Tag: Easter Holidays

Libraries opening hours over Easter

Here’s a note of Edinburgh Libraries’ opening hours over the Easter break:

Friday 3 April – closed
Saturday 4 April – open as normal
Monday 6 April – closed
from Tuesday 7 April – open as normal.

Remember, Your Library is always open online to borrow ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and newspapers – https://zurl.co/r9OQf

NHS 24: One Small Thing

🔔 One small thing to do before Easter 🐣

If you take regular medication, now’s a good time to check how much you have left.

GP practices and pharmacies may have changed opening hours over the Easter weekend, so ordering what you need in plenty of time can help avoid a last‑minute rush.

National Museums Scotland: What’s on over Easter holidays

Exhibitions & displays

National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Open 10:00–17:00 daily


Giants
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Until 14 Sep
Tickets from £13

Giants showcases the colossal prehistoric creatures that lived after the extinction of the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago. Discover life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, and fossils in this immersive, family-friendly exhibition. The Giants exhibition is designed and produced by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.

Book your ticket now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/giants

COMING SOON Scotland’s First Warriors
Special Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Opening 27 June
Entrance into the museum and exhibition is free

Explore archaeological evidence for the origins of organised conflict, from the Neolithic (late Stone Age) to the Romans, through over 250 objects. Scotland’s First Warriors explores how and why people fought, the impact of war, and the legacy of prehistoric conflict. Internationally significant discoveries from Scotland will be on display for the first time, including the Carnoustie Hoard.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/scotlands-first-warriors

Events

National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Open 10:00–17:00 daily

Curiosity Club
Learning Centre, Level 4
28 Mar & 23 May
10:30-12:00
£10 (Members and Concessions £9)

Inspired by some of the museum’s most exciting collections, our Curiosity Clubs are a chance for kids to explore the museum without their adult helpers through games, activities, and gallery visits.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/curiosity-club

Relaxed Curiosity Club
Learning Centre, Level 4
28 Mar
14:30-15:30
£10 (£9 Members and Concessions)

Relaxed Curiosity Club sessions are particularly aimed at children with additional support needs, neurodivergent children, or children with disabilities. Parents/carers (up to two per participating child) are invited to stay and either join in with the activities or enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the foyer of the activity area.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-curiosity-club

Gather Around the Frame: A Celebration of Hand Quilting
Locations across the museum
29 Mar
10:15-16:45
Free drop-in activities, booking required for panel discussion

Join us for a hands-on stitching experience around replica historical quilting frames as enjoyed by previous generations as they sewed together. This event will feature talks, film screenings, hands-on crafts, and our very own quilting bee. All materials are provided.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/gather-around-the-frame-a-celebration-of-hand-quilting

Edinburgh Science Festival 2026
Locations across the museum
Daily from 4-19 Apr
10:00-17:00
All pricing and bookings through Science Festival website

Edinburgh Science Festival 2026 will highlight Scotland’s contribution to scientific advances through research, innovation, and its extraordinary people. The Grand Gallery will host family-friendly activities and artwork by award-winning artist, Gayle Chong Kwan.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/edinburgh-science-festival-2026

Makkin it!
5-19 April
10:00-2:00 and 13:00-15:00
Free, drop in

Join our Learning Team in the Grand Gallery to discover some incredible Scottish inventions.  Get hands-on with some of our favourite inventions, press and investigate your unique fingerprint, then head off and explore our galleries with a copy of our Inventors trail. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/makkin-it

Morning Curator Tour: Giants
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
7-14 Apr
Tickets from £13

Join exhibition curator, Dr Sarah Stewart, for an exclusive early-morning tour of Giants.

Giants celebrates the colossal creatures that roamed the Earth 66 million years ago. Meet ten giant creatures from prehistory. Discover how they were able to grow so large, what advantages their size offered, and why they eventually faced extinction.

