Published: December 16, 2024
The National Museum is a free favourite (closed only 25/26 December and 1/2 January), and the National Galleries of Scotland (pictured) are open throughout (except 25 and 26 December). Turner in January (1-31 January) at the Royal Scottish Academy is an annual highlight, where a selection of Turner watercolours are displayed during January when light is lowest.
Your local council library is a cosy, safe space to stock up on books, CDs and DVDs. They are open up to and including 24 December, back open 27-31 December (then closed until 3 January). Check your local library for regular events and groups.
For support in a sober- and substance-safe place, Edinburgh Recovery Activities has a Recovery Christmas Lunch (18 December, Walpole Hall, 11:30am-3pm), before its annual Hogmanay Party (31 December, Leith St Andrew’s Church, 8:30pm-12:30am).
Soul Food offer meals in churches for those affected by homelessness, poverty or loneliness, including 22, 23, 26, 29 and 30 December (various locations), and Old Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church will have a warm lunch on 23 and 30 December (Jeffrey Street, 12:30pm-2pm). Social Bite will provide Christmas dinner, a gift, and company for the homeless and vulnerable on 24 and 25 December (Rose Street, 12pm-4pm).
Heart of Midlothian’s Big Hearts has its Warm Welcome Lunch (18 December, Eighteen74 Bar, noon-2pm), while Hibernian Community Foundation has its Lunch Club (18, 20 and 27 December, Sunnyside, 2pm-2pm) and Evening Meal (19 December, Sunnyside, 5pm-6:30pm).
You can find our list of Outdoor options here.
Our Help and Support Contacts here.
Our table of Edinburgh Food Bank opening times 2024, with additional non-referral food options.
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