12 ways to avoid the royal wedding in Edinburgh

Unless you've been living under a rock, you'll surely know that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are due to tie the knot this Saturday 19 May.

There are plenty of events going on in Edinburgh this weekend that are completely removed from the royal wedding (Photo: Shutterstock)

Some businesses and venues in Edinburgh are organising live viewings of the ceremony and events themed around the wedding, but if seeing the royal pair say ‘I do’ isn’t your idea of fun, here are some things you can do to completely avoid the celebrations.

World Whisky Day at The Pitt

Celebrate Scotland’s national drink and tuck into some delicious street food at The Pitt, Edinburgh’s regular street food market on Pitt Street.

More info - facebook.com/events

MagicFest Gala

Enjoy a breath-taking mix of illusion, mind-reading, theatrical pickpocketing, comedy and deft sleight-of-hand from a selection of the world’s best magic and variety acts at MagicFest’s afternoon Gala, held in the Lyceum Theatre.

More info - magicfest.co.uk

Wicked

There are still tickets available for the matinee performance of world famous Wizard of Oz-themed musical, Wicked at Edinburgh’s Playhouse on Saturday afternoon.

More info - wickedthemusical.co.uk

Death Cafe at Summerhall

Probably the furthest you can get from a wedding, a ‘death cafe’ might sound morbid, but it is simply a place to discuss death and dying with no agenda - and you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee at the same time.

More info - deathcafe.com

Edinburgh Yoga Festival

If you’re a yoga fan, treat yourself to an afternoon (or even a full day) of yoga at Edinburgh Yoga Festival. From postnatal workshops to vinyasa and yin yang classes, there’s something for everyone.

More info - edyogafest.co.uk

Leith Farmers’ Market

Take a wander into Leith and treat yourself to everything from cheese and fresh vegetables to coffee and hot chilli at Leith Farmers’ Market.

More info - stockbridgemarket.com/leith

Wee Dub Summer Social and BBQ

If you love reggae, head to Teviot’s courtyard for an all-day barbecue, social and afterparty to help kick off the summer. Look forward to live music, DJ sets, delicious food and some family fun.

More info - weedubfestival.co.uk

Whisky Assembly

Whether you already love whisky or want to learn more about it, Whisky Assembly will give you the ultimate experience. Meet different distilleries in person, sample free drams and listen to fascinating talks from industry experts.

More info - eusa.ed.ac.uk

Silent Disco Tour

Spend your Saturday afternoon dancing around the streets of Edinburgh on this unique silent disco tour, where only participants can hear the music through their headphones.

More info - silentadventures.co.uk

Wee Red Record Fair

If you love music - and specifically vinyl - head to the Wee Red Bar on the Edinburgh College of Art campus to browse through everything from disco and funk to post-punk and reggae.

More info - eusa.ed.ac.uk

Ghost World screening at Filmhouse

Filmhouse are showing black comedy Ghost World this Saturday afternoon, which was released in 2000 and stars Thora Birch, Scarlett Johansson and Steve Buscemi. The movie is from the same director as Bad Santa.

More info - filmhousecinema.com

FA Cup Final at the Golf Tavern

For any fans of the beautiful game, the Golf Tavern in Bruntsfield will be screening the FA Cup Final between Manchester United and Chelsea live on their big screens. Tables can be booked in advance, so you won’t miss a second of the action.

More info - facebook.com/events