Air Conditioning in Edinburgh?

Air conditioning......in Scotland! Are you mad?

Edinburgh can get quite warm in the height of summer but there's never any need for A/C, just leave the window open. Far better in my opinion and kinder on the environment. If it gets too hot just kick off the covers.

I live on the South Coast of England and it gets warmer than Edinburgh but I could never imagine an occasion when A/C would be a consideration.

I was in Edinburgh in summer and heating was needed, not air-conditioning.

Windows left ajar. Very few domestic buildings including flats and apartments will have air con.

Also a warm Scottish summer day can be cooler than the temperature Air Con in the US is set at. Mid twenties is a warm summer here.

Will you Americans used to A/C in July survive?

Yes of course. There must be hundreds of Americans in Edinburgh every summer and they all survive. As has been said A/C is not at all common in the UK, although some large shops and offices may have it. I've never lived anywhere or stayed in any hotel/B&B/Guest House in the UK where A/C was installed.

If it concerns you then maybe you should contact your accommodation providers to see if they have any oscillating fans or portable air cooling units which you can use. That might help matters.

Sownack, me neither. And I have family and friends in the south of England where it can get British hot. Or Maltese frozen.

What needs to be remembered is our buildings are designed for warmth, warm weather is not the norm. If you go to the Wall, the Roman buildings, designed for cooling, had to be adapted for northern cold.

We were in Edinburgh mid to late June. I wore long johns in the evenings and a jacket during the day. If anything, I was cold.

It's an honest question; but really O.P.: Scotland is cool to cold year round.
I lived there for many years, and never saw an AC unit ever, anywhere at all, in any kind of building.
If you were thinking of packing really summery clothes for Scotland, think again.
Pack a waterproof jacket, closed in walking shoes, a fleece to line the jacket.
It can get warm, but only up to about 72-75F, and that lasts about 2 days.
Dress in layers, and you can strip off or add on as needed.
Zip off pants would be good, if it did get warm.
Take bug repellent too if you are going to any rural areas.

Having lived in Scotland (mainly Edinburgh) for the majority of my 61 years I could count on one had the number of times air conditioning would be required every year and in many year none at all.For someone more used to higher temps and humidity than we get in Scotland you will not have a problem, as other have said you are more likely to require heating than A/C.

I wanted to say that I am an American who relies heavily on AC during the summer months (and sometimes spring and fall too) and I visited Scotland in July and lived to tell about it. I would agree that it was definitely cooler than back home and that AC was not essential, but I would also remind you that it's a good idea to double check the weather predictions (for what they're worth) right before you leave. I didn't do this and actually took warmer clothing than I needed. Given that at the time it was about 110F (43C) at home I was afraid of being cold in Scotland and only packed jeans/long pants with a mix of short/long sleeve tops. I encountered days with rain and even some days where a sweater was required, but I was really wishing I had a skirt or a pair of capris to wear on a couple of the warm-ish days where I was out walking around all day. I guess you never know what you'll get in Scotland.

I really don't think you'll even notice. :) Yes, indeed people do sleep with windows open. A quiet area is a good idea. Steer clear of the Grassmarket. I have stayed at the Inverlieth Hotel which is close to the Royal Botanic Gardens and is quite quiet. But there are other areas.

Also, as a city dweller, I would recommend bringing some ear plugs with you. They are cheap and can be bought by the handful in most drug stores.

Pam