Traveling with baby to Edinburgh arriving HOURS before check in....what to do?

[Diggy88]

Hi All

I'm travelling to Edinburgh with my son who is 13 months old. We arrive at about 10am but can't check in to our hotel until 3pm. I've checked and early check in can't be accommodated. Any suggestions on where we can go till then? He's not walking but likes to crawl. He'll also need a nap at some point.

Any and all suggestions welcome!

Thanks

Leave your bags at the hotel and go for a normal day out?

I mean, literally anything.

How’re you getting there (train, plane)? Where are you staying? What do you like to do? How are you travelling about (pushchair, carrier)? Can you use left luggage (either at the hotel or at Waverley)? When are you visiting (eg during the festival will make a difference)? Those answers may help decide what to do.

What are you coming to Edinburgh for? There is plenty to do and see. As a pp said, you can drop your bags at the hotel or leave them at the station, then head out for some sightseeing. The National Museum in Chamber Street might be good. It's pretty big with plenty to look at and there would probably be a chance for you to take your DS out his buggy for a wee crawl around.

Depending on the weather, you could go to the playpark at the west end of Princes Street. Used to be a few decent Italian restaurants up Lothian road which is always a good option with children.

You could also get out to the zoo, easy by bus or tram. Or gorgie city farm?

13 months not walking you can pretty much do any day out you fancy. You don't have to spend your time in soft play. What do you like doing? The zoo would be good. Id just wander around Edinburgh sightseeing.

It will depend a bit on the weather, but yes drop your bags at the hotel (all hotels have a left luggage room) and then I'd probably take him to the zoo. Will he nap in his push chair? Most DC will if tired enough, even if they don't usually sleep sitting up. And if he doesn't nap one day, well sometimes when you're travelling you just have to make the best of things and it's not ideal!

Can't drop bags as its air bnb. We're flying so will have luggage plus pram and car seat

Leave luggage at the train station, usually only a small fee

Plane. We'll have a lot of luggage and can't drop it off as we're staying at an air bnb and the owner can't accommodate between another guest and cleaners. I will check out leaving luggage at Waverley- thank you! We're there this weekend

Can you limit the luggage you take and use left luggage at the train station? Is a car seat essential? Tram transfer from the airport and the city is entirely accessible on public transport.

Edited as Can was typed as A for some reason.

Do you really need a car seat if you’re flying up and staying in the city centre? It might be worth asking Airbnb owner if the cleaners will be there earlier as I had one recently who let us drop bags off when we arrived in the morning. There’s left luggage at the station and also luggage lockers at the bus station. Both are very close to the airlink 100 bus or tram stops from the airport.

I'd try the Left Luggage at the station and you could head to the National Museum on Chambers Street. There's a couple of sensory type rooms suitable for your DC, they could nap whilst you wander round other rooms and there are a couple of cafes. Weather isn't great today so its a safe option and free!

If he'll nap in stroller you could leave luggage somewhere and walk to this place

www.littleplaza.co.uk/

I was going to suggest the National Museum as well, my dc have loved going to it since they were wee.

If you have a baby carrier you might find that easier than taking the buggy into Edinburgh city centre, lots of narrow pavements, cobbles, crowds etc. (National Museum will be fine with the buggy though, am thinking the castle etc is easier without!)

You'll be amazed how quickly that time will disappear, by the time you get the tram in from the airport, sort out your luggage etc, it will be almost time for an early lunch as I'm guessing you will have had an early start. After lunch DC will probably sleep in the buggy while you have a walk and get your bearings, you could spend and hour or so at the museum and then by the time you collect your bags and head to your accommodation it'll be 3.

Looks like you could store your luggage at or near the zoo. The zoo has small lockers you can rent or these people?

https://stasher.com/luggage-storage/united-kingdom/edinburgh/edinburgh-zoo

That way you could get off the tram from the airport at the zoo and then spend your time there, collect your luggage, back on the tram and head into the city for your air bnb?

The zoo is a decent walk from the tram stop but the Airlink 100 bus stops right outside. There should be stasher locations in the city centre or closer to their AirBnB to save back-tracking back in that direction if they don't want a day out at the zoo.....and by the time they arrive and get out of the airport etc I don't think it'll necessarily be worth going to the zoo as it's really a full day out.

Try left luggage at Waverley Station. Do you really need a car seat? Other option if it’s a nice day is camp out in Princes Street Gardens for a long lunch. Plenty places to pick up sandwiches etc. where is the accommodation?

beware of the seagulls if you try a picnic lunch in Princes Street gardens!!