The Giants exhibition is designed and produced by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/morning-curator-tours-giants

Gordon Buchanan: Giants of the Land
Auditorium, Level 1
16 May
14:00
Tickets from £12

Join award-winning wildlife filmmaker, presenter and author Gordon Buchanan as he makes his first-ever appearance at the National Museum of Scotland. In this auditorium talk, Gordon will reflect on 30 years of taking part in daring expeditions, pushing boundaries, and raising awareness of the world’s most endangered species and habitats.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/gordon-buchanan-giants-of-the-land

Creative Workshop: Paper Creations
Learning Centre Studios, Level 4
23 May
10:30-13:00 and 14:00-16:30
Tickets from £45

Join paper folding artist Kate Colin for a bespoke workshop, inspired by our ‘Giants’ exhibition and fossil collections. You will learn paper folding techniques and create a collection of handcrafted paper sculptures inspired by spiral forms and fossil structures.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/creative-workshop-paper-creations

Museum Socials
Learning Centre Seminar Room, Level 4
Third Friday of the month
10:30–12:00
Free, booking required

Our Museum Socials events are designed for people living with dementia, their relatives, friends, carers, and supporters. Relaxed and informal, each session explores a different museum theme through various interactive activities, including curator talks, object handling, and creative crafts. And tea, cake and a warm welcome are always provided.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/museum-socials

National Museum of Rural Life
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life
Last Tuesday of every month
14:30-17:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Join us for our monthly Relaxed Afternoon for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with neurodivergent children; neurodivergent young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-afternoon-national-museum-of-rural-life

Spring Explorers
14–17 Apr
10:30–15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Become a Spring Explorer this April at the National Museum of Rural Life. Join us as we dig into all things soil and explore the wiggly world beneath our feet. Take part in a planting activity to learn how bugs and worms keep soil healthy for plants to grow. Settle in for some lively, soil-inspired storytelling in the theatre, then get messy with some hands-on fun at our Soil Exploration Station.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/spring-explorers

Tractor Tots
24 Apr & 29 May 2026
Learning Centre
£25 per child for block of 3, £20 per Member child for block of 3

Running in blocks of three sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for our younger visitors, introducing them to rural life through interactive creative play. Each session will feature handling objects from our learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions, and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/tractor-tots

Woolly Weekend
Museum and farm
23 & 24 May
10:30-16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Celebrate all things woolly with a weekend of family fun at the National Museum of Rural Life.

See woolly farm friends up close and take part in wool-themed crafts, storytelling, and activities in the museum. Then take a walk to the farm to watch YouTube sensation Cammy Wilson shear our flock. Cammy will explain how, when, and why sheep are sheared, and will demonstrate traditional and modern shearing techniques.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/woolly-weekend

National Museum of Flight

East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
Open Weekends only, 10:00–16:00 

Flying High
Concorde Hangar
6-10 Apr
10:00-16:00
Free with museum admission

Learn about the Scottish engineering inventions that made international travel possible through fun family activities.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/flying-high

Expert Talks
Concorde Theatre
17 Apr & 15 May
11:00-11:20
Free with museum admission

From April to October, learn more about our collections and the history of East Fortune Airfield with our series of free expert talks at the museum. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of each talk. In April, join Matteo Randazzo who will discuss ‘Second World War Archaeology at East Fortune’.

Find out nms.ac.uk/events/expert-talks

Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Flight
Every second Sunday of the month, 10:00-12:00
Free with museum admission

Join us for a Relaxed Morning at the National Museum of Flight, for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore the museum without noisy interactives and videos to create a more relaxed environment.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-morning-national-museum-of-flight

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland   

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/   

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789   

Providing support for children and families who struggle during the school holidays

Edinburgh customers can support families facing financial difficulties during the Easter school holidays by picking up an extra bag to put through the checkout at Tesco stores.

The donation bags, which cost between £2 and £5, are pre-packed with healthy long life food items. They will be available in every large Tesco store in and around Edinburgh during the Easter break (30 March 30 to 12 April) to make donating the most-needed items to the charities FareShare & The Felix Project and Trussell easier than ever.

The Easter Holiday Helps initiative is part of Tesco’s year-round support for schoolchildren and families. This includes the Fruit and Veg for Schools programme, which helps schools with the highest rates of free school meals by offering grants for purchasing fruit and vegetables from Tesco stores. The scheme also helps children to get healthier snack choices and lunch options while they’re at school.

Claire De Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco, said: “Holiday periods can be really tough for Edinburgh families who miss out on their free school meal provision, meaning it’s hard to make sure kids get healthy nutritious food.

