Lammermuir Festival (Classical Music) – East Lothian, Scotland 2025

Background & History

The Lammermuir Festival, established in 2010, is a celebrated classical music festival held in East Lothian, Scotland, known for its historic venues and stunning landscapes between the Lammermuir Hills and the sea. Founded by Hugh Macdonald and James Waters, it brings together world-class musicians and local audiences, featuring Scotland’s leading ensembles and international talent.

The 2025 edition, from 4–15 September, offers a diverse programme of chamber music, orchestral performances, and coffee concerts across venues like Haddington, Dirleton, Whitekirk, Crichton, and Gosford House. Winner of the 2017 Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Best Concert Series and Festivals, it’s praised for its intimate settings and curated music, raising £10,000+ annually for local arts. lammermuirfestival.co.uk. creativescotland.com. Opera Magazine.

Event Highlights

• Unravelling Ravel: 10 September 2025, 7:30 PM, Holy Trinity Church, Haddington, £22 ≈ $29.22 USD. Features Ravel’s chamber works performed by renowned artists.
• Martx–String Quartet Coffee Concert: 12 September 2025, 11:30 AM, Holy Trinity Church, Haddington, £22 ≈ $29.22 USD. Includes cake and coffee from 11:00 AM.
• Concerto Italiano by Rinaldo Alessandrini: 14 September 2025, 7:30 PM, Crichton Collegiate Church, £18–£30 ≈ $23.91–$39.84 USD. Baroque music in a historic setting.
• Earth Thy Cold Is Keen: 4 September 2025, 7:30 PM, St Mary’s Church, Whitekirk, £20 ≈ $26.56 USD. A choral journey through East Lothian’s heritage.
• Front Row Programme: Free tickets for 100 East Lothian youths (12–18) and 3 work placements (16–18) to engage young audiences. Apply at frontrow@lammermuirfestival.co.uk. lammermuirfestival.co.uk. lammermuirfestival.online.red61.co.uk.

Date & Duration

• Date: 4–15 September 2025.
• Duration: 12 days.
• Opening Times:
  • Concert times vary (e.g., 11:30 AM for coffee concerts, 7:30 PM for evening performances).
  • Venues open 30 minutes before concerts; coffee concerts open at 11:00 AM for refreshments.
  • Box office phone (0131 226 0004): 10:00 AM–8:00 PM during festival; 10:00 AM–5:00 PM pre-festival.
• Note: Full schedule TBD 3 June 2025 at www.lammermuirfestival.co.uk. lammermuirfestival.co.uk.

Main Event Address

• Primary Venues:
  • Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Haddington, EH41 3EX (Unravelling Ravel, Martx–String Quartet).
  • St Mary’s Church, Whitekirk, EH42 1XS (Earth Thy Cold Is Keen).
  • Crichton Collegiate Church, Crichton, EH37 5XA (Concerto Italiano).
  • Dirleton Kirk, Dirleton, EH39 5EH (additional concerts, TBD).
  • Gosford House, Longniddry, EH32 0PX (select performances, TBD).
• Secondary Venues: Additional East Lothian venues may be announced; check www.lammermuirfestival.co.uk.
• Administrative Contact: Lammermuir Festival, Poldrate, Haddington, East Lothian, EH41 4DA; admin@lammermuirfestival.co.uk.
• Note: Limited accessibility at historic venues; blue badge parking varies (check concert pages or call 0131 226 0004). Maps and access guides at www.lammermuirfestival.co.uk. lammermuirfestival.co.uk. lammermuirfestival.online.red61.co.uk.

Contact Information

• Email:
  • General: admin@lammermuirfestival.co.uk.
  • Ticketing: boxoffice@lammermuirfestival.co.uk.
  • Front Row Programme: frontrow@lammermuirfestival.co.uk.
  • Press: Susie.Gray@premiercomms.com.
• Phone: 0131 226 0004 (ticketing, accessibility; 10:00 AM–5:00 PM pre-festival, 10:00 AM–8:00 PM during festival).
• Website: www.lammermuirfestival.co.uk (programme, tickets, FAQs).
• Social Media: @LammermuirFest (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X). Newsletter signup at www.lammermuirfestival.co.uk.
• Ticketing: Via www.lammermuirfestival.online.red61.co.uk or call 0131 226 0004. lammermuirfestival.co.uk. lammermuirfestival.online.red61.co.uk.

