Forever Edinburgh launches new Resident Days as a celebration of Edinburgh residents 

Forever Edinburgh has announced the launch of Resident Days, a brand-new initiative giving people who live in the capital exclusive opportunities to enjoy free or discounted access to local attractions, tours and experiences. 

This is running alongside the Resident Rewards programme – which offers residents access to exclusive deals and discounts all year.  

Resident Days builds on the success of Resident Rewards Edinburgh: Gives Back, which saw Forever Edinburgh, OneCity Trust and local tourism businesses offering hundreds of free experiences for those facing challenging circumstances in our city and the St Andrew’s Day: Resident Special, which gave special discounted rates for key Edinburgh attractions for Scotland’s national day.  

Resident Days will give Edinburgh residents exclusive rewards including a range of free and half-price access to leisure, hospitality and cultural experiences across the city from almost 30 organisations.  

The initiative will run across four dates between September 2025 and January 2026, starting with World Tourism Day on Saturday 27 September 2025, which will see offers like half price green fees at Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society, free tours at Scotch Whisky Experience and two for one tickets for the Ghostly Tales of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile tour from Mercat Tours.  

A set amount of each offer is available, so residents need to be quick to snap them up. 

Later days are: 

• Carers Rights Day – Friday 21 November 2025 – exclusively for unpaid carers in Edinburgh 

• St Andrew’s Day – Sunday 30 November 2025 

• Burns Night – Sunday 25 January 2026 

Resident Days are part of Forever Edinburgh’s Resident Rewards programme and have been designed to thank local people for their role in supporting the city’s visitor economy. By showcasing Edinburgh’s world-class tourism offering, the initiative also highlights the businesses that make the city a global destination. 

Cllr Jane Meagher, leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This is a fantastic initiative that puts residents at the heart of our visitor economy. Edinburgh is rightly celebrated around the world, but it is the people who live here who give the city its character and warmth. Resident Days are a way of saying thank you, while encouraging communities to discover and enjoy the amazing experiences available right on their doorstep. We hope this makes such trips more affordable and accessible, and encourages people to enjoy being a tourist in their own city.” 

Tamsin Job, Head of Visitor Experience at Port of Leith Distillery, said: “Here at Port of Leith Distillery and Lind & Lime Distillery we love being part of the Residents Rewards Programme. Offering great discounts through Resident Days allows us to give back to our fabulous Edinburgh community. Using the rewards at our distilleries allows residents to experience our working gin and whisky distilleries, right here in Edinburgh. 

“We have something for everyone, from tours and retail, to hospitality in our amazing Port of Leith Distillery Bar and space for events and meetings too.  This initiative means we can offer reduced rates to first timers, repeat visitors and anyone who wants to give it a go. We love being part of this reward that lets locals discover, explore and enjoy everything Edinburgh has to offer.” 

Kerry Sloan, Respitality Manager at Shared Care Scotland, said: “Shared Care Scotland is proud to be collaborating with Forever Edinburgh and VOCAL Carers Hub to create the first Resident Days focused on carers in the capital, which will help to mark both Carers Rights Day and celebrate 10 years of our social tourism short breaks service, Respitality. 

“Social tourism plays a key role in making these experiences possible, helping to break down barriers and ensure that everyone – regardless of circumstance – can access the wellbeing benefits of leisure, connection and discovery. We hope that the Carers Rights Days celebration provides a vital opportunity for unpaid carers to not only rest, recharge and engage with their local community, but to also feel recognised and valued for the contribution they make to our society.” 

Full details of participating venues and how to claim rewards are available here.