“Our pre-packed donation bags will give a much-needed boost of food to FareShare & The Felix Project and Trussell and make a difference to the lives of children and their families, giving them vital support over the school holidays.”

Trussell says that foodbank use remains 45% higher than in 2019 before the pandemic, with foodbanks in the Trussell community providing the equivalent of one parcel every 12 seconds throughout 2025.

Parents are among the people shouldering the heaviest burden, as families with children received almost two-thirds (62%) of all parcels in 2025.

FareShare & The Felix Project have recently merged to become the UK’s leading food redistribution charity, providing good-to-eat surplus food to more than 8,000 charities and community groups – 83% of which support families with children.

Tesco continues to support FareShare & The Felix Project and other community groups year-round by redistributing unsold food from all its Edinburgh stores as part of its Community Food Connection programme, which provides thousands of meals locally. Customers can also donate the value of their Clubcard vouchers to either FareShare & The Felix Project or Trussell online.

Matthew van Duyvenbode, Co-CEO at Trussell, said: “Tesco’s Easter pre-packed donation bags are such a great way to make it easier for people to support children and families in their local communities. With some children missing out on free school meals and parents facing additional food costs, it makes it even harder to cover the essentials we all need.

“No-one should face hunger – these extra donations make all the difference to ensure more families can put food on their tables. Tesco has stepped up to help once again. Thank you so much to Tesco customers for playing your part. We are extremely grateful.”

Customers can donate any long-life items to support FareShare & The Felix Project and Trussell, but their most-needed items are tinned meat and fish, long life fruit juice, cooking/pasta sauces, tinned vegetables, and tinned and dried soup.

Charlotte Hill, CEO at FareShare & The Felix Project, said: “Many of the charities receiving food through our network support families with children. They tell us that the school holidays can be especially hard for parents who are already struggling, which is why initiatives like Tesco’s Easter Holiday Helps are so important.

“These pre-packed donation bags make it easy for shoppers to donate long-life items that help charities and make a real difference to families in need. We are so grateful to Tesco and all their customers for their ongoing support, helping us get nourishing food to people and families, one donation bag at a time.”

Other key items that can be donated as part of the scheme are pasta, rice and noodles, cereal and porridge, tea and coffee, sponge/rice pudding, and UHT and powered milk.

Easter ski bookings surge 76% as search interest hits five-year high

Fly from Edinburgh Airport for under £500pp

With the Easter school holidays falling two weeks earlier this year and recent heavy snowfall across the Alps, 2026 is shaping up to be a bumper year for Easter ski trips. Current Google Trends and booking data reveal a dramatic spike in demand.

The latest figures from Heidi, the UK’s second-largest ski holiday operator, show Easter ski bookings have jumped 76% year-on-year, which reflects a surge in online UK search interest. 

According to current Google Trends data (captured on 23 February 2026*), UK search interest for “easter skiing” is up 144% year-on-year,and has more than tripled for “spring skiing”, which is up 335%. Both terms have reached their highest level in five years, highlighting growing interest in late-season ski breaks:

Italy benefiting from Winter Olympics spotlight

Heidi also reports a shift in Easter destination trends this year, with Italian resorts gaining ground on French favourites – likely a halo effect from the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, which has showcased the Dolomites and other Italian ski areas to UK audiences.

Last Easter, Heidi’s top-selling resorts were largely French favourites, including Avoriaz, Flaine, Val Thorens, and La Plagne. This year, several Italian resorts – including Sauze d’Oulx, Sestriere, and Selva di Val Gardena – have moved into the top sellers list, alongside Kirchberg in Austria.

While classic high-altitude Alpine resorts have traditionally been the safest bet for late-season skiing, recent heavy snowfall has broadened the range of viable destinations, appealing to families and budget-conscious skiers.

Why Easter skiing is growing in popularity

Easter offers several advantages over the February half-term peak, making it ideal for families and beginners:

  • Quieter slopes and shorter lift queues
  • Longer daylight hours
  • Milder, sunnier weather
  • Better-value prices

Marcus Blunt, Co-founder at Heidi, comments: “With the Easter holidays falling earlier this year and exceptional recent snowfall across the Alps, we’re set for a strong spring ski season ahead.

