Christmas Holiday Activities in Edinburgh 2023/24

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Christmas Holiday Activities in Edinburgh 2023/24

Edinburgh schools break up for the Christmas holidays on Friday. After the first few days of activities, we’ll have almost two weeks before it’s back to school on 9th January and I can guarantee that cabin fever will start to set in fairly quickly. Getting everyone out the house when the weather is gloomy and money is maybe a bit tight is always a challenge, so I’ve made a wee round-up of where to go that can provide a change of scenery without breaking the bank.

Museums, galleries and libraries are always our saviour at any time of year, but especially in the darker months. There’s a couple of free events happening, but mostly they offer offer a warm space to hang out, to play or make, to discover, or even just to have a coffee.

Free Events

Drawn Together

WHEN? Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 December 2023, 10:30am – 4:30pm
WHERE? National Museum of Scotland
WHAT? Escape to the museum during the holidays and enjoy sketching around our galleries.

>> Find out more about Drawn Together

Sprogmanay

WHEN? Monday 1 January 2023, 2pm – 5pm
WHERE? National Museum of Scotland
WHAT? Join the museum for lively performances and vibrant musical activities from the incredible Unicorn Dance Party and Sprog Rock.

>> Find out more about Sprogmanay

Creative Creatures

WHEN? Saturday 6 January, 2pm – 4pm
WHERE? City Art Centre
WHAT? Fun filled craft session where you can find out how to turn your boring recycling into funky creatures. Bring in your old kitchen roll tubes and City Art Centre will provide the rest.

>> Find out more about Creative Creatures

Indoor Drop-in Spaces

National Museum of Scotland

Regular Opening Hours

Daily, 10am – 5pm

Festive Opening Hours

25 December: CLOSED
26 December: 12 noon – 5pm
1 January: 12 noon – 5pm

What’s On? Hands-on family galleries (Imagine, Level / Explore, Level 1/ Adventure Planet, Level 5) plus lots of interactive elements throughout other galleries, and free family trails. Find out more at the Family Hub online.

Cafe? Yes

*****

National Galleries of Scotland

Regular Opening Hours

Daily, 10am – 5pm

Festive Opening Hours

25 December & 26 December: CLOSED
1 January: 12 noon – 5pm

What’s On? Free family trails, art trolley and sensory bags at the National; Free family trails, sensory walks and ‘Art Space 2’ activity room at the Modern; Free family trail and art trolley at the Portrait. Find out more on the Galleries website or read our previous reviews:

>> Art Space 2
>> The National with Kids

Cafe? Yes, at all three sites

*****

City Art Centre

Regular Opening Hours

Daily, 10am – 5pm (last entry 4:30pm)

Festive Opening Hours

24 December: 10am-4pm (last entry 3pm)
25 December & 26 December: CLOSED
31 December: 10am – 4pm (last entry 3pm)
1 January: CLOSED
2 January: 11am-4pm (last entry 3:15pm)

What’s On? Free ‘ArtSpace’ family activity area packed full of art materials and worksheets relating to the relevant exhibitions. Find out more in our City Art Centre review.

Cafe? Yes

*****

Museum of Edinburgh

Regular Opening Hours

Daily, 10am – 5pm (last entry 4:30pm)

Festive Opening Hours

24 December: 10am-4pm (last entry 3pm)
25 & 26 December: CLOSED
31 December: 10am – 4pm (last entry 3pm)
1 & 2 January: CLOSED

What’s On? Free family activity area packed full of art materials and worksheets relating to the galleries, as well as a reading corner and some replica objects you can explore. Find out more in our Museum of Edinburgh review.

Cafe? No

*****

Museum of Childhood

Regular Opening Hours

Daily, 10am – 5pm (last entry 4:30pm)

Festive Opening Hours

24 December: 10am-4pm (last entry 3pm)
25 & 26 December: CLOSED
31 December: 10am – 4pm (last entry 3pm)
1 & 2 January: CLOSED

What’s On? Plenty of hands-on activities to keep kids busy, including games, dressing up and a story corner.

Cafe? No

*****

Museum on the Mound

Regular Opening Hours

Tues – Fri 10am – 5pm; Sat 1pm – 5pm; Bank Holiday Mondays 1pm – 5pm

Festive Opening Hours

23 December – 26 December: CLOSED
27 December – 29 December: OPEN
30 December – 2 January: CLOSED
3 January onwards: Regular opening hours resume

What’s On? Learn about the (hi)story of banking and money, with lots of hands-on activities scattered throughout the galleries. Find out more in our Museum on the Mound review.

Cafe? No

*****

Water of Leith Visitor Centre

Regular Opening Hours

Daily, 10am – 4pm

Festive Opening Hours

Closing mid-afternoon on Friday 22 December; reopening on Friday 5 January 2024.

