The Out of the Blue Drill Hall
WHERE
Edinburgh
What it’s like
A community arts hall with toddler dance classes, baby sensory sessions and aerial trapeze for older kids, plus a proper café.
This is a working arts venue rather than a purpose-built kids' attraction, and that's exactly what makes it interesting. There's Creative Moves dance and music for the 2 to 4 crowd, baby sensory and sign language classes for babies from 2 months, and then aerial classes with static trapeze and silks that they say are open to all ages, so you could genuinely have a toddler doing nursery rhymes in one room and someone learning to hang upside down in another.
Beyond the classes there's a changing exhibition programme, currently the '10 Years' show with stories from Ukraine, and a flea market and arts market that pops up too. None of this is designed around children the way a soft play or farm park is.
The building's open 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, with level access and an accessible toilet during those hours. The Drill Hall Arts Café is open the same days, doing soups, fish and chips, pasta and cakes, which is a proper sit-down menu rather than a vending machine, worth knowing if you're planning lunch around a class.
Getting there without a car is easy: the tram stops at Balfour Street, a few minutes' walk away, and several Lothian buses run along Leith Walk nearby. If you are driving, parking on Dalmeny Street is paid via RingGo through the day but free after 5.30pm on weekdays and all day at weekends, which is handy if your visit runs into the evening.
What’s on here
- WED7
10 Years
10:00 · Free · 24 more dates
- THU8
Funk Fair
16:00 · from £2
- SAT10
How to Use an Overlocker Sewing Machine
10:00 · from £51
- SAT10
Silver Threads: A Meditative Metal Weaving Workshop
10:30 · from £150
- SAT10
Classic Cyanotype Workshop
11:00 · from £44.04
- SAT10
Riso Workshop
13:00 - 16:30 · from £44
- SAT10
Cyanotype Toning Workshop
15:00 · from £44.04
- MON12
Drop in Sewing Workshop
18:00 · from £28
- THU15
Kids Sewing Workshop
09:00 - 15:00 · from £49
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Paid parking via RingGo in Dalmeny Street and local streets
- Food
- Drill Hall Arts Cafe serving fresh, locally sourced and seasonal food including soups, fish and chips, pasta, cakes, coffee
- Getting there by bus or train
- Tram to Balfour Street stop (less than 5 minutes walk)
- Out of hours entry for classes is via a buzzer at 36 Dalmeny Street, buzz 041 for Reception.
- The tram from Newhaven or the Airport stops at Balfour Street, a short walk from the door.
- The exhibitions and markets change, so what's on can vary visit to visit.
Plan your visit
What can toddlers and babies actually do there?
There's Creative Moves dance and music classes for 2 to 4 year olds, and baby sensory and sign language classes from 2 months to 2 years.
Are there classes for older kids too?
Yes, aerial classes including static trapeze and aerial silks, which the site lists as open to all ages.
Is there somewhere to eat?
The Drill Hall Arts Café is open the same hours as the building, Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, serving soups, fish and chips, pasta and cakes.
Is it accessible with a buggy or wheelchair?
During opening hours there's level access and an accessible toilet with an extra wide door. Outside those hours you'd need the buzzer entry system.
What's the parking like?
Paid parking via RingGo on Dalmeny Street and nearby streets, but it's free from 5.30pm on weekdays and all day on weekends.
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