Help me plan a summer long weekend -Edinburgh or Glasgow?

[SwedeDreams]

Haven't been to Scotland since I was a baby. It would be in the summer, either half term or summer holidays, for a long weekend. Me, DP and DS (7).

Which should go for? Where can I stay that's cheap? What should we see?

Thank you very much for any advice!

Edinburgh in August IS the Edinburgh Festival. It's brilliant, but utterly packed and accommodation is outrageously expensive anywhere within 50 miles. You'll be elbowing your way along the Royal Mile and swept around the castle in a tide of humanity - sightseeing will be very exhausting and frustrating. It's a fantastic City to experience during the Festival, but I've only done the fringe shows by either travelling from Glasgow or staying the night with Embra friends. I've been to the sights loads out of season so never attempted to do them in August, but if you want to do the sights I'd suggest going at another time of year.

Definitely Glasgow!

Brilliant. Thank you all so much. Am going to discount Edinburgh in August and check Glasgow, and look at late May half term as well. Really appreciate all these tips once I have flights booked I'm going to pick your brains some more!

Can I do a gentle thread hijack and ask the experts what we should do in Edinburgh in Feb half term? We are self, DH, DS1 who is 9 and DD2, 6. We are staying in an apartment just off Royal mile for 3 nights. DS1is science and soldier obsessed, dd2 hates war but loves animals and people/ social
history. Both have a lot of energy, esp ds1. What is unmissable? In fine weather? Bad weather? Where would you eat? Stop for coffee and cake? So grateful for all suggestions.

National Museum and of Scotland, Camera Obscura and dynamic earth all good indoor options.

If the weather's fine, a bus out to Portobello beach maybe?

Vittoria's on George IV bridge (near museum) is reasonably priced and child friendly.

Other outdoors places include the botanic gardens with inverleith park right next to it.

I'm not a massive fan of the zoo but you can go and see the pandas!

the fringe thing ( sorrp op!)

Edinburgh in August is amazing - vety busy but unlike any other time of the year - streets are alive and the amount of stuff for kids is phenomenal

Late May is not a Scottish school holiday so things will be much quieter- if you want a more traditional long weekens than you are right August is not for you. I would revise expectations about seeing scotland however - Edinburgh itself will easy fill a long weekend.

weary I don't have kids so will leave others to suggest activities but Mimi's Bakehouse on the Shore is amazing for cake.

wearymum:

www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/whats-on/game-masters/playable-games/

It isn't free, but does look fun. We are planning to go.

Also, a walk/run around Arthur's seat is great fun, and near where you are staying.

They're only 45 mins away from each other - you can do both.

We took the dc's up last May for a long weekend.
We stayed in a caravan at Mortonhall. It's a great site. If you have your own camping gear they have those wooden huts there too, I'd love to give that a try.
So we travelled on day 1, stopping off at the Angel of the North for a walk.
Day 2 we did the zoo.
Day 3 we walked the Royal Mile, hung around the castle, lunched at the Elephant where JK Rowling used to work on the first Harry Potter, saw Greyfriars Bobby and looked round the church and churchyard. Then we walked to the other end of the Mile and went to the Burning Earth thing which is very sciencey and good fun too. Had a walk round the park.
Day 4 we got an early start and stopped off at Alnwick Castle. We did the broomstick training, archery etc.
Then drove home.

Mind you, my dc are a bit older, they travel well for long periods in the car. Dd and I have a thing about koalas which instigated the whole trip. DS loves animal heroes and esp Bobby's story. And they're both Harry mad so Edinburgh was made for us.

All things greyfriars Bobby was what DD wanted to do in Edinburgh! Graveyard , statue, collar and bowl! And every souvenir of him that had ever been created! Loved camera obscura too!

I forgot - we split up at the castle and DH and dc went to Camera Obscura whilst Ds and I (he uses a wheelchair so it was inaccessible to him) walked down and looked round the churchyard together.
They enjoyed Camera Obscura.

Brilliant, thanks all. Will as Greyfriars Bobby to the amazon list. We are going up on the train from Midlands so plenty of reading time! Any other suggestions (books or otherwise) gratefully received!

Wearymum - museum of Scotland is free (bar any special exhibitions) and near you, great in the rain. Lots of hands on areas too, if you can find them - it's enormous! And a terrace right at the top where you can see all of the city. From there if it's nice you are right at the Meadows, at the south east side of this park is a really good playground (best in the city, my 7 year old says).

...and Greyfriars is right across the road from the museum.

Grey friars bobby will take all of 2 minutes! However a walk to the extreme East of the meadows will take you to one of the best playparks in Edinburgh and you have the lovely Peters Yard on Middle meadow walk for a coffee stop on the way there or back.

There are also 2 good free council museuems on the section of the royal mile at Canongate kirk - the museum of edinburgh is one i think' they are opposite each other anyway. Don't miss the botanics.

There is not much in the castle or holyrood palace for kids - both are ££ so personally would give them a miss. Chambers street museum as many have said is fabulous.