Edinburgh School Holidays

Parents everywhere run on planning, whether that be packing school lunches the night before or finding a matching pair of socks in a mountain of washing! We know you already have masses on your plate so let’s make things easy (or rather, easier!) with a guide to the Edinburgh school holidays, the city’s bank holidays AND Edinburgh’s Inset days.

As well as those essential dates, we’ve whipped together a few activities and our top days out for the Edinburgh school holidays. Just remember though that it’s best to check the following dates for holidays/school terms with your school first, just in case!

• Christmas Holidays: 22nd December 2023 – 9th January 2024
• Spring Term: 9th January – 28th March 2024
• February Half Term: 9th – 19th February 2024
• Easter Holidays: 29th March – 16th April 2024
• Summer Term: 16th April – 28th June 2024
• May Holidays: 6th, 7th, 20th May 2024
• Summer Holidays Start: 1st July 2024

• Autumn Term: 14th August – 23rd December 2024
• Term Starts: 14th August 2024
• September Holidays: 16th September 2024
• October Half Term: 14th October – 21st October 2024
• Christmas Holidays: 23rd December 2024 – 7th January 2025
• Spring Term: 7th January – 4th April 2025
• February Half Term: 10th – 14th February 2025
• Easter Holidays: 7th April – 21st April 2025
• Summer Term: 22nd April – 26th June 2025
• May Holidays: 5th and 19th May 2025
• Summer Holidays Start: 27th June 2025

Next up, activities galore! Free time with the family is a wonderful thing but you need to know where to start, so here’s our pick for a few of the best activities in Edinburgh. We’ve made sure to choose indoor and outdoor days out too as you never can rely on that Scottish sun…

Edinburgh museums are a wild and wonderful lot! With subject matters veering from mining and childhood to instruments and transport. Whichever museum you visit, know that they’re not just about a love for learning, because loads of them have interactive exhibits and activity trails!

So, your kids will always be busy, whether it’s with fun or educational activities, especially on a quiet Sunday!

Who doesn’t love a good stomp through puddles and piles of crunchy leaves? The country parks in Edinburgh are full of them, as well as adventure play areas and nature reserves where you can see how many curious critters your tribe can spot. Just be sure to pack a picnic!

Animal-mad kids can meet all sorts of furry faces at one of the many wildlife centres and zoos in Edinburgh. They could be the famous pandas at Edinburgh Zoo or one of the majestic residents of The Scottish Deer Centre, depending on how adventurous you’re feeling…

Has your brood perfected their swing or are they all about having the sides up? Either way, tenpin bowling in Edinburgh would be a great way to play the day away, particularly with arcade games, prizes and more up for grabs. Ready, set, ROLL!

And now for something oh so splashy: Edinburgh has a pretty decent selection of swimming pools with wave machines, floaties and a few slides thrown in for good measure. There are also loads of options for swimming lessons so your tadpoles can beat their best times.

We promised to share our top days out for the Edinburgh school holidays, so here they are. We’ve even got a list of our favourite Edinburgh events taking place throughout the year so you’ll never be stuck for ideas.

• Camera Obscura and World of Illusions: See the city in a totally new and totally wild way with six floors full of interactive activities. Ranging from a sneaky spyglass to the Magic Gallery, plus an enormous kaleidoscope you can actually stand inside! Perspective is thrown into question but one thing’s for sure: it’s fantastic fun!
• Gorgie City Farm: Pay a visit to some of the cutest creatures on this side of the border. Including Mrs Murdoch the tortoise, at this community-led farm. Chickens and pigs live alongside Beck the bearded dragon… And there is a lovely playpark for your little animals to run around while the grown-ups peruse fresh fruit and veg.
• Dynamic Earth: Dinosaurs, volcanoes and polar ice caps are all part of the furniture here with an interactive tour. Which is sure to blow a few socks off! This is education at its very best. Especially by the time you reach the full dome theatre which takes you on a guided tour of nature’s secrets. Simply put, it’s a winner.
• The Edinburgh Treasure Trail: Why not use the Edinburgh school holidays to explore every nook and cranny throughout the city? Hunt down clues and see the sights on a two-hour trek where you’ll spot Scottish Parliament. Or take a turn past the Palace of Holyroodhouse! You’ll even pass by Dynamic Earth so team two days out in one.
• The Yard: This is a specially designed play centre for SEN kids and young people, and is simply stuffed with fun things! Have a toot on a musical instrument, dress up in colourful costumes or kick back in the sensory room. The team are an experienced bunch and ready to show you the ropes, so get stuck in.

That’s our guide to the Edinburgh school holidays this year! With a list of term dates for the autumn holiday, mid-term breaks and school closures, you’re sure to be kept up to date! If there’s nothing here that you think will fit the bill, hop on over to our things to do in Edinburgh page where the options are (nearly) endless. No get out there and explore more!

Looking for more school holidays information?

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