Frequently Asked Questions
How long do events last?
The majority of events last one hour. Occasionally some events may be 75 or 90 minutes or even up to 2 hours long and events for very young children are often less than an hour.
What time will author X be signing?
Most authors sign directly after their event, and events last 1 hour unless otherwise stated. There are white boards up outside The Bookshop, the RBS Children's Bookshop and the Signing Tent, which have details of the day's signings on them.
Where are the venues?
Edinburgh International Book Festival is unique as all our venues are in one place: Charlotte Square Gardens in the centre of Edinburgh, just off the West End of Princes Street.
When are the gardens open?
We are open every day from 15 to 31 August 2009 from 9.30am until late.
Are there any events for children?
Yes, we have a whole programme of events entirely dedicated to children and their parents/carers. It features readings, panel discussions, creative workshops, demonstrations, storytelling and activities of every type to keep children absorbed and entertained. There are plenty of places to eat and drink in Charlotte Square Gardens as well as the RBS Children's Bookshop.
Is anything free?
There are lots of free daily events and activities at the Book Festival including:
Daily storytelling for adults and children with some of today's most inspirational national and international writers
A daily Amnesty International Imprisoned Writers event which pays tribute, with short readings by leading authors, to writers incarcerated or persecuted for their beliefs and words.
A fun Activity Corner for children is located in the RBS Children's Bookshop where there is also a Reading Corner.
Live music features most lunchtimes and evenings in the Book Festival's very own Spiegeltent. It's one of the most atmospheric bars in town offering the best music, drink and conversation.
There are daily signings in the Authors' Signing Tent where you can meet the finest writers from around the world and get your favourite book signed by the author.
Rhymetime with Bookstart Edinburgh and Craigmillar Books for Babies are enjoyable and engaging half hour sessions of stories, songs and rhymes for babies and children under 3 years.
There is no admission fee to Charlotte Square Gardens - entry is FREE for everyone.
Do I have to buy a ticket to accompany my child / do teachers have to have tickets?
We strongly suggest that children under the age of ten are accompanied by adults to all events, except workshop events (see below). Everyone attending an event must purchase a ticket.
Do I have to accompany my child in a workshop?
Each child's workshop ticket also admits one accompanying adult. As the sessions are small, adults are not required to attend. If you would like to, please be aware that space is limited and we are only able to admit one accompanying adult per participating child. Additional babies or siblings will only be admitted at our discretion.
If you do not accompany your child, we would request that you stay in the gardens near the event - a perfect place to read and relax while you are waiting.
Do you admit latecomers?
Out of consideration to audience members and authors we do not admit latecomers to events and no refunds will be given. Please note also that our events start punctually. Please be sure to allow enough time to pick up your tickets from the Box Office (if they haven't already been posted to you) and walk across the gardens to the venue before the event start time.
Who runs your bookshops?
We do! Both bookshops in Charlotte Square Gardens are owned and operated by us which means all profit from our independent booksales operation is ploughed directly back into the festival itself. Any purchase you make on site, however small, is a most valuable contribution to the on-going development of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
How long has the festival been running?
The very first Book Festival was held in Charlotte Square Gardens in 1983.
Can I bring a picnic onto site?
Yes! Charlotte Square Gardens is a great place to sit, relax and eat with friends and family.
Who is the statue in the middle of the garden?
Prince Albert.
What happens to the books after the festival?
All the books in our bookshops are supplied to us on a sale or return basis and any left at the end of the festival will therefore be returned to the publishers. Books given to us by publishers and other organisations for work use are donated to schools and charities after the festival is over.
How can I work at the festival?
We employ short-term temporary staff during the festival itself in August and some long-term contractual staff from May through to September most years. Recruitment and interviews usually take place from April onwards. We also employ fifteen permanent full time staff who work all year round. When we are recruiting staff it will be advertised on the jobs page of this website.
