Day out in Edinburgh with an 11 year old

[WoopsLiza]

I have to be in Edinburgh to pick up my son from a trip. We don't need to meet him until the early evening, so I was thinking I could take my DD 11 for a day out. She does like Harry Potter so we have been to the shop and the graveyard where Rowling got inspired for some of the character names. But I was wondering what other things we could do. What would you do if you had 6 hours to spend in Edinburgh in the winter, with an 11 year old in tow?

National museum

My kids loved the Camera Obscura up near the castle at that age. Lots of optical illusions there.

Dynamic Earth is good an defo the camera obscura. You’ll have to pre book both but if you are early for DE and they are not busy you can get in.

Mary King Street worth going to, on the royal mile there are a couple of museums if its still open one is a museum of childhood they are down near the bottom section of the mile

1. Mary King's Close, on the Royal Mile
2. The Chihuahua cafe on Frederick street

Dynamic Earth is fab for that age.

If that doesn't take up the whole day (and it could) then Camera Obscura is good. National Museum of Scotland is also great.

If he's brave Edinburgh Dungeon.

There's always the Castle....

Camera obscura is good.

The National museum is brilliant, free, lots of interactive exhibits, toilets, cafe and my 12 year old loves it there. Perfect for winter days.

Camera Obscura and the National Museum. Plus lunch at the street food market, or Cafe Adaluz on George 4th bridge.

National museum at the one end, free and loads of great stuff for that age, then stroll down Royal Mile and the festive displays towards Hollyrood to go to dynamic earth for their festive planetarium show if its on at a good time.

These are brilliant, thanks! We are going again in January

We are going to do Camera Obscura and the National Museum of Scotland in January because I think my DS would also like it but he won't be with me. So I have booked a quite late entry into Dynamic Earth but included the Christmas Event - she's probably going to be too old for fun Santa stuff before long.

She likes dogs so perhaps the chihuahua cafe would be good although I have a bit of a prejudice against them since one (in a handbag that cost more than my week's wages) gave me a little nip on the Tube. And their eyes, god, their eyes. Anyway not the point of this thread.

Will take her for a walk up the Royal Mile and have lunch at the cafe at the palace, and we can stop in the one of the museums before we head down to DE. That's probably fine for one day?

Oh cross post for lunch options that sound more exciting the Cafe at the Palace

Would add national gallery - they have the stag painting that is on all the shortbread tins, amongst other fab collections. Cafe did brilliant cakes too. Greyfriars Bobby is worth a little wander too.
For a more chilled vibe the library cafe is very nice but food is basic eg sandwiches and soup.
Would not recommend the parliament building!