Edinburgh with kids (9 and 11)

[Puffinshop]

Just booked an October half-term trip to Edinburgh with DD 11 and DS 9 for 4 nights. Any locals or people who've visited recently who can answer a few questions?

I think not many places in the UK are on half-term at the same time as us, just a few counties in SW England. It doesn't overlap with half term for locals so I'm assuming things won't be too busy relatively speaking? Though we'll be there over a weekend so maybe it's all the same.

I think I've got a good list of things we want to do and see, but would like to ask about places to eat that are good for kids of that age? They're well behaved and will eat a fairly wide range of things, but not looking for anything extremely fancy, more of a relaxed atmosphere. At the same time not just pizza and burgers.

Finally, I assume thin rain coats with jumpers will be fine? We're coming from Reykjavík so well used to wind and rain and gloom.

We're staying on Princes Street for reference!

If you are from Iceland you will feel at home in our weather and your clothes will be fine. ;-)

Edinburgh is well set up for a lot of visitors year round, so I would not worry too much about half terms and things (most of Scotland is middle two weeks of October this year, we all get two week break).

Mum's comfort food restaurant. You can't book but DS (11 then) and I got a table easily at 5pm.

Edinburgh schools finish on 9th October and go back Tuesday 20th so earlier than in England. Many of the private schools have 2 weeks holiday too. So probably 9th to 27th October. Just at for comparison.

20% of edinburgh kids are at private so those holidays matter also. But really nothing is as busy as it is just now so you’ll be fine. Worth booking anything you can just for simplicity (and definitely the castle if you’re going).

weather can be whatever so I’d do what you’re thinking if you’re used to the cold. Worth having a fleece layer and a hat/gloves with you just in case.

restaurants - my kids (10 and 13 now but have always lived here) both love Bonnie and Wild and Edinburgh street food (both street food concepts as they like having options). We usually take guests to Whiski rooms on the mound for Scottish themed food. Haute Dolci for dessert is a fav memory. And… a chain but they both like Pizza Express if you want something really easy. Maki and ramen if they like ramen or sushi (there are a few). If you let me know what you’re planning to do I can think about what’s around those things.

Oh we'll be there either side of the weekend of 24-25. I thought that would be later than the locals so was patting myself on the back after we overlapped with most of England one year and went to the Natural History Museum in London and it was heaving 😄

Didn't think of private schools but oh well can't change the dates anyway.

On the to do list so far are Edinburgh Castle, the Real Mary King's Close tour, the Camera Obscura, Arthur's Seat, the Museum of Scotland, maybe the Chocolatarium. None of us have ever been before so we are aiming for all the obvious big things. We'll be very cliché tourists I think.

Thanks for the recommendations so far, a street food place sounds brilliant and we definitely want some traditional Scottish food and classic pub food at some point. Bonus points for nice beer (DH and I aren't really whisky fans).

Iceland is the only place I’ve been on my summer holidays that was colder than Scotland so you might find it tropical! 😂
Howies is good for traditional Scottish food or The Ox pub for Sunday lunch. A lot of pubs only allow kids in if you’re dining and then only until a certain time of evening.

Inchcolm Island landing trip with a meal at the pub at hawes pier.

The street parallel to princes street - rose street - has loads of restaurants up it. It’s pedestrianised so you can easily wander down it and see what appeals. It was years back but I had a great pub meal at Rose Street brewery - probably worth booking a table on a weekend most places except the 2 street food options. Wahaca (sort of Mexican tex mex Californian) is super popular and nearby too. Mussel inn is my husband’s favourite for seafood around there (I’m allergic to shellfish so not for me!).

Nothing wrong with your list! If you have any time think about either a half day trip to Linlithgow or a visit to Craigmillar castle. The ruins are much more fun for kids (my kids anyway). Craigmillar is on the bus lines and in a forested area with a great playground for older kids (and amusingly the local tip lol)

Reykjavik has been on our list for years, looks like a beautiful place to live.

Oh really, I never thought of pubs not allowing kids, don't think I've ever found one in England where the kids couldn't come in for a lemonade (though I'm sure they exist). I'll have to be careful to check that!

