If you are planning to visit Edinburgh and would like to find some ideas for your trip with kids, we have some best things that you could not miss in Edinburgh. However, before your visit, you should check the weather in Edinburgh first, so it will help your trip be better organized. The weather in Edinburgh is quite high humid and wet all over the year, but, if you really want to find the period time that could suitable with your kids and convenience for some outdoor activities, you really can find it. The best time to visit Edinburgh for the family with kids should be from May to August – when days are long, comfortably warm (10°C to 15°C), and relatively rain-free (it’s the driest month of the year). This is really an advantage for a family trip when these times drop on summer vacation and most of the kids can enjoy the trip with their parents. Now, let’s check out for some best things that you can do with kids in Edinburgh right below!
1. Edinburgh Castle
Your trip will be incomplete when you travel to Edinburgh but haven’t visited Edinburgh Castle! Edinburgh Castle is really famous in Edinburgh which welcomes hundreds of visitors every day to explore their history and architecture of the castle. This is a chance for your kids to see a castle in real with many landmarks and areas included the Mons Meg Cannon, the National War Museum and War Memorial, St. Margaret’s Chapel, the Great Hall, Crown Square, and the Stone of Scone. You should book a tour for more convenience when the way to the castle is not easy to go there by public transportation and your kids can learn more about the history of the country and city from the tour guide. You should avoid bringing bags or backpacks over 30L since this is not allowed to bring inside the castle.
2. Loch Ness
Loch Ness, we know what are you thinking when you hear this name, but just to clarify that the Loch Ness Monster is just a local legend in Scotland. People are not sure that this legend is real but the Loch Ness is real and you can visit this Loch with your kids in a day with many fun things. Loch in Scotland language may have the same meaning as Lake and Loch Ness is a large, deep lake with freshwater extending for approximately 37 km (23 miles). The view around this Loch is really amazing with rolling hills, picturesque towns, untamed wilderness, and most especially the vast vegetation cover the lake bringing fresh air here. You should book a tour here with a guide to help you learn more about the traditions and culture by some legend stories if you would like to explain more about Loch Ness Monster to your kids. Don’t forget to explore Fort Augustus either take a cruise on Loch Ness is one of the most things that you should do when coming here.
3. Loch Lomond National Park
If your family prefers some outdoor activities such as hiking or climbing, you can think about a trip to Loch Lomond National Park. Loch Lomond is the largest loch in Scotland and is protected by National Park. You can enjoy a walk along the “bonnie banks” and take in fantastic views of the mountains. Your family can spend a full day in this Loch Lomond with some add-in activities at the National Park or you can choose to book a tour that combines with other places on the way to utilize your day.
4. Harry Potter Tour
There is a tour that must join in for Harry Potter’s fans called Harry Potter Walking Tour is held in Edinburgh. If your kids are Harry Potter’s fans and you too, this is an amazing chance for your family! The tour duration is 2 hours, and this is a walking tour with a guide who is also a fan of both the books and the films. You and your kids will walk through many places that are an inspiration for the many locales and iconic places of the series, from the street that became the basis for Diagon Alley and the school that breathed life into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. On the other hand, you may meet many people who have the same passion as Harry Potter-like your family and have a chatting with them to be more fun on this tour.
5. Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
If you think that Camera Obscura & World of Illusions is just a museum the same as the 3D museum, you may be wrong and you should come here at least one time to find out the reason. Camera Obscura & World of Illusions using illusions in most of the major such as art, science, and technology to bring a different look for everything that you can see is out of your imagination. They have over 100 exhibitions with many ways of look that can make you have more things to do than see as interactive exhibitions. Definitely, your kids will be excited in this place with six floors of interactive exhibitions with many things to stimulate your curiosity, don’t forget to explore the Camera Obscura – a show that uses lenses and mirrors projecting a live image of the city onto a large horizontal screen. If your family really wants to enjoy this show, you should come early and enjoy it before sunset since the last show start before sunset 30 minutes.
6. The Real Mary King’s Close
Mary King’s Close is a tour that offers visitors to explore the life of Edinburgh in the 17th century during the time of the great plague of 1645. The “close” word in Scotland language is mean as “the alley” this tour will lead everyone goes on many of the small alley the same as basement that was buried under the busy streets of Edinburgh. If your family is fans of history either horror style, you can consider this tour to discover one of the hidden life under the street of Edinburgh. This is a real story and you can learn about the history of Edinburgh then find the reason why this close was sealed during the 17th century. They have audio guides are available in French, Mandarin, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian, Dutch, and German. You can choose these audio guides or book a tour guide onsite if you want to understand more about this hidden alley.
7. Edinburgh Zoo
Most kids love animals and always have many questions about this amazing world. In Edinburgh, Edinburgh Zoo is considered the home of many wild animals in 82 acres of sloping parkland, with over 1,000 rare and beautiful animals including the UK’s only giant pandas & koalas. Pandas and koala is one of the adorable animals in the zoo and they also have many shows either encounters shows for everyone. You don’t need to book in advance to view the panda’s show or pay extra for that, just check the time slot of the show when you entering the zoo to make sure you don’t miss out on these amazing shows. Edinburgh Zoo also has the penguin parade that takes place daily at 2:15 pm, this is one of the most things that you could not miss too! Normally, it takes approximately 3-4 hours in this zoo except your kids are really animal’s passion people, so, you can let them spend a full day here since the zoo also has a Cafe, Restaurant and Food Court inside the zoo.
8. Dynamic Earth
Dynamic Earth is a combination of science, technology, and astronaut that could help your kids to understand this world in various fields. This is a chance for you to understand your kids in what are they interested in or simply to offer them some ideal environment to explore the world. You should not miss the journey through space and time and even go on a 4-D adventure around the world to discover the primeval forces of nature as they shaped our planet. This journey is build up by an epic film in the 360-degree ShowDome cinema which is easier and more fascinating to the kids. During winter operating hours (January – March), Dynamic Earth will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. You should check the opening time for your trip before going there. They have an audio guide for download or you can get it on site when you arrive there.
9. Edinburgh Palace of Holyroodhouse
Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse is a glorious palace that has long been the Queen’s official Scottish residence. If the Royal life is really your family’s interested, you can visit this palace to explore some of Scotland’s most well-known figures in history, such as Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie either to visit the Augustinian abbey built-in 1128, stroll along the breathtaking gardens, and admire the lavishly decorated state apartments. The architecture of the palace’s exterior is one of the highlights things that you should not miss out on some photos for your family.
10. The Royal Yacht Britannia
If you think that exploring the palace is not enough for you to understand about the royal life of The Queen, you can step aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia, the Queen’s former floating royal residence. The Yacht is being berthed in Edinburgh’s historic port of Leith, Britannia is a fascinating 5-star visitor attraction. By joining this tour, your family can go through the fabulous State Apartments and Royal Bedrooms, the relaxing Sun Lounge, life below decks in the Sick Bay and Laundry and the gleaming Engine Room. On the other hand, your family can see the stunning view from the windows of the yacht to the waterfront views. You also can order some tea breaks with cakes, scones, soups, and sandwiches made on board to remind a moment of Royal life in the Yacht.
Searching for the best things to do with your kids in Edinburgh is one of the most important steps that you should do before your trip. you can refer to some ideas above to plan your trip in 3-7 days in Edinburgh and hope this will help you to enjoy the great moment with your family.