Edinburgh, Scotland was a delightful surprise. We went in thinking we’d like it, but we fell hard for this old and new city. It’s dark and medieval and green and flowery. It’s one of those places where you can really picture what the past was like. And there are so many fun things to do in Edinburgh with kids.
We wanted to focus on work while we were there, but the city kept luring us in with all its attractions, parks, old buildings, and history. With so much to do in Edinburgh for kids (and everyone else in the family) we got out and explored a lot.
We spent a lot of time in the U.K. Partly because visa restrictions mean we can only be in the Schengen passport control area for 90 out of 180 days and partly because we really wanted to explore this beautiful country. We ended our two-and-a-half months in Britain with ten days in Scotland’s capitol where we found lots of fun things to do in Edinburgh with kids.
Then a couple years later we went back! After spending a month on the Moray Coast, we drove down to Edinburgh for a few more days of exploring our favorite city with kids. We found even more fun and unusual things to do in Edinburgh for everyone.
Watch the video to see some of the things we did, then scroll down for all the details — plus some bonus kid activities in Edinburgh and books set in Edinburgh, Scotland for kids.
Edinburgh Hotels
There are a lot of hotels in Edinburgh to choose from. First decide where you want to stay, then click over to Trip Advisor and enter your dates for current prices and the best deals on hotels in Edinburgh.
We stayed at the Radisson Blu on the Royal Mile. It’s a nice, comfortable hotel with a trendy lobby and bar…and it couldn’t be better located for visiting the best sites in Edinburgh. Staying in a hotel on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh is ideal for popping in and out throughout the day.
Take an Edinburgh Free Walking Tour
We like to take city tours when we get somewhere we’ve haven’t been for an introduction and better understanding of the place. We love the Sandeman’s New Europe Tours for a general city tour. The guides have been great and the kids get really involved.
Sandeman’s Edinburgh Tour, multiple tours per day, reserve free tickets online, don’t forget to tip at the end.
In Edinburgh, we also took a Harry Potter tour. J.K. Rowling wrote the Harry Potter books in Edinburgh and was inspired and influenced by places around the city. From the graveyard where she picked up names for her characters, to the cafés where she wrote, to the castle and school that inspired Hogwarts, we traipsed around the city following in her footsteps. Our guide was awesome. He dressed up and handed out wands for people to use throughout the tour. They cap the tours at 50 people now (I read they used to do tours of 100-200!), so get there early.
This was one of my favorite family activities in Edinburgh because we are all such huge Harry Potter fans.
The Potter Trail, check website for tour days/times, no reservations-get there early, don’t forget to tip at the end.
If you are saying “I don’t need no stinkin’ tour guide!,” I have a self-guided tour just for you. Check out GPSmycity for a New Town sightseeing walk, best pub walk, art and gallery walk, or one of the 18 self-guided walking tours in Edinburgh they offer. There’s something for you in there.
Edinburgh Castle Crawl
I saw crawl, because this castle is crowded! There is a lot to see here and everyone wants to see it. We preferred Stirling Castle, but since we bought an Explorer’s Pass we visited a whole bunch of castles for one price. We especially liked seeing the crown jewels and the Stone of Destiny. The kids liked the cannons.
Maybe I was tired of castles by the time we got here, you should see the castle—it’s iconic and interesting.
Tip: Guided tours are included with tickets, audio tours cost extra.
Edinburgh Castle, buy tickets online to skip the queue, get an Explorer’s Pass if you plan to visit more than one Historic Scotland property, café, restrooms, gift shop
Hold an Owl at an Old Building
Gladstone’s Land is a surviving 17th century high-tenement house—one of the oldest buildings on the Royal Mile. It has been restored and furnished by the National Trust for Scotland, and is operated as a popular tourist attraction. The little museum shows what local building would have looked like during the 17th and18th centuries.
Gladstone’s Land, 477B Lawnmarket, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2NT, 0131 226 5856, you can only visit on a tour! So check for tours online.
In front of Gladstone’s Land is an owl. You can hold the owl for a required “donation” of 4 Euros. Finn was thrilled to hold the owl and it was at his request that we went. The European eagle owl he held was enormous. It weighed in at eight pounds. I’ve held owls before, but not like this one. The owl belongs to a local falconry and bird sanctuary place and this is one way they raise money.
