Royal Rhyme Time

Royal Rhyme Time is back at The Palace of Holyroodhouse on Monday 2 November, part of a monthly series for toddlers that runs on the first Monday of the month from February through to December. It's run by the Palace's Learning Team in the Abbey Strand Centre, and each session is built around a different theme drawn from the Palace's own collections. The storytelling is interactive, with songs and rhymes woven in, and it always finishes with some free play for the little ones. It's for children aged four and under, accompanied by a parent or carer.

The themes follow the royal calendar, so if you're going across the year, you'll see the focus shift as the months go. February starts with Mary Queen of Tots, followed by David I and the Holyrood Stag in March, Royal Gardens in April, Building a Palace in May, and Garden Party in June. After a break over the summer, it picks up again with Jacobites at the Palace in September, Kings and Queens in October, Unicorns and Thistles in November, and Christmas in December. Each one is a separate 30-minute session, so you can drop in for the ones that tickle your fancy or keep going through the whole run.

It's worth keeping in mind where you'll be: The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the King's official residence in Scotland, and Holyrood Abbey, just nearby, is nearly 900 years old. The sessions themselves take place in the Abbey Strand Centre on the Canongate. The usual slot is 11:00 to 11:45, with an extra session from 14:00 to 14:45 on Monday 7 December. Tickets are £3.00 for adults and £3.00 for toddlers and babies, and booking is essential.