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!
Where's Santa? Our guide to grottos!
Aw, Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without a visit to the Big Man himself! We love the pic you clicked on to get here – the magical expression on the wee girl’s face says it all. That pic shows Santa’s Grotto at Dalkeith Country Park, just one of tons of chances to catch Santa – including on a boat, on skates, on a tram and a train – over the next few weeks. Here’s our guide to Where’s Santa.
Santa’s Grotto at Dalkeith Country Park
Weekends and holidays 30/11/2019-23/12/2019, times slots between 10.30am and 5.50pm, Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith EH22 1ST, dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk
Tell Santa your dearest wish, get a photo with the big man and receive a gift. Free entry into Fort Douglas adventure park on the same day. Loyalty cardholders £14, non loyalty card holders £17.50
Lunch with Santa
07/12/2019-08/12/2019 and 14/12/2019-15/12/2019, 12.30pm, Village Hotel Edinburgh, 140 Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, village-hotels.co.uk
Two-course lunch, mini disco and meet Santa. £20 per adult, £15 per child.
Santa’s Grotto
16/11/2019-24/12/2019, 10.30am-8pm (time slots apply), Castle Street, Edinburgh, edinburghschristmas.com
Meet Santa, listen to him tell a tale and receive a gift. Visits are in groups and last 25 mins. £8.50 per child. Each child can take in two adults, first free, second £5. Bumper cars and helter skelter also on Castle Street, height and age restrictions apply, EH postcode discount available, see website.
Conifox Christmas Experience
30/11/2019, 01/12/2019, 07/12/2019, 08/12/2019, 14/12/2019, 15/12/2019, 21/12/2019-24/12/2019, 9am-4pm (selected dates, times slots apply), Conifox, Kirkliston EH29 9ER, conifox.co.uk
Write a letter to Santa in the post room before entering the five themed rooms: The Enchanted Forest, Toy Factory, Mrs Claus’s Kitchen, Santa’s Sitting Room, and the Reindeer Flying School. Every child receives a present from Santa. Adults £10 off-peak, £12.50 peak, children £15 off-peak, £17.50 peak.
Skating With Santa
30/11/2019, 07/12/2019, 14/12/2019, 21/12/2019, 10am-12pm, Murrayfield Ice Rink, Riversdale Cres, Edinburgh EH12 5XN, murrayfieldicerinkltd.co.uk
Come and skate with Santa! Admission £6, skate hire £1.50.
Sleighbell Sundays
01/12/2019, 08/12/2019, 15/12/2019, 22/12/2019, 24/12/2019, 10am, Brewhemia, 1A Market St, Edinburgh EH1 1DE, brewhemia.co.uk
Breakfast with Santa, choirs and carollers, Christmas movies, Sunday roast, and Santa’s grotto.
Christmas at East Links
07/12/2019-08/12/2019, then 14/12/2019-24/12/2019, East Links Family Park, Dunbar EH42 1XF, eastlinks.co.uk
Meet Santa as he arrives on his sleigh train direct from the North Pole, then follow him over to his grotto where you can meet him and receive a gift. Also elf corner, snowy bouncy castle, nativity scene, all including in entry price. £5 to see Santa, no need to book.
Santa’s Grotto
16/11/2019 and 17/11/2019, then daily from 22/11/2019 until 24/12/2019, times vary, Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, Ocean Dr, Edinburgh EH6 6JJ, oceanterminal.com
Festive grotto on the ground floor outside Debenhams. Ticket money to St Columba’s Hospice & Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity. Tickets £4.50 from customer service desk on day of visit.
Christmas Parade at the Gyle Shopping Centre
20/11/2019, 4pm, Gyle Shopping Centre, Gyle Ave, Edinburgh EH12 9JY, gyleshopping.com
Christmas fun with Boogie and Arlene from Forth 1, Funbox, face painting, stilt walkers, and reindeer petting. Gyle lights switch on at 5.45pm, Santa arrives at 6pm. Also Santa’s Grotto – see customer service desk for dates and times.
Christmas Fayre
23/11/2019, 10.30am-4pm, Traquair House, Innerleithen EH44 6PW, traquair.co.uk
Santa is in his grotto in the house, while choirs and band perform in the courtyard and chapel. Craft stalls, puppet shows, mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and the house decorated in a Victorian Christmas style.
Santa Steam Trains
30/11/2019, 01/12/2019, 07/12/2019, 08/12/2019, 14/12/2019, 15/12/2019, 21/12/2019, 22/12/2019, 10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm and 3pm, Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, Union St, Bo'ness EH51 9AQ, bkrailway.co.uk
During a seven-mile round journey to Birkhill, Santa will meet all the children and give them a gift. Booking essential. Adults £15, children £15, infants (18 months and under) free.
Gyle Santa Express
01/12/2019 and 02/12/2019, 10.25am, 11/40am, 12.50pm (Sunday), 10.25am and 12.50pm (Monday), Gyle tram stop, South Gyle Broadway, edinburghtrams.com
Santa will be onboard these special trams running from the Gyle Centre to St Andrew Sq. Meet the man and receive a goodie bag and selection box. Tickets £1.80-£2.80, includes return from St Andrew Sq, must be booked in advance. Proceeds to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity.
