See at a glance what service levels will be in operation over the festive period
No matter the reason for travelling by bus this festive period – visiting friends and family, commuting to and from work, attending Christmas parties or work nights out – Lothian is here to make your journey easy, affordable and comfortable.
We’ve pulled together all the information you could possibly need this Christmas for travel across Edinburgh and the Lothians, including festive timetables, TravelHub opening hours, journey planning tools, Lothian merchandise (ideal for stocking fillers!) and last but not least… our very special Christmas Advertisement for 2025, created in partnership with our Charity of Choice, Age Scotland!
National Theatre of Scotland and NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts present
Trolleydarity
Scratch n Sniff Staycation for the Discerning Static Traveller
At Western General Hospital, Edinburgh; St John’s Hospital, Livingston; and East Lothian Community Hospital, Haddington
December 2025 to March 2026
Co-curated by Alan Grieve and Shona Reppe
Designer – Danny Krass
Facilitators for St John’s Hospital and East Lothian Community Hospital – Minnie Crook and Dan Brown
Supported by: The Weir Charitable Trust and The William Grant Foundation
Trolleydarity lead artists Shona Reppe (lilac top) and Alan Grieve (Green Top) engage with staff and patients at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. Photography by Peter Dibdin
Trolleydarity’s Scratch n Sniff Staycation for the Discerning Static Travelleris an innovative new project by artists Shona Reppe and Alan Grieve co-curated for patients and staff across NHS Lothian presented by National Theatre of Scotland andNHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts.
Shona and Alan will present Scratch n Sniff Staycation for the Discerning Static Traveller across Western General Hospital wards with Minnie Crook and Dan Brown facilitating the Staycation in St John’s Hospital, Livingston and East Lothian Community Hospital, Haddington, from December 2025 to March 2026.
Scratch n Sniff Staycation for the Discerning Static Traveller is a series of artistic one-to -one encounters with hospital patients, visitors and staff presented by Shona and Alan (Trolleydarity.) These unique and surprising interventions will offer discerning travellers an opportunity to explore the world in a way that feels both real and magical, through the power of sound and scent. Participants will be transported on a journey without having to catch a plane or even leave their beds.
Shona Reppe and Alan Grieve’s Trolleydarity’s “immersive sensory micro adventure” will be brought to hospital bedsides, wards and waiting areas by trolley; all that will be required to explore the world is a pair of headphones and a complimentary postcard.
This brand new project transforms the everyday into the extraordinary, from the scent of a luxurious spa to the sound of crisp snow underfoot, all brought to life through the magic of sound and smell. Participants are invited to stay where they are, close their eyes, scratch, sniff and go!
This project is part of an ongoing partnership between National Theatre of Scotland and NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts, the Charity’s arts in health programme which improves and supports the health and wellbeing of NHS Lothian patients and staff.
It follows on from an existing collaboration on the hosting of Portraits of an LGBTI+ Generation exhibition, at the Charity’s Tonic Galleries in both St John’s Hospital Livingston and the Western General Hospital.
Trolleydarity lead artists Shona Reppe (lilac top) and Alan Grieve (Green Top) engage with staff and patients at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. Photography by Peter Dibdin
Len McCaffer, NHS Lothian Charity’s Tonic Arts Manager: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the National Theatre of Scotland to bring these magical sensory adventures to patients in hospital – for the patients themselves, it gives them a gentle escape during their hospital stay and for staff, it provides a joyful shared moment to brighten a long shift.
“”Trolleydarity reminds us that care is more than clinical — it’s sensory, human and about making connections. And this is exactly what our Tonic Arts programme is all about.”
In relation to national speed limits on single carriageway, following close consideration of consultation responses, Ministers will not be taking forward changes. Further work will be undertaken to continue to analyse the impact on road casualties and journey times of a speed limit change on different standards of single carriageways.