Ticket Information

• How to Book: Purchase online at www.lammermuirfestival.online.red61.co.uk or call 0131 226 0004 (Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM pre-festival; daily 10:00 AM–8:00 PM during festival). Friends’ priority booking opens 3 June 2025; general booking opens 6 June 2025. E-tickets (free) or posted tickets (£1.50 ≈ $2 USD). Booking fee £1 ≈ $1.33 USD per ticket (max £5 ≈ $6.65 USD per transaction). Refunds only if the event is cancelled; booking/postage fees are non-refundable. Unreserved seating within pricing areas. Tickets on the door (if available) 45 minutes before concerts; advance booking recommended. Contact boxoffice@lammermuirfestival.co.uk for accessibility or personal assistant tickets. lammermuirfestival.co.uk. lammermuirfestival.online.red61.co.uk.
• 2025 Pricing (USD, 1 GBP ≈ 1.3282 USD):
  • Sample Concert Tickets:
    • Earth Thy Cold Is Keen: £20 ≈ $26.56 USD.
    • Unravelling Ravel: £22 ≈ $29.22 USD.
    • Martx–String Quartet Coffee Concert: £22 ≈ $29.22 USD.
    • Concerto Italiano: £18–£30 ≈ $23.91–$39.84 USD.
  • Programme: ~£5 ≈ $6.65 USD (speculative, sold at venues, cash preferred).
  • Donations: Optional, suggested $2.50–$12.50 USD via Friends Scheme (kirsten@lammermuirfestival.co.uk).
  • Student Discounts:
    • Half-price tickets for full-time students (12+) on select concerts.
    • Free tickets for school students (7–18) with a full-price ticket for select concerts (book via 0131 226 0004).
  • Front Row Programme: 100 free tickets for East Lothian youths (12–18); apply at frontrow@lammermuirfestival.co.uk.
• Ticket Range:
  • GBP: Free (Front Row, student offers) to ~£30 (Concerto Italiano upper range).
  • USD: ~$0 (Front Row, student offers) to ~$39.84 USD (Concerto Italiano).
• Additional Notes: Prices per provided document and lammermuirfestival.online.red61.co.uk. Additional concert prices TBD 3 June 2025 at www.lammermuirfestival.co.uk. Programme price speculative, based on similar events (e.g., Royal National Mòd). Exchange rate (1 GBP ≈ 1.3282 USD) per Exchange Rates UK. lammermuirfestival.co.uk.

Cultural Experience

The Lammermuir Festival blends world-class classical music with East Lothian’s historic venues, creating an intimate, immersive experience. From Baroque to choral works, performances in churches and estates like Gosford House reflect Scotland’s cultural heritage, drawing 5,000+ attendees annually. The Front Row programme engages local youth, fostering arts appreciation. lammermuirfestival.co.uk. The Guardian.

Food & Drinks

• Event Venues: Ice cream and programmes (~$6.65 USD, cash preferred) at St Mary’s Church, Haddington. Coffee and cake included for coffee concerts (e.g., Martx–String Quartet, 11:00 AM). No alcohol at venues due to historic site rules.
• Nearby Dining:
  • The Golf Tavern (Haddington, pub fare, $10–$20 USD, 5-minute walk from Holy Trinity Church).
  • The Plough Inn (Dirleton, Scottish cuisine, $10–$25 USD, 5-minute walk from Dirleton Kirk).
  • Longniddry Inn (near Gosford House, $10–$20 USD, 5-minute drive).
• Alcohol Policy: Available at nearby pubs (e.g., The Golf Tavern, $5–$10 USD). lammermuirfestival.co.uk.

Family & Accessibility

• Family-Friendly:
  • Suitable for ages 7+; free tickets for school students (7–18) with full-price tickets for select concerts. Front Row offers 100 free tickets for East Lothian youths (12–18). Parental discretion advised for younger children due to concert duration.
• Accessibility:
  • Venues (e.g., Holy Trinity Church, Crichton Collegiate): Limited access due to historic structures; some step-free entry and accessible toilets. Blue badge parking varies (check concert pages or call 0131 226 0004). Complimentary personal assistant tickets available. Contact boxoffice@lammermuirfestival.co.uk for details. lammermuirfestival.co.uk.

