LNER has welcomed some very special passengers to help officially launch the new LNER Big Wheel at Edinburgh’s Christmas this festive period.
The train operator teamed up with charity Hull & East Yorkshire Children’s University and 25 children from Hall Road Primary School who enjoyed a very special ride on the 46m tall Ferris wheel as part of their visit. The popular wheel is at the heart of Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations.
For some of the children, it is the first time they have travelled away from home. The group enjoyed spectacular views of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, its famous Castle and Arthur’s Seat, and saw the city’s sparkling Christmas attractions from a unique vantage. Father Christmas also took time out of his very busy schedule to wish the group a happy Christmas.
The children were joined at the launch by Brian Quinn from LNER’s team at Edinburgh Waverley, Cllr Lezley Marion Cameron from Edinburgh City Council, and Richard Ellis from Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.
LNER is at the heart of the communities it serves and regularly supports Hull & East Yorkshire Children’s University through its Charity Group Travel discount.
The charity aims to broaden horizons of children living in Hull and East Yorkshire by giving them experiences that they otherwise may not have. They deliver 400 experiences a year to more than 13,000 children, ranging from local trips to experiences as far as Scotland.
David Flesher, LNER’s Commercial Director, said: “The LNER Big Wheel has proved incredibly popular since its opening in November. We are delighted to mark the official launch in such a special way, providing schoolchildren with an experience that will have hopefully created magical, long-lasting memories.
“At LNER, we offer discounted travel to support hundreds of charities and organisations all year round, including Hull & East Yorkshire Children’s University. We also provide grants through our Customer and Community Investment Fund which, in the last year, has received a record-number of applications.
“It is truly heartwarming to hear of and see the difference that the fund and our wider charitable support is making in people’s lives across our route.”
Rose James, Chief Executive Officer at Hull & East Yorkshire Children’s Universitysaid: “Our Edinburgh experiences are incredibly exciting as they often contain many “firsts” for the children: the first time they have been on a train, the first time they have ever visited a new city, the first time sleeping away from home and the first time visiting a new country.
“We are so grateful to LNER for adding another to the list by gifting the children a ride on the LNER Big Wheel. Visiting Edinburgh is magical at this time of year and when Santa made an appearance it was the cherry on the cake.”
Unique Assembly, producers of Edinburgh’s Christmas, said: “We are so pleased to be working with LNER and its charities.The LNER Big Wheel lights up not only Edinburgh’s Christmas and the city centre but also the faces of the many thousands of visitors who enjoy a magical time aboard the attraction.
“Along with over 7,500 free tickets distributed to local charities and community groups, we were thrilled to welcome children from Hull & East Yorkshire Children’s University and Santa Claus himself to share the magical experience of Christmas in Edinburgh, spreading festive cheer to all.”
LNER, which connects millions of customers to the Scottish capital with ease every year, will sponsor the Big Wheel at Edinburgh’s Christmas for the next three years.
The LNER Big Wheel is open from 10am – 10pm every day until Saturday 4 January 2025 with EH postcode residents able to enjoy a 20% discount. Details can be found at Edinburgh-christmas.com.
Edinburgh’s Christmas welcomes LNER to present the LNER Big Wheel as part of a new three-year partnership
Located in East Princes Street Gardens, the LNER Big Wheel will tower above the Edinburgh skyline at 46m tall, providing passengers with a unique perspective of the city, lighting up the City Centre from Friday 15 Nov 2024 to Saturday 4 Jan 2025
A specially recorded soundtrack will also provide passengers in the wheel’s 36 weather-proof pods with information on the key landmarks and attractions visible across the City Centre
EH postcode residents can enjoy a 20% discount on the LNER Big Wheel
Edinburgh’s Christmas is delighted to announce that the LNER Big Wheel will be coming to East Princes Street Gardens this festive season as part of a new, three-year partnership with the train operator.
The LNER Big Wheel will tower above the Edinburgh skyline at 46m tall, providing passengers with a unique perspective of the spectacular city with incredible views of its historic Old Town, Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat, as well as sparkling evening views of Edinburgh’s Christmas attractions.
Open from 10am – 10pm, the LNER Big Wheel will light up the City Centre from Friday 15 Nov 2024 – Saturday 4 Jan 2025.
With 36 enclosed weather-proof pods, families can enjoy a ride on the attraction whatever the weather. A specially recorded soundtrack will also provide passengers with information on the key landmarks and attractions visible across the City Centre.
LNER, which connects millions of customers to the Scottish capital with ease every year, will sponsor the Big Wheel at Edinburgh’s Christmas for the next three years.