“The surge in Easter bookings reflects this, and there’s increased demand for Italian resorts compared to last year – likely a halo effect from the Winter Olympics spotlight.” 

Top Easter family ski deals under £500pp

With five weeks left to book and Heidi’s late-season sale underway, there are great deals available, whether you’re after a full week or a short break:

Font-Romeu (Pyrenees), France – 7 nights – £390pp – Includes 7 nights’ self-catering at Résidence Pierre & Vacances Le Pédrou, return Edinburgh – Barcelona flights, and private airport transfers. Departing Monday 30 March 2026

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – 5 nights – £469pp – Includes 3 nights’ B&B Hotel Alaska Cortina, return Edinburgh – Venice flights, and airport transfers. Departing Tues 31 March 2026

Flaine, France – 4 nights – £431pp – Includes 4 nights’ self-catering at Résidence Pierre & Vacances La Forêt, return Edinburgh – Geneva flights, and airport transfers. Departing Weds 8 April 2026

Seefeld, Austria – 4 nights – £490pp – Includes 4 nights’ self-catering at Apartment Torri di Seefeld,return Edinburgh – Munich/Innsbruck -Edinburgh flights, and airport transfers. Departing Weds 1 April 2026

La Plagne, France – 3 nights – £423pp – Includes 3 nights’ self-catering at Maeva Particuliers Residence Les Constellations, return Edinburgh – Geneva flights, and airport transfers. Departing Monday 30 March 2026

Bumper collection of TV sensation Bluey episodes heading to Edinburgh – just in time for the Easter holidays

An hour-long collection of episodes from the global TV phenomenon Bluey will be arriving at cinemas in Edinburgh just in time for the Easter holidays, on Friday 27th March.

Bluey at the Cinema: Playdates with Friends Collection is an hour-long cinema experience featuring eight episodes from across the hit TV show’s three series, all celebrating play, friendship and family. The compilation brings together some of Bluey’s most beloved games, including Shadowlands and Octopus, while spotlighting special moments of friendship in episodes such as Circus and Slide, and delivering plenty of joy, laughter and big-screen fun for audiences of all ages.

Bluey first arrived on-screen in Australia in 2018 and has since become a household name, proving popular with audiences across the globe. Bluey at the Cinema: Playdates with Friends Collection builds on the success of previous theatrical compilation releases in the UK, Bluey at the Cinema: Family Trip Collection (August 2024) and Bluey at the Cinema: Let’s Play Chef Collection (May 2025).

Johnny Carr, Head of Event Cinema and Distribution at Vue Lumière, said: “Bluey has become a true event for family audiences, and we’re delighted to be continuing our collaboration with BBC Studios and Piece of Magic on this new collection.

“The success of previous releases across the UK, Ireland and Europe shows how much families love experiencing Bluey on the big screen, and Playdates with Friends Collection is a joyful next chapter.”

To find out more, including to book tickets, visit your local cinemas website.

Cinemas in Edinburgh where you can see Bluey at the Cinema: Playdates with Friends Collection:

  • Cineworld Edinburgh
  • Odeon Edinburgh Fort Kinnaird
  • Odeon Edinburgh Lothian Road
  • Odeon Edinburgh West
  • Vue Edinburgh Ocean Terminal
  • Vue Edinburgh Omni Centre

Make the most of the bank holidays at the National Galleries of Scotland

  • family events
  • extended opening of five-star exhibition, Everlyn Nicodemus

There is something for everyone to discover at the National Galleries of Scotland over the upcoming Easter and May bank holidays.

Visitors will have the chance to enjoy a programme of family events and experience Everlyn Nicodemus on Monday 26 May, with an extra day added to allow bank holiday revellers to enjoy the exhibition.

Spanning the gallery’s entire ground floor of Modern One, Everlyn Nicodemus is open now and free for everyone to visit. Experience Everlyn’s colourful, defiant and searingly honest artworks, with over 80 drawings, collages, paintings and textiles from over 40 years of her career, from 1980 through to the present day.

Families can also get involved with some joyful Easter artmaking inspired by Everlyn Nicodemus. Over the Easter holidays, from Monday 14 to Friday 18 April 2025 between 2–4pm, families can drop into Art Space 1 at Modern One to play with patterns, create shapes, mix colours and more.

