Murrayfield Indoor Sports Club
ENTRY
from £2.50
WHERE
Edinburgh
What it’s like
Tenpin bowling with bumpers for beginners, plus skittles, pool and snooker under one roof.
Ten lanes here, six dedicated to tenpin and four that swap between tenpin and skittles, so there's always somewhere to bowl even on a busy night. Automatic bumpers are on offer for younger or less confident players, which takes the edge off for a six-year-old who just wants to hit something at the far end. Once the bowling's done there's pool, snooker and darts to potter about on, useful if one kid wants another go and the other's had enough.
The pricing is refreshingly simple: non-member adults pay £5, juniors £2.50, and shoe hire is £1 or 50p. Members bowling league games pay £3.50 whatever their age. It's not a place with a big price tag attached, which makes it an easy one to say yes to on a wet Saturday.
Timing needs a bit of thought if you've got a younger one. Under-5s have to be off the premises by 6.30pm, and junior members aged 5 to 11 can only stay till 9pm and only if signed in and accompanied by an adult member. Bowling itself stops at 11pm each night, though pool, snooker and darts run later. Opening hours shift through the week too, starting as late as 6pm on Mondays and Tuesdays but opening at midday on Sundays.
No one under 18 is allowed in the bar area, which is standard enough but worth knowing if you're planning to grab a drink while the kids bowl. The club shuts on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and for a fortnight over the Edinburgh Trades holiday in July for maintenance.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Non-members pay £5 for an adult and £2.50 for a junior. Shoe hire is £1 for adults and 50p for juniors.
Is it any good for a younger child who's never bowled?
Automatic bumpers are available, so a nervous or younger bowler isn't watching every ball land in the gutter.
What time do we need to leave with young kids?
Under-5s must be out by 6.30pm. Junior members aged 5 to 11 can stay until 9pm but only signed in and with an adult member.
What are the opening hours?
It varies a lot by day: 6pm start on Mondays and Tuesdays, midday on Sundays, and as early as 11am on Saturdays. Check which day you're going before you plan around it.
Can we book as a group?
Members can put in a group booking for tenpin or skittles for an event, up to twelve months ahead.
Is there anything else to do besides bowling?
Pool, snooker and darts are all on site, and skittles runs on four of the lanes as well as tenpin.
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