A guest post by Sam Hook, Travels with my Boys
Edinburgh must be one of Scotland’s most beautiful cities. With its great architecture, culture, scenery, and hospitality it should be on everyone’s family travel bucket list.
If you are travelling to Edinburgh with kids, then you will not be disappointed. There are so many places to visit in Edinburgh that you could stay in the city (or nearby) for a week and still have places outstanding to see!
From animal lovers to history lovers these top 5 places to go to in Edinburgh with kids has you covered.
National Museum of Scotland
Step back into the past and learn about the history of Scotland and further afield. In the galleries of the natural world, you can see the mighty T-Rex, which stands at its entrance. You can also learn about animal senses, Earth in Space and Animal-World to name a few and that is only one of the many galleries you will find! There are lots of interactive sections with lots to learn, and not just the kids but the whole family. We have yet to make it around the whole building in one day, and even better is that the Museum is FREE! You can leave a donation if you wish, however, for a free family day out, this is a great place to visit (especially if it is raining!)
Edinburgh Zoo
I do not think there are that many children that don’t like a day trip to the zoo! You can reach Edinburgh Zoo by car, or if you are staying in the city centre then you can get there by public transport. The zoo has been undergoing enclosure changes in recent years. You can see the pandas, lions, tigers, and even watch the daily penguin parade (a little warning though – it is up to the penguins if they take part, so you may get a decent spot to watch and then find out it is cancelled as no penguins want to join in). Edinburgh Zoo is built on a hill so eat your porridge if you are taking a pram so you will need it pushing the pram up to the top! The Grasslands Restaurant serves some of the tastiest meals that you can get at a tourist attraction. However, if you did not want to eat in the restaurant there are cafes, and other food outlets around the zoo… or you could take a picnic with you.
Edinburgh Castle
No trip to Scotland is fulfilled without a trip to one of its many castles, so while you are in Edinburgh be sure to check out Edinburgh castle with your kids. There are so many interesting things to see at the Castle that you can spend hours looking around. See the stone of destiny, Mons Meg (a giant cannon that sits outside St Margaret’s Chapel), look around the Royal Palace and even watch the famous One O’clock gun go off (it has a day off on a Sunday, so please don’t be disappointed if you go on a Sunday and miss out). It is a great place to find out about Edinburgh’s history and you also get some amazing views from its great stone walls.
Arthurs Seat
Arthurs Seat is for the outdoor lovers. This extinct volcano is the highest point in Edinburgh. Easily reached from Waverley train station by foot you can get a stunning panorama of Edinburgh, which I’m sure all little adventurers would love to see. You know your children best, but little legs may get tired on the hike up, so a carrier may be best for babies/toddlers. Although take your time and enjoy the views.
Edinburgh Dungeons
For those who have kids who say they fear nothing, then this family attraction is for you. If you have children under 5 or are a total wimp like me, then this is NOT the place for you! Edinburgh Dungeons are scary but really fun 70-minute interactive walkthrough visitor attraction right in the city centre. They use live actors and interactive rides to show you some historical events in Scottish history. Make sure you check out their website as if you have any health problems, as you may have to skip this attraction too.
Have you been to Edinburgh before? What other places to visit would you add which are great for kids?
