Edinburgh Tattoo 2020 – ‘The Platinum Edition’

Starting humbly in 1950, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is marking their 70th birthday this upcoming August. For generations a broad an ever-increasing audience have had a pleasure of enjoying this remarkable event. To celebrate the tremendous achievement of 70 successful years in running, this year’s shall be themed around ‘Platinum’.

 

What to expect?

The ‘Platinum Edition’ promises to pay homage to its traditional military roots which are carefully integrated in a fusion of international musicians, dancers and culture. Furthermore, this year’s performances intend to honour and commemorate the Royal Navy and the important role they have played in Scottish waters and beyond. The Tattoo’s Chief Producer, Brigadier David Allfrey explained that: “Platinum is an amazing element.  It is valuable, durable and a catalyst in chemical ‘reactions’ helping other ingredients to work well together. So too is the Tattoo!”

 

Our beautiful city is steeped with rich history, its practically begging for you to explore. It’s truly magical to sit in the battlements of Edinburgh Castle, you read that right, the show takes place on the beautifully-lit castle esplanade. There is no better location to experience the explosion of sheer artistry (and fireworks).

After 7 decades the Tattoo has managed to drum up a loyal support, not just here in Scotland but also across the globe. The morale and excitement in Edinburgh during the Tattoo and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is tangible.

It’s no surprise that it consistently appears on bucket lists internationally- is it on yours?

 

What can we do for you?

Every year our clients enjoy truly immersive performances every night throughout the month of August. It’s our pleasure to organise your trip to Edinburgh so you can focus on the show. We have long-standing partnerships with a variety of accommodation providers from luxury hotels to self-catered apartments: meaning we have options to suit all budgets and requirements. We are also delighted to arrange dinner reservations and additional tickets to the many attractions the city has to offer, as an office of Edinburgh locals we love to share our recommendations.

 

Click here to see our available packages.

Lets chat, Call us on 0131 556 3840 or Email info@glorydays.uk.com

Things to do in Edinburgh- September

September is bursting with autumn excitement.

 

Highlights include outdoor cinema, dance music festivals and rum.

Read on to plan our your ideal September in the capital.

 

1st of September- ‘Sunshine on Leith at the Luna Cinema’

Royal Botanic Gardens

Bring your friends and family and enjoy the sunset with this feel-good movie musical on the big screen, featuring the music of Edinburgh’s most-loved musicians, The Proclaimers. It will be guaranteed to get you singing along!
Doors open at 6:45pm, Film starts approx 8:15pm

More event details here.

 

6th of September- ‘Sing-a-long to the Greatest Showman’

Edinburgh Playhouse

Sing-a-Long-a Productions, producers of Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music and Sing-a-Long-a Grease brings you their newest show, the smash hit film musical that everyone can’t stop singing – The Greatest Showman! Look out ‘cause here it comes… The live host will teach everyone a unique set of dance moves, show you how to use our interactive prop bags, and also get you to practice your cheers, your boos and even a few wolf whistles. Fancy dress is strongly encouraged and full audience participation essential.

Buy your tickets here.

 

13th of September ‘Motown Madness’

Edinburgh Corn Exchange

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Motown music in style with great artists including The Cutkelvins (X Factor Finalists) and many more including Lee St Lawrence Taylor (The Drifters) – Saskia Eng (The Voice) – Martin Alred – Greg McCreadie – Dennis Kennedy at Edinburgh’s premium concert and events venue The Edinburgh Corn Exchange.

Have a look at tickets here.

 

14th of September ‘EH1 festival’

Royal Highland Centre

EH1 Festival 2019 takes place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on Saturday, September 14th from noon until midnight. The festival is celebrating its 10 year anniversary with some of the biggest names in dance music industry set to perform.
The multi arena event, whose past guests include Carl Cox, Paul Van Dyk, Sven Vath, Orbital, Duke Dumot, Eats Everything, Frankie Knuckles & Roger Sanchez, makes a return for a 10 year anniversary after a 4 year break, and promises to be one of the biggest events of the year for dance music lovers.

Order festival tickets here.

 

14th of September ‘Mid-Autumn Moon Festival’

St Cecilia’s Hall

 

Join us for a day celebrating the Moon Festival at St Cecilia’s Hall.
• Throughout the day we will have a variety of drop-in activities:
• Drop-in activity stalls provided by Ricefield Arts (Chinese Calligraphy taster, Calligraphy Tattoo, Lantern Making)
• Pipa performance at 2.30pm
• Dancing by the Edinburgh Chinese Community Dance Group at 3pm
• Take part in traditional Moon Festival Games throughout the afternoon
• Spotlight tour of the Chinese instruments we have in our collections
• Try some traditional Chinese sweets.
• Suitable for all the family.

Register your interest in this event here.