I was indeed expecting it to be warmer than home but it's knowing whether to bring the padded coats or the summer rain coats with jumpers. Whether to bring the fleece trousers for the kids. Rain trousers? Probably not. Obviously I'll check the weather forecast before we leave.

theres a chocolate cafe called Coro on Frederick Street (which is off Princes Street) - it’s been a hit with my teenage DD and pals
seconding Bonnie and Wild in the St James Centre as well. it usually has a queue, but it moves pretty quick, don’t think we’ve ever waited more than 10 minutes
and there’s a ghost bus tour which is great fun to do at night. some facts in there, with some cheesy play acting…
we’ve also done a good Harry Potter walking tour
and if your DC (or you) are Harry Potter fans, the original Elephant House Cafe where JK wrote part of the first book has recently reopened after a fire, and it’s worth a visit

Edinburgh is definitely strange re allowing kids in pubs. I'm not sure if it's the same all over Scotland or just Edinburgh. We found it made sorting out places to eat quite tricky, as I hadn't planned for it.

I always come on threads about Edinburgh and tell people to eat at Makar's. It is AMAZING. There is a little yellow cafe called St Giles cafe down the side street opposite the cathedral, which is lovely. Edinburgh Zoo is good if you get the chance. I see Camera obscura is already on your list. Also, it is definitely worth doing one of the walking tours, the Mercat tours used to be fab if you're into a bit of history (maybe not the ghost tours considering the age of your kids).

Yeah there’s umpteen different sorts of alcohol licenses so easiest just to ask. Usually places with proper sit down meals allow kids until x time with food, but you can’t usually just bring kids into a pub for a drink. Honestly you just have to ask.

Found the perfect site for pre trip planning, god bless this man!

edinburghpubreviews.substack.com/p/child-friendly-pubs-edinburgh

Make sure you book things plenty in advance, especially the castle, it can sell out months in advance. Everything on your list sounds great though (but expensive!).

Not that we need to be in and out of pubs all the time, you understand. I just love a pub dinner with a pint of something good and the kids love pub food too!

Yes I know it'll be expensive, got a few free activities on there though and we didn't have a summer holiday this year. I don't expect the food and drinks to be more expensive than home, probably comparable or even a bit cheaper.

Will definitely book the castle in advance, good tip thanks!

I agree about Craigmillar castle. It’s much more fun for kids than Edinburgh castle. It’s a proper ruin which you can explore, with spiral staircases, battlements and everything. Much less crowded too.

there's also the childhood museum on the royal mile that's free and could be visited while heading towards Holyrood and arthers seat

It definitely won’t be as expensive as your food at home, Iceland food prices even in the supermarket were eye watering!! There’s also a lot of “local” supermarkets around the city centre (Sainsbury’s local, Tesco metro, co-op etc) which are good for stocking up on snacks and sandwiches etc. also bring a water bottle each as plenty of places have free water refill taps.
you might need your padded jacket, October can be windy which makes it feel a lot colder. I’d say probably lightweight padded jackets and a waterproof but check the forecast before you travel.

I always recommend the hop-on-off bus. The Botanic gardens are lovely with a nice cafe. There’s the Lego store in St James centre. Calton hill & the Cafe at the top. The Meadows play park. The beach at Cramond & walk out to the island at low tide. Lane 7 for bowling etc.

I wouldn’t personally recommend the botanics cafe, it’s hugely over priced, all pre packaged these days and the service is terrible. £8+ for a ready made sandwich!

RE cost - do remember that majority of museums and galleries are free. Modern Art (1 and 2), portrait gallery, national gallery, national museum are all free. As are some outdoory things like walking up the hills to see the view.

Department of Magic on Blair Street was the biggest hit with my kids when we went a couple of years ago. You make potion drinks and the basement bar is dark and themed. Alcoholic ones available for the adults. You need to book in advance. National museum we ended up spending hours and hours in. Milk bar and donut shop next to it were both big wins as well.

Thanks for all the recommendations, I'm really looking forward to it 😊 I've been to Scotland several times but never Edinburgh so it's somewhere I've always wanted to visit.

A tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia at Leith near Edinburgh would be good for a morning or afternoon.

would also second going to the Makers Mark restaurant: great food and service.