In relation to Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) speed limits, work will be undertaken to progress steps to increase speed limits on single and dual carriageways for this vehicle type. This change aims to reduce the speed differential between HGVs and other vehicles, helping to reduce driver frustration and improve journey time reliability.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said: “The National Speed Management Review provides important evidence on how speed limits can help reduce road deaths and serious injuries, and is helping us work towards our ambitious goal of making Scotland’s roads the safest in the world by 2030.
“The next steps have been informed by the huge number of responses to the public consultation. Work will be undertaken to further analyse the impact on road casualties and journey times of a speed limit change on different standards of single carriageways and this will inform any future transport policies.
“We are also going to start work now on the steps needed to increase HGV speed limits, recognising the consultation feedback and the positive results of similar changes from the A9 HGV speed limit trial and other parts of the UK.
By reducing the speed differential between HGVs and other vehicles, this change is expected to enhance road safety by reducing driver frustration and improving journey time reliability.
“We must never lose sight of the fact that one death on our roads is one too many. These proposals represent a vital step towards making Scotland roads safer.”
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) must put strong controls in place to prevent fraud and ensure value for money after unacceptable weaknesses were found in its governance.
The audit of HES’s 2024/25 accounts reported weaknesses in governance arrangements, including: procurement issues, data breaches, unclear processes for complimentary tickets to events at its venues, and no formal register of interests for the Executive Leadership Team.
Auditors reported weaknesses in the financial management of electronic purchasing cards and hospitality. They also found that the HES board was not provided with a paper to scrutinise the cancellation of a specialist archive storage project, which has already cost £2.9 million, with a further £0.5 million likely to be spent.
Together, these issues suggest a culture where organisational policies are not consistently applied or followed.
HES operated without a Chief Executive or Accountable Officer for almost six months in 2025. The Scottish Government should have appointed a substitute Accountable Officer to provide the necessary leadership and accountability in accordance with ministerial guidelines.
Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said: “Historic Environment Scotland is navigating a period of significant instability and challenge, with a number of staff-related matters that need to be resolved. This includes allegations of a toxic workplace culture which needs to be fully investigated and addressed.
“My report outlines unacceptable weaknesses in HES’s governance arrangements.
“It is critical that strong controls are now put in place to prevent the risk of fraud and demonstrate that value for money is being achieved.”
New standards ensure consistent help across Scotland
Young people using alcohol or drugs will receive improved access to support through new national standards.
Developed in conjunction with young people across Scotland, the standards set out what under-25s should expect when seeking help.
They establish core principles – including early intervention before problems escalate, access to treatment and recovery for those most at risk, consistent relationships with support workers and flexible access through online, phone or face-to-face services.
During a visit to The GIVIT Youth Recovery Service in Hamilton, which helped draw up the standards, Drugs and Alcohol Policy Minister Maree Todd said: “I welcome these standards as a vital step in ensuring accessible, person-centred and trauma-informed support for young people.
“Although drug-related deaths in people under-25 have reduced in recent years, I often hear from people that they started to experience problems with alcohol or drugs in their youth. If we can intervene and support earlier then we can prevent the development of more serious harms and death.
“These standards set out how local services can support young people to stay safe, reduce their substance use and recover. They give professionals and commissioners clear, practical guidance to deliver care that meets each young person’s needs and set a benchmark for best practice, ensuring treatment and support that truly makes a difference.
“They will make sure reliable support is available at the earliest possible opportunity, when challenges begin, not after they spiral. They will ensure support is high-quality and young people are kept safe and supported.”
The standards address geographical variations. They require all areas to provide person-centred support that recognises individual circumstances, cultural background and wider life needs.
Key features include the ability to self-refer, choice of appointment times and locations, and support for families.
The GIVIT Youth Recovery Service Project Manager Mary Thomson said: “These standards will help create more coordinated pathways to support, ensuring access to the right help at the right time.
“Strong partnership working between services will make it easier to provide consistent, high-quality support, leading to more effective planning and delivery of services aligned with the National Drugs Mission across Scotland.”
