Edinburgh

[HermioneWeasley]

We are going to be staying in a hotel outside Edinburgh for a few days and driving in. Day one will definitely be royal mile and mooching (open to ideas for day 2 - kids aged 10and 14).

Where do you think we’d be best off parking? Is there a park and ride?

Thanks

How far out are you? We left the car in the hotel car park and just used trams/buses, but our hotel was fairly central.

Camera Obscua is worth doing. If you do the castle, book online and just pick the tickets up on the day.

Personally I'd walk up Arthur's seat.

Mary kings close is brilliant ( but scary) .It shows a street under the city that was around in plague time and the history is very interesting .
Where about outside Edinburgh is your hotel. I know park and ridesbu5 on the south of the city

We’re going to be about half an hour away in a village south of the city centre.

I was thinking about Mary King’s close, but thought Holyrood palace looks better than the castle?

There’s excellent park and ride at Ingliston with the tram taking you in, but south of the city might mean the train is better.

Don’t waste your money on Dynamic Earth.

National museum of Scotland is good, Edinburgh dungeons is fun, Harry Potter walking tours and Harry Potter shop are good.

Mary Kings Close - never been, but have heard good things.

Where are you staying - you will get much better advice. Half an hour from the city centre is still the city!

What village are you in? There are couple of options.

Would definitely advise against driving all the way into the centre. It's chaos with roadworks and parking will costs a fortune.

Agree with dynamic earth, not worth the money.

National museum is brilliant

Castle ok if you are into that kind of thing. Bus tours also good, there is a horrible history one which is excellent

And Mary kings is brilliant!

We're going next week with children similar ages 12&14 and have planned camera obscura, bus trip around the city and holyrood. I'll check out Mary King's close.

The castle isn’t great, better just walking up the esplanade which is free and listening for the 1o’clock gun (not fired on a Sunday). If you have national trust access you can use it in National trust Scotland sites, Gladstone’s Land on the Royal mile is included. Avoid taking the car, park and ride on the tram or take local buses as the service is good.

Mary Kings close is fab, take a doll to
Leave as one of the ghosts is a wee girl who has lost her mummy and her dolly. There is room full of damaged dollies for her. It’s quite interesting as they tell you the history of the plague in the city.

*donated dollies

Camera obscura and the national museum were big hits with the kids when we went. Princes street gardens had a nice playground, as did The Meadows park (a little bit out of the city centre). We also did a bus tour the day we arrived as it helped us figure out where everything was.

Don’t drive to Edinburgh. Take public transport. Much, much quicker.

We took the bus in from Livingstone. It was a fucking nightmare. It took over an hour and stopped at every stop. It was meant to be a park & ride but it stopped everywhere. We drove in the next time and it was easy. We parked near the castle. I don’t remember it being too expensive. I actually quite liked the castle. The view from the top was amazing. The restaurant was very nice too.

Thanks for the tips everyone. We’re staying in Bonnyrigg

I'm just next to Bonnyrigg. You might be best to park at Eskbank station (5/10 mins drive) and get the train into Waverley. Or the 31 bus.
Museum of Scotland is great, Camera Obscura, castle isn't worth paying for!

The nearest park and ride for you would be stration

There's also a retail park right next to it if you fancy it.

I think you could also get the number 31 bus straight into Edinburgh save taking the car at all.

Lothian buses will confirm www.lothianbuses.com/live-travel-info/journey-planner

Shawfair park and ride too.

@weebarra actually you're right I think shawfair is a bit closer

@HermioneWeasley are you definitely wanting to do Edinburgh the 2nd day?

Loads to do in east and Midlothian

I would get the number 31 bus or drive to straiton for the park and ride. The 31 is handy for the bridges and the royal mile.

I agree with bob, loads to do in both mid and East Lothian. I love where I live!

You’re all brilliant, thanks for the suggestions

What would you suggest in east and mid Lothian - I’m open to ideas!

The Mining Museum at Newtongrange is great, as is Roslin Chapel, both fairly near to where you're staying. I also really like Dalkeith Country Park, although the adventure playground there is mainly for under 12s, there's a great cafe, fab shop and lovely walks around the grounds.

I liked the beach at Coldingham but it’s maybe a bit chilly this time of year!

Here’s a pick of Otto show you anyway!