What to do solo parenting 2.5 yo in Edinburgh for 5 days? Help!

[Edunu]

I’m going to be on my own for five days in Edinburgh while DH works. What to do with a 2.5 year old? Any ideas welcome 🙏🏻

The zoo would be great for that age. We did Arthur's Seat with a 4yo but might be a bit much at 2.5 unless you have a back carrier?

Ive never taken a child so young but off the top of my head
The zoo
Portobello beach
Open top bus tour
Boat trip, might see some seals
Calton Hill is a nice walk, plenty of space to run around
Botanic gardens

National museum of Scotland has some nice areas for wee ones and often has events on too.
https://www.nms.ac.uk/events/summer-family-fun

There's a good playground in Princes Street Gardens.
The Modern art galleries are good for small children and one of them (I think Modern One) has a family space with colouring, books, toys and a really good changing/toilet space with little toilet seats and step stools etc.

When are you going? If the Fringe is on there will be more kids activities available than anywhere you’ve even seen!

Portobello beach and tumbles soft play which is on the end of the esplanade.
Princes Street and the Meadows have nice interactive play areas.

Why is this in AIBU?

National museum of Scotland- free entry. Royal botanical gardens with picnic. Princess street gardens. Museum of childhood- free entry but recommended donation £5. They probably have hop on hop off tour buses also.

I don’t really know Edinburgh very well but we went past Meadow park last time I was there, big park with lots trees. The museums are very good.

Agree with others the National Museum of Scotland is well worth a visit. Camera Obscura and Dynamic Earth are great as well. Botanic Gardens are lovely. Edinburgh can be very very busy during summer, especially during the Fringe in August.

There are loads of great parks in the city - Prince St and the Meadows have already been mentioned but there's also a brilliant and recently refurbished playpark on Leith Links, and Saughton Park in the west of the city is really good too.

As PPs have mentioned, if you'll be here while the Fringe is on there'll be plenty of things aimed at small children. From memory the Pleasance Courtyard generally has a range of family-friendly stuff on, alongside a small kids' tent with arty and crafty things available if you need to fill time in between shows.

It's worth having a plan for bad weather days too... the National Museum is excellent, and there's a big soft play centre inside the Royal Commonwealth Pool. There's also a recently refurbished small soft play at the back of the gift shop of Dynamic Earth, next to the Parliament building, which is pretty tiny but only £4 for an unlimited stay. The Everyman cinema in the St James shopping centre does toddler club film showings, with a hot drink and a cake included in your ticket price. If you're down in Leith the Wee Play Hub in Ocean Terminal is good for this age group as well.

My last suggestion would be to sign up to a newsletter called Gayle's Guide which lists various activities for kids across Edinburgh. The free version lets you see the week ahead and the paid version gets you access to two weeks' worth of events.

The National Museum of Scotland is fab and has nice kids areas with games etc.

The National Gallery on Princes St does a family art thing on a Friday, with sensory play and art materials etc. You don't need to book ahead, you can just turn up.

The Botanic Gardens are free and a lovely place for a walk, plus there is a good cafe.

The Warrender Swimming Baths is a lovely old fashioned Victorian swimming pool.

You can get a bus down to Portobello for the beach and arcade.

Kids love the Camera Obscura

Train trip down to North Berwick (30 mins away) for a paddle at the beach, Scottish Seabird centre, could also do the boat trip round the Bass Rock if they’re a good sailor.

What transport do you have?

For a quieter day & a break from sightseeing or soft plays Lauriston Castle tends to be nice and quiet with lots of safe green spaces to run around & there’s a small Mimi’s bakery for coffee and cake. Free to get in the grounds and free parking. I take my toddler a lot.

Open top bus if into things like that.

Botanic Gardens

Mine loves the children’s bit of the National Museum then an ice cream across the road in Alandas.

If you are here during the festival there are usually a lot of shows on for kids.

North Berwick makes a lovely day out with a sandy beach and rock pools, it’s easy to get to by car or train.

Portobello beach is also great with places to eat on the prom. Gets busy on sunny weekends & evenings though!