What must see in Edinburgh?

[SugarPlumpFairyCakes]

Three days next week with dcs aged 12, 15, 18 and 20.

Edinburgh castle? Camera Obscura? Couple of Festival shows? What else should we not miss out on?

I can tell you from recent experience that the puffins are now hiding until next spring.

They were an added bonus - it's a good trip even without them.

I second a walk up Carlton Hill. Kids can climb onto the Monument. Great views across the city and over to Fife and North Berwick. Also a wander along the Water of Leith through Dean Village.

Our favourite is the Camera Obscura - pricey but worth it - and you can just have a look at the castle while there.

Mary’s Milk Bar on the Grassmarket for ice cream.

The dungeons might appeal too.
Victoria street is allegedly what inspired draigon alley in Harry Potter if they’ve been into that.
maybe a walking tour? More engaging than having to read a load of stuff in museums!
local teens seem to like Bonnie & Wild and the overpriced fast food places in the st James centre.
Check Hearts & Hibs fixtures if anyone is into football, I think you can usually get tickets without being members.

Mary King’s Close and the Ghost Bus tours.

Arthur’s seat

Royal Yacht Britannia

If you have a car with you, explore the countryside around. Some ideas here.

https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/landscapes-nature/lochs/lochs-near-edinburgh-glasgow

The Botanical gardens. Everything is really expensive! Agree about the shoes,very steep and cobbles.

Oh well. Sometimes it’s good to get insights from MN.

Erm thanks for your positive input though.

Definitely second the Royal Yacht, we loved it! And the camera obscura.

Mercat tour, look up the website. They take you into the vaults and tell you historical stories.

They are not cobbles, they are Setts.

With dcs the ages of yours, I'd recommend the Alpine Coaster. Book in advance as it's very popular.

A lot of the things that have been mentioned are free such as walk up Arthur's Seat and Calton Hill, Museum, Botanics, Portobello Beach, wandering up or down the Royal Mile looking at all the Closes, Princes Street Gardens, Walk along the Water of Leith, art galleries, Meadows. You don't need to spend a lot of money to enjoy the city and get a really good feel for it.

There are some nice areas to wander round like Stockbridge, Bruntsfield/Morningside.

If you're travelling out of the city centre then read the details for bus ticket payment, a family day ticket is £12 and will cover 2 adults and the youngest 2 children, the older 2 will need adult tickets so if they've got their own contactless bank card that's the easiest way to pay. Fares & Tickets - Lothian Buses
Also book evening meals in advance if you're planning to eat out.

Thanks for the English Heritage tip. We have been going to Edinburgh for years, but have never taken the DC into the castle because it was so expensive. We agreed to a castle visit next time we’re in town. I’ve just booked free tickets off the back of your post and saved a fortune. I owe you a drink!

Dean village, water of leith and botanic gardens

I'll hold you to that, lol. Enjoy!

It's great. We're members of Historic Scotland and are often in England and have used it to visit lots of great places. You can also use it on the Isle of Man (just in case this is relevant to you or someone else).

Craigmillar Castle is also worth a visit, and if you have the time or are back again so are Dirleton Castle and Tantallon Castle. In fact, a visit to East Lothian would be worth a trip as the beaches are lovely and North Berwick is a particularly nice town. Can be accessed by train or bus if you don't have a car.

Portobello beach is a short bus ride away. They have the best pizza and Ice cream 🍨 also try mor bakehouse near Waverly station.....🤩.

Another vote for the National Museum on Chambers Street, also the National Art Gallery on Princes Street has been beautifully glammed up. Both are free. I always like to visit Greyfriars Kirkyard and Mary King’s Close is well worth a visit. TBH, just mooching about is interesting.

Go early if you want good photos of Victoria Street, its instagram posing central later in the day and generally very busy. Took this at 9am.

If you fancy somewhere a bit quieter, the Galleries of Modern Art are good spots to while away an afternoon - great art, nice grounds and views and a good cafe in Modern One.

Also, depending on where you are travelling from, check out Scotrail's Kids for a Quid deal, as it can get you free children's tickets to Camera Obscura.

Oh apologies,we had our drive done (Sussex) and the small stones were called "cobbles", when I said expensive I meant cafes food and drink, I was shocked and I live in the SE UK.

If you Google Edinburgh,it says ",old cobblestoned streets"

We took a bus ride out to Rosslyn Chapel used in The Da Vinci Code film. It's an amazing place, think it took around an hour there by bus so a 2hr round trip.

Edinburgh has an amazing literary history so get beyond Harry Potter. Robert Louis Stevenson, James Hogg, Muriel Spark, Walter Scott.

Find the Heart of Midlothian and spit on it (read the book by Scott to understand why). It’s not a football thing! (Although I would recommend the community atmosphere at Easter Road. You might get a rendition of Sunshine on Leith the most powerful football anthem there is)

have salt and sauce on your chips and mealie pudding