What's on in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Military Tattoo

6 - 28 Aug 2010; not Sun (annual)

Cost: £16-£50; Sat 10.30pm (with fireworks) £19-£53
Mail order (to be received by 6 Nov) & online booking from 1 Dec; phone booking from 9 Dec; counter booking 16 Dec

Hours: Mon-Fri 9pm; Sat 7.30pm & 10.30pm

Against the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the Edinburgh Tattoo has been a must since its first outing in 1950 and its blend of military bands and displays, including an eclectic mix of international visitors, never fails to please.

This major annual event attracts thousands of spectators from all over the world - indeed, in over half a century the estimated total of vistors is ten million!

Set in front of Edinburgh's cliff-top castle, with stands built on and out from the Castle Esplanade, the Tattoo brings to the heart of Edinburgh a spectacular range of traditional military costumes, music and parades, not just from the Scottish tradition of kilts, bagpipes and pipe bands, but combat and motorcycle display teams, parachute displays and visitors from military forces from around the world. Every year there is the haunting sound of the Lone Piper, performed against the famous backdrop of the castle, as well as Massed Highland Dancers.

The 2010 Tattoo marks the event's diamond jubilee, and will have already travelled around the globe, as it presents a tattoo in Sydney in February 2010.

If you can't get there, then the Tattoo website provides live images of each year's event, with two webcams, strategically positioned atop the box complex on the east stand of the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, providing spectacular views of the castle, the Tattoo and the historic Royal Mile which leads down to both the Palace of Holyrood House and the new Scottish Parliament.

Edinburgh Castle