GIVIT Youth Advisory Panel Member Callum said: ”Standards for young people nationally around drug and alcohol support services is really exciting and a step in the right direction for recovery in Scotland.
“It will make services more accessible and help challenge the stigma around youth recovery.”
GIVIT Youth Advisory Panel Member George said: “Ensuring accessibility to information related to services for both the young person and their support network is key to success in recovery.
“Being inclusive to all without judgment will encourage young people from various backgrounds and circumstances to seek help.”
Starting in the Shetland Islands on 1st January 2026 – and arriving into Edinburgh on 25th February – Jonathan Kemp, Viscount Rochdale, will embark on an incredible 10-month, 296-day, 4,200km journey across Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland to raise £80,000 for four mental health charities and to spark open conversations about mental health.
Along the way, Jonathan will give talks in workplaces, schools, universities and community groups on his own powerful story of living with bipolar disorder, depression, addiction and dyslexia.
Jonathan is keen to invite members of the public to walk alongside him for a mile, a day, or more – or simply offer support from the side-lines. For more information visit: www.jonathankemp.com/walk and for the full press release, route maps and photographs visit: https://bit.ly/FindingPeaceMedia
For the first 40 years of his life, Jonathan battled undiagnosed mental health conditions, and contemplated death by suicide. He spent years trying to distance himself from family expectations, searching for a sense of well-being as a punk, a cowboy in Australia, a London bricklayer, a Metropolitan Police sergeant, and later an entrepreneur. He shared his story in his powerful memoir, Finding Peace of Mind (Troubador, October 2025).
Now, he wants to share his journey from mental illness to a life of purpose and hope, normalising conversations about mental health, reducing stigma, and inspiring others to keep going, while raising money for four charities:
Around since 1923, SAMH is Scotland’s national mental health charity.
They operate over 70 services in communities across Scotland, providing mental health social care support, addictions and employment services, among others.
AWARE NI is the Depression Charity for Northern Ireland.
Based in Derry/Londonderry and Belfast, they have an established network of 24 support groups across the country alongside online support group options, welcoming people with low mood, anxiety, depression and bipolar as well as carers for people with mental ill-health.
Founded in 1985, AWARE is a voluntary organisation based in Ireland which aims to assist people affected by depression, bipolar disorder and related mood conditions.
They offer support and self-care groups for people who experience depression or bipolar disorder, a support Line, support mail and training and education programmes.
Jonathan says, “This isn’t just a walk — it’s a living symbol of the mental health journey. Beginning in the cold, dark days of January reflects those times when life feels tough, when all you can do is keep going one step at a time.”
Jonathan Kemp, Viscount Rochdale, is a survivor, author, and relentless innovator. He is an entrepreneur, former law enforcement official and mental health advocate who was unaware that bipolar disorder, depression and dyslexia were shaping his life.
He has appeared on Times Radio, BBC Radio, TedX and in the Times and Tatler. He won the British Dyslexia Association’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award in 2011 and has worked with organisations and academic institutions using SmartWisdom to support people to excel at work and study. www.jonathankemp.com.
Scottish Opera’s much-loved, annual Primary Schools Tour starts in February with The Dragon of the Western Sea, and a new digital version of the show is now available alongside the in-person tour.
Running through the Spring and Summer terms, the tour visits schools all over Scotland as well as in Newcastle and helps teachers deliver aspects of A Curriculum for Excellence.
It gives up to 100 P5-P7s the opportunity to be involved in a special performance day, during which a team of Scottish Opera Teaching Artists help them stage their own all-singing, all-dancing 30-minute show, with full rental of props and costumes. Alternatively, it can be facilitated entirely within the classroom by teachers themselves.
For both in-person and digital, schools are provided with high quality, online teaching resources in advance, including a teachers’ support pack, to help introduce the songs from The Dragon of the Western Sea to pupils.
