Edinburgh - tips and advise , please

[dietstartstomorrow]

Thinking about going to Edinburgh for 3 nights in August with 2 children (8 & 5).

Anyone tips on where to stay, what to do etc?

BOOK NOW!!

August is the festival so Edinburgh will be busy, busy, busy!

That means there will be loads on to do with the kids - lots of children's theatre, readings and events but it also means the town is heaving. Stay very central - the buses are great out of festival time and very busy in it! I would venture on one to go to the zoo and that's it!

Or you could go in July - miss the festival but get to see the Castle, Zoo, dynamic earth (cool museum) and botanic gardens in rather more comfort

Message withdrawn

Message withdrawn

Oh Christiana - my older daughter loved the dynamic earth! It is expensive though. Good place to go in the rain I think

Ooh, was just about to post on here because I'm planning to take 2 dds (9 and 4)to Edinburgh at Easter. I've spent all day looking at hotel, apartment and B and B websites and I've looked on old posts here. I'm now overloaded with information.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a B and B OR an apartment in Edinburgh that's in a safe area, is child-friendly and no more than a ten minute bus ride from the city centre? Sorry about hijack, but you could provide two of us with useful information!

what sort of place are you looking to stay in? Hotel/b&b/self-catering?

Agree with Northernlurker and christiana - it is incredibly busy in August (as an Edinburgh [erson I steer clearof the town centre during the Festival!!!) though that does mean lots for kids to do - street theatre, children's shows etc.

bump

We've just come back from a break in Edinburgh.....we stayed 10 minute walk from town centre in a 4 star guest house here had a look at their family room for ours in May, spaceous and the only room on the top floor, we stayed there as they had good private parking...and the breakfasts were lovely! The scottish museum is great for adults and children, I want to take ours to the butterfly house and my sister said her dcs enjoyed the Dynamic earth....haven't been but looks nice....good luck and enjoy!

We always stay with relatives sorry! Having said that though I think most of Edinburgh is pretty safe for the normally cautious and sensible visitor. Certainly the new town areas, Stockbridge, Bruntsfield, Morningside and Mayfield bits always strike me as nice areas?

Helsy....our guesthouse was far enough out of the town for me to feel safe and was very quiet at night...but near enough to walk and have a lovely meal, bus also stops just up the street every 15 mins I think!!! I'm a country bumpkin!!

I agree that Mayfield area is a good option. There are loads of b&b's there, it's central, but not too much night life. NL - you are not wrong.

NL - good areas with lots of B&B's and restaurants - good recommendation! mrsdisorganised - the one you've linked to looks lovely.

uuummmmm think I might re-think this then. I want to go somewhere on 28th, 29th and 30th Aug, as it's my B-day and the B/H. Might be better to do Edinburgh another time.

DH has suggested Barcelona now, may have to research that.

Thanks all. Helsy - hope you get some good tips

Thanks MrsD have emailed them. Looks lovely. I much prefer recommendations.

Oh good - glad I wasn't giving duff area advice

Diet - that's the bank holiday weekend - the weekend when the already full city gets even fuller with everybody from the rest of the country (especially London media types) who couldn't make the rest of the Festival. Go somewhere - anywhere else!!

Ooh great thread! We're going to the Science Festival at Easter. I've booked tickets already and accommodation - we're staying at the YHA, so that gives you an idea of our budget.

I would love any suggestions for places to eat. Cheap & cheerful is good! Pub grub, that sort of thing, especially places that are not likely to be too crowded.

Hi, can't provide much useful info on where to stay but for cheap and child friendly then Hendersons Bistro which is veggie is very good and inexpensive, Lucas ice cream parlour in Morningside also does nice meals and pretty much most of the restaurants in Edinburgh are child friendly.

If you are going to brave the festival, I recommend the Book Festival for children - get hold of a programme and book up ahead of time - they have some really great stuff.

Oh yes the Book Festival is great, I love the atmosphere there and it is very child friendly. Even if you haven't booked to see anything it's a great place to go along for a coffee or drink as it has a nice relaxed vibe.

Isn't it interesting stewie - we loved the dynamic earth but thought deep sea world was rubbish That is what's so brilliant about Edinburgh though isn't it - there really is something for everybody and you can walk everywhere (almost - if you want to that is)

Thanks for all the tips about food and eating. I will be noting them all down and will report back our opinions!

We went to the Science Festival 3 years ago and the boys are desperate to go back.

We've booked activities and talks for 3 manic days: one at Botanics, one at the Uni Museum, one at the Arts Centre. Then one free to either chill out and relax/recover or go back to one of the venues for more activities if we've the energy!

We too were disappointed with Dynamic Earth. But this may have been partly because we'd beeing to the Science Centre in Glasgow a few days before, and also because dh was left back in the hotel room being violently ill, so I had both boys on my own and it was hard work!

Message withdrawn