Edinburgh weekend break with DS(9) - ideas?

[shockedballoon]

Me, DH & DS (who'll actually be days away from his 10th bday) are off to Edinburgh for 3 nights in October half term. We're getting the train there and staying in an Airbnb 5 mins walk from Princes Street.
Just looking for some ideas of things to do that'll keep DS entertained. Going to do Edinburgh castle and he's a big Harry Potter fan, so possibly one of those guided walks? But which one?
Also any good recs for places to eat? We are all pretty 'foodie' (hate that phrase but can't think of an alternative!) and would like one meal to be a bit of a treat, but given we'll be eating out a lot, need some budget options too.

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

I’d get on the bus tour (the red one) that gives 25”4 hour tickets. It gives a good view of the city and you can spot things you would want to go back to. There are all the usual eating places (Wagamama, pizza etc) and a really nice Spanish which I can’t for the life of me remember the name of (I’m sure someone will know).

[Disfordarkchocolate]

Museum of Scotland
Camera Obscura
Both excellent attractions. Edinburgh is my happy place.

[Herocomplex]

I wanted to go to The Witchery by the Castle when we went to Edinburgh, but we couldn’t get a table. It looks wonderful!

[Ricekrispie22]

I'd recommend going on a Cadies and Witcheries tour, Camera Obscura, the Real Mary King, the excellent Dynamic Earth attraction, Edinburgh Dungeon and the zoo (with a pair of giant pandas on loan from China).
Camera Obscura and Real Mary King are both two hour activities and are very near each other. Could do them in the same afternoon, perhaps after having been to the Castle in the morning.
Edinburgh Dungeon and the zoo could be done together on a full day.
Cosmo is a good place to take kids for a treat. Its a all-you-can-eat buffet with a bit of style. It's got a bottomless ice cream bar and a chocolate fountain! Perfect for ravenous boys.
Badger and Co is a fun restaurant loosely on Wind in the Willows and has a children’s menu //www.badgerandco.com
Definitely eat at Coro the chocolate cafe which has two locations in Edinburgh. It has an incredible (and endless) menu of both sweet and savoury crepes, pancakes and waffles. Or you can make your own from a massive list of toppings and sauces. They also do some epic chocolate fondues. The prices are excellent; it cost me less than £5 for a brie, spinach and tomato crepe with side salad.

[Disfordarkchocolate]

If you have been an EH member for more than a year Edinburgh Castle is free to enter. I found it far too busy so I was very glad it was free.

[Groovee]

Camera Obscura is fab. The museum on chambers street and the childhood museum on the high street. The views from Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat are amazing.

Checkpoint is a nice wee diner to get food. You can find it in Bristo Place. The Steak and Mussel Bar in the Grassmarket is good too.

[1066vegan]

Dd loved the ghost walk when I took her to Edinburgh. She was a teen but I should imagine that a 9 year old would also find it fun.

[midsomermurderess]

Edinburgh Castle is quite dull inside, unless you like medals, rooms and rooms of medals, but you get great views from the Esplanade. Maybe go for the One O'clock gun. That'll wake everyone up. Dynamic Earth at the end of the High Street might be fun. The zoo has a penguin parade and pandas. Mums Great Comfort Food is a retro-styled place on Forrest Road, quite close to the museum, that does 'gourmet ' sausages and pies and mash. There's a Dishoom on St Andrew Sq and a Wahaca round the corner.

[midsomermurderess]

As for the Witchery, Is does look good but really isn't, and it's so dark in there you can barely see your food.

[museumum]

Royal yacht Britannia is surprisingly interesting.
Yes to camera Obscura, dynamic earth and national museum on chambers street, and Mary kings close.

Edinburgh castle isn’t great (really busy and still in use by the army) but maybe you’ll want to be able to say you’ve been.

I’d recommend the breakfast buffet at the lookout for amazing views if the whole city. www.thelookoutedinburgh.co/
And do climb Arthur’s seat too for views and a nice walk.

[Herocomplex]

Aha! Thank you midsomer I would have hated that, my middle-aged face likes gloom but my middle-aged eyes like to read the menu...

[TheApprentice]

Think the Spanish restaurant mentioned earlier may be Cafe Andaluz? It's very good.

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

That’s the one!

[Apolloanddaphne]

Mary Kings Close is excellent.

[sidsgranny]

Cafe Andaluz is lovely! Would also really recommend Mary King's Close. We spent Easter in Edinburgh with DS who was almost 13 and we all loved it.

[inneedofchocolate]

Edinburgh dungeons were great.

For food, we had really nice meal in Miller and Carter. Our dcs love steak and it was delicious.

[tobermoryisthebestwomble]

Yes to zoo, Our Dynamic Earth and the Real Mary King's Close (a bit spooky but mostly historic/interesting), although you need to book in advance. Camera Obscura was better than I thought. If you use public transport you can get half price entry to the zoo.