Edinburgh/West Lothian - Things to do with a 4 year old

[foxyfemke]

Posting for traffic here, the local board seems a bit slow.

I'm about to fly with my DS 4 to Edinburgh to stay with my MIL who lives just northwest of the city. We have a few things lined up, but I'm looking for indoor activities as the weather is looking to be bad, and my MIL isn't that well informed about things to do for small people!

Anyone any recommendations for a nice pool with slides/flumes, a nice soft play maybe?

Thanks!

Dynamic Earth is fab. Camera Obscura museum is fun.

The Kelpies at Falkirk and the Falkirk Wheel
Not indoors but take a raincoat and you’ll be fine. Remember there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choice!
And it is Scotland afterall! ☔️

5 Sisters Zoo and Blair Drummond Safari Park are much better than Edinburgh Zoo for that age value for money wise if you want that sort of a day out. Helix Park and the Kelpies are also good.

@Fireinthegrate, ha! Yes, we have raincoats packed.

Falkirk Wheel is a good shout. I think I've found a nice pool in Livingston we could go to for a few hours too.

The softplay/ clip and climb at Ratho Climbing Centre (EICC) is great for wee ones - nice cafe too.

Was going to say the climbing centre at Ratho has a great soft play.

National museum of Scotland is fab and has a great children's bit with interactive exhibits.

The zoo is brilliant.

Because it's the festival there are loads of kids events on, and a lot of them free - have a look at the catalogue online.

Deep Sea world in North Queensferry.

If you go by train - use the Scot Rail kids for a quid offer: www.scotrail.co.uk/tickets/kids-for-a-quid
and your LO will get in for free - same offer applies to Edinburgh Zoo and Camera Obscura - few other places of interest on the kids for a quid offers too.

The climbing centre at ratho is a good shout as you can do clip and climb and it has a great soft play. The cafe upstairs is really good to sit at the window and watch all the climbers...its the biggest climbing centre in Europe.

The mariners centre at falkirk also has a good pool and a big new soft play.

The falkirk wheel is great even if wet. They had a big canal themed water play area so just take waterproofs/change of clothes and your dc will have a great time playing.l there.

Ice Cream on Portobello Beach.

Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh is great. There’s a dressing up corner and lots of hands on exhibits including a puppet theatre.
4 is also the youngest age at which children can go Tubing at the snow sports centre on Friday afternoons.
Camera Obscura
It's worth knowing that the magical playground known as The Yard for disabled children is open to the general public on Sunday. So whether your child has a disability or not, they can enjoy the ride-ons, sandpit, mud kitchen, art room, adventure playground and soft play centre. www.theyardscotland.org.uk/paytoplay-what-it-is
Edinburgh Zoo (only some bits indoors, so good if it’s showery, but not one for torrential rain!)
Storytelling Centre
Deep Sea World at North Queensferry

Where are you staying and do you have a car?

East links family farm is awesome fun.

The Edinburgh International Festival has started. THe biggets performing arts festival in the world.
Even outwith August Edinburgh has lots to do with children- inside and out, but this month there are thousands of shows in the city, hundreds foc children of all ages and many are free.

edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/events/kids/

Thanks everyone. We're back now. We did a day at the Fringe, went to the Helix Centre. I'll keep the climbing centre in mind for when we're over at Christmas!