Three days in Edinburgh with kids

[thenewaveragebear1983]

We have booked 4 nights /3 full days- Saturday to Wednesday over spring bank holiday (May/whitsun week) to Edinburgh.

I’d love some tips of places to visit with boys age 8 & 12, and ideas of what to cluster together to get the most out of our stay.

Do the bus tour, and then decide what you want to visit.

Camera obscura is great.
Zoo.

Depends on interests, budget, weather.
Maybe take a bus tour get a flavour then decide.
Camera Obscura
Maybe an escape room (if wet)
Visit to the castle and walking round the castle grounds.
Lots of shopping opportunities and nice restaurants.
They also have walking tours or ghost tours (never been on one so unsure of age suitability).
Walk up Arthurs Seat.

Chamber St Museum of Scotland is great and it's free.

If they like Harry Potter there is a walking tour and potions making class.

Camera obscura is also great.

People will recommended the zoo but to be honest I don't rate it.

There are a lot of quite recent previous threads on this topic, you might find some more info there.

We did same amount of time last Easter with 5 and 7 year old. We did:
National Museum of Scotland
Edinburgh Castle
Calton Hill
Museum of Childhood
The Zoo
National Gallery Modern One and the sculpture park
Dean Village

Quite a lot of walking so punctuated with a lot of cake stops! Also spent nearly an hour watching a street magician on the Royal Mile.

Gordon Ramsey burger place.... Oh my days the onion rings..

We went with DC same sort of age.
They enjoyed Holyrood House, Edinburgh Castle, the Dungeon (I thought generic but we all enjoyed)
Did a ghost walk.
I enjoyed the Gallery on a subsequent visit but not sure they would have.
Also I enjoyed Edinburgh museum, not sure if kids would.
The zoo is a good call.

We really enjoyed dynamic earth. Also dinner at Makar’s mash- be sure to book well in advance it gets VERY busy!

This should help https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/holidays/4997480-edinburgh-with-children

Thanks everyone, some great ideas.

www.visitscotland.com/info/tours/3-bridges-bus-and-boat-tour-01e9a397

This is a good trip out to see the bridges.

Would also recommend the National Museum of Scotland (free entry and they have lockers you can use all day), Camera Obscura (book in advance).

Also the Surgeons Hall Museum (as long as the kids are squeamish), is fascinating.

Another vote for camera obscura! Also, Glasgow is only 50 minutes away by train so another option to add in.

We did this in half term it was brilliant, with a 10 and 12 year old
Traveled by train and stayed at Edinburgh central travelodge

we did
day 1 (long train delay so not as long i Edinburgh as planned)
Museum of childhood
pizza express for tea

day 2 Brittania (on the bus, family tickey £10.50 bought on app for all day travel on tram and train) AMAZING YOU MUST DO THIS
wetherspoons for lunch
Edinburgh castle
Greek restaurant for dinner

Day 3
Camera obscura (and absolute MUST do)
Edinburgh museum (a short walk away)
Berties fish n chips for lunch. (something else you must do and we tried a deep fried mars bar!)

Day 4
Dynamic earth (an absolute must do)
train home

We loved Dynamic Earth, Camera Obscura and Makar’s mash. DS still talks about this trip 5 years later.
we also did a really good coach tour, a whole day driving around the highlands.
DS and DH also did a ghost tour that they enjoyed.

I’ve done Dynamic Earth and Camera Obscura with mine and they loved both and ask regularly when we can go back. We’ve also taken them to the castle which they enjoyed but they got a bit bored of me stopping to read all the info boards. I’m not a huge fan of zoos so haven’t taken them there.

I don’t rate the zoo either I’m afraid.

The real Mary Kings close is always worth a visit.

These recommendations are very (payed) attraction focused. There is so much to see in Edinburgh walking about. Edinburgh is a beautiful city - make sure you have time to see the city.
You must climb Carlton Hill - great views and much less effort than Arthur's Seat! Wander round the old town and the grassmarket. Pop into a local bar for a fizzy drink. Do a child focused treasurer hunt walking tour. Visit the botanic gardens.

Definitely Dynamic Earth and the tunnels under the Royal Mile

Good list of ideas here OP from locals Tourist on a budget
Depends on age of your children, but there are tennis courts where you can hire rackets (Possibly open by May) and a lovely playground (East Meadows) if they want to let off steam, not far from city centre.

Thank you all, I will spend some time reading all your suggestions

For a totally different day and if the weather is good you could go along the coast to North Berwick and take a boat trip on the Sula to see the puffins on Craigleith island and the hundreds of thousands of gannets on the spectacular Bass Rock. Best book in advance.

https://www.sulaboattrips.co.uk/