EDINBURGH - Are these Places a full day or half a day?

[ukgirlatheart]

OK we are heading up to Edinburgh in 2 weeks with our science mad 11 year old DS for 4 days...We've identified that we;d like to do the following but wondering if some are half a day and we could double up - what do you think?

Camera Obscurer
Dynamic Earth
Free - National Museum of Ed (lego exh)
Free - Museum of Childhood

Other Stuff:
Arthurs Seat - looks a very long steep walk is this correct?
Edin Castle - most have said not really worth the entrance just watch the cannons at 1pm
(Not bothered about Britannia etc..)

Edinburgh Zoo - near hotel so lie in, then zoo all day then will stay around this area all day, eat in hotel at night

Also perhaps a Tour Bus - Like a general one about the city and one perhaps we could hop on and off at the attractions

We really liked the castle. Our Dynamic Earth is v good but only takes a couple of hours iirc.

Camera Obscura - two hours max
Dynamic Earth - my lot find it dull, less than an hour
Free - National Museum of Ed (lego exh), as long as you want, could do all day
Free - Museum of Childhood - an hour or so

Other Stuff:
Arthurs Seat - looks a very long steep walk is this correct? - not too tricky, take a picnic and half a day maybe
Edin Castle - most have said not really worth the entrance just watch the cannons at 1pm - only good if they like military history; you can wander around the outside, get great views and pics etc for free
(Not bothered about Britannia etc..)

Edinburgh Zoo - near hotel so lie in, then zoo all day then will stay around this area all day, eat in hotel at night; you could spend a day here if the weather is nice probably, book in advance for pandas

If you walk down from Camera Obscura, down the Mound, there is a Bank of Scotland (free) exhibition on the right which is good. You can see what a million pounds looks like, they usually have hands-on stuff such as making coins, you can work our safe codes, that sort of thing. Less than an hour, but a decent place with really friendly staff.

Then you can go to the Galleries on Princes Street, think one is free, walk down to Princes Street for lunch. Maybe go up Scott Monument for great views again, then perhaps Queen Street Gallery or head West for Galleries of Modern Art (lovely cafes, sculpture in the grounds, usually decent temporary exhibitions). All very child-friendly.

Also, do you know the Science Festival is on until the 10th?

www.sciencefestival.co.uk/

wonderful thank you - ah we go 11th

Zoo was wonderful and pandas were awake ;-)

The hop on - hop off tour buses are good - you'll see heaps from the top deck.

The Museum is fantastic- ds and I spent an afternoon there when he was 12- we saw everything- but could have stayed longer.
Good cake!