Topdeck Travel Blog

Make the most of the August bank holiday weekend with Topdeck Travel’s special long weekend escapes to either the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Tattoo or the vibrant city of Amsterdam.

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After the recent grey British summer a long weekend away from it all is just what the doctor ordered.

But what should you do to make the most of your time off especially if you’ve left planning to the last minute? We’ll we’ve got a few hints in the form of Scotland and the Netherlands!

The August Bank Holiday coincides with the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Tattoo - the largest arts festival on Earth.

Edinburgh Fringe is a celebration of the best performers and entertainment from every corner of the planet. Last year the Festival hosted 2,542 different shows staging 41,689 performances in 258 venues by 21,192 performers.

Fringe performers

The Fringe dates back to 1947, when eight theatre groups turned up uninvited to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival.  Despite not being part of the official festival, the groups went on to perform and a trend was born.

Over the next 12 years more and more performers followed suit until 1959 when the Festival Fringe Society was officially formed.

During Fringe, the whole city is transformed into a massive stage featuring everything from free outdoor performances to evening gigs by some of the biggest names in entertainment. There are literally hundreds of performances happening over the bank holiday weekend so you’ll be spoilt for choice.

A lot of famous stand up acts were discovered at this festival including member of Monty Python, Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson and Steve Coogan. Established comedians also see it as a chance to road test new material.

Fringe is about all things weird and wonderful. Where else can you watch a 24-hour non-stop stand up routine, an 80 year-old comedian, a man-sized ginger koala screaming about making napalm, an open-air dance extravaganza and one minute bird watching?

If that isn’t enough to keep you entertained, Edinburgh will also host the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo which in 2012 pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee and the year of Creative Scotland.

Staged at the beautiful Edinburgh Castle, the Tattoo includes a line-up of nearly 1000 performers includes hundreds of musicians, pipers, drummers, singers and dancers.

The highlight is a 90min production of sound, graphics, lighting and specially commissioned fireworks (Topdeck’s trip includes tickets to the show)!

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Over the Channel lies the effortlessly hip city of Amsterdam. Famous for its culture, museums, nightlife and liberal lifestyle, Amsterdam is one of Europe’s must-see destinations.

Our first night beings with a walking tour of Dam Square, the heart of Amsterdam, and the infamous Red Light District.

During the day you’ll have plenty of free time to explore on your own so why not check out one of the city’s many museums?

• Rijksmuseum: A national museum, Rijksmuseum is dedicated to arts, crafts and history and houses large collection of paintings by the most famous Dutch masters including Rembrandt.
• Anne Frank House: Dedicated to the famous young diarist, Anne Frank House is both a museum and preservation of the ‘secret annex’ the where the Frank family, the van Pels and Fritz Pfeffer lived for two years before they were arrested. A must see for anyone who has read Anne’s diary and history lovers alike.
• Van Gogh Museum: The most visited museum in the Netherlands, it holds the world’s largest collection of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings and drawings and other important works by his contemporaries.
• Heineken Experience: Learn all about how this iconic beer has been produced for over 150 years. Of course there’s a free sample at the end too!
• House of Bols: The House of Bols tour will teach you all there is to know about the famous liqueur brand.  Created in 1575, Bols claims to be oldest distilled spirit brand in the world. The tour ends in the Mirror Bar with a complementary cocktail.

Top Tip: We recommend booking in advance if you wish to visit any of Amsterdam’s museums during the long weekend.

In the evening experience the city’s nightlife, join our optional pub crawl through the Red Light District, cruise the canals or just chill out in a cafe.

Cycling over Amsterdam's famous canals

While we’re in town, Amsterdam will be hosting the country’s largest cultural festival, the Uitmarkt.

The Uitmarkt attracts thousands of visitors and performers at more than 30 venues throughout the city. Theatre, music and film all free, plus, there’s a massive book market!

Now we’ve got that sorted, the hardest part will be deciding which of these breaks is the one for you!

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Visit Amsterdam and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival & Tattoo on Topdeck’s August Bank Holiday breaks. Trip price includes transport to and from London, accommodation and all breakfasts.