Edinburgh Festival (EIF)

When: August 12-September 4
Where: Edinburgh, Scotland
Cost: Various

The Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) – now programmed by Jonathan Mills – is the original centrepiece of Edinburgh’s hotbed of artistic excellence every August. Around it cluster the Fringe,Military Tattoo, Jazz and Blues, Book and Edge festivals.

First held in 1947, to unite war-torn Europe by bringing together all that was best in the performing arts to the ‘Athens of the North’, the EIF has helped shape the artistic life of the country over six decades. There have only been nine artistic directors (Rudolf Bing, Ian Hunter, RobertPonsonby, the 7th Earl of Harewood, Peter Diamond, John Drummond, Frank Dunlop, Brian McMaster and, since 2007, Jonathan Mills) who have programmed the world’s top classical, dance and drama performers and developed the artistic infrastructure of the Scottish capital.

Mills’ first festivals have been eclectic, bringing period instrument music to the fore and investigating broad themes – ‘artists without borders’ in 2008, the Scottish Enlightenment in 2009 and a focus on the Pacific in 2010.

From airy Queen’s Hall’s late-morning recitals, EIF days are packed with orchestral concerts in the (newly refurbished) Usher Hall and dance, opera and drama in the Edinburgh Festival, King’s, Playhouse and Royal LyceumTheatres.

The festival ends with the Bank of Scotland Fireworks Concertin Princes’ Street Gardens also, spectacularly, visible from across the city.

In addition, the festival’s home is The Hub – underneath theCastle at the top of the High Street – which also boasts a 400-seat venue in use constantly during each festival.

For more information, visit http://eif.co.uk .

Fly to Edinburgh direct with Ryanair.