Today, construction work to raise the LNER Big Wheel has begun. The wheel is set to be a focal point of Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations and a welcome sight to visitors arriving by train into Waverley Station.
The Big Wheel welcomed more than 210,000 visitors last year to enjoy stunning winter views of the capital and the sparkling evening illuminations.
EH postcode residents can also enjoy a 20% discount on the LNER Big Wheel with details available via edinburgh-christmas.com
David Flesher, LNER’s Commercial Director, said: “We are thrilled that LNER will play such a key part in celebrating Christmas in Edinburgh this year.
“As the main train operator on the East Coast Main Line, we connect millions of customers each year with this historic city, and we can’t wait to provide thousands of people with the opportunity to see the sights of Edinburgh in this unique way.”
“Our Christmas tickets are on sale now giving customers the opportunity to plan the perfect trip away and to get into the festive spirit in Scotland.”
Unique Assembly, producers of Edinburgh’s Christmas said: “We are delighted to be working with LNER to light up Edinburgh’s Christmas this year.
“The Big Wheel is a major focal point of Edinburgh’s Christmas festivities and will give thousands of people the chance to enjoy a unique view of the city’s many iconic and historic landmarks and attractions, all lit up for the festive season.
“We look forward to welcoming people from near and far to take a spin very soon.”
Edinburgh International Film Festival in partnership with Essential Edinburgh returns to St Andrew Square Gardens for an opening weekend of free outdoor screenings from Friday 12th August to Sunday 14th August.
Film Fest in the City in St Andrew Square Gardens returns as part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival programme on the festival’s opening weekend from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th August. The free and non-ticketed outdoor screening programme of new and classic cinematic favourites reflect the wider EIFF 2022 themes, including a celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen for Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.
The programme is delivered in partnership with Essential Edinburgh and supported by Innis & Gunn, EIFF’s Official Beer Partner, travel partner LNER and supported by EventScotland as part of the Year of Stories 2022 and reflects EIFF’s return to August embracing other cultural festivals around it. EIFF is working closely with local travel partner Lothian Buses to encourage sustainable travel to Edinburgh’s city centre, plan your journey at lothianbuses.co.uk or download the Lothian buses app.
On Friday 12th August, EIFF tips its hat to the Edinburgh International Book Festival with a day of films that all started in the twinkle of an author’s eye.
The day will also feature a selection of short films with a Scottish connection, screened before feature films and presented in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 as Scotland’s Stories on Screen.
On Saturday 13th August, the celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen picks up pace as the Film Fest in the City programme fills the square with homegrown stories and some family fun, including a special live musical performance to accompany the 100 year anniversary screening of the 1922 classic Rob Roy, as well as Brave, set in the Highlands story of Princess Merida and The Illusionist set in Edinburgh plus more short films with a Scottish connection. And if all that homegrown fun wasn’t enough, stay on and enjoy the evening with the family favourite WALL-E followed by the recent blockbuster, Free Guy.
Sunday 14th August sees EIFF Youth Programmers from Edinburgh and Aberdeen take over the square with a selection of favourites including Twilight, Big, Shrek and Whip It to celebrate big screen favourites all directed their favourite female directors.
As a nod to EIFF’s closing night film, After Yang, the Film Fest in the City explores the idea of Artificial Intelligence on screen. For sci-fi purists out there there’s Stanley Kubrick classic, 2001 A Space Odyssey. If you like your A.I. all singing, all dancing, don’t miss everybody’s favourite Pixar robot Wall-E or maybe you just want to spend Saturday night with Ryan Reynolds (who doesn’t?!) then don’t miss Free Guy.
This special open-air series of screenings coincides with the main programme of full in-person cinema screenings as part of the 75th anniversary of the city’s International Film Festival, giving the Film Festival an East-to-West city centre presence and making cinema accessible to both film buffs and Edinburgh residents of all ages. Attending audiences can look out for lots of special surprises at each screening too.
These events are free. Film times and details of accompanying activities can be found by visiting www.edfilmfest.org.uk.
Audiences will enjoy the outdoor screenings with an amazing range of food and drink produce available to purchase on site, including EIFF Official Beer Partner Innis & Gunn. Heritage gastropub The Voyage of Buck will be have a bar on site which will be focusing on Lind and Lime Gin cocktails including collins and spritzes featuring summer flavours with London essence tonics and sodas.
Bring your favourite cinema snacks and picnic blankets or sit yourself down on one of the famous St Andrew Square deck chairs to enjoy the following:
FRIDAY, 12 AUGUST
11.00 | Paddington(2014 / dir. Paul King)
Everyone’s favourite bear in his first big screen adventure as he travels from deepest darkest Peru to London to try and find himself a new home.
