Edinburgh in a couple of weeks, what to do with preschoolers if rainy?

[MummyPig]

I will be visiting some child-free friends in Edinburgh on the last weekend of August. I thought I had it all sorted out as there seem to be loads of open spaces for my 2yo and 4yo to run around. But I have realised I hadn't really planned what to do if it rains which is rather stupid of me. If pushed we could just stay in and do lots of DVD watching and drawing, but if you have any better ideas please let me know!

They live in Colington, in case that makes any difference.

[MummyPig]

forgot to say we will only be using public transport

[bogwobbit]

swimming, soft play, museums - lots to do. I would check out the netmums edinburgh site here there are lots of suggestions of good places to go here.
Hope you have a lovely time whatever the weather is.

[snowlenin]

You can easily get a bus to the centre of town and there's loads to do if it's wet. In brief:

Royal Museum and Museum of Scotland (they are connected and side-by-side, and have great stuff for little kids)
Dynamic Earth (interactive museum, also has soft play centre)
Botanic Gardens, has lots of amazing glasshouses
Deep sea World - get a train to North Queensferry (20 mins train ride) - really brilliant underwater tunnel with sharks
Edinburgh Castle (though it's boring in parts)

Get a bus map and you can also get a great book called Edinburgh for under-5s, which will have all the info you need.

[yorkshirelass79]

Message withdrawn

[Skribble]

Brass rubbing on the Royal Mile
Museum of childhood
Activitie for those dates

[MummyPig]

thanks everyone for all your ideas, and sorry I haven't acknowledged them before. Our broadband has been down so I have been bereft of mumsnet for a while.

I'm sure my boys will have a great time in Edinburgh. With all the things to do, I'm wishing we were staying for longer

[harrisey]

I wouldnt bother with the castle. Its over a tenner per adult and every second building in side is either a shop or a cafe. Not much for little ones - wish we hadnt bothered with ours (6, 4 and 2).
But there are loads of other good suggestions - can especially recommend the museum as it is free and loads of space - our kids spent most of their time there watching the fish in the entrance hall. Botanics greenhouses also excellent!
Butterfly farm too is good - ours loved it, you could spend a couple of hours there. You cn get there on the bus from central edinburgh.

[hannahsaunt]

Opposite the museum of childhood (which my boys aged 3 and 5 spent a very happy hour and would have spent longer, two weeks ago) is the Scottish Storytelling Centre - check out what's on because it is fab. Even if nothing showing then the cafe is v good and v child friendly.