Aching feet? Tired muscles? The festival is great, sure, but after a day of experimental theatre and satirical comedy in leaky pubs, all you really want is a moment to yourself away from the madness. Luckily there are some hidden havens you can escape to.

For complete peace and quiet, you might like to try some meditating at the Edinburgh Buddhist Centre. Even if you don’t quite reach spiritual enlightenment, there’s tea and biccies afterwards.

Over at Greenside, Mardy Arts have a whole range of weird and wonderful happenings in store under the banner Beside the Greenside. In the words of the venue’s director, Darren Neale, it’s ‘a temporary space in which to pause, breathe, share a cup of tea laced with a love of festival chatter and gossip.’ OK, so their Charity Shop Rummaging Disco doesn’t scream ‘relaxing’ but might be worth checking out for curiosity’s sake.

And if it’s just a bit of pampering you’re after, you could always drop by Neal’s Yard Remedies. Their yearly Festival Chill-Out Zone aims to provide a calm environment with a range of 15–60 minute treatments and complimentary herbal tea. Who doesn’t need a bit of acupuncture during the festival?

Buddhist Meditation, Edinburgh Buddhist Centre, 662 6699, 2–6 & 14–25 Aug (not 19, 20), 11am, £9 (£6);

Beside the Greenside, Greenside, 557 2124, 2–24 Aug (not 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19), 1pm–6pm, free. non-ticketed;

Festival Chill-Out Zone, Neal’s Yard Remedies, 226 3223, until 27 Aug, 9am–8pm, free.