Or for those looking for autism-friendly activities this Easter, a drop in event will be held on Tuesday 15 April 2025, 10.30am–12pm. Meet other families, explore the galleries and take part in creative activities with an experienced team of artists.

Autism-friendly sessions at the National Galleries of Scotland are for children and young people on the autism spectrum – with their families – who may benefit from smaller group sizes and tailored activities to suit individual needs.

For those looking to dive deeper into the world of Everlyn Nicodemus, join the panel discussion on Friday 23 May, 3-4pm for free at the National or via the YouTube livestream.

To mark the end of her first ever retrospective, Everlyn Nicodemus will be in conversation with writer JJ Fadaka and artist and curator Khadea Santi. Together they will chat about the lasting legacy of Everlyn’s amazing exhibition. Plus, livestream ticketholders can watch back anytime.

There is even more to discover when visiting the Moderns, with a completely free offering across two galleries and two sculpture parks. Weave your way through two exciting buildings featuring leading artists’ works which define the Modern era.

At Modern One, delve into displays, shows and installations from the leading artists of today, both inside and outdoors. As well as Everlyn Nicodemus, discover a celebratory display to mark Bruce McLean’s 80th birthday. Bruce McLean: I Want My Crown traces the Glasgow-born artist’s humorous, provocative and engaging six-decade long inquiry into sculpture.

Through works made across a range of media including photography, performance, painting, printmaking, film, and ceramics, this one-room display invites you to challenge your thinking about sculpture and expand your ideas of what art can be.

Get ready for captivating, light-hearted and all-encompassing experiences at Modern One. On arrival you will be in awe of the striking land feature Landform in front of the gallery, designed by landscape architect Charles Jencks. Explore the grounds and discover further sculptural works by other major artists including Pablo Picasso, Barbara Hepworth, Jackson Pollock and Tracey Emin.

Once you’ve explored Modern One why not head across the road to Modern Two to further explore the grounds. Plus, you can celebrate the centenary of the remarkable Scottish artist Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925-2006) taking over the ground floor of Modern Two.

Or why not head to one of the National Galleries of Scotland’s other sites. At the National, drop into the Family Art Hub, open until 20 April. Designed to help you and your family explore the Scottish galleries together.

The space offers a place to create and share your art, read the books on offer and play. You can watch short films about different art techniques or listen to what children and artists think about art and what it is for. Spark your senses and make shadows and shapes in the play area. 

At the Portrait visit Connections,a relaxed space for visitors to draw, read and chat about some of the ways in which we make connections through art. Bringing together communities, partner organisations, and artists, the displays highlight how we use art to find shared interests, discover social histories, explore issues and identities, and create new objects to tell new stories. 

Current displays include portraits of Govanhill, a project exploring different issues that impact young people across Scotland today. Using photography as a creative tool, the voices and views of young people from Big Noise Govanhill are represented.

Also featured are images from Dementia Friendly Gallery Socials, artwork made by young people in Edinburgh Children’s Hospital, the ITAC Relay and Rowan Alba homeless prevention charity. 

HMRC: Join 34,000 families in Scotland & save on childcare costs for Easter holidays

HMRC is encouraging working parents to open a Tax-Free Childcare account to save on their childcare costs for the Easter holidays.

Tax-Free Childcare is a UK Government funded top-up scheme for working parents and can be used to pay for approved childcare for children aged 11 or under, or up to 16 years old if the child has a disability. Parents can save up to £2,000 per year per child or £4,000 if their child is disabled. The funds can be used to pay for a before- or after-school clubs, a childminder or an activity club during the holidays. 

For every £8 deposited in a Tax-Free Childcare account, the government tops it by £2 which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every 3 months to help pay their childcare costs. 

Latest figures show 34,440 families in Scotland saved thousands on their childcare in December 2024, an increase of nearly 5,000 compared to the previous year. 

In December, parents across the UK received a total of £49.7 million in government cash to save on their childcare bills. 

Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if:

  • they have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they receive up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday    
  • the parent and their partner (if they have one) earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average    
  • each earn no more than £100,000 per annum    
  • do not receive tax credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers     

   Families can check their eligibility and apply on GOV.UK.  

 Tax-Free Childcare can be used with the free hours offer (15 or 30 hours) as long as eligibility is met.