The phenomenal success of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo makes it harder and harder to get tickets each year. Whereas, a decade ago, seats were often available on the day of the performance itself, these days the event is sold out as early as January.

Booking opens in December and is immediately very busy, with Saturday performances particularly popular. The best seats for Saturdays are invariably snapped up the day that booking opens; Saturdays will sell out completely not very long afterwards. You'll have a bit more flexibility if you can choose a midweek date, though you'll miss the impressive firework display which concludes the second Saturday showing.

In a break from the practice of other Festivals, the Tattoo opens online booking a couple of weeks before the phone lines are switched on. The online site lets you choose the area of the stands you want to sit in, but you can't ask for particular seats - so if you have particular requirements, you'll need to wait until the box office is ready your call. An alternative is to post your request into the box office; applications are handled in order of receipt, so the sooner you get your cheque in the post, the more likely you are to get your first choice of tickets.

Late tickets

Tattoo ticket packages

A web search will turn up a range of options, from "budget packages" to four-star hotel deals

Secondly, the Tattoo suggests you could ask them for returns, by phoning the box office regularly in the run-up to the Festival. You can reach the box office on 08707 555 118: it's open weekdays from 10am to 4:30pm.

Your final option is to take advantage of the numerous tour operators offering Tattoo tickets as part of a hospitality package. A web search will turn up a range of options, from "budget packages" including just tickets and a coach tour, to all-inclusive four-star hotel deals. The trouble is, of course, that the extras are expensive, with even the cheapest deals marking up the ticket price by well over 100% - and the hotel-based options are poorly suited for the independent traveller. All the same - if you're desperate to see the show - working a package into your Edinburgh plans is the most reliable way to get your hands on a legitimate set of Tattoo passes.

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