Festive Events & Winter Highlights For Under Fives
Parents with young ones in Edinburgh can look forward to several festive and toddler-friendly events this November.
Santa’s Stories
Dates: November 20 – December 24, 2026
Venue: West Princes Street Gardens
Details: A cosy, 20-minute interactive storytelling session inside Santa's decorated cabin where little ones can hear a festive tale and meet Santa and his elves. Relaxed and accessible sessions are available.
Cost: Tickets start from £14.30 (with 20% discounts available for eligible EH postcode residents). Book via Edinburgh's Christmas.
Christmas at the Botanics
Dates: November 19 – December 30, 2026
Venue: Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (Inverleith Row)
Details: An illuminated outdoor light trail featuring glowing spheres, the Christmas Cathedral, and seasonal treats. It includes early-evening family slots and dedicated relaxed sessions on select dates (such as November 29).
Cost: Paid entry (timed tickets required: £14.50 - £26). Book via the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Edinburgh’s Christmas Market & Attractions
Dates: November 14, 2026 – January 3, 2027
Venue: East and West Princes Street Gardens
Details: The city centre transforms into a winter wonderland with family-friendly rides like the Big Wheel, festive stalls, and letter-writing stations to the North Pole.
Cost: Free to walk around the market grounds. Rides vary but can add up. Find out more here
Very Messy Play Event
Date: November 12, 2026
Venue: Community Centre, Balerno
Details: Sensory and messy play sessions tailored for little ones from sitting up to 3 years old.
Cost: £10 per child (adults go free; teas and coffees are included) .Find out more here
Family Fridays & Relaxed Mornings at National Galleries
Dates: Fridays; 6, 13, 20, 27 - November 2026
Venue: National Galleries of Scotland (Portrait Gallery)
Details: Family-friendly drop-in sessions with creative activities suited for young children. Mornings 10–12 noon, ages 0–3. Afternoons 2–4 pm, ages 3+
Cost: Completely free with no booking required (drop-in). Find out more here
Magic Carpet
Hosted in the Learning Centre Event Space at the National Museum of Scotland, these highly active 45-minute sessions support developmental milestones.
The Experience: Little ones sit on a giant "magic carpet" to explore monthly themes using real, baby-safe museum objects, sensory play, songs, and physical movement.
Dates: Mondays throughout November (specifically November 9 and November 23, 2026).
Cost: £5 per child (£4 for members); pre-booking is essential as spaces are strictly capped at 12 children per session.
Dynamites: Jurassic Fantastic
This weekly 45-minute structured program at Dynamic Earth blends early science literacy with imaginative play.
The Experience: Designed for children under 4, this session introduces prehistory through interactive storytelling, crafting, and hands-on tactile play. Three-year-olds get a unique chance to touch real fossil specimens and Triceratops teeth.
Perk: Your ticket includes admission to the Ocean Commotion indoor soft play area, which is great for motor skill development.
Date: Weekly on Fridays
Cost: Price: £4 per ticket under 5 - find out more here
Come and Play: Messy Play
Led by a lead early years practitioner, this targeted developmental play session focuses heavily on fine motor skills and spatial awareness. 'Bounce and Rhyme Time', 'Musical Sounds', and 'Messy Play' sessions for you and your pre-school-aged children, held most weeks during term time at St Georges School Nursery. These sessions are run by Bookbug-certified Session Leaders.
The Experience: Tailored directly for the 1-to-3 age bracket, this indoor session allows kids to explore raw materials, textures, and sensory mediums without constraints, boosting cognitive connections and creative independence.
Venue: Hosted inside the nursery school building at St George's School in Murrayfield.
Date: Fridays starting at 10:30 am
Cost: Free admission, but advance registration is required. Here
