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Edinburgh trip

33 replies

DecorChange · 12/07/2021 17:44

Going to have a week in Edinburgh with 3 kids. We are planning the zoo and deep sea world. Any other things we can do ? And good shops about? It really won't take much to impress me. Not bothered about the castle.

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katienana · 12/07/2021 17:52

I've just got back not a kids trip this time but we've been with the kids quite a bit. The National Museum of Scotland is fantastic. Camera Obscura is also great! We walked up Callerton Hill which was great for getting a view of the whole city. We did a Mercat tour of the underground vaults which was really fun and would be good with teens. The new St James Quarter is nice, lots of shops have relocated there from Princes Street. We ate at a few nice places - El Cartel, Copper Blossom, Wildfire, Lady Libertine. The Festival Village on Waverley rooftop was good if weather is nice, different street food options and people watching.

DecorChange · 12/07/2021 18:01

Ohhh great tips. *off to Google them :)

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Palavah · 12/07/2021 18:02

How old are the kids? Ghost tours of the vaults?

ratspeaker · 12/07/2021 18:40

There are a few beaches around Edinburgh
Silverknowes where you can walk out to Cramond Island but watch for tide times
Wardie bay has a wee beach
Portobello beach, long, sandy, lots of places to eat along the prom

There have been whale sightings and dolphins spotted over on the Fife side of the Forth.

Gorgie city farm
if the kids are younger theres a nice play area at East Meadows
and a play park with wonderful views across the city at seven acres park ( theres a playpark and also a small woodland which has wooden carvings)www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory-record/1208343/seven-acre-park

@katienana do you mean Calton Hill? I cant place Callerton

DecorChange · 12/07/2021 18:50

Sorry kids are 11 years with special needs and 3 years and 1

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DecorChange · 12/07/2021 18:52

When I say special need she dosent used a walking aid or anything it's mainly mental rather than physical

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Mibbiesaye · 12/07/2021 18:54

One if the hop on - hop off bus tours? Tickets are valid for 24 hours with some companies.

AvonCallingBarksdale · 12/07/2021 18:55

Camera Obscura is really fun.

Doidontimmm · 12/07/2021 18:56

Hi, the national museum is great & free (but you have to book), museum of childhood again free (check re booking). The beaches are great too. Locals mostly agree deep sea world isn’t worth the money I’m afraid, you could be in and out in 15 mins unless your kids are fascinated by fish.
South Queensferry just outside Edinburgh is gorgeous for a wander with brilliant ice cream shops.

Cam2020 · 12/07/2021 18:57

Edinburgh dungeons?

Doidontimmm · 12/07/2021 18:58

I’d also say all the restaurants named by @katienana are all adult type places

Doidontimmm · 12/07/2021 18:59

Edinburgh dungeons is definitely not suitable for a 3 & 1 year old Shock

SleepingWillow · 12/07/2021 18:59

My dh took our then 7 on a night time guided ghost tour in the old town. They loved it. I kept the smaller dcs at the hotel.

HarrisMcCoo · 12/07/2021 19:00

You need to book for National Museum on Chambers Street.

HarrisMcCoo · 12/07/2021 19:02

I wouldn't waste money at Deep Sea World, personally found it to be a rip off. Hardly took any time at all.

HarrisMcCoo · 12/07/2021 19:02

Dynamic Earth is a good one. Again, check out their website about bookings.

HarrisMcCoo · 12/07/2021 19:04

Take a drive out to Yellowcraigs, beautiful beach.

Eleoura · 12/07/2021 19:08

I loved the national museum. Its free and MASSIVE! I went back the next day as found it so interesting.

I recall going to a botanical gardens years ago when I 1st went. The glasshouse has a fee, but the rest is free. If its nice weather and you take a picnic, it could be a cheap day out.

Without the kids, the Royal Britannia ship is interesting (if you are into that?)

edin16 · 12/07/2021 19:17

If you have a car...
Craigies is great for those ages- pyo fruit plus a 'mini farm'- petting zoo/play area thing.
Portobello beach if that kind of thing is a novelty to you - there's an arcade on the prom too, looks a bit dingy but is great!
Buggy friendly walks: the meadows, saughton park (also has a great play area), cramond to granton, cammo estate (some parts, there's some old 'ruins' that the kids can run around). Botanics (outside is free but you still have to book tickets to control numbers). Over the fourth road bridge (there's a great burger place under it called down the hatch that you should definitely try if you go there. Then you can walk through south queensferry and have a mooch around the shops and get ice cream).

walkoflifewoohoo · 12/07/2021 19:22

Firstly, don't take the younger ones to the dungeon or on a ghost tour. Those restaurants aren't suitable either.

Mamma Roma is lovely for food with kids

The zoo is good

City sightseeing bus - well worth it and you can go out to Leith where there's a big shopping centre etc.

Greyfriars Bobby and Kirkyard. Spot the Harry Potter names

Museum context and elephant cafe for Harry Potter sights

Camera obscura

A day out to North Berwick

Drive to see the Kelpies in Falkirk and there's a decent playground there.

Cosmo is a world buffet type place

Princes street gardens are nice

toastantea · 12/07/2021 20:19

For a day out you could try five sisters zoo and Livingston designer outlet

Teaandakitkat · 12/07/2021 20:23

Deep Sea World is not very good, don't waste your money. And it's a bit of a drive. Although you could get the train from Edinburgh and it goes across the Forth Rail Bridge which the kids might find exciting? It's only maybe half an hour on the train.

National Museum is good but much less interactive than it used to be, like most places nowadays sadly. Dynamic Earth also used to be very interactive, I don't know what it's like now.

Camera Obscura is fab but lots of stairs and no lift. You used to be able to borrow baby carriers, don't know if you can now.

You can push a pushchair to the top of Calton Hill and you can see lots from there. There's a wee coffee hut at the top for a snack once you get there. There's a small museum about the observatory and you can climb up the tower, maybe your older one could do that?

Take the tram from the city centre to the Krispy Kreme doughnut shop, watch them get made, eat one and get the team home? (My kids like weird stuff like watching the tram floor move as it goes round corners and watching rows and rows of doughnuts get fried).

There's a new shopping centre just opened at the bottom of Calton Hill called the St James Quarter, it's got a lego shop in it and also a leisure sort of place with pool tables and bowling if that would interest your older one.

Portobello is lovely, long sandy beach and promenade, easy to push pushchairs along. There are loads of cafes, ice cream shops, amusement arcade and toilets. You could easily pass a sunny afternoon there. There's a great takeaway pizza place not long opened, you can get a slice of pizza and chips. Nice independent bookshop and other wee gift shops on the High Street just 5 minutes walk from the beach if you get an hour to yourself.

Cramond beach, you can walk along the causeway to Cramond Island, don't know how easy that is with a pushchair though, a couplenof ice creams dotted along.

You can walk for miles on the flat from Cramond along to the beach cafe at Silverknowes, I can't remember what its called but you can't miss it.

Kaffiene · 12/07/2021 20:26

Fort Douglas at Dalkeith country park would suit those ages.

Royal Yaht Britania is supposed to be good.

BIoodyStupidJohnson · 12/07/2021 20:32

Gullane beach is gorgeous but you’d need to drive to get there. It’s about 35 minutes’ drive out of Edinburgh city centre.

BingBongToTheMoon · 12/07/2021 20:34

I definitely agree about the shittyness of Deep sea world. Absolute waste of money & time.