The Santa Experience
06/12/2019-08/12/2019, 13/12/2019-15/12/2019, 18/12/2019-23/12/2019, 10am-6pm (time slots apply), Archerfield Walled Garden, Archerfield Estate, Dirleton, East Lothian EH39 5HQ, archerfieldwalledgarden.com
Meet Santa in his Sorting Office and hear a short story. Each child will receive a gift. 20 min show. Child £8.50 (includes free entry for one adult), additional adult £5.
Father Christmas at Newhailes House
07/12/2019, 08/12/2019, 14/12/2019, 15/12/2019 (selected dates), 10am-3pm (half hour slots), Newhailes House, Newhailes, Musselburgh EH21 6RY, nts.org.uk
Write a letter while you wait to see Father Christmas. Sit with him in the grand dining room, tell him your Christmas wishes and receive a gift. Festive hot food, cakes and drinks available. £8 per child, £1 per adult.
Santa’s Farmyard Cottage
07/12/2019, 08/12/2019, 14/12/2019, 15/12/2019, 21/12/2019-24/12/2019, 10.15am-4pm, Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Millfield, Livingston, EH54 7AR, almondvalley.co.uk
Visit Santa and receive a Christmas present. Seasonal make-and-take crafts. Ticket includes full day at Almond Valley and timed slot for Santa. £7, accompanying adults £6.
Santa Boat Trip
07/12/2019 and 08/12/2019, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, Port Buchan*Broxburn EH52 6HN, facebook.com/bridge1940canalsociety
Cruise along the Union Canal looking for Santa and see if singing Jingle Bells loudly enough means he’ll spot the boat and come on board. £11.19.
Santa’s Grotto
13/12/2019- 15/12/2019, 10.30am-4pm, National Mining Museum, Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange, Midlothian, EH22 4QN, nationalminingmuseum.com
Meet Santa and his helpers, have a photo taken with him, receive a gift, do wee crafts and follow the clues on the Christmas trail. £5 per child. Also running 20-22 December.
Santa Fun Run
15/12/2019, registration for both runs at 8am, Elf Dash at 9.15am, Santa Fun Run 10am, Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith EH22 1ST, dalkeithcountrypark.co.uk
5km Santa fun run through park for 11+ (under 16s must be accompanied by an adult). Percentage of proceeds going to children’s hospices charity CHAS. Also 1km Elf Dash for under 10s, babies in buggies and dogs. Prizes for the best festively dressed child runner and dog. Free entry to Fort Douglas on day for entrants’ families. £15 entry to 5km (includes Santa suit, one size fits all), Elf Dash £6 per child, £12 per adult with one under 10 child (includes elf hat)
Clambers Christmas Party
19/12/2019, 4pm-6pm, Clambers at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, 21 Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH16 5BB, edinburghleisure.co.uk
Two hours of soft play, disco, arts and crafts, face painting, writing a letter to Santa, meeting Santa in his grotto and receiving a present. Children £10 per child (Members £7.50), 0-11 months £5. To book, call 0131 667 7211 or email enquiries@edinburghleisure.co.uk
Scrambles Christmas Disco
20/12/2019, 3.30pm-5.30pm, Scrambles at EICA:Ratho, South Platt Hill, Newbridge, Edinburgh EH28 8AA, edinburghleisure.co.uk
Scrambles Christmas Disco with soft play, disco, face-painting, festive arts and crafts, Santa and a present. Prize for the best festive outfit. Children £10 (members £7.50), 0-11 months £5. To book, call 0131 333 6333 or email info.eica@edinburghleisure.co.uk
Breakfast or afternoon tea with Santa
20/12/2019-22/12/2019, 9.30am-11am (breakfast), 12pm – 1.30pm or 2pm-3.30pm (afternoon tea), Clambers at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, 21 Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh EH16 5BB, edinburghleisure.co.uk
Breakfast or afternoon tea while making reindeer dust, enjoying face painting and a disco. Visit Santa and receive a gift. 45-minute soft-play session and breakfast or tea is included. Children £14 (members £12), 0-11 months £5, adults £7. To book call 0131 667 7211 or email enquiries@edinburghleisure.co.uk
Breakfast with Santa
21/12/2019-24/12/2019, 9am-10.15am, 10.30am-11.45am, Conifox, Kirkliston EH29 9ER, conifox.co.uk
Breakfast with Santa, then visit him and his elf in his grotto to receive a present. Children’s breakfast £10.95, adult’s £9.95, babies free (donation requested) with fee-paying adult. Price includes present and magic elf goodie bag.
Tumbles Christmas Party
22/12/2019, 3pm-5pm, Tumbles at Portobello, 20 Westbank Street, Edinburgh EH15 1DR, edinburghleisure.co.uk
Tumbles Christmas party with soft play included, a disco, face painting and a kids’ lunch box and a visit from Santa, with a present. Children £10 (members £7.50), 0-11 months £5. To book, call 0131 669 0878 or email info.tumbles@edinburghleisure.co.uk
Cameron Toll
30/11/2019-22/12/2019 (Saturdays and Sundays only), 11am-3pm, Cameron Toll Shopping Centre, 6 Lady Rd, Edinburgh EH16 5PB, camerontoll.co.uk
Come and visit Santa - visits are free but a donation is requested for the Jak's Den charity, which supports children and families dealing with the impact of cancer.