What to do in Edinburgh with kids
Edinburgh offers a wealth of family-friendly attractions that blend history, nature, and interactive fun for kids of all ages. From ancient castles to playful museums, the city captivates young visitors with hands-on experiences and outdoor adventures.
Iconic Historical Sites
Edinburgh Castle stands as a top draw, where kids can explore crown jewels, watch cannon firings, and wander medieval halls that spark imaginations of knights and queens. The Royal Mile below buzzes with street performers, bagpipers, and quirky shops selling shortbread and tartan toys, making a stroll feel like a treasure hunt. Nearby, the Scott Monument challenges brave climbers with 287 spiral steps to panoramic views, turning exercise into an epic quest.
Guided Edinburgh Castle Tour
Interactive Museums and Illusions
Camera Obscura delights with five floors of mind-bending illusions, mirrors, holograms, and a rooftop terrace offering 360-degree city vistas—perfect for giggles and wonder. The National Museum of Scotland features dinosaur bones, a human hamster wheel, and interactive science exhibits where children race cheetahs or design fashions. Dynamic Earth immerses families in planetary adventures, from Big Bang simulations to ocean dives in a yellow submarine, blending education with excitement.
Outdoor Adventures and Parks
Arthur’s Seat invites hikes up an extinct volcano for stunning skyline rewards, suitable for kids aged 5+ on clear days. Princes Street Gardens provide playgrounds, fountains, and a seasonal Ferris wheel, especially magical during winter with ice rinks and markets. The Royal Botanic Garden boasts playgrounds, exotic glasshouses, and trails teeming with cherry blossoms in spring, ideal for picnics and nature spotting.
The Meadows Playground has lots of play equipment for all ages and you can bring along a picnic on a nice day.
Animal Encounters and Farms
Edinburgh Zoo houses penguins, koalas, and pandas, with daily keeper talks and play areas for animal-loving tykes. Love Gorgie Farm lets children pet goats, rabbits, and pigs while trying tractor rides and pony grooming. For urban wildlife, the Water of Leith Walkway offers gentle riverside paths past herons and ducks.
Zoo Tickets
Unique Experiences
Real Mary King’s Close uncovers hidden underground streets with family-friendly tales of old Edinburgh life, minus the scares. Harry Potter fans adore tours tracing J.K. Rowling’s inspirations, like Greyfriars Kirkyard graves and elephant café spots. Rainy days suit the Edinburgh Dungeon for theatrical history or the Chocolatarium for chocolate-making and haggis truffles.
See Paddington Bear at St Andrews Square
These spots ensure memorable days, often free or low-cost, with many offering kid concessions. Combine with hop-on-hop-off buses for easy navigation.
Tours:
Edinburgh: Evening Underground Ghost Tour
From Edinburgh: Glenfinnan, Glencoe, and Highlands Day Trip
From Edinburgh: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glencoe & Highlands Tour (for Harry Potter fans)
Edinburgh: The Johnnie Walker Signature Experience (for over 8years)
From Edinburgh: Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle & Kelpies Tour (Join a 1-day tour from Edinburgh to the impressive Kelpies, scenic Loch Lomond, the stunning Trossachs, and the lands of William Wallace and Rob Roy. Includes a visit to Stirling Castle).
Food: