Despite its status as the world's premier arts festival, seats for the EIF aren't that hard to get hold of, and for many performances at least some tickets will be available on the door. However, the more affordable tickets sell out fast and it's difficult to predict how popular a particular event will be - so, with box offices opening right back in March, it's sensible to book up as soon as you know what you want to see.

Compared to the shenanigans you'll go through at the Fringe, booking for the official Festival is the essence of simplicity. There's a single central box office, the online system is fantastic and, no matter how you order, you can always collect your tickets at the place you're seeing the show. There isn't even a booking fee, unless you want the tickets posted out - you can collect them for free once you're in Edinburgh.