The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Reviews 

I have just watched the Tatoo on Australian televion as it aired last night. I am so disappointed!! I expect to see a Scottish Military Tattoo with Scottish Military music, competitions, exciting drills etc. - not American, Indian performances. So much American content, you could be forgiven for believing it was an American show. So much dancing as well. I was tossing up travelling there this year specifically to see it - I'm so glad I didn't waste my money. Please, organisers, go back to what it used to be. Please!

I am writing this e mail after watching the TV production last night. 2 years ago when my wife and I visited the tattoo for the umpteenth time we were so disappointed with the terrible show that we said we wouldn't return. It wasn't the tattoo that we knew but a musical show without any commentator or indeed any audience participation. Just awful.
HOWEVER, we thoroughly enjoyed this Tattoo, especially the narrator who was amazing. He had a wonderful Scottish accent and joined the show together perfectly. Great to see a programme of events that included military and Scotland as this is what people from all over the world come to see.
Many congratulations to Alan Lane and we will certainly return to our beloved Edinburgh Tattoo

Went to the Tattoo last night, we enjoyed it but it didn't live up to expectations. What we were really disappointed with is that a lot of the acts only displayed at one end (Castle) of the arena. Why could they not have been in the centre of the arena was baffling to us. Glad we went, but came away thinking it could have been so much better.

The actual tattoo was fabulous.Well worth seeing.The queuing system to get into the tattoo was horrendous.They made us que all the way down the hill to walk all the way back up the hill.By the time you reach the top they are rushing you to get in before the start of the show.Half a mile down and up the hill is not a good way to start your visit.

I loved the show - truly spectacular. My only complaint is that by the time we got out we had missed the last bus home! Could you not start at 9pm instead please?

Was this Eurovision or Military based Tattoo.
Much too Woke.

The Royal Edinburgh Military tattoo.
Although I watched this on TV a lot I absolutely love everything about it.
The Singer's absolutely beautiful as were the dancer's. The Royal and Scottish Military love what they do exceptional. Deserved a lot more star's. Australia.

A Scot living in Australia & just watching the Tattoo on TV now. I'm so disappointed! What's with all the dancing?? Bring back the Tattoo of old. The competitions Army v Navy, the dog displays, the bagpipes of course & perhaps a wee bit of dancing thrown in to show off our traditions & not just highland, but country dancing too. But this was far too heavy with dancing & not enough of the Military. My Aussie friends use to love it, but will be looking for more than the American content.

It is not a military tattoo anymore, more like a military people making a fool of themselves with silly dances and out-of-date tiktok music. Honestly extremely disappointing and cringe. Very expensive too, do NOT go.

As someone from Scotland and who use to go here as a child. I was embarrassed when I took my partners family who were from NZ. It wasn’t rich in Scottish music and dancing as it use to be. I don’t understand why they were doing dancing and songs from around the world. Some parts were very cringe. I could hear people around my saying the same thing! Absolutely terrible. Please for the love of god, get it back to its Scottish roots and make a proper show where we are proud to share as a country. What the hell

It's lost its appeal. It's forgotten its roots which is Edinburgh and the Military. Their focus now is entirely the tourists, they're not interested in the locals that want to see it.

The last 3 years have been particularly bad. It's focused more on dancing and it then comes across more as a bad edition of Americas Got Talent or a Disney show. Military is pipes and drums NOT entertainers dancing on the esplanade.

If it changes we will return. Until then you've lost this local and my family.

I am a full time powered wheelchair user. I initially had difficulty booking tickets as it turns out you can't book wheelchair accessible spaces online and I had to go to the Hub at Castlehill, at the busiest time of year, during the fringe. I could have booked them by telephone but, I have aphasia that affects my speech I have difficulty with speaking on the phone. My friend and I went on Thursday 22nd August and the whole experience was fantastic. My powered wheelchair broke down at the top of Johnson Terrace. The stewards were great. They stowed my wheelchair safely in the stewards office. They used one of their own manual wheelchairs to get me to my seat. They put a seat for me to transfer into in what would've been a wheelchair space. Our seats were in Section 12, Row B, seat 11 and 12. We were at the very front and we could almost touch the performers. I've lived in Edinburgh all my life (I'm 55) and I've never been to the Tattoo. I love the sound of bagpipes and a full troupe is a sight and sound everyone should experience. Once the performance finished the steward came back for me and took us to the stewards office to collect my chair which, thankfully, was at least turning on and let us sit in the office until my husband could come to collect me. I have had new batteries fitted and my chair is back to normal. The two stewards who mainly helped us were Eric and Cameron but other stewards were involved - Eleanor, Susan and (I think his name was Graham or Gordon). I'll be back next year (with a warmer coat on!).

It was like an American Super Bowl half time show. Nonsense dancing and singing for most of the show. We went expecting military bands, or related. which was maybe 20% of the show. What a joke.

There are many reviews which should tell the Tattoo management they have lost the traditional appeal of a Military Tattoo..
Frankly it was disappointing who needs mediocre singing and nonsense with goofy pipes gushing fire and scenes, completely unconnected with Military...
Yes to the bands no to dancing beyond just a flavour.
It was the Royal Navy as the theme...where were the gun carriages and the competition.....the old well spoken compere encouraging crowd involvement...The navy just weren't involved...sad, trying to modernise has meant loosing the touch of class this occasion deserves. Do better.

I could not believe what I was watching..
it used to be Army, Navy and Air force putting on a show with a few guest performances, but I was horrified to see this debacle… more like a musical!
truly not good and not a Military Tattoo … very disappointed…

I would like to know who overseen the proceedings!!

A predominantly USA variety show. What a let down! Bring back the British armed Forces and cut out so many American performances. We do not need dancing women for eye-candy!! This show could have been on stage at The Royal Palladium. A real disappointment.

What on earth is happening with the Tattoo? Where is the ‘Military’? I’m aware that for those unable to return to Edinburgh and who then watch the BBC highlights, what we see is edited and limited. But I wasn’t aware that it had become a dancing/ singing show! Far too many dances, dancers and far too much singing. But not enough much missed proper Tattoo. Shame.

Expected a military tattoo, ended up watching a over produced American style lights show. Bring back tradition.

The Tattoo this year 2024 was pathetic. This year the main theme was supposed to be the Royal Navy and reflects on the fact the Royal Navy is in a bad way.
There was a handful of RN personnel in the honour guard but even that was padded out with navy personnel from other countries and the whole thing appeared to be a US Navy show. The Royal Marines were the main UK Navy contingent. The pipes and drums were excellent as usual. The rest was a light show with dancers and singers again from the US.
Certainly not the Tattoo of old.

As the others have posted, what a shame. I waited 52 years to attend this event, used to watch it on TV, and finally i get to go .... to a dance parade, singers, and bangra display oh yes .. a hip hop dj thing!!! 30% of the show had anything to do with the military. The massed band was the highlight along with the Royal Mariens, but apart from that, it was a second rate west end show. Sadly i will not give it second chance.