Getting There

• By Air: Edinburgh Airport (EDI, 25 miles, 40-minute drive to Haddington).
• Public Transport:
  • Train: Drem Station (5 miles from Haddington, $5–$15 USD from Edinburgh). Check www.scotrail.co.uk.
  • Bus: East Coast Buses (e.g., X7, $3–$8 USD from Edinburgh to Haddington, 5-minute walk to Holy Trinity Church).
• By Car: Parking varies by venue; blue badge spaces are limited (call 0131 226 0004). Haddington (EH41 3EX, free street parking); Whitekirk (EH42 1XS, limited); Crichton (EH37 5XA, limited). Gosford House (EH32 0PX) parking TBD.
• By Bike/Foot: 5-minute walk from Haddington bus stops to Holy Trinity Church; bike racks are limited.
• By Taxi: Haddington Taxis (+44 1620 822222, $15–$30 USD from EDI).
• Rideshare: Uber ($20–$40 USD, limited). lammermuirfestival.co.uk. scotrail.co.uk.

Program Details

• 3 June 2025: Programme launch; Friends’ priority booking opens.
• 6 June 2025: General booking opens.
• 4–15 September 2025: Concerts across East Lothian venues (times vary, e.g., 11:30 AM coffee concerts, 7:30 PM evening performances).
• Note: Full schedule TBD 3 June 2025 at www.lammermuirfestival.co.uk. lammermuirfestival.co.uk.

Past Notable Performances

• 2024: Featured Steven Osborne (patron) and Scottish Chamber Orchestra; sold-out coffee concerts.
• 2017: Won RPS Award for Best Concert Series and Festivals, praised by Opera Magazine for “remarkable experience.” lammermuirfestival.co.uk. Opera Magazine.

Educational Impact

• Front Row Programme: Engages East Lothian youths (12–18) with free tickets and work placements, supported by Creative Scotland.
• Concert Talks: Pre-concert talks at select venues (TBD, ~$5 USD) offer insights into repertoire.
• Programme: ~$6.65 USD, includes artist bios and venue history. lammermuirfestival.co.uk.

Cultural Activities

• Concerts: 4–15 September 2025, various times, £18–£30 ≈ $23.91–$39.84 USD. Chamber, choral, and Baroque music in historic venues.
• Coffee Concerts: 11:30 AM (e.g., Martx–String Quartet), includes cake/coffee, fostering relaxed engagement. lammermuirfestival.co.uk.

Travel Tips

• Book Early: Tickets via www.lammermuirfestival.online.red61.co.uk; accommodation limited in Haddington (book via www.visitscotland.com).
• Weather Prep: September (50–60°F, mild); bring comfortable shoes for historic venues.
• Explore Locally: John Muir Way (free, 10-minute walk from Haddington), Dirleton Castle ($8 USD, 5-minute drive).
• Public Transport: East Coast Buses smartcard ($5 USD); bus tickets ($3–$8 USD).
• Festival Info: Digital schedules at www.lammermuirfestival.co.uk. lammermuirfestival.co.uk. visitscotland.com.

Local Attractions

• John Muir Way: Scenic walking trail (free, 10-minute walk from Haddington).
• Dirleton Castle: Historic site ($8 USD, 5-minute drive from Dirleton Kirk).
• Hailes Castle: Ruins (free, 10-minute drive from Haddington). visitscotland.com.

Accommodation Options

• Hotels: Macdonald Haddington Hotel ($100–$200 USD/night, 5-minute walk from Holy Trinity Church).
• B&Bs: Letham House ($80–$150 USD/night, 10-minute drive).
• Airbnb: Haddington cottages ($60–$120 USD/night).
• Booking Tip: Reserve 6–12 months for September; check www.visitscotland.com. visitscotland.com.

Safety & Health Measures

• Medical Support: First aid at larger venues (e.g., Gosford House); nearest hospital in Edinburgh (20 miles, 30-minute drive).
• Security: Staff at venues; no drones. Contact admin@lammermuirfestival.co.uk for concerns.
• Health Protocols: Sanitiser stations; optional masks. Full 2025 details TBD at www.lammermuirfestival.co.uk. lammermuirfestival.co.uk.