In this story:
- Candle making at Candle Creations, then a film at the Cameo Picturehouse
- Sculpt and sip at the Counting House, then browse Armchair Books in the Old Town
- Printmaking with Constantine the Artist, then a walk through Holyrood Park
- Vintage camera photography with Daniel Dabrowski, then coffee at MF Coffee Project
- Macaron making at Edinburgh New Town Cookery School, then a stroll through Dean Village
- Bookbinding with Will Phoenix near the Grassmarket, then lunch in the Old Town
- Silver clay jewellery making with Anna Campbell, then a wander along Thistle Street
- How to plan a full Edinburgh day out around a class
- Which class-and-attraction pairing is right for you?
Pssst! Want to know a secret? If you’re looking for quirky, unique or extra fun things to do in Edinburgh, we’ve got you covered with a range of untapped experiences in Scotland’s capital that you’ve probably never tried before!
Scotland's capital keeps a lot of itself hidden. Behind the Royal Mile, past the obvious whisky tours and ghost walks, there's a city that makes things, learns things, and quietly gets on with being brilliant. These seven hidden Edinburgh activities are the ones most visitors never find — each paired with a local spot worth your time before or after.
The seven classes below are all bookable on ClassBento, rated 4.9 stars across more than 160,000 reviews, with prices starting at just £32.
Candle making at Candle Creations, then a film at the Cameo Picturehouse
The Candle Creationsstudio sits in Bruntsfield, a leafy south-side neighbourhood that most city-break itineraries skip entirely. Their candle making workshop (£65) is one of the most consistently reviewed classes in Edinburgh – 5.0 stars from 122 guests – and for good reason. You'll melt, blend, pour and scent your way through a large container candle, two tealights and a wax ornament, choosing from a library of more than fifty fragrances. Everything is provided; wear something you don't mind dripping wax on.
After your class
The Cameo Picturehouse is a ten-minute walk from Bruntsfield. One of Edinburgh's oldest independent cinemas, it opened in 1914 and still shows arthouse alongside mainstream releases — with a proper bar on site. Book an evening screening the same day as your class and you've got a full afternoon and evening sorted without ever touching the Royal Mile.
Sculpt and sip at the Counting House, then browse Armchair Books in the Old Town
Paintvine UK run their Sculpt and Sip Class Edinburgh at the Counting House, a Georgian banking hall on George Street that works well as a creative venue. The class lasts 90 minutes (£32–£38) and uses air-dry clay, so there's no kiln wait — you take your piece home the same day. It's beginner-friendly and deliberately social; there's a well-stocked bar on site, so a drink in hand is part of the experience.
Before your class
Walk down from George Street into the Old Town and find Armchair Books on West Port — one of Edinburgh's best secondhand bookshops, with floor-to-ceiling shelves, oriental rugs and the kind of quiet that feels like a reward. It's open most mornings, so give yourself an hour and a budget you're prepared to slightly exceed.
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Printmaking with Constantine the Artist, then a walk through Holyrood Park
Constantine the Artist runs two-hour sessions as part of his printmaking course made simple, covering monotypes, linocuts and drypoint etching on glass. You'll leave with a handful of prints and a clear sense of which technique you want to revisit. Constantine teaches small groups and the atmosphere is more studio than classroom — relaxed, practical and focused on what you actually make.
Before your class
Holyrood Park is open year-round and free. An hour on the lower paths gives you Arthur's Seat from below, the ruins of St Anthony's Chapel, a loch, and views back across the city. It's the kind of place that resets things. From the park it's a short walk across to the class — check the exact studio address when you book, as Constantine works from a few Edinburgh spaces.
Vintage camera photography with Daniel Dabrowski, then coffee at MF Coffee Project
Daniel Dabrowski's vintage camera experience sessions are the most niche thing on this list and also the most memorable. You'll learn to shoot on a vintage analogue camera, develop your own film in a darkroom using proper chemical trays, and leave with physical prints you made yourself. Daniel is a working photographer and darkroom printer — the teaching is hands-on and unhurried.
Before your class
MF Coffee Project on Forrest Road is an independent shop that works directly with farmers and roasts to order. It's the kind of place where the coffee is taken seriously without being precious about it. Go before the session — it's good fuel, and the walk from there to wherever Daniel is set up is manageable on foot.
