Claymore Wargames Show, Edinburgh

Claymore is a one-day wargames show held on a Saturday in early August. Traders, clubs and the public come together in Granton for a day of shopping, watching and playing. It's a mixed show rather than one built around a single period or game, so historical, fantasy and sci-fi gamers should all find something on the tables.

The club's posts don't list tournaments or mention a painting competition. The heart of the day is the games: some put on by clubs to show off a period or a ruleset, others set up for visitors to sit down and play.

Who runs it

The show is run by South East Scotland Wargames Club, which says it has been serving wargamers in the Edinburgh area since 1969. That's more than half a century of club nights, campaigns and painted armies, and Claymore is the club's way of opening the doors to everyone else for a day.

Outside show day the club meets regularly. Its weekly meeting is on Thursday evenings at Heriot Hill House, 1 Broughton Road, Edinburgh, and its website lists the current times. If Claymore leaves you wanting to play more often, a club night is the obvious next step, and our guide to finding or starting a local club explains what to expect on a first visit.

Claymore 2027: Usually early August. The status above reads Usually held in August. The club hasn't published the next date yet, and we'll add it here when it does.

The 2026 show was on Saturday 1 August, and the 2025 show on Saturday 2 August. Both of those fell on the first Saturday of the month, which gives you a good idea of when to keep the weekend free. The club sets each year's date, though, so treat that as a pattern rather than a promise and wait for the announcement before you book travel.

Opening time

Doors opened at 10am in 2025. The club hasn't published a closing time, so if you need to leave at a set hour, check on the day. The show runs on a single day, so there's no second chance on the Sunday: if there's something you particularly want to see, plan to be there for the morning.

August in Edinburgh

Early August is festival season in Edinburgh, and the city is at its busiest. If you're travelling from further afield and staying overnight, book somewhere to sleep as soon as the date is out, and allow extra time for getting across town.

Entry: Check entry details with the organiser. The club's website doesn't list an entry price, online tickets, concessions or a child price, so we haven't printed one here. Shows of this kind are usually pay on the door, but that's general experience, not something the club has stated, so check its site or ask the club before you go.

If you're planning to sell at the sales tables, that's a separate arrangement: tables are hired from the club in advance (more on that in chapter 05).

Claymore is held at Edinburgh College, Granton Campus, Edinburgh. The club's show posts name the venue but don't give a street address, parking arrangements, bus routes or accessibility details, so we won't guess at them here. Before you set off, check the club's website for any travel notes for the year, and look up the campus on Edinburgh College's own site for directions and access.

Whichever way you travel, think about the trip home as well as the trip there. Shows are where carry cases fill up, and a box of new miniatures is easier to manage in a car boot than on a crowded bus. If you're on public transport, pack a case that closes properly and fits on your lap.

In the run-up to each show the club publishes three lists on its website: the traders who've confirmed, the games that will be running, and details of the flea market. They're worth reading a week or two before you go, because they tell you exactly what will be in the room.

The traders

The traders' list names the stalls that have confirmed they're coming. The club notes that it's subject to changes outwith its control, so a stall you're hoping to visit could drop out late. If you're travelling to see one particular trader, it's worth contacting them directly before the day. Expect the usual mix for a wargames show: miniatures, terrain, paints and hobby supplies, rules and books.

Demonstration and participation games

The games list marks each game as either PP, for public participation, or Demo, for demonstration. It's a small detail that makes planning much easier.

Some entries on the list can still read "to be announced" close to the show, so check again nearer the day. If there's a game you want to play, aim to get to it early, because participation tables fill up through the day.

The flea market

In 2025 there was no bring and buy: a flea market with tables hired by individuals and clubs took its place. The club says "once again" there was no bring and buy, so this is how Claymore has been doing second-hand sales for more than one show. In practice it means you buy directly from the person who owns the miniatures rather than from a central counter, so you can ask about an army's history, how it was painted and whether there's any room on the price.

If you want to sell, individuals and clubs can both hire a table. Arrange it with the club ahead of the show, rather than turning up with a box and hoping. The club's flea market post has the details for each year.

Claymore is a mixed show. Whether you play historical games, fantasy or sci-fi, there's a good chance something on the tables will catch your eye. Collectors will head for the flea market, gamers for the participation tables, and anyone building a new army will want a long look at the traders.

Painters get plenty out of it too, even without a competition. Seeing finished armies laid out across a full table, with terrain to match, is one of the best ways to pick up ideas for your own colour schemes and bases.

Is it good for beginners?

Yes. The participation games are made for people who've never played, and a one-day show close to home is a gentle first step into the hobby. Wander round, play a game or two, and talk to the club members running the tables. You'll come away knowing far more about which games suit you than any amount of online reading could teach you.

Can children go?

The club's site doesn't set out any age rules or a child price, so check with the club if that matters for your visit. In general, wargames shows are welcoming to families, and participation games are a great way for younger players to roll some dice. Keep small hands away from the demo tables, though: those armies took a long time to paint.

More shows to plan

Details checked against the organiser's website in October 2026. Always check the official site before you travel. Planning more of your hobby year? Our miniature events around the world page lists shows by region and month, and the UK hobby calendar covers shows and deadlines closer to home.