Over 10 things to keep the kids amused in Edinburgh over the long summer break.

While the kids might look forward to the long summer holidays, it can prove a headache for parents as to how to keep the kids amused.  Fear not! This summer, Edinburgh Leisure has a huge range of sports camps and fun activities for children and families to enjoy across the city.  Whether your child is crazy about climbing, silly about soft play or they simply love to swim, Edinburgh Leisure has it covered. Our summer activities programme covers swimming, diving, tennis, soft play, climbing, gymnastics and more geared towards ages 3 to 18 years.

From week-long sports camps to just a fun way to spend an hour, there’s something for everyone.

Looking for a fun-packed week of sport, arts, games, and activities from a trusted provider? Check out one of our holiday clubs.

Each of our clubs has a sporting speciality, but also the chance to try out a range of other sports and activities. There may even be some surprise visitors or trips on the go.

Bookable by the week with early drop off and late pick up available at no extra cost.

1)     Multi-activity camps 

Suitable for P1 – P7, the emphasis is on the multi.  Children can look forward to trying a range of sports, as well as trying out different arts, challenges, games, and educational activities. Depending on the week, there may be trips and visitors and exciting themes running through the week. Emphasis is on the 'multi'. Children can look forward to trying a range of sports, as well as trying out different arts, challenges, games, and educational activities. Bookable by the day or week with early drop off and late pick up available.

Available at Craiglockhart Tennis Centre, Royal Commonwealth Pool and new for 2023 at the new Meadowbank Sports Centre.

2)     Multi-sport Camp 

Once again aimed at P1 – P7, this is a new multi-sport camp taking place at Kirkliston Leisure Centre. Every day is packed full of 4 different sports to enjoy in our brand-new Multi-Sport Camp. Kids will love the chance to try a huge variety of different sports with us.   Book for one day or more and your child could be playing basketball, tennis, football, football, badminton, dodgeball, gymnastics, athletics and more.

3)     Aquatics Camps 

Suitable for 9-14 years, this camp is ideal for swimmers who are confident swimming 25m in deep water. During the week kids will enjoy a variety of pool activities whilst working towards recognised Scottish Swimming and RLSS awards. 

But it's not all in the water. There are games, arts, other sports and maybe even a special visitor or trip as well.  Bookable for the week with early drop off and late pick up available.

Available at Portobello Swim Centre and the Royal Commonwealth Pool.

4)     Climbing Camps

Let the kids literally climb our walls rather than making you metaphorically ‘climb the walls’.

Adventure Camp – Suitable for 8 - 14 years, the Adventure Camp brings together thrilling indoor and outdoor adventures for beginners including climbing, Clip ‘n Climb and abseiling at EICA and its surrounding areas.

Rock Camp -For more experienced climbers aged 10-17 years, looking to get outdoors, our instructors combine bouldering and indoor sessions with outdoor Trad and Sport climbing, at some of Edinburgh’s, Fife’s, and the Lothian’s most renowned and challenging crags. 

Available at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena at Ratho.

5)     Gymnastics Camps 

Keep your little gymnasts moving this summer at Edinburgh Leisure’s Gymnastics Camps. Suitable for P1-P7, there are four venues running the gymnastics camps across Edinburgh. Kids can look forward to rhythmic and acro sessions, vault, and floor sessions, as well as making up routines.

They’ll also be some down time and the chance to play games, and arts and crafts.  Some camps offer day-slots, but weekly sessions are also available.

Available at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre, Drumbrae Leisure Centre, Royal Commonwealth Pool, and Tumbles at Portobello.

6)     Racquets Camp 

Bookable for a day or for the week, this racquet camp is brand new for 2023, and is available at Edinburgh Leisure’s flagship tennis centre at Craiglockhart.  Suitable for children 10 years and over, it doesn’t matter if your kid is a tennis-pro or has never picked up a racquet before.  Our coaches will ensure they have the best time on and off our courts and help them perfect their skills.   Tennis, badminton, and squash are on offer but that’s not all. Kids will get the change to try out other sports, have fun with games, arts, and other exciting activities through the week, while making new friends.

