The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Reviews 111

Like others, we were disappointed with the 2024 edition of the Tattoo. We come to the event for the piped bands, historic military remembrances, with the castle as an epic backdrop. We loved the beginning, end, line piper, Royal Marines, etc.. but all the skits and Disney joshing around, stealing batons, high-fiving, and raving should be removed next year. We’re Americans and we came to Scotland to enjoy Scottish and British traditions, not be met with goofing American acts. Please return dignity and tradition to next years show..this years version was a poor example of what it should be.

I agree with all other low star reviews. I have been to the Tattoo twice before, in 2017 and 2018, and this year it was totally different and nowhere near as good. It was my parents' first experience of attending and for the price the tickets cost, I wish it had been so much better for them. It was more of a Disney/X Factor show than a military tattoo. Additionally, if you have difficulty walking you will struggle the entire way in and out of the venue, as the queuing system is a disaster (again I don't remember this from the past, they seem to have made the entire thing worse rather than better), and they herd you around the streets outside the castle with no guidance or information, which makes the beginning of the experience very uncomfortable. Furthermore, when you are eventually granted access to the castle area you have to risk your life walking up an almost vertical staircase, which was made considerably worse after the effects of rainfall. There were no visible safety measures taken at all, and as I previously mentioned, for those with walking difficulties it was incredibly dangerous and I would highly recommend you against enduring this. To conclude this was an unexpectedly disappointing experience which has put me and those I attended with off returning anytime soon, and I feel a bit sorry for anyone who travelled far to Scotland if they were expecting to see a Scottish Military Tattoo.

Very disappointing, mostly singing and even worst it was Americans for most of it, there was also a Highland rave with a literal DJ, no thanks. Who comes to the military tattoo to be sang to by American Disney singers (the Americans that make up half the crowd probobally love it). HM Royal Marines Band Service were stars of the show but they were only playing for 5-10 mins.

I wished I stayed in London instead of wasting nearly 2k flying up to Edinburgh for 4 days to watch a glorified London West End Musical I could have watched for £60 a ticket. The is no denying the beauty of architectural sandstone marvel like Edinburgh/Castle. Sadly the £230 VIP fast track seats saw you stood on the outside of the mass crowds waiting to get in , only to be allowed access at the same time as everyone else making a mockery of the words " fast track ". The 30ml of Whiskey on offer for £60 from the drinks sellers was as amusing as the 3rd rate song and dance routine we were subjected too from a over excited prancing American sailor and his chubby female counterpart, that takes up most of the show.
The mass pipes and drums being overshadowed as just an accompaniment to a boring show the producers are trying to portray, that really has no baring on the adverts/programme and expectations being fed us at the pre start.
This was a bucket list for myself and my wife to attend, and the seats near the front were a great idea, except the smell of the busy toilets near us wafting over the bitter winds just added to the torture of the musical we assumed was a military event. Sounds purely negative, but it is a honest experience.

This was a bucket list item for me and my wife. When the show began and the pipers and bands came into the arena. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up I thought wow amazing. However as the the show went on it quickly became a show of two halves, The military experience half , and the out of place theatrical part. What a disappointment. The organisers need to take on the feedback and get back to basics giving people what they came to see a military spectacle to be proud of.

Poor Scotland - what have you done. For several years this event you could find on our to do list. And now, we find no words to describe this absolutly bad show. We came to Edinburgh, from Germany, to see a military tattoo. We paid a lot of money but that doesn‘t matter. But now we feel betrayed. We think the rate of 1 star is to much. When we want to see bouncing und singing people we go everywhere else but not to a military tattoo. We are absolutely disappointed.
Next time we will go to Switzerland - Basel

A fantastic display of military music, dancing and history.
Performers from around the world.

The website is not user friendly & I'm a techsavy person. They trick you when you select a seat out of interest & if you decided what seat you wanted it would not prompt before the first seat you selected. So I ended up paying for the wrong seat & as early as 11am they are nowhere to be seen on the phone. Which means they will certainly refuse my email request because they are creating delay in answering to inquiries.

Plus, I wish I checked the reviews earlier. So not only do I have to sit where I don't want, now I'm wasting £82 for something I did not even pay for. I thought because this was 'Royal', this would be conducted fairly with immaculate service. The only saving grace is it's not interfering with my plans

I was very disappointed with the tattoo this year .There was very little in it and the bands apart from the mass pipe band were disorganised ,not precise and appeared to make a mockery of the whole evening .I don’t know why the tattoo was so poor this year .Hipefylly next year will be better

If I wanted to see a Disney Parade I would have gone to Florida . Get back to the traditional pipes and drums that the majority of the elderly and ex military were expecting. Will not be going again, sorry.

Disappointed as it is more of a song and dance routine than a military tattoo. The dancers work very hard. The singing is average. First time I recall so many seats being unoccupied. Seemed to be dominated by USA military.

Absolutely disgusting what's happening to our tradition. Director is probably a non binary transsexual with his pronouns they/them and the top brass aren't allowed to have an opinion to what's happening just incase his feelings get hurt. Hang your head in shame for this singing dancing high five slapping over price crap

Bollywood, flaming bagpipes, swing singers, we have been 5 times in the last 15 years and this is without a doubt the worst show ever! as an ex-soldier I was always under the impression that this was a Military Tattoo, obviously now this is a woke weakened piece of nonsense, we hope that the amount of poor reviews will change this, but we are also sure that it won’t and that it will only get worse, Wayne Sleep next technical director🤔😟🧙‍♂️⁉️

Dreadful evening of woke entertainment.
Where were our other armed forces?
Dull and uninspiring other than the pipers drummers.
Waste of money especially as we travelled from Spain to see this.
Get a REAL military man to put on the show.
We don't want Broadway entertainment

So, this is only the second time I’ve been to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Last year was my first time. I work for the military, and received 2 tickets this year and last. Last year was amazing!! This year was ok. Last year was a lot more involved across all parts of military, navy, RAF, army etc. This year was hosted by navy, but it seemed like that was it. I know there was pipes and drums from an army regiment, but that was about it. Last years performers were great. They were from all over. There was something for everyone, and brought together a great show. This year was nothing compared to last. I personally know some of the pipes and drums who have previously performed at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and not having them perform this year makes me feel like the army should have more involvement going forward. As the title says, Royal Edinburgh “Military” Tattoo.

It's visually spectacular but has become less and less military based over the years. 2024 felt like a sickly Disney inspired film in parts, especially the ballad singing. The organisers have lost their way. More bagpipes, traditional dance and marching please.

Shocking!
I’m Scottish and have been raised on attending the tattoo
I took my English partner , ( his first time] and was frankly, embarrassed!
3rd rate broadway show.
Scotland what are we doing? Let’s show off our traditions and heritage before we lose this
The pipers forced to do some type of Can Can !

This version is really bad and a complete waste of money. The military bands are now the backing track to a very mediocre song and dance production, if I’d wanted to see American showtime, Bollywood and a DJ set, I’d have gone and seen better elsewhere at a fraction of the price. My partner is ex armed forces and had been looking forward to seeing this for a long time. We came away feeling very disappointed, angry and fleeced frankly.

If I could give 0 stars I would, someone obviously forgot the Military in the title. If I wanted to see a dance show I would have gone to a dance show. As ex Military I found this a joke

Loved the whole thing I have a friend in usa 🇺🇸 navy who I speak to in the UK 🇬🇧 at various times