Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
What's On in Edinburgh & The Lothians
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Bikeability Scotland
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: Various venues
Website: www.cycling.scot/bikeability-scotland
Free, in-school programme that is supported by a network of qualified instructors, who are often teachers, parents, and members of the local community. You can check to see if your child’s school currently...
Code Ninjas
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: Code Ninjas Edinburgh
Website: www.codeninjas.co.uk/edinburgh-mln-uk
Code Ninjas' innovative programme enables young minds to develop crucial skills in coding, problem-solving, and critical thinking through a fun, game-based curriculum. Engaging in such dynamic learning...
Crafternoons
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: Main Hall of the Scottish Parliament
Website: www.parliament.scot
Looking for something fun to do with the kids on the weekend? Crafternoons offer a range of activities for all ages. There's no need to book, just walk in and join the sessions taking place between 11am...
Doodles Ceramics
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: Doodles Ceramics
Website: www.doodlesscotland.co.uk
Doodles Ceramics are very excited to be celebrating 25 years of business in 2025. Visit the Doodles Ceramics workshop in Edinburgh with your little one or with a school or community group. They have hundreds...
Eye Spy Edinburgh
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Website: www.camera-obscura.co.uk
With five floors and over 100 interactive, hands-on exhibits there's something fun to entertain all ages. Tour Edinburgh’s streets without moving. Test your brain against mind-bending illusions. Take...
Family Print Club
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: Edinburgh Printmakers
Website: www.edinburghprintmakers.online.red61.co.uk
These Sunday Funday sessions are designed for different generations to share an experience, explore some printmaking techniques, and have some fun! This course runs on Sundays, twice a month 10.15-12/.15pm...
Family Robotics Play
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: Little Plaza
Website: www.littleplaza.co.uk/kidsrobotics
Introduce your child to the world of robotics through hands-on exploration of robotics parts. It's a chance for them to engage in creative learning while allowing the expert instructor to assess if they...
Find Out Fridays
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: National Museum of Scotland
Website: www.nms.ac.uk
Exploring a different theme each week and join the Engagement team to learn some of the fascinating facts and surprising stories behind the collections. Get hands on with real museum objects, take part...
First Class Learning
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: Various venues
Website: www.firstclasslearning.co.uk
FCL Centres offer Maths, English, and science tuition, fully aligned with the national curriculum. Each child benefits from a personalised study plan, closely monitoring progress to ensure they achieve...
George Heriot's School
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: George Heriot's School
Website: www.george-heriots.com
Heriot’s is Scotland’s leading independent school. Pupils aged 4 to 18 learn side by side, as part of one big Heriot’s family. Visit the website to see the open morning films 2021 which will give...
Inverleith Junior Parkrun
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: Inverleith Park
Website: www.parkrun.org.uk/inverleith-juniors
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 2k event for juniors (4 to 14 year olds) held every Sunday at 9.30am. Free to join but register before you first go along. The aim is to have fun. Go along and join in...
Join Cub Club
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Website: www.scottishspca.org/cub-club
Join Cub Club - the new kids membership at the Scottish SPCA! Every Cub Club member gets a super welcome pack with cuddly toy, activities and more! Little animal-lovers are in for a treat when they become...
Keeper days
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: Five Sisters Zoo
Website: www.fivesisterszoo.co.uk
Spend time with the Zoo Keepers, help make up animal feeds, changing their bedding and see behind the scenes, visit some of the animal residents like (wallabies, giant rabbits, lemurs, pygmy goats, birds,...
Lyceum Youth Theatre
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: The Royal Lyceum Edinburgh
Website: www.lyceum.org.uk/take-part/young-people/lyt
Lyceum Youth Theatre offer classes a range of classes; Play (ages 5-7), Mini's (ages 8-10), Juniors (ages 11-13) and Seniors (ages 14-18). Each session challenges members to become strong performers whilst...
Nature Quest
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: RSPB Loch Leven
Website: www.rspb.org.uk
Get ready for an unforgettable adventure with Nature Quest—your all-in-one outdoor exploration kit. Perfect for families and groups, this adventure in a bag lets you team up, choose your nature scientist...
Ninja Warrior UK Edinburgh
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: Ninja Warrior UK Edinburgh
Website: www.ninjawarrioruk.co.uk/edinburgh
With obstacles for all ages and over 20 obstacles taken straight from the hit ITV show Ninja Warrior UK. Bounce around on the massive Airpark, featuring a ninja challenge area and twin lane race course....
Princes Street Gardens Treasure Hunt
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: West Princes St Gardens
Website: https://terribletales.co.uk
Welcome to Edinburgh’s “Monument-al Treasure Hunt” in West Princes St Gardens, a cultural and historical exploration for children and adults of all ages to enjoy. Explore the three audiobooks e-books...
The Meadows Junior Parkrun
19th March-6th May 2025
Venue: The Meadows
Website: www.parkrun.org.uk/themeadows-juniors
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 2k event for juniors (4 to 14 year olds) held every Sunday at 9.30am. Free to join but register before you first go along. The aim is to have fun. Go along and join in...
