If you are looking for fun things to do in Edinburgh with kids, you've come to the right city!
Edinburgh can keep young or old people entertained for days, even weeks. From historical sights to beautiful play parks, you will not be bored. I have lived in Edinburgh all my life and bringing up 2 sons in this gorgeous city has given me a great insight into all the places that I know, first hand, your children will love.
Here is a list of 5 family friendly activities and fun things to do whilst visiting the capital of Scotland. I could have put hundreds of ideas down but felt 5 would be manageable for everyone!
1 Edinburgh Castle This historic fortress that was built in the 12th century can be seen all around most of Edinburgh. Situated on volcanic rock at the top of The Royal Mile. You can learn all about this castle by exploring it either on your own or as part of a guided tour. Be warned, with over 1 million people visiting each year, it can get busy. It opens at 9.30am so I would get there first thing and allow a few hours to see everything.
2 Camera Obscura Just a few steps down from the castle, you will come across this fantastic visitor attraction. It is full of tricks, puzzles and optical illusions to keep you all entertained. It is a very hands-on experience so no chance of anyone getting bored! It is worth noting however, that this activity is housed in a 6 storey old Edinburgh building and does not have a lift. It is therefore unsuitable for pushchairs.
3 Edinburgh Zoo Based in Corstorphine, an Edinburgh suburb. This zoo is a charity that is owned by The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Here you can see over 1000 rare and endangered animals set in 82 acres of sloping parkland (That means it is hilly so wear comfy shoes!) The zoo is doing a great job of making sure that it is accessible for everyone so it is wheelchair and buggy friendly. From Pandas to Tigers to Penguins and Koalas, you will be able to see them all here in a wonderful, well cared for environment. They do a penguin parade every day. It is really popular so make sure that you get a good position so you can see everything!
4 The National Museum of Scotland Unfortunately the chance of you getting numerous glorious warm, sunny days whilst visiting Edinburgh is pretty slim so this is a great place to go when it is cold or wet. This museum is huge! It is full of numerous galleries all show casing different things from The Natural World to Scotlands' History. There are lots of interactive activities to engage even the youngest of visitors. This museum is also free!
5 Edinburgh International Climbing Arena Situated on the outskirts of Edinburgh, The EICA is Europe's largest indoor climbing arena. "Clip 'n Climb" was introduced in 2016. It consists of 15 climbing elements that are suitable for adults and kids. They use a "self clip" system which allows people to climb independently after an initial safety briefing. It is really popular so make sure you book a slot in advance to avoid disappointment.
Make sure when you leave Edinburgh you remember to take a little souvenir with you. My Highland Cow hanging decoration was designed here in the city and can be personalised the way you want for a lasting keepsake of your time here.