What’s On? Interactive exhibition about nature and waterways, with including water play activities. Find out more in our Water of Leith Visitor Centre review.

Cafe? Yes

*****

Edinburgh City Libraries

Regular Opening Hours

Varies by library, mostly Mondays to Saturdays

Festive Opening Hours

25 & 26 December: CLOSED
27 December to 30 December: regular opening hours
1 & 2 January: CLOSED
3 January onwards: regular opening hours

Note: Muirhouse Library at Edinburgh College has different opening hours over the holiday period to the rest of the libraries. It will be closed from Friday 22 December to Monday 8 January.

What’s On? The Central Library has a dedicated Children’s Library with reading rooms and an art room. Most of the other Edinburgh City Libraries also have children’s sections, as well as regular family events and activities, including weekly Bookbug sessions, board game meet-ups, arts & crafts afternoons, Lego clubs, and family story time. Find out more about each library on the Edinburgh Libraries map.

*****

Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament is worth a visit, we had a great day out there with the boys earlier this year. It’s on recess until 7 January, but open again from Monday 8 January if you’re looking for something to do on the last day of the holidays. Find our more in our Scottish Parliament review.

*****

Please note the popular Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage is closed until 10 February 2024.

Outdoor Spaces

As they say in Scotland, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing. While that might not actually be true, and there are plenty of days with storm warnings or lashings of horizontal rain where it’s better to stay indoors even with the best of clothing, here are some suggestions of places to head for some fresh air over the holidays. Don’t forget to bring a flask of something hot (hot chocolate, tea, soup) to have along the way.

Hermitage of Braid

Take a walk through the woods, explore the various side paths, play Pooh Sticks at the bridges, or download our free Murder Mystery Trail!

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

We love the ‘Botanics’ in all seasons. Open daily 10am – 3.45pm (last entry 3pm) during December & January (CLOSED 25 December and 1 January). Cafe available. Keep your eye on their social media channels for additional closures due to severe weather warnings.

Lauriston Castle Grounds

The Castle is closed for guided tours for the festive period (tours will re-commence on Saturday 6 January 2023) but the grounds are open every day during the holidays and are a popular spot for walks. Though keep your eye on the Lauriston Castle Facebook page for closures to the grounds due to severe weather warnings.

Parks & Playgrounds

Edinburgh has no shortage of parks and playgrounds across the city, for when you want to go out with the kids to burn off some energy over the holidays. Tip: Bring a towel to wipe down any wet play equipment!

Check out our A to Z map of playgrounds in Edinburgh for inspiration on which ones to visit next. Our favourites include East Meadows Playpark, Saughton Park, Leith Links Playpark, Victoria Park, and Seven Acre Park.

Or grab a bag of bird seed and visit one of the many spots across the city where you can feed ducks, swans and other birds. Our favourite spots include Blackford Pond, Easter Craiglockhart Nature Reserve, Inverleith Park, and Duddingston Loch & St Margaret’s Loch in Holyrood Park.

Winter Beach Walk

You may associate beaches with sun bathing and paddling, sandcastles and ice cream, but we love a good beach walk at any time of year, including in Winter. We love our local Cramond and Portobello beaches, which you can visit by bus within Edinburgh, and there’s also plenty other beaches within reach that you get to within 30 – 45 minutes by train. Our favourites include Dunbar, North Berwick and Longniddry in East Lothian; and Aberdour and Kinghorn in Fife.

Low Cost Day Trips

If you’ve exhausted all your options in Edinburgh during the holidays, and want to get out a bit more further afield without breaking the bank, then here are a few of our favourite day trip suggestions. All venues include a cafe too.

Summerlee Museum, Coatbridge

Regular opening hours: Daily, 10am – 4pm
Festive opening hours: Closed 25/26 December & 1/2 January; Indoor winter play area available until 7 January
Find out more >> Summerlee Museum Review

Callendar House, Falkirk

Regular opening hours: 10am – 5pm daily except Tuesdays
Festive opening hours: closed 25/26 December & 1/2 January; open 10am – 3pm on 31 December
Find out more >> Callendar House Review

Riverside Museum, Glasgow

Regular Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm Mondays – Thursdays & Saturdays; 11am – 5pm Fridays & Sundays
Festive Opening Hours: Closed 24 December to 26 December; Closed 31 December to 2 January
Find out more >> Riverside Museum Review

(closed 24 December to 26 December; closed 31 December to 2 January)

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Glasgow

Weehailes Adventure Playpark, Musselburgh

Opening Hours: Closed 23 December – 2 January 2024; Open again from 3 January. Opening hours in January are 11am – 4pm.
Costs: Adults £1, Children £3, under 3s go free
Find out more >> Weehailes Review

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