Last toured in 2018, The Dragon of the Western Sea was composed by Alan Penman with words by Ross Stenhouse, and tells the story ofthe exciting voyages of 14th century Chinese commander, Admiral Zheng He, who set sail with his vast fleet and 28,000 crew, from China to Indonesia, India, Arabia and the grasslands of Africa in search of trade, treaties and treasure.
When the great Dragon Throne Emperor of China, Zhu Di, has decided it is time his nation expanded its influence beyond the edge of the known world and into the mysterious Western Sea, he assembles his mighty ships and fills them with all the riches of China, enough to buy the gratitude and friendship of those unknown lands beyond the setting sun. Only one man could be trusted to lead such a dangerous and important mission, the great Admiral Zheng He, the Dragon of the Western Sea.
Scottish Opera’s children’s operas make learning fun and creative. Over the years, the Primary Schools Tour has inspired over 850,000 children across all 32 Local Authority areas in Scotland.
The Dragon of the Western Sea forms part of a suite of Scottish Opera’s digital offerings for schools, which includes The Curse of MacCabbra Opera House, How The Dragon Was Made, Vikings! The Quest for the Dragon’s Treasure and The Tale o’ Tam o’ Shanter.
This online delivery method — which includes Scottish Opera singers appearing on screen in classrooms to sing alongside the class — makes the project even easier and more affordable for teachers to engage with, particularly in those schools without specialist music teachers at primary level.
With 50-plus years of experience in classrooms, Scottish Opera’s Outreach and Education Programme has developed this approach because it recognised that the in-person learning Primary Schools Tour experience reaches capacity very quickly each year, so a complementary strand of the programme has been created in the form of a set of exclusivelyonline resources — so many more schools across Scotland can participate — and at a much lower cost per pupil.
Scottish Opera’s Director of Education and Outreach, Jane Davidson said: ‘With The Dragon of the Western Sea, the composer and librettist were inspired by this real-life story to create a dramatic tale of adventure on the high seas.
“The plot gives us a wonderful opportunity to introduce Scottish primary pupils to a different perspective on the age of discovery. Admiral He predated the journeys made by European explorers by many years.
“Using a blend of musical styles as well as key words and phrases from China, Africa and India, the opera provides a fascinating snapshot of the history and customs of other cultures in an appealing and accessible way.
“We are delighted we have been able to re-imagine and expand the tour by offering a digital version of The Dragon of the Western Sea, to make it even more accessible and adaptable for all schools in Scotland to take part.”
The Dragon of the Western Sea tour is kindly supported by The David and June Gordon Memorial Trust, The Pear Tree Fund for Music, The W M Mann Foundation and Scottish Opera’s Education Angels.
Scotland’s self-catering sector is sounding the alarm as new data from the ASSC Autumn Barometer Survey reveals a sharp fall in business confidence and a dramatic slump in forward bookings, with mounting fiscal pressures compounding industry challenges.
Drawing on responses from 444 self-caterers across Scotland, the bi-annual survey offers real-world insight into a sector facing a worrying collapse in demand and sentiment.
While occupancy levels in spring and summer 2025 showed some resilience, the outlook for winter 2025–26 is markedly weaker. Just 7% of operators reported stronger forward bookings, while almost half (47%) said winter bookings were worse or much worse than last year. Many described demand as having “dropped off a cliff” and the market as “dead.” Unsurprisingly, confidence has fallen sharply, with 43% pessimistic about the next 24 months.
The survey also highlights a series of structural and financial challenges pressing on self-catering businesses, all of which feed into dampened confidence:
The rising cost of doing business was cited as a moderate to major challenge by 91% of respondents;
Increasing regulatory pressures seen as an obstacle by 86%;
Visitor affordability and competitiveness concerns affected 87% of operators; and
Uncertainty around Scottish Government policy was viewed as a key concern by 79%.
The cumulative effect is squeezing profitability and leaving many businesses feeling stretched to the absolute limit, both operationally and personally.
