Visiting Edinburgh with Kids | Top 8 Things to Do & See
I cherish deeply the memories of when I was a little girl traveling with my family abroad. It was always so exciting for my siblings and me, but I am sure family holidays can be quite stressful for those who are planning and paying for them, namely the parents. If you are thinking of visiting Edinburgh with kids this summer and want to know what the city can offer you, then stay with me. In this post, I want to tell you about the things and places (free and paid) to go and see when visiting Edinburgh with Kids.
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Camera Obscura & World of Illusions (Paid)
This attraction is very loved by youth and adults across all of Scotland. It’s fun, dynamic, and has a great history. Camera Obscura is one of the oldest attractions in Edinburgh built for the sole purpose of entertaining and educating. There are six floors consisting of different exhibitions related to optical illusions, and it takes around 2 hours to walk through all the floors. I particularly love this site as you can interact with many exhibits and learn new things at the same time. I am leaving you a link to the Camera Obscura website where you can learn more about the attraction.
National Museum Of Scotland (Free)
Another great way to spend a couple of hours indoors while visiting Edinburgh with kids is, of course, visiting the National Museum of Scotland. The museum is huge and has so many interactive exhibits. It is also free, which is absolutely amazing. You can easily spend all day walking around and learning about the history, and if you need a break, there is also a cafe at your service. My favourite exhibition at the museum is dolly the sheep – the first sheep that ever been cloned (I am still buzzing about it, and I am sure your kids will do too).
All things “Harry Potter” (Free)
If your family loves Harry Potter, then Edinburgh is a perfect destination for you. There are Harry Potter shops, locations associated with the wizarding world, cafes where J.K. Rowling was sitting and writing her books, and even J.K. Rowling’s famous handprints that you can find on the Royal Mile. If you are looking to learn more about activities related to Harry Potter Edinburgh can offer you, then read my big post here.
Edinburgh Castle (Paid)
Do your kids love history and royal drama? Has your family binge-watched The Crown together and now you are ready to walk like royalty? Then head to the castle. It will take around 3 hours to properly walk around, so prepare to spend a big chunk of your day exploring this site. It is more suitable and interesting for older kids as it is a more serious attraction. I absolutely love going to the castle and imagining how people used to live there back in the days. I would suggest booking your tickets in advance and heading to the castle in the early morning to avoid queues and crowds. As always, here is the link to Edinburgh Castle’s official website.
Climb Arthur’s Seat (Free)
Another fun free activity for the whole family is climbing Arthur’s Seat. It’s a short walk down the Royal Mile and has several paths to choose from. The whole journey up and down takes around 90 minutes. On your way up, you can see two lakes and an amazing view of the whole city. It’s an absolutely great way to experience Scottish nature without leaving the capital.
Hop-on Hop-off (Paid)
Want to save time but at the same time see all the important places? Jump on the hop-on and hop-off buses that will take you around the most important places in Edinburgh. You can easily buy your ticket on Princess Street, next to the Waverley Mall (just look for people wearing red or orange coats and holding hop-on bus signs).
Surgeons’ Hall (Paid)
A really exciting museum for both adults and kids is Surgeons’ Hall. Located a 10-minute walk from the Royal Mile, Surgeons’ Hall offers the largest pathology collection in the UK. If you want to see what a smoker’s lungs look like, are interested in nature and anatomy, then this is the place to go. It’s educational, interesting, and fascinating. So if you are into science, then definitely visit this one-of-a-kind museum. The tickets for adults are £9.50, children £5.00, or a family ticket is £24.00.
Dynamic Earth (Paid)
Another great museum for science and nature lovers is Dynamic Earth. This museum teaches us about the universe, our planet, moons, and stars. You can easily spend over 2 hours wandering around. One of the highlights of this museum is the planetarium. It is the only planetarium in Edinburgh, and they run different 30-minute films every day. I personally love those shows as the 360-degree screen makes me feel as if I am traveling in the universe. It’s not the cheapest place to visit in Edinburgh, as the price for an adult ticket is £19.50 and £12.00 for a child, but hey, you would get interesting entertainment for the whole family for the next couple of hours.
