10 Facts About The Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Did you know that Edinburgh is often described as the world’s leading festival city?

And it’s not surprising, given the number of festivals that take place in the Scottish city every year.

Every August, alongside festivals such as the Edinburgh Fringe, you can also experience the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – one of the biggest military shows of its kind.

It’s a truly unmissable event, set in a stunning location against the illuminated backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.

Here are some interesting facts about the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

1. Visitors have been enjoying the Tattoo for over 70 years. The first Tattoo took place in 1950, attracting an audience of around 100,000 spectators, across 20 performances.
   
   
2. The word ‘Tattoo’ comes from a 17^th century Dutch phrase ‘doe den tap toe’ which means ‘turn off the tap’. This refers to the signal, played by trumpeters and drummers, to tell tavern owners to stop serving ales so that soldiers would return to the barracks. The term ‘tattoo’ became associated with different types of military performances.
   
   
3. The Tattoo includes jaw-dropping military flybys, fantastic firework displays, popular anthems and a truly exhilarating atmosphere – there really is nothing quite like it.
    
4. Today, a staggering 200,000 people attend the event each year. In addition to this, around 100 million people watch it on TV, enjoying the entertainment from the comfort of their own home.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Over 1,000 performers take part in the show. They are from around 48 different countries, and from 6 continents.
   
   
6. It was given the title ‘Royal’ Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2010 by Queen Elizabeth in 2010, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Edinburgh Tattoo.
    
   
   
   
   
7. To celebrate 60 years of the spectacular show, the ‘Royal’ bit was added to the Tattoo’s title by HM Queen Elizabeth in 2010.
   
   
8. The Tattoo gets booked up very quickly, so you'll need to make sure you get tickets. Better yet, why not book with Caledonian Travel and get your transport, admission ticket and accommodation all sorted in one go?
   
   
   
   
9. You can’t beat the special ambience at the end of the performance with amazing renditions of the National Anthem and Auld Lang Syne.
   
   
10. Last but not least, did you know that The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo makes no profit? Well, not technically, as it's a not-for-profit organisation - contributing a large percentage of its profits to a number of military charities.

As one of the world’s most theatrical displays, you’ve just got to experience the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – an evening of unforgettable entertainment, including music, ceremony, theatre and dance.

Our range Edinburgh Tattoo breaks include coach travel with reserved seating, admission to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, dinner, bed and breakfast hotel accommodation and inclusive excursions, with departures from a range of local pick-up points.