When we returned to Edinburgh the second time, there were two owls. Neither were in front of Gladstone’s but they were both one or two store fronts away, so easy to find. This time Finn held Hazel the Owl.
Lunch with J.K. Rowling
Ok, we didn’t eat with J.K. Rowling, but we did eat at one of the cafés where she wrote some of the Harry Potter books. While it’s not the only coffee house she frequented (we saw another on the Potter Trail), it is the one with the biggest sign.
From the back room at The Elephant House, you can see Edinburgh Castle, Greyfriars Kirkyard (church and cemetery), and George Heriot’s School, which are said to have inspired parts of the books. In the bathrooms, the walls and are covered with messages people wrote to Rowling and her characters.
Bonus: the food and tea are good and the café is very cute.
The Elephant House does not take reservations and can get quite busy. We weren’t the only ones who wanted the Rowling experience. Plan to wait in line and hold out for a table in the backroom—that’s where the views are. We waited 20-30 minutes.
The Elephant House, 21 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EN, 0131 220 5355
Best Museums for Kids in Scotland
There are a lot of museums in Edinburgh, but we ended up at the National Museum…twice. It’s that fun for kids. And it’s free, so you can fit it in between other activities. What we loved about the National Museum is that there are a lot of interactive exhibits and even the non-hands-on displays really draw kids in.
They say, “Our diverse collections will take you on a journey of discovery through the history of Scotland and around the world, taking in the wonders of nature, art, design and fashion and science and technology – all under one roof.”
Plus, Dolly the Sheep (the first cloned mammal) is stuffed and mounted inside a glass case. You do not want to miss that.
Free tours are held daily (no reservations required). Check the website for special events or download their highlights app.
Tip: On a bookshelf next to the café there are “family trails” or sheets for kids to fill in on a wide variety of topics. If you need some direction, grab one or two of the most interesting and use it to lead you around the museum.
The National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF, 0300 123 6789, free except for special exhibits, café and restrooms.
Update: We went again! On our second visit to Edinburgh with kids we spent a few more hours at the National Museum at our kids’ request. After awhile, I ended up in the cafe with tea and a book, while the boys continued their explorations — another reason the museum is so good for families.
Edinburgh Parks
Sometimes you just want to run around and climb on things. Or at least watch your kids do it while you post to Instagram. We love finding playgrounds. The Meadows has a great playground with equipment suitable for itty-bitties up to older kids.
Read more about how and why we seek out playgrounds at Nature.Play.Trips.
The Meadows Playground, Melville Dr, Edinburgh EH9 9EX, 0131 529 5151, tennis court, cricket, café and restrooms, picnic tables, croquet and designated barbecue areas. Other parks, playgrounds, and woodlands in Edinburgh.
Play With Pets at a Cat Café or Chihuahua Café
Yes, we went to both a cat café and a chihuahua café. The first time we were in Edinburgh, Finn wasn’t old enough to go to the cat café, but this time he was, so we had to go. He was the one who was most in love with the cat café in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Then we heard from a friend that there was a chihuahua café! Of all the things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland with kids, I knew this would top the list for my boys.
Maison de Moggy — Edinburgh Cat Café
You never know if the cats are going to be interested in you when you go to a cat café and on our visit they mostly weren’t. They kind of just hung around being very cat-like. They are quite cute, though.
At the cat café in Edinburgh, you only get one hour and you should book it online ahead of time. Unlike the Cat Caffe in Ljubljana, you pay for your time there and drinks and cake are extra. The staff was really friendly and made sure we knew all the cat’s names and a little about them. They answered all our questions and obviously loved the kitties.
There is also an age limit — kids must be ten-years-old to visit and children between 10 and 14-years-old must have one on one adult supervision. This meant Henry had to join us. The cats are pure bred and pets of the owner — not rescues — but they do have some flyers up about shelter cats looking for home. Maison de Moggy, 17-19 West Port, Edinburgh, EH1 2JA, 0131 629 5530
Edinburgh Chihuahua Café
We really loved the Chihuahua Café, Edinburgh’s first and only dog café. The dogs are more interactive than cats (imagine that!), but they are really cuddly, too. Like the cat café, you book a specific time slot online and pay for that time. Drinks are extra.