76% report mental health and wellbeing impacts, with regulatory uncertainty cited as the leading cause of stress. Short-term let regulation remains one of the dominant issues, with 43% remaining in prolonged appeals or awaiting decisions regarding planning requirements.
Moreover, the sector remains heavily exposed to changes in Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) and the Small Business Bonus Scheme. That’s why last week, industry leaders wrote collectively to the Minister for Public Finance Ivan McKee, highlighting that the draft 2026 NDR revaluation posed a serious and immediate threat to the viability of thousands of businesses, with some facing eye-watering rises of 300%.
At First Minister’s Question Time, John Swinney noted he was “concerned” at developments and that it was being “pursued” by ministers.
The ASSC is calling for immediate action to protect self-caterers from such disproportionate increases, as well as a more balanced regulatory approach overall that recognises the realities facing local operators.
Fiona Campbell MBE, CEO of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: “These figures are a powerful wake-up call.
“We are seeing confidence slip and forward bookings are alarmingly weak. Behind these numbers are real people working tirelessly to sustain Scotland’s vital tourism sector; and the strain is not only affecting balance sheets but also mental wellbeing.
“Operators are reaching the absolute limit of what they can absorb. Without swift intervention, perfectly viable businesses will be lost, while the damage done to local economies will be long lasting.”
FM: “Scottish Government stands firmly against all forms of antisemitism”
First Minister John Swinney has extended his condolences and spoken of the Scottish Government’s solidarity with Jewish communities in Scotland and around the world following the terror attack in Sydney on the first night of Chanukah.
Mr Swinney expressed his horror at the “unspeakable act of hatred and violence” and condemned all forms of antisemitism. The First Minister confirmed the Scottish Government is liaising closely with Police Scotland and relevant partners to ensure safety for Jewish communities and their places of worship.
The First Minister said: “I was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the horrific terror attack that happened at Bondi Beach, on the first night of Chanukah. What should have been a celebration of light and hope was cruelly marred by an unspeakable act of hatred and violence.
“I know that the Jewish community here in Scotland will be facing unimaginable grief and anxiety in the wake of this senseless attack. In this moment of darkness and pain, the Scottish Government stands firmly against any and all forms of antisemitism – an evil which has absolutely no place in our society and which we must confront.
“I also want to assure our Jewish communities that the Scottish Government is in very close contact with Police Scotland, and other relevant partners, to put in place the appropriate measures to ensure safety around places of worship at this time.
“I am dedicated to ensuring that our Jewish communities here in Scotland feel safe and supported and able to live free from fear.
“The world needs acts of goodness, kindness, and light at this time more than ever. We condemn the appalling acts of violence perpetrated in Australia over the weekend, and we stand in solidarity with our Jewish communities as they come together to celebrate Chanukah.”
GeorgioMichalakis (known as Gio) was cast as a Jet2holidays Customer Helper for brand-new ITV series The Great Escapers
Gio provided expert holiday guidance to stars from Coronation Street, I’m A Celebrity…, The Chase and Loose Women
Filmed across Rhodes, Spain, Portugal and Malta on a Jet2holiday together, the four episodes see three famous faces from each show compete to create the best holiday experience
A Jet2 Cabin Crew member from East Lothian has found new fame after appearing on ITV’s brand-new prime time series called The Great Escapers.
The series, which sees ITV and Jet2holidays team up together to whisk celebrities away on an unforgettable award-winningholidaywith a twist, involved 24-year-old Georgio Michalakis, known as Gio, being cast as a Jet2holidays Overseas Customer Helper.
As part of his role, Gio jetted off to Rhodes, Spain, Portugal and Malta earlier this year to help guide famous faces from Coronation Street, I’m A Celebrity…, The Chase and Loose Women to create the VIP Jet2holidays experience. Tasked with assisting the stars decide the day’s itinerary so that they could be crowned The Great Escaper at the end of the trip, Gio had to aid the celebrities in deciding their activity choices to ensure that they had the perfect getaway throughout.
