How to keep 2 and 6 yr olds happy in Edinburgh??

[hex]

On holiday soon, off to Edinburgh - what's there to keep little ones happy...?

Went to Edinburgh for the day while we were in Scotland recently, with dd2. National Museum was good, some interactive stuff on ground level which dd enjoyed, prob even more exciting for a 6 yr old. And it was free!

Also, there is Camera Obscura, not sure how much a 2 yr old would get from it (we didn't go this time, but would def go in future).

As a child, I always loved going to the museum of childhood (assume it's still going!), amused me that my parent's toys were in a museum!

And, obviously there's a castle....

Hope that helps!

sorry, that was meant to say 'dd (2)' - I only have one dc!

Botanical gardens is good for a run around

and there's the zoo

with a penguin parade

Oh there is loads, are you there for long ?

If so worth pre buying Edinburgh for the Under 5s book or at least having a look at the website.

Princes Street Gardens has recently done up its soft play area and its excellent.

Botanical Gardens is a fun day out as is the zoo, penguin parade at 2.15pm not to be missed, but bring your own sarnies or only eat in the Mansion House, food is rubbish at the zoo..

If you are there for more than a couple of days and have a car then there are some great days out, East Links Farm, Almond Valley heritage centre, Vogrie Park are all good.

Hope you have nice weather.

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National Museum for Scotland, kids activities throughout the summer, remember Scotish schools go back before English though.

North berwick is nice, good beach, etc. Second the idea about getting a copy of Edinburgh for under fives, it's a bible.

Our Dynamic Earth, Adult £8.95, Child (5-15yrs) £5.75, Junior (2-4 yrs) £1.95
Ocean Commotion play area, within Dynamic earth included in the ticket price, but £1.50 if not going into Dynamic Earth bit.

Brass Rubbing Centre , OK for 6yr old}
Museum of Childhood, free but bring change for the anamatronics and organ.

Have you got a car?

Drive to blair drummond safari park, stirling (less than an hour away) for a great day out

Deep sea World, over the Forth bridge. Adult (16+) £10.00, Child (age 3-15 years, under 3s go free) £7.00.

good thread

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Craigmillar Castle ROX. And because it's a lovely ruin, no one minds if kids tear about.

Oh yep, Deep Sea World a fave of ours. Excellent.

If you have train-mad boys (or girls), a trip to Glasgow Transport Museum, on the train, to see more, um, trains, is always good. They have all the Balamory vehicles too (how blimmin exciting...)

North Berwick beach - take the train which can be an adventure in itself - if the weather's good.
Crammond foreshore - good for bikes, trikes, scooters (if you've brought them)
Botanics / Inverleith Park - both good for running about in and right next to each other.
Gorgie Farm - free
Almond Valley Heritage Park - cheap but difficult to get to if you don't have a car.
Swimming - Commie (Commonwealth) Pool or Leith Waterworld.
Queens Park - if you go to the right parts you could be miles from anywhere, and you also get great views over Edinburgh and the Forth and you can feed the ducks/geese/swans.
If you're up here when the Festival / Fringe is on, it might be worth looking to see what events are on for children.
Princes Street Gardens - room to run about right next to the main shopping street. Playpark in the West Gardens and a carousel. Also good for junior train spotters.
God, I could go on forever.....
Hope you have a lovely time and good weather.

this is brilliant stuff...we're actually staying in north berwick in a flat for a week so all these things should be useful...will it be really difficult to park in Edinburgh; is the train for a family of 4 (tho persumably dont pay for 2 yr old)too expensive day return from North Berwick, does anyone know? Any money off vocuhers I can get from anywhere?

North Berwick to Edinburgh, Journey takes about 30 mins.
About 1 train an hour.
Adult cheap day return £5.10, normal return £8.20.

Parking in centre of Edinburgh is pants TBH, parking can be had in multi stories on the edge of the centre but will be expensive and a trek at the end of the day. If doing loads of shopping I would consider taking car in so DH car ferry the bags back to the car, but I would seriously consider the train.

Park and ride, train from Newgraighall takes 11min and cost £3.10 return

We do this when visiting Glasgow we park at an underground station and get U into the centre. Other day we parked at Buchanan Galleries shopping centre in Glasgow and it cost us £7 for the afternoon.

City Centre Car parks, shows approx price per hour.

Just spotted this, good thread thanks - DP is taking 5 year old there next week

Just spotted this we are going in October with dds (6/7) so will bookmark this for later!

We went to Edinburgh last Easter and had a fantastic time; but spent most of it at the Science Festival Events! We enjoyed Dynamic Earth though.

We parked at the Newcraighall Park&Ride as recommended by Skribble, and that worked really well for us.

Where are you all staying in Edinburgh? Comments please!