 

27th of September ‘Music from the Movies’

St Giles Cathedral

Go on a stunning red carpet ride of iconic movie soundtracks. This evening promises to be exciting exploration of the power of film music, This exceptional program will include dazzling excerpts from movie soundtracks released and loved through the decades. This concert is guaranteed fun for the whole family! The London Concertante orchestra are known to have their audience laughing, gasping at virtuosity, moved by gorgeous playing, and leaving with a smile on their faces. Their numerous recordings have reached great critical acclaim, and the ensemble has continually been regarded as one of the finest groups in Europe since its founding in 1991. This is not one to be missed.

Tickets for this event are selling fast, order yours here.

 

27th of September ‘The Rum festival’

Edinburgh Royal Mile

With more than 100 different rums, cocktails, dancing, new and exclusive rums, sampling from Rum brands and On arrival you will be greeted by one of our Rumun’s; handed your Rum Festival glass (a gift for you to take home!) and a brochure, full of information on all the rums you can try, fun facts about each of our suppliers and the suggested garnish to compliment your drink.
You will need to purchase drinks tokens to taste our rum’s, these will be available from a stand in the main hall. The drinks tokens are £5 each and our ‘100’ Rums include a mixer of your choice and fresh garnish. We think the best way is to buy a card of four for £20 and then go from there, but you can purchase fewer (or more of course!) if you like. We’ll also have some premium rums available to try for varied prices.

Celebrate your love of rum and buy your ticket here.

 

Have a fantastic month & don’t forget to let us know what you get up to.

Tag @glorydays.edinburgh on Facebook and Instagram!

History of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Tonight welcomes the opening night of the 2019 Royal Military Tattoo. 
In celebration of this we decided to share some things you may not know!

 

Image taken by Glory Days Team

Etymology of the term “Tattoo”

With the establishment of modern barracks and full military bands later in the 18th century, the term “tattoo” was used to describe the last duty call of the day, as well as a ceremonial form of evening entertainment performed by military musicians.

 

Early Days

In 1949 Edinburgh held its first Military Tattoo, the modest event was entitled “Something About a Soldier” a the aimed to portray the Army’s support of the International Festival.

The show was held at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens which still stands proudly below the castle.

We’d recommend visiting as a good comparison, as now, 7 decades later the show has progressed into the world-renowned showcase we know today.

 

Girl Power

In 1977 the first female took on the prestigious role of being the lone piper. Officer Elaine Marnoch took the role in her strides as she performed to the full battlements of Edinburgh Castle. Furthermore, in 2016, Scottish solider Lance Bombardier Megan Beveridge made history as the youngest piper to take on the role, aged 21.

 

Weather

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo performance takes place every weekday evening and twice on Saturdays throughout August and has never been cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. (Us Scots aren’t scared of a bit of ‘dreich’ or ‘baltic’ weather)

Make sure to wrap up with plenty layers to stay warm during the performance.

 

Credit to the Official Edinburgh Tattoo Photographer

Fit for a Queen

In 2010 HM Queen Elizabeth awarded the event the title of ‘Royal’ to honour the celebration of 60th years running.

Which gives us the title we know it as today, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

 

Who’s in the Audience?

The stands at Edinburgh Castle can accommodate a nightly audience of 8,800 people.

This means that throughout the multiple live performances 220,000 people can enjoy the tangible atmosphere of the live show.

In 2018 the Tattoo was televised in 40 countries. This year between 100-300 million people are set to enjoy it worldwide.

 

Did you know?

The Tattoo benefits several charitable causes. It has been estimated that over £10 million have been donated to arts, military and civilian charitable organisations.

 

 

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo generates an astounding £88 million in revenue for Edinburgh’s economy annually.

The show benefits local businesses and is readily anticipated by the city.

 

Running alongside Edinburgh’s Festival Fringe the city is at its peak.

The Edinburgh August buzz is not to be missed! 

 

 

Visit the Tattoo with a bespoke travel package built for you by us at Glory Days.

Call us on 0131 556 3840 for more details.

 

Our Guide to Shopping in Edinburgh

For all you lovely people visiting Edinburgh for the Royal Military Tattoo or Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, We know you like shopping (don’t we all), so we made you this handy blog so you can shop until you drop.

 

Edinburgh is a wonderful shopping destination – as well as the household high street names it boosts a diverse collection of boutiques where you’ll discover exciting specialities and eccentricities. Enjoy some well-deserve retail therapy on our cobbled streets. It has an unrivalled range of Scottish merchandise: whiskies and woollens, food and antiques. And don’t forget to look out for the more unusual gifts, there’s more to us than just tartan and haggis.

