exhibits works from 1900 to the present day, with a; standing collection featuring works by Francis Bacon, David Hockney, Andy Warhol and Lucian Freud.

Edinburgh has no shortage of cafés for thirsty visitors in search of refreshment. There are the usual chains, of which my favourite is Costa in Castle Street, with views towards Edinburgh Castle. And the city also has many quirky, independent eateries that offer something more unusual.

They say reading certain books can change your life. Hearing an author can have the same effect too. No-one visiting Edinburgh in August should go home without at least one trip to the Edinburgh Book Festival. The event, which runs from 15 to 31 August, is one of the biggest and best literary festivals in the world. In many ways it's my favourite of the several wonderful festivals - Jazz, Fringe, Festival - taking place around the same time in Edinburgh.

Every August, Edinburgh is gripped by festival fever and the city comes alive as it plays host to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Book Festival, the Jazz Festival and, of course, the one that started them all, the Edinburgh Festival itself.

Visitors and locals alike enjoy Edinburgh's Botanical Gardens.

One of the reasons I like living in central Edinburgh so much is proximity to the city's Royal Botanic Gardens. Sure, we don't have a garden in our second-floor flat, but who needs one when you have seventy acres of landscaped perfection close at hand?

The gardens have offered a tranquil haven to visitors for hundreds of years and have a special place in the hearts of many locals. Founded in the 17th century as a physic garden, the Botanics keep people coming back again and again. Not surprising, when you consider some of its attractions.

For starters, it has a huge beech hedge, more than a century old, that you can watch changing colour with the seasons. There's a herbaceous border too - but not like any typical herbaceous border. This one is more than 165 metres long. The Queen Mother's Memorial Garden, which opened in 2006, features a box-hedge maze and 'shell house' that entertains children for hours. Walking through the Chinese Hillside section, with its river, waterfall and pagoda, is a treat for everyone. Anybody interested in Scotland's native flora will enjoy the Scottish Heath Garden. Giant Sierra Redwood trees from North America give welcome shade in the summer.

Inverleith House, in the grounds, is often home to a contemporary art exhibition. The Victorian palmhouse is a joy for anyone who enjoys plants or architecture. There are special events for adults, families and children happening most weekends. Better still, unlike many similar gardens, entry to this one is free.

10,000 walkers in decorated bras raise money for breast cancer.

Last Saturday was a magic night in Edinburgh when thousands of women – and even quite a few men too – walked for miles on the city streets to raise money for breast cancer charities. People gathered from all over Scotland to take part in the Edinburgh Moon Walk, a fund raiser for breast cancer charity Walk the Walk, that involves walking overnight, while dressed up in decorated bras.

After gathering at a giant pink tented village in Inverleith Park, in the north of Edinburgh, we walkers set off across the city around midnight. Some were walking a full marathon of 26 miles, others (me) were doing the Half Moon of 13 miles. Hundreds of volunteers gave up a night's sleep to cheer us on, shouting out encouragement that kept us going. Many Edinburgh residents came out of their homes to support us and keep our spirits high with banners. The feeling of solidarity among the walkers is something I'll always treasure.

Other things I won't forget from the evening? On the descent from Arthur's Seat, a forbidding hill we circuited at about eight miles into the walk, the joy of suddenly seeing the city's twinkling lights spread out below us. And, of course, something I will always remember is the sight of Edinburgh Castle's austere ramparts lit up in pink in honour of the walk.