13.00 | Fantastic Mr Fox(2009 / dir. Wes Anderson)
Filmmaker Wes Anderson guides an A-list cast in this stop-motion take on Roald Dahl’s classic book.
14.45 | SHORT FILM: What Makes Soup, Soup?(dirs. Conor Reilly, Tommy Reilly, Malcolm Cumming)
…one of life’s greatest mysteries. From BBC Social team, a short film including a rising star, Glasgow-based Malcolm Cumming and composer Tommy Reilly, both known for their work on Anna & The Apocalype. In celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen.
15.00 | Christopher Robin(2018 / dir. Marc Forster)
Perth-born Hollywood actor Ewan McGregor stars as a now-grown-up Christopher Robin who is visited by Winnie the Pooh to help find his lost friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.
17.00 | SHORT FILM: Neville is Dead(dir. Louis Paxton)
Neville is Magnus’ best friend. Neville can’t die. This is going to be AMAZING. A short film from an Edinburgh filmmaker who recently directed the last ever episode of tv series Shetland. In celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen.
17.30 | Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon(2000 / dir. Ang Lee)
Join us for high-flying spectacle in filmmaker Ang Lee’s martial arts masterpiece
19.40 | SHORT FILM: Flit(dir. Jack Allen)
A world-renowned, professional fly killer, named Carl, is on the cusp of finalising his latest and most powerful invention… an exciting new short film from an emerging Scottish filmmaker and animator.
In celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen.
20.00 | 2001: A Space Odyssey(1968 / dir. Stanley Kubrick)
One of the greatest cinematic experiences of all time. Stanley Kubrick’s journey into space is designed for the big screen.
SATURDAY, 13 AUGUST
11:00 | Brave (2012 / dirs. Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews)
Follow Princess Merida as she forges her own path in Disney and Pixar’s journey into the mythical Scottish kingdom of DunBroch. Celebrating Scotland’s Stories on Screen. Pre-screening family entertainment, including face-painting.
12.50 | SHORT FILM: Fear of Flying(dir. Conor Finnegan)
A small bird with a fear of flying tries to avoid heading South for the winter. A short animation which screened at EIFF in 2013. Celebrating Scotland’s Stories on Screen.
13:00 | The Illusionist(2010 / dir. Sylvain Chomet)
Based on the story by Jacques Tati, this beautifully animated tale tells of a French illusionist who travels to Scotland, where he meets a young woman where their exciting adventures together change both their lives forever. Celebrating Scotland’s Stories on Screen. Pre-screening family entertainment.
14.49 | SHORT FILM:Widdershins (dir. Simon Biggs)
A pampered gentleman’s seamlessly automated life is thrown into chaos when he pursues a free-spirited woman, against the advice of his robot butler. Scottish Film Talent Network-funded Scottish animation from the team at Once Were Farmers. Celebrating Scotland’s Stories on Screen.
15:30 | Rob Roy(1922 / dir. W. P. Kellino), in celebration of Scotland’s Stories on Screen
Join us for a special live musical performance to accompany this impressive 1922 classic film.
17.20 | SHORT FILM: Betty (Will Anderson)
A new short from the BAFTA Award-winning Scottish animator tells the story of an avian protagonist as he falls in love with Betty and then loses her through a series of bad decisions…
Celebrating Scotland’s Stories on Screen.
18:00 | Wall-E(2008 / dir. Andrew Stanton)
An all singing, all dancing modern classic from Pixar.
20.00 | SHORT FILM: Don Vs Lighting (dir. Big Red Button)
Unlucky Don keeps getting struck by lightning… a short film from Big Red Button (Johnny Burns and Pier van Tijn), starring award-winning Scottish actor Peter Mullan. Celebrating Scotland’s Stories on Screen.
20:15 | Free Guy (2021 / dir. Shawn Levy)
Affable bank clerk Ryan Reynolds discovers he is a computer game character in this recent action comedy.
SUNDAY, 14 AUGUST
11:00 | Shrek(2001 / dirs. Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson)
Join a whole host of fairy tale characters in this animated, tuneful and funny animated adventure.
13:00 | Big (1989 / dir. Penny Marshall)
Tom Hanks reconnects with his youth in this 80s family classic.
15:15 | Whip It(2009 / dir. Drew Barrymore)
Get your skates on and join Babe Ruthless and the roller-derby team in this funny and quirky drama.
17:30 | The Farewell (2021 / dir. Lulu Wang)
A funny and uplifting tale of a family reconnecting with their past
19:45 | Twilight (2008 / dir. Catherine Hardwicke)
Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart star in this everlasting teenage vampire romance.
