Open Streets on Sunday from noon

July 6, 2019 4:27 pm

On Sunday the third Open Streets event will take place in the city centre. Various streets are open for active travel and closed for parking or driving any vehicles other than bikes.

Edinburgh is leading the way in the UK as the first city to join the Open Streets Movement making some streets more people friendly.

Fancy a spot of yoga? Or would you like to follow a guided walk around the Old Town? Everything is free and all you have to do is leave the car at home and catch the bus.

These streets are closed to traffic :

Blackfriars Street (between High Street and New Skinner’s Close)
Canongate (between St Mary/Jeffrey Street and the west side of Reid’s Close)
Cockburn Street
Cranston Street
Grassmarket (pedestrian zone between West Bow and King’s Stables Road)
High Street
Lawnmarket
New Street
Niddry Street
Old Tolbooth Wynd
St Giles’ Street
Victoria Street
West Bow

Bus diversion

The 35 Lothian Buses bus will be diverted during this time. The diversion route is via North Bridge/Waterloo Place/Regent Road/Easter Road. All other bus routes in the area are unaffected. Further information is available from Lothian Buses .

Information for people with disabilities

Blue badge holders will be able to access the area and events staff at the closure barriers will assist you to find a parking space.

Open Streets wants to ensure that taxi operators can meet the needs of customers during the closure period too. The team are fully committed to facilitating access for people with a disability and want to help identify options that will work safely on arrival.

There are support teams to guide you and just in case there are First Aid points and public toilets.

From 12noon there are activities all over the place for you to take part in all afternoon until 5.00pm.

Open Streets will pause briefly over the summer but will be back on Sundays 6 October, 3 November and 1 December.

West High Street Zone

Time	Activity
12pm – 5pm	Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail 29, Cultural Celebrations. Artist, Mr A Sing Sponsor: City of Edinburgh Council Location: City Chambers
12pm – 5pm	Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail 16, Foiled Again Artist: Robert Mach Sponsor: Walker Scott Location: Cockburn Street
12pm – 5pm	Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail 35, Oor Coal Miner Artist: Kelty Art Collection Sponsor: The Malcolm Group Location: Warriston Close
12pm – 4pm	Police Scotland Close Pass. A display of safe driving distances to help make roads safer for cyclists.
12pm – 3pm	Security Bike Marking with UV etch, using the free Bike Register Scheme.
12pm – 4pm	Dr Bike Station Mobile workshop; free servicing and advice from qualified bike station mechanics.
2.30pm and 3.30pm	Edinburgh Festival Voluntary Guided Walks – free tours around Edinburgh’s historic Old Town. Meet to the West of City Chambers.

East High Street Zone

Time	Activity
12pm – 4.30pm	Street Games led by the Open Streets Team, including Connect 4, Chess and Badminton.
12pm – 5pm	Literary Walking Tours starting from the Scottish Storytelling Centre, John Knox House. Explore Edinburgh’s Netherbow area – pick up your self-guided tour from the Scottish Storytelling Centre
1.15pm – 2pm	Salvation Army Brass Band and Choir will be joining in with a selection of their favourite music. Feel free to sing along! Organised by the local Salvation Army members.
12pm – 5pm	Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail 38, Wullie and his Dino Onsie Artist: Chris Morgan Sponsor: Ryvoan Trust Location: High Street
2.30pm and 3.30pm	Taoist Tai Chi™ Display and Taster led by the Taoist Society of Great Britain. Free and all are welcome to join in the sessions.
3pm – 4pm	Yoga sessions led by Edinburgh Community Yoga. Free session, come and have a go – bring something comfortable to wear.

Grassmarket Zone

Time	Activity
12pm – 4.30pm	E-bike trials, Harts Cyclery in Victoria Street and Grassmarket. Come and try an e-bike!
12pm – 3pm	Edinburgh Urban Sketchers will be meeting at West Bow monument to sketch around the Grassmarket area. Come along with a sketchbook and art materials.
12pm – 4pm	Spokes mobile stall. Active travel information and maps for Edinburgh and the Lothians.
3.30pm – 4.30pm	Swing dancing, led by Edinburgh Swing Dance Society. All welcome to join in!

Canongate Zone

Time	Activity
12pm – 4pm	Edinburgh Old Town Community Trust invite residents to join them for a pop-up picnic. People are welcome to bring a snack to share in Chessel’s Court.
12pm – 5pm	Reading Havens set up by the Scottish Storytelling Centre and City of Literature in three locations. Come and pick up a free read in Sandeman House Garden, Chessel’s Court Garden, and the Old Tolbooth Market.
12pm – 5pm	Scottish Poetry Library. All welcome to visit and enjoy some quiet reading time.
2pm – 4pm	Citizenship in Action, presentation, short walking tour and discussion on the Open Streets Movement. A free talk, hosted by the Royal Society of Arts Edinburgh Area Network at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
2pm – 4pm	Come and try circus skills, led by Think Circus. Free circus skills workshops for all ages, spin, twirl, and juggle.
12.30pm – 4.30pm	Edinburgh World Heritage activities table in Sibbald Walk off the Canongate. A range of activities and information including brass rubbings of the Old and New Town’s maps.
12pm – 3pm	Play Together on Pedals. Have fun learning to cycle for ages 3-5 in the open space at Sibbald Walk, just off the Canongate.
12pm – 4.30pm	Street Play. Playing outside whatever the weather with Canongate Youth’s Play Rangers Team.
2pm – 2.45pm	Chair Yoga led by Edinburgh Community Yoga. The session is designed to provide gentle movements to mobilise the joints and stretches to release tension. This is a free session running in the Museum of Edinburgh outdoor space and all are welcome to join in.
12pm – 5pm	Oor Wullie’s Big Bucket Trail 22, Wullie Goes Gaelic Artist: Tom Morgan-Jones Sponsor: BNP Paribas Location: Aparthotel Adagio, Royal Mile

Quieter Spaces for you to visit include Canongate – Museum of Edinburgh, The Scottish Poetry Library, Dunbar Close Garden.
High Street and Lawnmarket – Cockburn Street, Writers Museum.