Scotland’s compact, hilly capital is arguably the nation’s jewel in the crown – and is particularly popular with families who can enjoy a wide array of great – and affordable things to see and do.
An artefact at the National Museum of Scotland (Photo: Visit Edinburgh via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
The country’s second-most-populous city after Glasgow attracts huge numbers of visitors each year, many of whom come for the city’s world-famous annual festival that takes place at the tail end of the summer. But this is far from the cheapest way to see the city, especially if you’re a family with children in tow. So we’ve dug deep and picked out 7 of the best ways to spend your time in Edinburgh that will appeal to kids and leave you with cash to spare.
Visit a top-class museum
Edinburgh is home to some truly exceptional cultural venues and one of the finest is the National Museum of Scotland. But while the name may not necessarily give off kid-friendly vibes, don’t be fooled as there are few children anywhere who won’t relish an afternoon exploring its myriad of exhibits and exhibitions. Free to enter, the museum is positively brimming with artefacts that will leave your little ones wide-eyed, including a towering T. rex skeleton, Dolly the sheep, ancient Egyptian treasures, hands-on science displays, and an Adventure Planet gallery that gives younger visitors the chance to dig, crawl and discover through play.
Chambers Street / Mon-Sun 10am-5pm
Step into a world of illusions
It’s no exaggeration to day that you can lose track of what’s real at Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, a truly unique and wonderfully odd attraction a short walk from Edinburgh Castle on the Royal Mile. A perpetual winner with children, it’s packed to the rafters with hands-on exhibits and mind-bending rooms that are sure to test your kids’ suspension of disbelief. Across several floors, visitors can shrink, stretch, vanish, walk through a spinning vortex tunnel and get thoroughly confused by mirrors, lights and perspective, before heading up to the rooftop terrace for dazzling views over the city to top things off.
549 Castlehill / Mon-Sun 8.30am-10pm
Marvel at the city from up high
A view from Calton Hill (Photo: Gary Campbell-Hall via Flickr / CC BY 2.0)
Completely free and open all year round, Calton Hill is a great choice for a leisurely family hike with older kids who can handle a moderate incline without constantly demanding snacks. Renowned for its expansive views, monuments and Greek-style architecture, the hill – which is set within a UNESCO World Heritage Site – can be accessed by walking east of Princes Street before traversing the well-maintained path and staircase that lead to the summit. The walk is only about 10-minutes in total, and the reward is clear as soon as you reach the top.
Take a guided Harry Potter tour
Hogwarts fans – and we aren’t talking exclusively about children – visiting Edinburgh are in for a treat with the city playing host to several Harry Potter walking tours that take in some of the spots that inspired the iconic fictional franchise. Tours invite you to step into the legendary wizarding world, taking families through some of Edinburgh’s most atmospheric streets and stops at spots linked to the stories, including Greyfriars Kirkyard, Victoria Street and the Elephant Café, where J.K. Rowling worked on her early ideas. It’s a particularly good choice for older kids who have read the books or watched the films, as the route mixes Potter trivia with real city history. Tours start at around £20.
Explore a botanical garden
The beautiful environs of The Royal Botanic Gardens (Photo: Laura Suarez via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Spread across 70 pristinely kept acres, Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden is one of the best places in the city to let kids roam and burn off energy without straying too far from the centre. And while many botanical gardens charge entry, this one is completely free to visit, which makes it an unusually good family option if you want a low-cost day out. Children can wander beneath towering trees, spot squirrels darting through the grounds, follow winding paths past colourful borders and discover plants from around the world, while grown-ups can enjoy one of Edinburgh’s most peaceful green spaces.
Mon-Sun 10am-5pm
Board a hop-on hop-off bus
One of the most time-efficient ways to see lots of Edinburgh in a short space of time is to book tickets for a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Allowing you to disembark and board at designated stops across the city, these tours give you the freedom and flexibility that makes sight-seeing with kids less of a stress and more of a fun activity. Buses stop at many of the city’s most famous landmarks and places of interest, but if you want to skip any, you simply stay on board, listen to the recorded commentary through the complimentary headphones, and soak up the views until such a point that you fancy hitting the streets on two feet. Tickets start at around £20.
Head to the seaside
Portobello Beach at sunset (Photo: lambda_X via Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0)
Scotland isn’t known for its great weather, which is probably why Portobello Beach is something of a hidden gem. Just a few miles east of central Edinburgh, the beach is easy to reach by bus, with services running regularly from Princes Street to Portobello before leaving you a short walk from the promenade. This much-loved stretch of coastline is particularly well suited to families because there’s plenty of space for kids to play, while the flat seafront makes it simple to wander with a buggy or tired little legs in tow. Add in cafés and ice cream stops and it’s an easy to see why this is the go-to option for so many locals whenever the sun rears its head.
By Paul Joseph