This is one of the great family things to do in Edinburgh since younger children are allowed. Kids must be five-years-old or older and children under 12 need to be in one-to-one ratio with an adult. They say to bring proof of age for the kids. I brought our kids’ passports, but since they didn’t ask to see them since my kids are quite obviously over the age of five.
Anders, Finn, and I were the only ones in our session, so we had full dog attention. The dogs played with each other and us, then curled up on our laps and fell asleep while we pet them. The staff and owners were super friendly and told us all about the dogs. They seem to take really good care of them and prioritize the dogs’ well being.
I didn’t really think I would be a chihuahua person, but now I want one! Edinburgh Chihuahua Café, 15B Frederick Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2EY
Natural History and Science Museum in Edinburgh
Our Dynamic Earth is a very cool museum and I’m not just saying that because there is an iceberg in one of the rooms.
They say, “A visit to Dynamic Earth is like nothing else on Earth. It’s a chance to experience the primeval forces of nature as they shaped our planet, to journey through space and time and even go on a 4DVENTURE around the world. You’ll be embarking on the interactive adventure of a lifetime – the lifetime of our planet.”
You basically move from room to room watching films and interacting with the displays. If you like science, and who doesn’t?, you’ll like this museum.
Tip: Have your child join the Dino’s Dynamic Kids Club and they get in free on Saturdays plus other goodies. There are other interesting looking programs and camps if you can time it right.
Our Dynamic Earth, Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh EH8 8AS, 0131 550 7800, buy tickets online for a discount, café, restrooms
Update: While both kids loved this museum when they were 8 and 10 years old, our 12-year-old said this museum was for younger kids. He also said he “already knew everything” in there, which I am not sure is entirely true. I guess my point is, this may be a one-time visit place for older kids who study geologic eras on their own.
Hikes in Edinburgh
One of the best ways to get some perspective on the city is to get up high.
Arthur’s Seat is the top of one of two extinct volcanoes in Edinburgh (the castle is atop the other). Depending where you start, it is about three to four mile round trip.
You can get specific walking directions and a map from Walking Highlands or walk down to the Parliament building and head up the hill. Within the park you can also visit the ruins of St Anthony’s Chapel – a 15th century medieval chapel, Salisbury Crags – a series of 150 foot cliff faces dominating Edinburgh’s skyline, as well as Duddingston Loch – a fresh water loch rich in bird life.
Calton Hill is more of a walk than a hike, but you get atop a hill with a great view. You’ll see the Athenian acropolis poking above the skyline—the National Monument.
It takes about five minutes to get to the top of the hill from a staircase at Regent Road on the south side or the Royal Terrace on the north side. There is a path round the edge of the hill and a jumble of historic buildings and structures on top. Among other things, the Nelson Monument (a tower you can climb), the Dugald Stewart Monument the old Royal High School, the Robert Burns Monument, the Political Martyrs’ Monument and the City Observatory. Get more details from Walking Highlands.
Calton Hill is the scene of the Beltane Fire Festival, which we missed by two days! That would have been fun with or without kids.
Water of Leith Walkway isn’t so much a hike as a stroll, but it’s a nice place to get into some greenery and nature in the city. The walking and cycling path runs alongside the Water of Leith — a small river. You might even call it a “burn” if you want to get Scots about it.
The path begins at Balerno High School and runs 12.25 miles to the docks at Leith. You can access it at many points and just walk sections of it. One of my favorite parts is where it goes through the beautiful Dean Village and then a greenway with St. Bernard’s Well.
You wouldn’t think this would top the Edinburgh attractions for kids list, but sometimes we all just need to relax in nature. Renting a bike and riding the trail would be really fun, too.
Climb a Tower
There are at least two towers you can climb in Edinburgh. We chose the Scott Monument thinking we’d get the best view. And I think we were right. Plus, it’s cool that it’s the largest monument to a writer in the world – Sir Walter Scott. The stairs get narrow at the top and we thought we might lose Henry, but we are all able to squeeze through. Definitely worth the 287-stair climb, and with three viewing platforms on the way up, there are plenty of places to rest.
This is a lot of fun for kids in Edinburgh since it feels like your climbing the tower of a castle. And then you get to see the real castle from the top.
