The beautiful city of Edinburgh in Scotland is an enchanting place for a short break any time of the year. With a wide range of things to see and do, you'll be spoilt for choice during the school holidays in Scotland.
Add to this a diverse range of attractions from Dynamic Earth and Edinburgh Castle to the Camera Obscura and Royal Yacht Britannia, you are in for a perfect stay in the capital city of Scotland.
Why not book a mid-week break outside of the school half term holidays and explore this historic city during quieter times. Travel and accommodation also tends to be cheaper outside of the UK school holidays.
Edinburgh's nickname, Auld Reekie, refers to the pollution the city once suffered because of the smoke from coal and wood burning fires in its residents' homes. Today, Edinburgh is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city brimming with culture and bars and restaurants, but this affectionate old nickname still remains.
Edinburgh school holidays often centre around a trip to the castle. As Edinburgh's most famous landmark and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the whole of Scotland, Edinburgh castle is the pull for the bulk of the visitors to this city. Queues can be long and you need to set aside at least half a day for this attraction.
There are also some free to enter museums and galleries, including The national gallery of Scotland Complex, which shows works by Monet, Van Gogh and Gauguin. The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is also free to enter and includes works by Dali, Warhol and Hirst.
The half term break in Scotland differs slightly from English school holidays, so for anybody travelling from England this can be a real bonus. If you time it right you can enjoy a family Edinburgh holiday in relative quiet.
It's worth checking this before you book as the variation in the half term dates can make all the difference between a busy city break and a more relaxed experience.
Possibly the only time in the year this isn't the case is at New Year. Edinburgh presents New Year celebrations like nowhere else in the UK and scores of people attend the festivities amidst illuminations, music and spectacular firework displays.
But whenever you decide to visit this stunning Scottish city, Edinburgh holidays bring together the perfect mix of living history in a modern city setting.
Edinburgh Holiday Accommodation - Whether you are looking for a short city break in Edinburgh or a holiday let for a longer visit, we provide an excellent value alternative to hotel accommodation.
Self-catering holiday accommodation offers you an experience of Scotland from a different perspective, in a relaxing, flexible, home from home environment whether you are looking for an Edinburgh Apartment or a seaside cottage in East Lothian.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure that these Edinburgh school holidays are accurate, there are occasions when circumstances beyond our control may result in changes.
Edinburgh School Holidays 2013, 2014 and 2015. Scottish Half Term Dates.
Choose a Scottish county from the list below to view the latest published School Half Term Holiday Dates.
Edinburgh is recognised as a leading centre for education, knowledge and research. The City of Edinburgh Council provides learning opportunities of the highest quality to assist children, young people and adults in reaching their full potential.
Edinburgh school term dates are set by the Children and Families Department and your child's school will give you a list of these dates. We would ask you not to take your child out of school during term times.
If you cannot avoid taking a holiday during term time you need to ask the school/Department for permission to do this.
The City of Edinburgh Council offers Gaelic educational provision from nursery through to Higher Grade Gaelic in secondary school. Gaelic classes are also available through the Council's Adult Education Programme.
Edinburgh Half Term Dates and School Holidays
City of Edinburgh Half Term Dates
School Calendar Files to Download / Print
2013-2014 Edinburgh Term Dates PDF
Whilst every effort is made to ensure that these half term holiday dates are accurate, there are occasions when circumstances beyond our control may result in changes. Always consult your school.
Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, lies on the south side of The Forth Bridge on the South East coast of the country. The city is perhaps best known for its many festivals, including the famous fringe festival and the military tattoo.
Each year visitors from around the world head for Edinburgh to sample its historic buildings and traditions and to walk these lively, fascinating streets. Although it can get busy during the UK school holidays, the city, encompassing the old town and the new town, is a delicate sprawl of ancient and modern streets and never feels too overcrowded.
To get a real understanding of history on the ground, take one of the many walking tours available either by day or night. Some of these walking tours are operated by volunteers and a donation at your discretion is much appreciated. Others must be pre-booked and a fee is charged. Many of these tours take in Mary King's Close, a deserted and ruined alley off The Royal Mile, showing what life was like in the city in the 17th century when it still lived up to its name of ‘Auld Reekie'. Others include literary tours, ghost tours and in-depth city tours, which give a good overview of the city and all it has to offer.
Kildonan Lodge is a friendly 4 star boutique hotel with a passion for customer excellence. Situated on the south side of Edinburgh close to the Kings Buildings and Royal Infirmary, 5 minutes from the city bypass and 10 minutes from the city centre with ample car parking, this makes it an ideal retreat for both corporate and leisure guests.
Enjoying Edinburgh During The School Holidays
The Scottish capital is famous for its heritage and fascinating culture and has become a popular weekend break destination for many a cultured soul hoping to catch a Shakespeare production and enjoy an up-market meal or two. Does this mean then, that visits to Edinburgh should remain a child-free zone or is there something for everyone in this beautiful city?
The top attraction in Edinburgh (and arguably Scotland) has to be the castle. Just the impressive dent in the skyline made by this historic fortress is enough to impress all visitors- young and old. Established in 1861 the “One O'clock Gun" is fired Monday to Saturday at precisely 13:00 and has become a popular tourist attraction.
Visitors can also see the reminders of those treading their steps before them with scratching's on the walls of the dungeon. In addition to all of this, if you are fortunate enough to be visiting in the summer holiday then you may even be able to get tickets to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo- a series of performances from the Scottish regiment and many other invited performers from around the world.
Next on the family-friendly to-do list, the Edinburgh zoo. Ten minutes from the city the zoo is conveniently located for all young families who hate the idea of travelling for miles on busy public transport. Once there, you can be sure to spend a whole day here enjoying over 1000 animals including monkeys, tigers and polar bears. If that wasn't enough, the penguin enclosure here is the largest in the world and the “Magic Forest” with its marmosets and tamarinds are a definite must-see.
Now, what if the holiday weather in Edinburgh is having an off-day? Well, there are plenty of museums and exhibition centres to keep you and your family busy. Camera Obscura and World of Illusions is a great option for those trying to keep their kids entertained whilst hoping to not lose their own sanity. Home to the most powerful public telescope in Britain and three floors of exhibitions and curiosities regarding light, colour and optical illusions which are all sure to provide a lot of fun and fascination for all of those involved.
For more practical elements of your trip- such as where are you going to stay? - it is recommended that you review all options before booking into that bog-standard travel inn. These days a night in a holiday apartment can be a similar price to one in a cramped hotel room.
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