BH trip to Edinburgh!

[lockdownwithwhoresdrawers]

Ideas needed for an upcoming trip to Edinburgh on the BH weekend.
We are driving up early doors on the Friday morning from Cambridge (so roughly 6-7 hours max). Almost 6yo and autistic 3yo with us, and have our car (also have a blue badge). We are staying at the Hilton in Fountainbridge so probably need some parking advice around there.
Hoping to head back on the Monday but could do with a stop off en route.

Any ideas of fun stuff to do whilst we are up there, we are hoping to get a local babysitter for one night so we can go out for dinner too! We have been to Edinburgh many times but looking for quirky or different things.

I’d find parking outwith free and then take the bus or tram in. Can’t be dealing with parking charges in Edinburgh.

Have you done stuff like camera obscura? Kids would like that. What have you done while in Edinburgh before?

What ever you do though, you must book. That includes activities, and restaurants.

I've got a blue badge so thinking we can park near the hotel surely? Couldn't figure out the council parking map.

Done castle, museums, Zoo, thinking maybe the yacht?

Botanic gardens and princess street gardens would give you lots of space for the kids to run about.

Yacht, botanics, museum of Scotland?

I agree with both of @condensationwindows posts.

Park your car at the airport park and ride and get a bus or the tram to Haymarket, hotel is 5-10 mins walk from there. Get a day ticket each day for the bus and just hop on/hop off as you need to. Parking is very limited in the city centre but if you do decide to bring the car in, this website will show you where there are bays and then this one details the which kind of bays you can park with a blue badge.

You really will need to book anywhere you want to go - the museum on Chambers Street is excellent. Also, the Botanics down in Inverleith are lovely for kids to run around and a wonderful view of the Edinburgh skyline.

Botanics look good. Thinking to nip to Glasgow for the day on the train perhaps too.

Do disabled railcards work up in Scotland?

Also thinking of Portobello Beach

Your issue with parking near the hotel is that the main roads won’t have bays or will have bus lanes/double yellows which will limit when you can park. The residential streets are jam packed with cars and any spaces are likely to be residents permits only, which you can’t park in with a blue badge. If you knew Edinburgh reasonably well then you could probably find somewhere a few stops away on the bus to dump the car, but if you don’t, then it will be incredibly stressful at the end of a long day.

There is a pay car park just along the road (Edinburgh Quay) so you could put the car in there but I think that would be about £20 a day.

I will call the hotel and see if they have any thoughts on that.

Does anyone recommend the Royal Britannia? We get discounted tickets so might be worth a whirl.

This is the parking map with your hotel marked on - there is one sky blue bay which is disabled. Blue is ordinary pay and display and pink is residents only. There is really very little on street parking nearby and car parks are expensive.

Camera obscura is fun for kids

Britannia is worth a visit and especially if you get a discount 😉

If you've the car for easy access (assuming you are able to park nearby to the hotel) try Jupiter Artland. It's one of my favourite places !

I loved the Royal Yacht! Not sure young children would enjoy it though.

The fringe is also on just now so you might be able to see a show or two.

@Downsize2021

If you've the car for easy access (assuming you are able to park nearby to the hotel) try Jupiter Artland. It's one of my favourite places !

This place looks amazing!

Any great historic houses/castles with even better adventure playgrounds?
Probably going to hit David Lloyd for a bit of swimming too.

Portobello beach is great. Parking is a nightmare but there are lots of disabled bays.
Cramond beach
Gorgie city farm
Dalkeith country park
East links family park
The meadows - big park
Stockbridge
Grassmarket
Arthur's seat

If the weather is nice I recommend Yellowcraigs for a beach. It’s at Dirleton a short drive from Edinburgh and is a gorgeous golden sand beach with a brilliant adventure play park by the car park.

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/bluebadge Advice here on parking with your blue badge. You can park free in any street space that’s not a resident bay. Also on double yellow lines as long as there’s no waiting restrictions in place.

Honestly, if you are only here sat/sun, I’d stick to Edinburgh rather than trying to go elsewhere - there is more than enough to keep you occupied. Another good option would be to do the open topped bus tour from St Andrew Square - I think you get to hop on and off all day long so that would be your transport for the day.

@Poshjock

If the weather is nice I recommend Yellowcraigs for a beach. It’s at Dirleton a short drive from Edinburgh and is a gorgeous golden sand beach with a brilliant adventure play park by the car park.

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/bluebadge Advice here on parking with your blue badge. You can park free in any street space that’s not a resident bay. Also on double yellow lines as long as there’s no waiting restrictions in place.

Like the sound of this beach! Fingers crossed for decent weather