Loretto School Open Afternoon
2nd May 2025
Venue: Loretto School
Website: www.loretto.com
Loretto was founded on the principle that every child has talents that should be developed. No matter their interests or passions, the potential of every child is realised at Loretto. Register for the...
Dino's: Dinosaur Detectives
10th May 2025
Venue: Dynamic Earth
Website: www.dynamicearth.org.uk
Join Saturday Science Sessions with Dino’s (Ages 6-12), enjoy a variety of hands on activities and a take home craft. This week step into the shoes of a Palaeontologist investigating the dinosaurs that...
EdinBrick
10th-11th May 2025
Venue: Meadowbank Sports Centre
Website: www.ticketsource.co.uk/edinbrick
Edinbrick will again be raising money for Fairybricks.org, the LEGO Charity in the UK that donates LEGO to children in hospital to use. With new models on display, the ever popular everyone’s a winner...
Edinburgh Tartan Parade
10th May 2025
Venue: Edinburgh Town
Website: https://handupevents.co.uk/tartan-parade-scotland
This exciting event will bring together tartans, pipe bands, dancers, musicians, organisations, and individuals from Edinburgh, as well as across Scotland, and beyond - to celebrate the country's rich...
Festhailes 25
10th May 2025
Venue: Newhailes House and Garden
Website: www.eventbrite.co.uk
Newhailes is once again hosting its family friendly music festival in the grounds of Newhailes House with a fabulous line up of musical acts and much more! Includes fair rides, Weehailes Playpark Open...
A Minecraft Movie
11th May 2025
Venue: Eastgate Theatre and Arts Centre
Website: www.eastgatearts.com
Embark on an epic adventure in A Minecraft Movie, where the limitless world of blocks, creativity, and survival comes to life like never before! Packed with humour, heart, and plenty of pixelated action,...
The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe
13th-17th May 2025
Venue: Festival Theatre
Website: www.capitaltheatres.com
Step through the wardrobe into the magic kingdom of Narnia where a world of wonder awaits. Join Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they meet new friends, face dangerous foes and learn the lessons of courage,...
Children's Classic Concerts - Peter and The Wolf
17th May 2025
Venue: Corn Exchange, Haddington
Website: www.thebrunton.co.uk
This unique theatrical concert presentation of the much-loved music by Prokofiev has been arranged for wind quintet, representing Peter and his four brave animal friends as they battle the sly wolf. Peter...
North Edinburgh Community Festival
17th May 2025
Venue: West Pilton Park
Website: www.whatsoninedinburgh.co.uk
The North Edinburgh Community Festival is a free, family friendly and community-led event which will feature a vibrant mix of activities, live music, workshops, food stalls, a community parade, sports,...
Shrek The Musical
21st May 2025
Venue: Howden Park Centre
Website: www.howdenparkcentre.co.uk
"Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek…" And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess...
Edinburgh International Children's Festival
24th May-1st June 2025
Venue: Various venues
Website: www.edinburghfestivalcity.com
The Festival celebrates the best of children’s theatre and dance from around the world, showcasing high quality, distinctive Scottish and international performances to an audience of children, their...
Teddy Bear Adventure
24th May 2025
Venue: The Edinburgh Academy
Website: www.edinburghacademy.org.uk
Visit for a morning of fun, adventure, and creativity at their annual Teddy Bear Adventure with activities designed for children aged 2–7 years. No matter what sparks your child’s imagination, this...
Artie's Singing Kettle - Scotland
31st May 2025
Venue: Corn Exchange, Haddington
Website: www.thebrunton.co.uk
Experience the magic of Artie's Singing Kettle and enjoy much loved songs like Aiken Drum, Three Craws, and The Train to Glasgow. Relive the original repertoire that made the show famous. And as a special...
Dizzy Dinosaurs
7th June 2025
Venue: Lauriston Castle
Website: www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk
Join Dizzy the Dinosaur to find out how we know so much about creatures who roamed our lands more than 65 million years ago. What are fossils and how are they made? What finally killed all the dinosaurs,...
Marvel Studios’ Infinity Saga Concert Experience
11th June 2025
Venue: Usher Hall
Website: www.usherhall.co.uk
Revisit the earliest days of Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor as they discover their place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – each accompanied by their own unforgettable heroic music. Recapture the...
Knights of Newhailes
14th June 2025
Venue: Newhailes House and Garden
Website: www.eventbrite.co.uk
Witness live-action jousts and gallant medieval knights battle it out to be crowned champion. See what life was like at the medieval encampment where you could even catch a falconry display or learn a...
Summer Panto - Snow White
21st June 2025
Venue: National Mining Museum
Website: www.nationalminingmuseum.com
When the vain Wicked Queen realises that she is no longer the fairest in the land, she seeks revenge against her beautiful stepdaughter Snow White. With the help of her new found panto pals can Snow White...
Edinburgh Pretty Muddy 5k
22nd June 2025
Venue: The Meadows, Melville Drive
Website: www.raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org
Pretty Muddy® Kids is a fun-packed muddy obstacle course for children aged 6-12 (over 1.2m tall). The young fundraisers climb, crawl and slide their way around the course at their own pace, accompanied...