Code Ninjas Edinburgh

What it’s like

Kids build actual games while picking up coding, robotics and AI basics, in after-school and Saturday sessions.

This is a coding club rather than a one-off activity, with kids working through structured, hands-on lessons in what they call the dojo. Instead of worksheets, the point is building games, so a nine-year-old who wants to make something rather than just play something has somewhere to put that energy.

It runs after school on weekdays, 3pm to 7pm Tuesday to Friday, plus a Saturday morning slot from 9:30 to 3. That Saturday window is the one to grab if term-time evenings are already spoken for with clubs and homework. Kids can come more than once a week, which suits a child who's properly hooked rather than just curious.

It's aimed at ages 5 to 14, though programs vary by centre, so what a five-year-old does and what a thirteen-year-old does won't look the same. One thing to know before you turn up: parents aren't allowed to stay in the dojo while the session runs, so this is drop-off territory, not a sit-and-watch activity. If your child gets anxious being left somewhere new, that's worth factoring in before the first visit.

Need to know

Best for

5 to 14, older kids get more out of the coding side

• Sessions are drop-off only, no parents in the learning area
• Saturday's the only daytime option, the rest is after school on weekdays
• What's taught can differ by age within the 5 to 14 range

Plan your visit

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