JulyJournal

There are lots of great events in Edinburgh in July. Festival season kicks off with music and arts festivals in both town and countryside.

The highlight this month has got to be the Jazz & Blues Festival and Carnival. The festival presents over 140 performances throughout the city culminating in a dazzling carnival under Edinburgh Castle. Expect an extravaganza of African drummers, Balkan beats and swirling dancers.

• Jazz & Blues Festival | 11th - 20th July 2025 at various venues throughout the capital
• Edinburgh Carnival & Mardi Gras | tbc
• National Museum of Flight Airshow | tbc

• Inked Up: Printmaking in Scotland | 14th September 2024 - 1st June 2025
• Nurture Through Nature with Children’s Books | 19th April - 9th September 2025
• The World of King James VI and I | 26th April - 14th September 2025
• Andy Goldsworthy | Fifty Years | 26th July - 2nd November 2025
• Jupiter Artland | Late March - Late September 2025
• Little Sparta : The Garden of Ian Hamilton Finlay | open June, July, August & September

• The National Galleries of Scotland have a huge number of events, tours and artist workshops for both adults and children.
• Hopetoun House and grounds often host ranger walks and house tours throughout the year. See their website for what's on.
• Dalkeith Country Park is very similar, bushcraft, walks and foraging workshops are hosted frequently alongside their fabulous Fort Douglas Treehouse and adventure playground for kids and Go Ape course for adults.
• Dovecot Studios offer behind the scenes tours and workshops on tapestry, drawing and needlework.
• And last but not least, the National Museums Scotland host in depth tours for grown ups and fantastic exhibition interpretations for little ones.

We've listed some of our favourite Edinburgh and country based restaurants & shops and suppliers for your Summer break.

To pick your own fresh local produce head to Craigie's Farm Shop where this month their strawberries, raspberries, cherries, red currants, blackcurrants, gooseberries, peas and broad beans are in season.

Brew your own

How about booking yourselves in to Craft Beer Kitchen. Stewarts Brewing has long invited the public in to try their hand at crafting the perfect pint. With expert guidance you can spend the day brewing your very own bespoke beer. If staying at Eastside the brewery are more than happy to send the beer on (within the UK) when it's ready. Not a bad holiday souvenir!