Macaron making at Edinburgh New Town Cookery School, then a stroll through Dean Village
Edinburgh New Town Cookery School run their macaron making masterclass for groups of up to sixteen (£85–£90 per person). The class is full-on technique: Italian meringue method, macaronage, resting times, two different fillings. You'll leave with a box of your own macarons and a recipe sheet that actually explains what went wrong if your shells crack.
After your class
Dean Village is a five-minute walk from the New Town — follow the Water of Leith downstream and you'll find a cluster of old mill buildings that look like they belong in a different century. Urban Angel on Hanover Street is a good stop on the way back if you want lunch or coffee in a venue that's been there long enough to know what it's doing.
Bookbinding with Will Phoenix near the Grassmarket, then lunch in the Old Town
Will Phoenix has been teaching bookbinding for 26 years. His studio is in St Margaret's House on London Road — a short bus ride from the centre — and his Beginners Introduction to Book Binding Class (£65–£85, 4.5 hours) sessions are small-group, quiet and completely absorbing. You'll bind your own A6 pocketbook using fabric, leather or tartan, learn folding and stitching techniques, and leave with a handmade object that's both functional and properly good-looking. Tea, coffee and shortbread are included.
After your class
The Grassmarket is a twenty-minute walk or a short bus back into the city. Pick up lunch at one of the independent spots along the strip — the area has enough options that you don't need a plan. If you want something more specific, Maison de Moggy on West Port is a cat café a short walk away, which is either exactly your kind of thing or not at all, and you'll know which.
Silver clay jewellery making with Anna Campbell, then a wander along Thistle Street
Anna Campbell teaches her Silver Clay Taster Jewellery Class at the Arienas Collective, a Georgian mews building in Edinburgh's New Town. The half-day taster (£70) covers the fundamentals of silver clay: shaping, texturing, firing with a butane torch and polishing. You leave with a pendant and a pair of earrings — both hallmark-quality silver — and a working knowledge of a material you can use at home. Small groups, light refreshments included.
After your class
Thistle Street is around the corner from the Arienas Collective and runs parallel to George Street without any of the tourists. The independent jewellers, vintage dealers and small boutiques along there make sense as a follow-on — you'll look at the work in the windows differently after a morning making your own.
How to plan a full Edinburgh day out around a class
Timing your day
Most of the classes above run two to four hours. The Candle Creations workshop (2 hrs) and the macaron class (approx. 3 hrs) both work well as morning sessions with an afternoon free; the bookbinding class (4.5 hrs) and the darkroom experience typically take most of the day. Check the class start times when booking — several run fixed slots that don't always align with evening plans, so it's worth building around the class rather than trying to fit it in.
Getting around
The Old Town and New Town are about a twenty-minute walk apart. Bruntsfield (Candle Creations) is a thirty-minute walk south from Princes Street, or a short bus on the 11, 16 or 23. St Margaret's House (bookbinding) is on London Road — buses 4, 5, 26, 44 and 45 all stop outside Meadowbank House nearby. For Holyrood Park and the printmaking class, everything is walkable from the Royal Mile.
What to book in advance
Book your class first, then fit the paired attraction around it. The Cameo Picturehouse has a booking system online. Armchair Books and MF Coffee Project don't need reservations. Holyrood Park is free and open every day. Dean Village and Thistle Street are both just streets — you show up.
Which class-and-attraction pairing is right for you?
| Your situation | Best pairing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Visiting for a weekend, want a structured day | Macaron making + Dean Village stroll | £85–£90 |
| Local, want to rediscover the city | Bookbinding + Grassmarket lunch | £65–£85 |
| Planning a day out as a gift | Silver clay jewellery + Thistle Street | £70 |
| Want something calm and unhurried | Candle making + Cameo Picturehouse | £65 |
| Want something hands-on and technical | Darkroom photography + MF Coffee | £110 |
| Want to go outside as well as make something | Printmaking + Holyrood Park | £55 |
| Want the full social version | Sculpt and sip + Armchair Books | £32–£38 |
For more ideas across the city — from pottery and cooking to sketch tours — browse ClassBento's full range of fun things to do in Edinburgh.
Searching for even more cool creative experiences, Edinburgh? We've got you!
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Runs regularly
Edinburgh
1 to 4 guests
£65 - £85
6 years in business
4k followers
