Christmas weekend in Edinburgh - affordable hotels

[sborber]

DH and I have discussed potentially visiting Edinburgh in December with our two DS (2yo and 1yo)... We like the idea of spending our money on a weekend away as a family instead of buying each other gifts (kids will still have presents). Anyway, can anyone recommend an affordable hotel/hotel apartment in Edinburgh to stay in that will accommodate the four of us? Both would still be in travel cots and we prefer to have a separate sleeping space to them wherever possible so perhaps a one bedroom apartment somewhere? That would be ideal.

Also since we're planning, any must-dos while in Edinburgh around Christmas time would also be appreciated 🙏

Christmas market has apparently fell through I think the rest of the festival is still going ahead and I doubt you will get a reasonably priced hotel or b&b at Christmas unless you’re talking pilton or gorgie or another dive because of that and the Hogmanay street party.

I’d probably recommend avoiding Edinburgh in the festive season if I’m honest. There’s plenty places in Scotland great for families that are outside the capital

I’m not sure what you think you will do with such young children. The Xmas lights at the Botannics. Other than that, nothing much . Your children are too young for a pantomime, ice skating or a Ferris wheel. Why Edinburgh?

I wouldn’t plan anything just yet of you were considering visiting the Christmas market and events surrounding that. The event organisers have pulled out and there’s a meeting on 10th October to discuss what’s happening with it.

Honestly, Edinburgh isn’t that exciting at Christmas and it would be my worst nightmare with two children under 3.

There’s loads to do in Edinburgh with toddlers……national museum, dynamic earth, watch the trains, ride on a double decker bus and tram, go to the beach at portobello, soft play at the commonwealth pool, walk up Calton hill, Edinburgh zoo, botanic gardens Xmas lights, Georgie farm……
there’s a few serviced apartments around including Fraser Suites, residence inn, adagio aparthotel on the royal mile, Sonder royal garden apartments, Eden Locke

I’m not sure Portobello beach is that enticing on a cold, dreich Edinburgh day. You might get lucky with the weather though. The Premier Inn at Newhaven (Edinburgh Leith Waterfront hotel) does good deals, and has family rooms, if you book ahead. There are frequent buses up to town. The tramline there isn’t finished yet.

Your children are far too young for what is essentially a city break in a very grown up city!

I live here and it would be miserable for them!

firstly, it's not always cold and dreich in Edinburgh
secondly, plenty of people live here with kids and they all seem to survive just fine through the winter
I think it's a great city for kids, it's relatively small, got loads of green space and easy to get around. My friend's kids have loved coming to visit since they were toddlers.

Not in December in a hotel though.

They are two young for the museum or dynamic earth.

I would stay at home. Really what is a one and two year old going to get out of it?
They will literally not have a clue where they are.

blooming heck, it's a bit bah humbug on this thread! So no one should ever take toddlers on holiday then??

Sounds miserable with such young kids. You’ll get about 4 hours of daylight.

I wouldn’t call that much of a holiday. Cold, dark and depressing with two very young children in a cheap hotel in a city. No.

I’d check out AirBnB for maybe a flat in Edinburgh. I’m not too sure what is happening as the organisers of the Christmas pulled out recently. It would normally be open all day from about 10am as we do nursery trips to do some rides and see what’s happening.

The museum in Chambers Street is free. There’s the zoo.

Edinburgh isn’t always cold and dreich in December and we do get longer than 4 hours daylight.

Ding do Air b n B. It’s had an obnoxious effect on the city. There lots of hotels and standard b and bs.

‘Don’t’.

I live here. It can be lovely, it can be dreich. If it is, it’s not much fun wandering around. That east coast wind can cut through you.

@midsomermurderess i also live here, it's just a different sort of break if you come in the winter. Let's face it, there's no guarantee it would be decent weather if they came in the summer!

Any chance you could leave the kids with grandparents if they’re around, and go as a couple?
lovely restaurants, theatre, small independent cinemas and pub lunches are what I associate Edinburgh with! Oh and the shopping.

@emmathedilemma Tbh, I think holidays are wasted on very young children, particularly a city break in December yes.

What a bunch of sour pusses on this thread. The National Museum is still a great to visit no matter your age. @sborber you and your husband would likely enjoy it even for the interior architecture alone.

@JingsMahBucket Yeah I bet it’s really popular with toddlers😌

Omg this thread is ridiculous.

Do no young children live in Edinburgh?

Take a look at the Adagio ApartHotel; they make a special effort to be family-friendly and have equipment like high chairs, strollers, etc. available for guests. (They also have downloadable "family friendly" Edinburgh city guide which might interest you - although I'm not sure how much there would be for such small children.)

There are also three StayCity properties, which are usually a bit less expensive. The West End one in particular often has very good prices, but they are a bit out of the way (about ten minutes' walk to Haymarket Station) so perhaps not ideal if you're planning to do most of your travel on foot/by tram.

Edinburgh also has several independent and small-chain aparthotels - you might try searching on a site like hotels.com and booking.com, selecting the "ApartHotels" category, to see what's available and affordable for your dates, then checking reviews and comparing prices on the hotels' own sites if you prefer not to book through a third party.