Princes Street

Princes Street is a shopper’s paradise. On one side of the street, you’ll find all the big national and international names, while on the other side, one of the most unique and spectacular skylines in the world. It’s also home to favourites like Marks and Spencer and New Look. The streets that link Princes Street with George Street are worth exploring for their mix of interesting smaller retail outlets and eateries. Rose Street, a pedestrianised lane behind Princes Street, is justly famous for its pubs, but is also excellent for high quality speciality shopping and restaurants.Towards the City’s East End, you’ll find Princes Mall, a favourite shopping haunt on two floors, with plenty of entertainment stores and fashion outlets. Here you’ll also find John Lewis, boasting a breathtaking assortment of wares. There’s not many places where you can enjoy your shopping in view of a gorgeous historic castle.

 

Princes Street Shopping

The West End

The West End is typical of Edinburgh. It’s the kind of place where shopping is a true leisure activity. Within 300 metres you’ll find leafy green squares and crescents, imposing churches, graceful architecture and ‘ye ole’ shops, all within a minute of two lively thoroughfares. Queensferry Street hustles with just as much bustle as its neighbour Shandwick Place and between the two you’ll find a plethora of eateries and speciality shops. William Street’s bars, bistros, art galleries and exclusive boutiques attract a discerning crowd, it’s the true hub of Indie fashion. While Stafford Street is a hub for interior design. Randolph Place is another quiet haven hiding within it some high-fashion treasures.

 

George Street

Located between Princes Street and Queen Street, with Charlotte Square and St Andrew Square at either end, George Street’s many architecturally stunning buildings now play host to a staggering array of upmarket and designer shops. George Street’s appeal is strengthened with the excellent choice of bars and restaurants providing sustenance for happy shoppers. Here you’ll find splendid examples of 1800’s bank-turned-classy eatery and if you find yourself in one of the street’s bars or nightclubs, there’s every chance you’ll bump into the odd celebrity. Unlike in some other cities, the tradition of personal service and quality has not been abandoned around these parts, with a few well-established George Street favourites renowned for their approach to customer service. If you fancy taking a break from carrying your bags, pop into the Dome for a delicious afternoon tea, cake is the best fuel.

 

Grassmarket & Victoria Street

Find something unique in some of Edinburgh’s beloved Grassmarket institutions. Shopping in stores like Armstrong’s Vintage and Godiva will have you the belle of the ball in no time with Singer sewing machine artistry and hidden treasures for both women and men galore! Treat yourself to some traditional Scottish tweed at Walker and Slater. Edinburgh’s vintage shops promote a quirky local alternative to Princes Street stores, indulge in all things independent. We heard through the grape vine that J.K Rowling used Victoria Street, with it’s narrow and winding road, as her muse for Diagon Alley in Harry Potter.

 

Victoria Street Shopping

 

The Bridges to Broughton Street

To sample the truly eclectic nature of Edinburgh shopping, take the journey from the Bridges at the East End of Princes Street down to Leith, taking in Broughton Street on the way. Here you’ll find an intriguing mix of shops, from cheap’n’cheerful through to proper posh, and everything in between. South Bridge is home to an abundance of shops catering for the vibrant student community, from books, music, comics and urban fashion. On Broughton Street you’ll find a combination of antique shops and boutiques, not to mention an ample selection of stylish bars and cafés. Veggies and alternative health enthusiasts can pick up all manner of supplies, and there’s plenty for the carnivores at the various delicatessens. Leith Walk is home to countless second-hand shops, traditional butchers, Sikh and Muslim haberdasheries, Chinese supermarkets, much-celebrated delicatessens and speciality shops.

 

Multrees Walk

Multrees Walk hosts all things luxurious, just off St Andrew Square and home of “the very best high-end retailers”. Louis Vuitton, Emporio Armani and Mulberry to name a few. Harvey Nicholls is also situated on the walk hosting a variety of designer labels including Gucci, Christopher Kane, Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs. The shopping experience you can get at Multree’s walk is said to be “unrivalled” because of the impeccable customer service you’ll receive. Let us know about the exciting things you find on our instagram, @glorydays.edinburgh, click here to follow us.

 

Multree Walk Shopping

 

Thistle Street

According to lovely local man Robert Shephard “Thistle Street is often overlooked but is the oldest street in the New Town with a selection of top quality independent retailers like Jane Davidson and Pam Jenkins along with the widest selection of international restaurants in one small street – One Mexican restaurant (El Cartel) one Thai restaurant, two French restaurants one Italian and a vegetarian / vegan restaurant”. We are big supporters of keeping it local and loving our neighbours! Head over to the Thistle Street Bar for refreshments after a long day of shopping. Thanks for your advice Robert.

We hope you enjoy your shopping. Treat yourself, you are on holiday after all!

Click here to see more of our exciting blogs.

Or if you are looking for other things to do in Edinburgh make sure to check out the blogs on our sister organisation, Destination Edinburgh. 

