What are the "must sees" in Glasgow and Edinburgh?

[roisin]

I know there are lots of people on here from Glasgow/Edinburgh: I'm planning our next City Break, and want some inside info!
We've just booked to spend a couple of days in each (with the boys - 6 and 8), staying centrally, probably going by train, so easily accessible stuff only.
We all love museums and galleries, and sightseeing. Loathe shopping.
Possibilities so far are:
Camera Obscura (is this good/worth it?)
Our Dynamic Earth
Glasgow Science Centre
.. for no better reason than that they accept Tesco vouchers
Is the Kelvingrove still closed? Where's all the stuff?
I want to see some Mackintosh in Glasgow. Where's the best place to head for a child-friendly introduction?
I always get fed up of finding places to eat when we're away. So any recommendations of "wholesome but cheap" eateries would be appreciated too.

Edinburgh - national museum. i prefer the old bit with all the stuffed animals. hendersons the veggie restaurant are 'wholesome' and now have a bistro if you want to sit on a real chair not a tree trunk. the modern art gallery is lovely and has a nice restaurant with a garden, you can catch a free bus from the 'mound'. the new parliament is worth a look.

we liked the zoo in edinburgh. they have quite a nice café too.

Science Centre would be perfect for boys and you can walk across bridge to the Tall Ship, which they would love! And get around on the underground which is quick and quite dinky.

Scotland Street Museum is an old school, with classes from different times in the last 100 years, just off the underground. Think I've just given you my class's trips over the last year!

Oh these are great! Please keep them coming.

I think yours are Glasgow, is that right Sammac?

Edinburgh - climb Arthur's Seat (short walk from the city centre). Stunning panoramic views across the Forth over to Fife and Perthshire one way, in the other direction views of the Pentlands.

oops sorry yes, just presumed that you were here with me, and knew that!!!!

Oooh love Scotland Street school.

In Edinburgh - Museum of Childhood, John Knox House (both on the Royal Mile) and Craigmillar Castle... in Craigmillar/Little France. (Far cheaper than Edinburgh Castle and great fun for kids.

Oh yes and if you go to the Modern Art Gallery then you can also go to the Dean Gallery which is right across the road!

Oh and the Portrait Gallery is a beautiful building with great collections and cafe.

Glasgow
Kelvingrove due to open next June 2006
Museum of Transport is open opposite though
Tall Ship
Science Museum
Trip on Water taxi
Gallery of Modern Art
CCA in Sauchiehall Street good for eats and kiddie friendly
St Andrews Square
Scotland Street School Museum (Nr West St/ Shields Road underground)
Burrell Collection
You could take the open top bus tour and it would stop at all the big things
Edinburgh
Castle obviously
Spooky tours inc Mary Kings Close

Aargh, beaten to it on all fronts

I was going to suggest the two modern art galleries too. Definitely worth a visit. I would also be inclined to take them to see the Scottish parliament if you're at Dynamic Earth anyway. It's a place you love or hate, so it's interesting either way. If all else fails you can bring them round here to play with ds's Lego Studios

A lovely place to eat is Valvona and Crolla - fantastic italian deli and cafe:

valvona

They're pretty central as they're at the top of Leith Walk (about 10mins walk from Princes Street)

there are quite a few branches of Pizza Express too.

Provand's Lordship- the oldest house in Glasgow, jsut across from the museum of Religon and next door to the cathedral. The bus tour stops at these.

Oh, and at Est Est Est on George St children get to make their own pizza, and the food isn't bad.

Oh dear I think I should have had two separate threads, I'm getting really confused now!

Is the Modern Art Gallery in Glasgow or Edinburgh? Or is there one in each?

Pagan - you said "Castle obviously" ... please sell it to me. I'd actually written it off as not terribly interesting.

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and Dean Gallery are in Edinburgh, website here . Right across the road from each other, good cafe. Not sure if we're all talking about the same ones though!

I think you should check out both castles if you get a chance, they are very different! I said Craigmillar better for kids as is one of those huge crumbling ruins that are great fun to play in.

The Modern Art Gallery and Dean Gallery are both Edinburgh.

PS Ne ne ne ne ne tamum!

The Scottish National Gallery was the first art gallery I ever visited - I was 15!

I remember being absolutely stunned at the size and depth of the pictures; having only seen naff quality slides and tiny pictures in books.

My boys have been going to galleries since they were tiny, and just take it all for granted I think.

Mackintosh's House for an Art Lover is fantastic - not very big but just wonderful. In fact not being big has the advantage that you might be able to get round it before the kids complain. The Burrell Collection is great too. I remember liking the building itself with its huge windowns looking on to woodland

I love art galleries and castles as you can see!!

And hatstands suggestions are both Glasgow btw!

Are you coming soon, roisin? If you leave it until December there will be quite a lot of Christmas stuff here too, probably an open-air ice rink (there's one on Glasgow already I think).

No, not til Easter hols Tamum! But I like to get everything researched and planned - it's part of the fun.

Having read this thread though I think I should have booked 5 weeks not 5 nights

Most Museums in Glasgow are free

glasgow

We also had a fantastic day at Summerlee Heritage Centre Coatbridge (Free) - You can walk from Coatbridge Central Station getting a train from Glasgow Central

summerlee

this is also near Summerlee (never been myself)

time capsule