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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Edinburgh Mnetters, I'm spending 2 days in Edinburgh with DD (7) next week, any ideas of things we can do?

27 replies

Aimsmum · 05/10/2008 20:37

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Blandmum · 05/10/2008 20:45

Go to the wonderful Museum of Scotland in Chambers St. much better than Dynamic Earth IMHO, and is free

Loads of hands on stuff for the kids to do, and a smashing cafe for a cuppa. Near to the statue of Grayfriers Bobby as well!

umberella · 05/10/2008 20:47

yes yes, go to the museum, before it CLOSES for three years, gah!

expatinscotland · 05/10/2008 20:47

i think a tour would be good. teh mary king's close one isn't scary at all and takes place during the day.

can tour parliament, too.

holyrood costs a lot to visit.

are you going to nip into Harvey Nick's?

Habbibu · 05/10/2008 20:49

Harvey Nick's bistro in Edinburgh is very child-friendly - at least they were to us and dd (nearly 2) - couldn't do enough for us and were just charming to dd. Also great views, and may make dd feel very grown-up.

Blandmum · 05/10/2008 20:49

really!!!!!? So glad I went in the summer hols while visiting MIL. I thought it was one of the best museums for kids that I have ever visited.

Gutted at the thought of it closing for 3 years. Why?

Botanicical Gardens is aslo nice, with a nice Cafe too!

umberella · 05/10/2008 20:50

expat are you insane, I almost crapped myself on the mary king's close tour !!

Original poster
Aimsmum · 05/10/2008 20:51

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umberella · 05/10/2008 20:52

MB they are doing some sort of refurb, new exhibition spaces and removing the fish ponds.

MorocconOil · 05/10/2008 20:54

My DC loved Our Dynamic Earth and Mary King's Close. We also went to the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Frankenstein's is meant to be a good place to eat.

There was so much to do there we ran out of time.

Blandmum · 05/10/2008 20:56

Do you mean the one with the Millenium clock?

Cos tha is shut already. I was thinking about the other one, the Scotish one, just up the road towards Grayfriers

expatinscotland · 05/10/2008 20:57

there were two 8-year-olds on our Mary King's Close tour last year and they were down with it!

very historical tour, IMO.

i like the portrait museum in Queen's Street and the museum on the mound.

good stuff!

also the shops in the Grassmarket and up Victoria Street.

Mutt · 05/10/2008 21:00

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umberella · 05/10/2008 21:00

MB, they are one and the same museum --both on chambers st? do you mean the new building?

expat, my friend used to do the mkc tours, she was well into it, scared the PANTS off me!

expatinscotland · 05/10/2008 21:03

it's really historical in tone now, umberella.

when Mercat did them they used to be scarier.

now they're just about the history for the most part.

really interesting stuff.

expatinscotland · 05/10/2008 21:04

pop into the Tron, too, and see that partially excavated wynd. coolness!

Blandmum · 05/10/2008 21:05

Is new building going to shut?

How can it need to be refurbished, it is new?

umberella · 05/10/2008 21:05

it is amazing there are all those streets under the high street. if i wasn't such a scaredy cat i would love to have a good poke around down there.

expatinscotland · 05/10/2008 21:06

i worked in a building that still had vaults in its basement.

umberella · 05/10/2008 21:08

no, just the old building i think (didn't realise it was already shut...shows how long since my last visit ) - i love that museum , am vvv sad about the fish ponds demise though!!

an old colleague of mine is designing some of the new spaces. it will be great when it re-opens.

umberella · 05/10/2008 21:09

when we were students some people were sponsored to stay the night down there.

expatinscotland · 05/10/2008 21:10

i'd have had no qualms about spending the night in those places at all.

my biggest fear would be rats, tbh.

knickerelasticjones · 05/10/2008 21:10

There are two museums side by side on Chambers street - its the old victorian bit which has been closed for three years. The modern half which is also the Museum of Scotland is still open and lots of fun for kids. It's free, its big - loads of things to see, dressing up and activity bits. I'd highly recommend it.

You could also try the museum of childhood on the High Street.

If the weather is good (yeah - I know. But hey, miracles might happen!) you could climb the Scott Monument. Great view and good twisty staircase inside. Not great if you have vertigo though.

Or the Camera Obscura?

Castle is interesting but V expensive I believe.

Original poster
Aimsmum · 06/10/2008 09:58

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abear · 06/10/2008 10:00

We took our six year old to Dynamic Earth in May - it was expensive but he loved it and still talks about it all the time so probably worth it.

liath · 06/10/2008 16:41

Bad enough the museum closing, the commonwealth pool is shutting next year too. Major PITA (though I'm sure both will be fab when they re-open).

My nephew & niece loved dynamic earth at that age. And I second Hervey Nicks as surprisingly child friendly.

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