Things to do in Edinburgh – June

Visiting Edinburgh this June?

Here’s our round up of exciting things to keep you busy in the city this month!

 

Edinburgh International Film Festival – 19th-30th June

Film Fest in the City outdoor screenings at St Andrew’s Square

According to Artistic Director, Mark Adams the festival offers “The chance for our audiences who come along to Festival screenings and get to see and sometimes meet some of the film talent involved is always a highpoint of the EIFF experience. We love to have guests at our screenings and to involve them in post-screening Q&A sessions and I think the guests themselves also get a kick out of the experience.”

See a variety of films at the International Film Festival. From ‘The Best of British’, to ‘World Perspective’ and ‘Phenomenal Women’ to ‘CineCuisine’, there’s really something for everyone this. Have a look at the official digital program now to build your perfect weekend.

Excitingly this weekend welcomes the start of the ‘In Person: Special Events’, hosted by Danny Boyle, shall offer an exclusive opportunity to hear from key big names in the film industry about their careers.

 

Royal Highland Show – 20th-23rd of June

From wellies to watches, feather hats to fabulous frocks and a stunning selection of bespoke jewellery, designer knits and country wear, the Royal Highland Show has many independent designers showcasing the best in contemporary fashions. Make sure to keep an eye out for the Highland Coos.

You can enjoy free talks and tastings in Scotland’s Larder Live! and the Cookery Theatre. A popular place for little ones is the RHET Discovery Centre, located on Avenue Q. There they can take part in cooking classes and learn more about where their food comes from.
There’s live music, great entertainment and lots to enjoy!

 

Find out more about what could get up to at the Highland show by looking at their website. 

 

 

Pride Edinburgh – 22nd of June

Pride Edinburgh, 2019

2019 is a huge year for the LGBTQI+ community as it marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in New York, which played as the global starting point for the pride movement. Many brave people from the transgender and drag queen community banded together and made a stand so that generations to could feel safe, loved and accepted.

Join the march on Saturday 22nd June for our 24th Edinburgh Pride Event to time celebrate diversity, what makes us all unique so be proud to say #ThisIsMe.

An Extra Tip from the locals! Make sure to head over to CC Blooms Bar after the march to catch Edinburgh’s biggest and brightest Drag scene, see their facebook for a round up of their event and show times.

 

 

The March is set to follow this route;

11:30: Pride Marchers to assemble at Scottish Parliament on Parliament Green by Horse Wynd.12:00: Speeches will commence from invited guest speakers a top a Lothian Double Decker Bus.

12:30: Pride Scotia March moves off, heading North and turning left into the Canongate, proceeding ahead into the Canongate, then the High Street. Continuing west up the High Street, turning left at Lawnmarket Junction into George IV Bridge, continuing along George IV Bridge, a slight left into Bristo Place, Turning Right into Potterrow, ahead into Potterrow. Turning Right in Crichton Street.

13:15: Turning right into Charles Field, The Pride Scotia March arrives at the EUSA Campus the Site of the Pride Edinburgh 2019’s This Is Me Festival

 

To find out more details about how to get involved with Edinburgh’s Pride on their website or the Edinburgh’s Pride official facebook page.

 

Race for life 5k – 23rd of June

Edinburgh’s Race for Life 5K

The race for life 5k is thousands of people uniting with one purpose – to raise valuable funds for life-saving research.

The race is happening at 11am on Sunday the 23rd of June and it’s not too late to take part. Bring your dogs, your pushchairs, your friends and family and join a city that’s ready to make a difference!

The Edinburgh Holyrood course is set in the amazing grounds of the Royal Park in the centre of Edinburgh. The route starts and finishes on the field adjacent to Holyrood Palace and runs around Arthur’s Seat, taking in the beautiful views across Edinburgh. This event is mainly on footpaths and has one large incline.

Register to take part in the run here.

 

Wild and Majestic: Romantic Visions of Scotland Exhibit – 26th of June- 10th of November

An exciting new exhibition, ‘Wild and Majestic: Romantic Visions of Scotland’ is being launched at the National Museum of Scotland. Even today the defining images of Scotland are made up of the dramatic highland landscapes, heroic histories, bagpipes and tartan. This exhibition considers the origins of these ideas and explores how they were used to represent Scotland around the world. Explore an alternative truth for Scotland from propaganda, military regimes, music, literature and costume that birthed Scotland’s journey into the global imagination.

The exhibit is free for Museum Members, £10 for Adults or £7.50 for Concessions

Watch the full launch video for the exhibition here.

 

 

For more inspiration on what to do in Edinburgh this June check out Edinburgh Tourists Guide .

 

 

Remember, keep us updated with your Edinburgh Adventure using @destinationedinburgh and @glorydays.edinburgh on Instagram and Facebook for the chance to feature on our social media feeds.