Scott Monument, East Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh EH2 2EJ, 0131 529 4068, £5/person, no concessions (but close to plenty), during adverse weather conditions (high winds especially) check the Twitter feed @EdinCulture before traveling as the monument may be closed at short notice for safety reasons.
The Nelson Monument sits atop Calton Hill (see hiking section). Looking like a tall stone telescope, the Nelson Monument contains a time ball, which is still dropped at 1 o’clock daily. You get a wonderful view of the city and the sea from the top of the building.
Nelson Monument, Calton Hill, Edinburgh EH7 5AA, 0131 556 2716, £5/person, no concessions (but close to plenty), during adverse weather conditions (high winds especially) check the Twitter feed @EdinCulture before travelling as the monument may be closed at short notice for safety reasons.
Explore Edinburgh From a Different Perspective
We didn’t get to Camera Obscura; not because we didn’t want to, but there is only so much time. The line was always down the block, so it’s quite popular. Our friends went and they said it was great. It’s a place of optical illusions, a movie, and a great view over Edinburgh.
Most people list Camera Obscura as one of the top places to go with kids in Edinburgh, but we still didn’t make it on our second visit. Maybe next time.
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2ND, 0131 226 3709, no online ticket sales that I could find
Go Underground in Edinburgh
The Real Mary King’s Close is one of the things for kids in Edinburgh that we got to on our second time around. It’s a great way to explore the underground streets and houses of Edinburgh in a way that’s not scary — like the Edinburgh Dungeons or a ghost tour.
They say, “Discover for yourself Edinburgh’s deepest secret; a warren of hidden streets frozen in time since the 17th Century. Join us on a one hour guided tour of Edinburgh’s hidden history.” And they are in costume. We thought this was a so-so experience. If you don’t know a lot of the history of 1600s Edinburgh this could be a good starting point. And it is neat to see the closes, or narrow streets, which were covered with new buildings.
Jen and I tried to do this on our Edinburgh weekend, but it was booked, so buy tickets ahead of time.
Real Mary King’s Close, 2 Warriston’s Close, High St, Edinburgh EH1 1PG, 0131 225 0672, buy your tickets online at least 24 hours before you want to go, cáfe and restrooms.
Things to Do in Edinburgh (more posts!)
- Things To Do on a Girls Weekend in Edinburgh, Day One: Eat vegan food, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Royal Mile self-guided tour, Witchery by the Castle, Spa Services, Hike Arthur’s Seat, Graveyard Tour
- Things To Do on a Girls Weekend in Edinburgh, Day Two: Best Brunch in Edinburgh, Royal Botanic Garden, Water of Leith Walkway, Dean Village, Panda Speakeasy
- Things To Do With Kids in Edinburgh: Free Walking Tour of Edinburgh, Harry Potter Walking Tour, Edinburgh Castle, hold and owl, J.K. Rowling Café, National Museum of Scotland, parks in Edinburgh, Dynamic Earth, Hikes in Edinburgh, climb the Scott Tower, Camera Obscura, Real Mary King’s Close
Getting Your Kids Ready for Edinburgh
We all like to read books that are about the places we are visiting or are set in those places. In Scotland, there are plenty of books to choose from. Here are a few kids books about Edinburgh that we liked.
Additionally, check out my books set in Scotland page for good reads for parents and grandparents.
Alibù: The subterranean mystery of Edinburgh by Laura Mandolesi is a historical mystery. It might be a little scary for younger kids, but if gives a good perspective of what life was like for the poor forced to live in the Underground City.
The High Road–A Kid’s Guide To Edinburgh In Scotland by Penelope Dyan and John Wiengandis a non-fiction, fun-to-read travel book for kids. It’s a mix of poetry and photography that bring this magical city to life. This book is specifically written for kids and will inspire them to see Edinburgh in a new way.
The Ultimate Scotland Travel Journal for Kids This is a great resource to take with you so your kids can journal their experiences and have a memory book to look back on. The journal is aimed at 6-9-year-olds. It includes: a Scotland map, packing list page, emergency contact information page, itinerary and hotel information, daily journal with guided prompts, pages for doodling or sticking pictures/postcards, and more. Plus, it includes coloring pages of Scotland with facts and Scotland crossword.