Gio explains what it was like filming the TV series throughout the summer and lifted the lid on his experience of working with the celebrities.
Gio explained: “My family couldn’t believe it when I was cast in the show, and neither could I – the whole process has been so exciting. It’s still a bizarre feeling as it’s my first time stepping in front of the camera! My mum has always been my number one fan so her unwavering support has been wonderful, and my whole family is super excited to finally be able to watch the show.”
Gio is half-Greek, with his father hailing from Rhodes – the very place he met Gio’s mother before moving to Scotland together, so it meant that he was able to speak the local lingo, but Catalan was a whole different story. “I was back-to-back filming, so I wasn’t able to pick up the local language. That being said, with me being half-Greek I’m OK in that department but Catalan was really hard.”
Having grown up travelling to the Greek island each summer, Gio’s highlight was having his family join him for the final week of filming in Rhodes. Gio shared: “The wrap party at the end of filming will definitely stick with me forever. My family hosted a big Greek night with plenty of food and dancing to thank the amazing Jet2and ITV production teams, seeing us party into the early hours!”
As a big fan of The Chase, Gio was particularly excited to meet the Chasers including Jenny Ryan, Mark Labbett and Shaun Wallace to help arrange their activities. Gio said: “It was so surreal to meet them all, but Jenny Ryan in particular was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. She was so down to earth, and it was lovely to look over and see her chatting away to my mum during the wrap party.”
Although Rhodes holds a special place in his heart, Gio fell in love with the culture-packed towns and golden sandy beaches of Malta when filming with the Coronation Street stars. “It was amazing to uncover Malta’s rich history and explore the beautiful destination for the first time. I’ll definitely be back as I am keen to see even more of the stunning Mediterranean island.”
With the celebrities each taking it in turns to plan the ultimate holiday day trip, assisted by Gio, each episode sees the stars get involved with an array of excursions, from glass blowing to cooking classes. Having worked closely with each of the famous faces,
Gio said: “Oti Mabuse definitely surprised me the most. With her being the first person I interviewed, I was really nervous to meet her, but I needn’t have worried – she was so lovely. Being a ballroom dancer, I always associated her with glamour and luxury, so it was great to see her get stuck in with her co-stars and take them on a muddy buggy ride around The Algarve!”
Out of the 12 competing celebrities, Gio would crown Loose Women’s Katie Piper as his Greatest Escaper, thanks to the luxurious catamaran trip which he helped to arrange for the group in Tossa de Mar. “I’d never been on a catamaran before – the boat was really impressive. Next time I’m abroad, I’m definitely going to look into hiring one for an incredible day trip!”
After stepping into the role of Overseas Customer Helper for the show, Gio is telling holidaymakers: “Don’t be scared to talk to your Jet2holidays overseas customer helper, as they are there to advise and make sure you have the best holiday experience!
“I would definitely speak to them either at the airport or at the hotel, when visiting somewhere new to get their take on the destination and all their insider tips on where to go and what to see.
“Although there’s some great advice available online, nothing beats speaking to a local who knows the destination and can recommend some incredible things to do. So, next time you are on a Jet2holiday, go and meet your Customer Helper – whether it’s just to say hello or to get their advice on where to go.”
Following a summer filled with adventure, Gio is already planning his travel itinerary for next year, thanks to the UK’s largest tour operator’s biggest programme yet for Summer 2026.
Gio said: “I want to travel everywhere next year, there’s so many fantastic Jet2holidays destinations to choose from! The Jet2CityBreaks programme particularly excites me. I have plans to visit Marrakech with my partner for the first time as it’s a brand-new culture that I’d love to experience.
“A mini break to Prague is also calling my name! My own ‘Great Escape’ includes lots of food, nice drinks and restaurants. All the best bits that you can’t get at home!”
The series is currently airing every Sunday at 7pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
