National Fitness Day
Edinburgh Leisure has a vision to get everyone moving who possibly can.
Today is National Fitness Day 2025 and Edinburgh Leisure is using one of its most energetic instructors – 88-year-old Helen Flannigan – to get the message about the power of activity across.
Helen Flannigan Fitness Instructor
Full council meets on Thursday
The full council of 63 councillors convenes tomorrow Thursday at the City Chambers at 10am.
The papers for the meeting are here along with details of how to watch the webcast. There will be six parties making deputations to the council and you can read the written submissions here. One is from UNISON which rejects the proposal by the council’s education team to disband the social work team from the Sick Kids – where it has been for 20 years.
These few lines give an indication of how strongly they feel about the matter: “UNISON further notes that senior managers within the Education, Children and Justice Services directorate are of the view that the removal of the Hospital Based Social Work Team would not incur any loss of resources or loss of service.
“Management have chosen to progress regardless citing a loophole. They concluded that this was an operational decision and therefore a report to committee would not be required.
“UNISON agrees that managers should remain accountable to Elected Members.
“Unilateral management decisions should not be imposed without scrutiny,
transparency, and accountability, especially when this impacts directly on the
provision of a long-term council service.
“This state of play cannot be allowed to continue.”
Each month the council leader, Cllr Jane Meagher, presents her report. This month she explains that already more than 3,000 people have responded to the Tram consultation which you will find here. There have been no objections made to the council before now about the route from the city centre to the south. The contentious part is not whether to extend the tram or not – it is whether to use the Dean Bridge and Orchard Brae route or the Roseburn route. The consultation closes on 17 November.
Cllr Meagher congratulates Sarah Boyd who becomes the Chief Executive of Lothian Buses and Susan Deacon who becomes Chair of Edinburgh Trams. Both women will also be involved in the new transport body, Edinburgh Transport Holdings Ltd, which will be in place by the end of this year to run both buses and trams under one umbrella.
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Giant Lanterns
Prepare to be wowed as you come face to face with a giant crab, take a walk through an enormous whale and explore a luminous under water wonderland at Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns trail.
This year’s theme will take the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) visitors under the sea on a dazzling interactive ocean-deep journey open on select nights from 14 November 2025 to 22 February 2026.
Scotland’s only Chinese lantern display, the zoo’s trail will see over 600 lanterns used, some 20 foot high. With refreshments such as toasted marshmallows, mulled wine and other festive treats available to enjoy along the route, it is the perfect winter evening out.
Lindsay Ross, events and experiences manager at Edinburgh Zoo said: “It is a thrill to see the return of our Giant Lanterns trail. This year’s aquatic theme promises to take our visitors on a magical journey into the deep, exploring the world of underwater wildlife, alongside marine myths and legends.
“We hope this immersive experience helps connect people with nature and raise awareness of the importance of protecting wildlife and their habitats, from coral reefs to sea birds and everything in between. Every visit helps support our charity’s vital wildlife conservation work in Scotland and around the world.”
Tickets for Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns are on sale now from their website edinburghzoo.org.uk/lanterns. Ticket prices vary for off-peak, standard and peak nights. Entry is open from 4:45pm with the last entry at 8pm.
Edinburgh Zoo Lanterns
At The Georgian House
Celebrate autumn with Halloween themed events at The Georgian House on St Andrew Square.
Witchcraft in Edinburgh
Step back to a time when fear ruled Scotland and those accused of witchcraft faced trial and fire. Join us at The Georgian House for a night of chilling demonstrations, eerie artefacts from Cara Hamilton’s dark museum, and stories of necromancers and folklore that gripped 17th-century Edinburgh.
Friday 3 October from 7.30–9pm (doors 7.15pm) £16
The Strange Case of 7 Charlotte Square – Halloween Book Fair
Browse a hand-picked selection of spooky books, enjoy atmospheric evening access to the house, and discover stories of Edinburgh’s darker past. Perfect for book lovers and curious minds alike.
Thursday 16 October from 6.00pm – 9.00pm £3 entry
After Dark at 7 Charlotte Square
Step inside after hours to uncover tales of bodysnatchers, beheadings, hauntings, and hangings. Hear the heartbreaking story of the Neaves family, who lost eight of their twelve children, and see examples of Georgian and Victorian mourning jewellery. Encounter the chilling exploits of Burke and Hare, Deacon Brodie, and even the curious case of Robert Burns’s exhumed skull—if you dare.
Saturday 18 October Arrive between 6:00–7:30pm. The evening concludes at 8.30pm| £15
Autumn is here. The nights are darker. Will you step inside?
Lino Printing Workshop
The Edinburgh Sewcial Club run sewing classes and have been in touch to issue an invite to their Lino Printing Workshop at 151 London Road on 28 October from 12.30pm to 4.30pm.
The club provide some information about what to expect: “Lino printing is a form of fine art printmaking where the printing plate is cut into lino. Yes, lino as in linoleum, as in the floor covering. It gives fabulous creative results. Learn how to lino print and create some beautiful geometric designs.
“During your class, you will learn how to transfer a design onto your lino and cut safely using a variety of marks and tools. You’ll also be shown how to mix and roller the ink to the correct consistency to achieve a great print.
“After practising your new skills, you’ll begin to print onto good quality paper, blank cards, or fabric. Your teacher will provide all of this for you but you can bring a t-shirt or similar garment if you’d like to print your design onto something you can wear!
“By the end of this Edinburgh craft class, you’ll have one or two of your own linocuts which you can take away with you and use again and again to print onto new materials. You’ll also have your own bespoke lino printed item to take home, as well as the skills and knowledge you need to continue lino printing independently.”
https://www.edinburghsewingclasses.uk/copy-of-introduction-to-sewing-evening
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
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