Gruesome Guide to Edinburgh is one of my kids favorite books. They love the whole Horrible Histories series. And what’s not to love about the grossest, worst parts of history? Take “a gore-tastic tour of the streets of Edinburgh exposing all of its most scurrilous secrets. With the frightful full-colour map tourists can plot their path to the past. Kidnapped kings, mysterious murders and reckless raids, it’s a trip no Horrible Histories fan will want to miss!”
You might want to check out Horrible Histories: Scotlandwhile you are at it.
Edinburgh Castle for Kids: Fun Facts and Amazing Activities The castle lover in your group will know everything there is to know about Edinburgh Castle before you even get there with this cool book. Each section includes a fun activity — mazes, doodling and colouring, spot the difference, untangle, search and find and join the dots. And the illustrations are accurate and interesting.
Even if you take a tour of Edinburgh Castle with kids, it’s a crazy, crowded place and hard to see all of it in one visit. This book ensures your kiddos (and you) will have a good head start. Maybe your child can even lead the tour.
I read that Edinburgh gets less rainfall than Rome, which means Rome is a lot rainier than I thought. We had plenty of sunny days mixed in with the rain, but I was glad I had an umbrella. Show your Scottish pride with this umbrella covered in the St. Andrews cross flag. Or maybe you’d prefer thetartan version.
First off, the photos are stupendous. The energy in them (as well as in the video) is frankly infectious and the best thing we like about your writing style. Scotland and for that matter UK has been on our list for a while now and your post has underlined the fact that Edinburgh is not to be missed whenever we’re there in the region 🙂 Was holding the owl scary?
The owl was very friendly and seemed to be totally at ease. Hope you get to Edinburgh — it’s a great city!
I had no idea that you can find Dolly the sheep stuffed in a museum! I am actually thinking of visiting Edinburgh for the August bank holiday and I can see a lot of interesting places to see in your post. I would definitely like to get a glimpse of those cafes where J K Rowling wrote parts of Harry Potter from but also to see all the castles and the views on the town from up there.
Hope you have a great time in Edinburgh. There are so many fun and interesting things to do and see!
I loved this combination of video and written narrative.
Especially liked the music and time-lapse bits in the video.
Very well done!!!
Thanks much.
Thanks for reading! And the videos are pretty great, aren’t they? Thanks to Henry.
Glad that I found this post. I love traveling and regularly travel with my two little ones. Scotland is on my list for the near future. Hope to visit J.K.Rowling’s favorite spots too..am a big Potter fan 🙂
Hope you get to do the Potter Trail!
how lovely! I can easily see this working for adults not just kids =) Edinburgh is lovely and the museums are awesomely free which works best for being able to inspire kids for a few hours. I don’t have kids myself but this sounds like a real dream itinerary even for the most fidgety of kids!
Honestly, I had just as much fun as the kids!
Good to see Edinburough cashing in on the whole Harry potter thing. It’s a long time since I’ve been there; I do remember the hike up to Arthur’s seat and the cold drizzle ( it was August).
I think it’s great you give your kids books to read to get them interested beforehand. Just getting them to read a book – any book- seems challenging enough these days.
We were pretty lucky to have mostly nice weather while we were there!
Whoa! You ate at the café where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter books? I am sure many Harry Potter fans would want to eat there for just this reason. The National Museum seems so interesting. Not only for the kids but for adults as well.
We are pretty big Potter Heads, so it was really fun seeing some of the inspiration for the books.
I guess I would spend all my time in the castle, feeling like royalty! Holding an owl … brings out the child in me! You have added so much to my Uk to do list!
The castle is quite big, you could definitely spend some time there.
What an wonderful set of attractions. Also, great photographs capturing the energy level of the children. Not only kids but even adults would love to do them although I won’t be very comfortable holding an owl though.
The owl was super chill! And I agree, a lot of these things are fun for adults, too. I had fun doing them!
We visited in 2014 and we were there for just two days. After reading your post, I think I need to revisit Edinburgh… so many things to do and places to visit. Your kids are quite brave to hold a Owl 🙂
The owl was quite friendly 😉
Great ideas! Will definitely take them into account when I have the chance to travel with my little sisters.
Btw, I love your blog! With my boyfriend, we just started a lifestyle blog (seeusexplore.com) and would love if you could check it out. And would be great to keep in touch, have a great day!
Thanks for stopping by — I will check out your blog.