Skip to content

FringeGuru

Home arrow Hogmanay arrow The Street Party and Concert in the Gardens
 
The Street Party and Concert in the Gardens

Street Party stage31 December. Entertainment starts 9pm. No admission after 11pm

Princes Street and surrounding area

Options from £10 to £45. Details below. Strictly no admission without a pre-booked ticket

Ticket update on 30 December:  The Concert in the Gardens and Keilidh are sold out, but you can still get Street Party passes.  Read on for full details of what this gets you.  You must purchase passes in advance; we recommend you book online and then collect at the Hub ticket office, on the Royal Mile near to the Castle, by 8pm on New Year's Eve. 

The best-known of Edinburgh's Hogmanay events, a trip to the Street Party is a rite of passage for party-goers around the world. Since its quiet beginnings in the early 90's, the event's grown to accommodate almost 100,000 revellers, all packing into the environs of Princes Street right in the centre of town.

At heart, the Street Party's a one-night music festival, with five stages spread throughout the Princes Street area. This year's main stage is headlined by Ayrshire rockers Biffy Clyro, together with visitors from south of the Border - The Charlatans and special guest Billy Bragg.

   
 

Safety and security - what to expect

The Street Party has a proud reputation as a friendly and safe event, despite the prodigious quantities of alcohol consumed. This comes at a cost, though - so to make the most of your evening, be sure you're in line with the security rules.

There is absolutely no entry without a pass. You'll be amazed at the size of the barriers they put up - there really is no way round this restriction.

Get there early. There's no admission after 11pm.

You're allowed to bring in booze, but glass containers will be confiscated at the gate. Bags may be searched. There are bars available inside the Street Party, though they're obviously very busy.

Don't indulge in too much New Year cheer before you arrive. Police may turn away guests "under the influence of excessive alcohol".

 
   
You need a special Concert in the Gardens ticket to get a first-hand view of the main stage, but the action's relayed to the hoi polloi using big screens on Princes Street. Unless you're a die-hard fan of the headline acts, the basic Street Party Pass may well be enough for you - and some even suggest the atmosphere's better out in the public area.

Those with just the basic tickets also have four public stages to choose from, each playing throughout the night.  Only one's offering live music this year, courtesy of The Coral and guests, but the Kaiser Chiefs will be DJ'ing at the East End - while "X-Factor sensation" Stephen Hunter helps spin the discs at the other end of the street.

You final option's the popular outdoor ceilidh (or Scottish dance), which Hogmanay organizers bizarrely spell The Keilidh.  Once again, you need a special ticket for that - and though it's a great atmosphere, do bear in mind that you'll be dancing outdoors.

When all's said and done, the Street Party's a simple proposition: a great excuse to get up close and personal with 100,000 like-minded revellers, drink a lot, bounce around insanely, and share the excitement as the bells approach. After the big-screen countdown and the fireworks are done, expect to be hugged, kissed or hand-shaken by an uncountable number of utter strangers - before partying some more and then, head ringing, rolling very late home.

Getting the right ticket

As the Street Party has grown in size, so its ticketing system has grown ever more bamboozling. There are now no fewer than four different options, which range in price from £15 to over £40, and each grant access to different bits of the shindig. Free tickets for Edinburgh residents ended years ago, though the Hogmanay organizers still like to claim that their charges are merely an "administration fee".

We quote prices including the per-ticket online booking fee, as this best reflects what the majority of people will pay.  This is why the prices you see here don't match the ones on the Hogmanay's own website.

A basic pass (£15) gets you access to the city centre area, and three stages located at Waverley, the Mound and the West End. For details of the running-order on those stages, check out the Hogmanay website.

To see headliners Biffy Clyro, The Charlatans and Billy Bragg, you'll need Concert in the Gardens tickets.  There are two classes of ticket: the cheaper ones will set you back £38, while to gain access to the stage enclosure, you'll have to pay £43.  Both classes of ticket will get you into the less crowded gardens area, with extra beer tents and much nicer toilets. Of course, you can also venture out to the three "public" stages.

Finally, tickets for The Keilidh get you into the area round the Mound, including the ceilidh dance floor and the stage where local folk-rock bands play in the bells. These tickets cost £32.60, and again include access to the public areas (but not to the Concert in the Gardens). The ceilidh's usually the last event to sell out - so these tickets can work as a last-ditch way to get into the main Street Party.

All tickets are available online.  From 16 December, you can also call in person at The Hub box office on the Royal Mile (not far from the Castle); or Tickets Scotland at 127 Rose Street and Ripping Records on South Bridge can help you right now.
The Midnight Fireworks >>
[ Back ]

Edinburgh 2011

Coming to the Fringe next year?  It's never too early to plan your trip.  Learn about Edinburgh's summer Festivals and plan your visit around the city's major events. 

Find out more >>