Half Day Camps

7) Don’t need full day camps?  Don’t worry! We have week-long half-day holiday clubs running from 9am – 1pm.

Multisport Camps 

Aimed at 8 years+, the emphasis is on the ‘multi’.  Children can look forward to trying a range of sports, as well as trying out different arts, challenges, games, and educational activities. Available at Gracemount Leisure Centre.

Gymnastics Camp – Stage 2 

Available at Tumbles at Portobello, this half-day gymnastics camp is for the more experienced little gymnast and will allow your budding ‘Beth Tweddle’ or ‘Max Whitlock’ to develop their skills on vault, beam, bars, and floor, as well as having fun on trampolines, a fast track, a tumble run and in foam pits.

Summer Coaching

8)    If you’re looking for your child to perfect or learn a new skill, then our summer coaching offering is for them.  

Climb – Suitable for children aged 8 – 17 years, if your child is new to climbing or looking for a new challenge, then our coached climbing sessions at EICA: Ratho are the perfect opportunity for your kids to get on the walls and learn a new skill.  We have coached sessions for all climbing abilities, including NICAS Intro, NICAS Development and Youth Club.

Gymnastics – Suitable for kids 5 years+, available at Drumbrae Leisure Centre and Tumbles at Portobello, this 2-hour FUN-Damentals sessions are perfect for kids new to, or with a little experience, in gymnastics (e.g., Stage 1). 

Over summer, they can learn and practise on vault, beam, bar, and floor and build their confidence and skills.

Gym Nippers – Let your pre-schoolers work off some energy at Gym Nippers. Aimed at kids aged 3-5 years, the coaching sessions use large and small apparatus to teach pre-schoolers gymnastics skills, balances, rolls, jumps, swings and introduces vaulting and floor work. Available at Tumbles at Portobello.

Swim Coaching Sessions – Suitable from tots aged 3 years to adults, our coaches will work with you to improve confidence in and out of the water, helping you progress through the Swim Skills levels and have fun.  Available at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre, Gracemount Leisure Centre, Leith Victoria Swim Centre, and Wester Hailes High School.

Tennis Coaching Sessions – From 3 – 17 years, kids and teens can serve up the aces this summer. Available at Craiglockhart Tennis Centre and at the Meadows, they will work on their skills in group sessions of similar ages and abilities while having lots of fun. Our sessions run from beginner to regional and national standards.

New Matchplay Camps – Let your kids try out their skills in matches to suit their level. Available at Craiglockhart Tennis Centre and at the Meadows.

Dive In – If your child has visions of diving like Edinburgh’s very own James Heatly or Grace Reid, who used to train at the Commie, The Royal Commonwealth Pool is the place to perfect their skills.  The venue has a diving pool but also a dry dive area, where they can practise their twists and turns before taking to the big boards.

Edinburgh Leisure’s summer diving programme follows the National Diving Award Scheme with classes suitable for beginners through to a competitive level.

Swim sessions for adults

9) Why should the kids have all the fun?   This summer we’re running Adult Beginner and Improver swim lessons at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre and Leith Victoria Swim Centre.

And if you want to dive into something more challenging, we’re offering hour-long bookable adult-dive sessions, suitable for divers currently attending the Edinburgh Leisure Adult Divers and Masters sessions. Divers will work with a qualified level 2 coach on a variety of skills and techniques on the poolside at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, and 1m, 3m and platforms. 

Summer activities for all the family

10) Wherever you’re at on the map, we have something fun and active for all the family to enjoy together including Aquadash, Badminton, Clip ‘n’ Climb, Family Swim Sessions, Taster Climbing sessions, Table Tennis and Tennis across lots of our venues in Edinburgh.

You can even try your hand at Pickleball, the world’s fastest growing sport. New to Edinburgh Leisure, it’s a hybrid of ping pong, tennis, and badminton. Book on the Edinburgh Leisure app under social sports or online. Pickleball can be played at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre, the new Meadowbank Sports Centre, and Craiglockhart Tennis Centre.

So, let your kids have an adventure this summer with Edinburgh Leisure.

Go to www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/summer-holiday-camps for more information and to book.