6 Exciting Things to Do During Edinburgh’s Christmas

Edinburgh’s Christmas is back from the 18th November to the 7th January, with a fantastic programme of events to help get you feeling festive! Edinburgh Christmas has kindly agreed to share their top six tips for what to get up to this Christmas, so keep reading to find out what they are!

1) See a show in the brand new Festival Square Theatre

We’ve expanded into the West End of Edinburgh this year and have set up our very own pop-up theatre with two fantastic new shows inside! First, there’s a brand new production of the dazzling Broadway musical Five Guys Named Moe, an all-singing, all-dancing jazz sensation, complete with a live on-stage band! If you’re looking for a family show this Christmas, our favourite time-travelling Victorian magicians, Morgan and West, are performing their own magical spin on Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol. Visit edinburghschristmas.com for more information.

2) Watch the city light up!

What’s Christmas without some beautiful lights? We love to show Edinburgh in its best light on these dark wintry nights, so join us for Light Night, a free event for Edinburgh’s big Christmas light switch-on, on 20 November from 1pm – 5pm. We also have the incredible Street of Light returning for 2016, a stunning canopy of 60,000 individual bulbs, lighting up the west end of George Street synchronised to music from local Scottish choirs and musicians. This event is also free and runs from 21 November – 24 December, with performances at 6pm and 8pm each night.

3) Browse the Christmas markets

Warm yourself up with a glass of mulled wine or cocoa while you browse the beautiful bespoke wares sold in our European market in East Princes St Gardens, or our Scottish market in George Street. Perfect for unique Christmas gifts and gastronomic delights, don’t miss out on this romantic shopping experience!

4) Get your skates on

Returning for 2016 is our ever-popular 360 degree ice rink in St Andrew Square from 18 November – 7 January. Get your skates on and glide all the way round the Melville Monument for guaranteed Christmas joy!

5) See the Edinburgh skyline from up high

Take a spin on one of our many rides in East Princes St Gardens (for thrill-seekers young and not-so-young!) like the Star Flyer, Big Wheel, Reindeer Ride, Santa Train and lots more for amazing panoramic views of the historic city of Edinburgh, without the steep climb up Arthur’s Seat!

6) 24 Doors of Advent

Having been a big success last year, 24 Doors of Advent returns from the 1st to the 24th of December. The event enables you to peek behind doors that are normally closed during advent. This year Edinburgh’s Christmas is working with the Festival of Architecture and the Royal Incorporation of Architects Scotland, which means there will be some exciting new doors for you to open!

For information about all shows and events in the Edinburgh’s Christmas programme, please visit www.edinburghschristmas.com

Spend Your Christmas in Edinburgh!

Make your Christmas truly unique this year and come to Scotland to experience everything we’ve listed in this article! We still have several homes available for the holidays, homes with that special feeling that will make you feel instantly welcome. Search our homes here.

All images apart from last one by edinburghschristmas.com.