Fun Things to do in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a great city to visit with the kids and is voted one of the greatest cities to visit in the UK. With its unique combination of rugged landscape and historic architecture, this brilliant city is easy to fall in love with.

Whether you’re visiting Edinburgh for the first time with the kids or looking for new ideas for days out with the family, we’ve put together a list of fun and exciting things to do in Edinburgh with the kids.

World of Illusions 

No trip to Edinburgh is complete without a visit to the World of Illusions. Located just below Edinburgh castle, there are over five floors of magic tricks, illusions and lots of fun and interactive activities. This is a great activity to do with the kids in all weathers. Make your way through the colour-changing mirror maze and get lost in the vortex tunnel. Make your way to the top floor and you will see the camera obscura which is a device that uses lenses and a mirror to reveal a moving image of the city below. 

Edinburgh Castle

The kids will love a visit to Edinburgh Castle to see the crown jewels. Perched on the hilltop overlooking the beautiful city, Edinburgh Castle is a great place to visit with the little ones and learn all about the local history. There are big cannons alongside the walls of the castle and you can hear the famous one-o’clock gun go off every lunchtime. 

Go and visit the stone tower to see the oldest serving crown jewels and learn about the ancient stone of destiny, there are also some impressive historic suits of armour located in the Great Hall. 

Edinburgh Zoo

Plan a fantastic day at Edinburgh Zoo and go and see the pandas. The only 2 giant pandas left in the UK are located at Edinburgh Zoo. Don’t miss the daily penguin parade. Edinburgh Zoo leads the way in protected endangered animals. You can see everything from hippos, rhinos, red pandas and many more endangered animals.

Harry Potter Trail 

Edinburgh City is a must-see for families that are fans of the Harry Potter books. J.K. Rowling has resided in Edinburgh for years and wrote most of her books in the glorious city. Take the kids on a guided tour around the city and listen to one of the many Harry Potter walking tours. 

Picking the right place to stay with the little ones can be challenging. Fortunately, Edinburgh has many wonderful hotels that cater for both kids and adults too. Listed below are some of our top picks that include everything you need including family activities, kids’ menus, fold-out beds, cots and many more. For the adults, many of the hotels have spa facilities for you to have a well-deserved break. 

Crieff Hydro

Located in Perth, this hotel has everything you need for the perfect family break. They offer 2 hours of free childcare, soft play rooms, crazy golf, biking and a games room. The Crieff Hydro is not too far away from the most stunning forest walks in Perthshire, including the Lady Mary’s Walk and the Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre. 

Holiday Inn Express

This 3-star hotel is wonderfully located on the waterfront of Edinburgh and is a short drive from Leith Princess Street. The Holiday Inn is an excellent choice for the little ones because of the location and proximity to the Royal Yacht Britannia and the historic Edinburgh Castle. 

MacDonald Aviemore Resort 

Enjoy a family break in the very heart of Cairngorms National Park. Surrounded by stunning landscapes, and pine forests, mountains and lochs. Here the little ones can enjoy the kid's swimming pool with a flume, Spey Valley Cinema and soft play. If you visit during the winter time you can enjoy Landmark Forest Adventure Park or the Highland Wildlife Park. 

Edinburgh 37

This 4-star hotel is located 2.4km from Arthurs Seat Hike. Divided into 9 beautiful guest rooms, this delightful hotel is a short distance from the city centre and the National Museum of Scotland. 

Edinburgh is dived into over 13 unique neighbourhood areas all with their very own charm. Many of them attract visitors every year to see the historical landmarks, green spaces, shopping and so much more.

Portobello

Take the kids and explore the beautiful and award-winning sand beach. Enjoy ice cream, Beachside cafes and arcades. This is the perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon or even the winter. 

Leith

This historic port is north of the shore of Edinburgh. Dating way back to the 18th century, Leith was the main trading port for Edinburgh. Steeped in history, Leith is a great place to visit with the kids and enjoy a day learning about all of the monarchs and the history of Scotland. After a day of exploring why not visit one of the many trendy cafes or a diverse range of restaurants. 

Royal Mile 

Located in the old town and within the World Heritage Site. Royal Mile is culturally and historically important to Edinburgh and the locals. Jam-packed with so much to do, known as the Scots Mile the Royal Mile connects two royal residences and is also home to the old and new parliaments. Attracting many visitors daily, be sure to take the kids to learn all about this local history.  

New Town

New Town offers those in Edinburgh an exciting mix of dining, shopping and architectural splendour. Visit the famous Princess Street and the local UNESCO heritage site. Nicknamed the Athens of the North, New Town is a fab place for the little ones for a fun day out. 

Aside from being a great place to visit, Edinburgh is very ‘on the scene’ with its diverse food culture. There are some traditional dishes every family needs to try at least once whilst visiting Edinburgh. Listed below are some of the culinary delights you and the kids will enjoy.

Haggis

This is undoubtedly one of the most famous dishes to come out of Edinburgh. The national dishes of Scotland are made up of either chopped beef or lamb mixed with suet, spices, nutmeg, coriander and cinnamon. Finely grounded and wrapped in sheep’s stomach. Not for the faint-hearted but delicious if you dare give it a go. 

Cullen Sink

Nothing better on a cold winter’s day. This delicious soup is made up of leeks, potatoes, onions, smoked haddock and milk. Very hearty and popular with kids of all ages. 

Deep Fried Mars Bar

This sounds weird but well worth a try. Not very healthy but was once considered a delicacy in Scotland. 

Stovies

This dish is based on potatoes and served with onions, vegetables and some kind of slow-cooked meat. Typically eaten in the winter months, this delicious dish is best eaten after a long day exploring Edinburgh.

Neeps and Tatties

If you’ve enjoyed haggis then you will love neeps and tatties, they go together like fish and chips. Simply mashed with turnips or mash and then potatoes and prepared with salt and butter then served together with haggis. Hearty and delicious.