With its warm and welcoming atmosphere and wealth of attractions, the city of Edinburgh is a great place for families to explore. Here are some of the activities and attractions that families are sure to enjoy.
Educational and Culture
National Museum of Scotland
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People who want the chance to learn more about the unique history and culture of Scotland should allow plenty of time to explore the National Museum of Scotland. There are sixteen different galleries to explore here that feature more than eight thousand different artefacts relating to Scotland and Scottish culture. Some of the many highlights include an exhibition dedicated to Dolly the sheep and a collection of Elton John’s flamboyant costumes. This popular museum can be found on Chambers Street and is free of charge.
www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/
Dynamic Earth
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The modern Dynamic Earth exhibition can be found near Holyrood Palace on Holyrood Road. This is an innovative multi-media presentation that takes visitors on an unforgettable journey through 500 million years of the Earth’s history. This is one experience that truly brings history to life and the kids are sure to enjoy the 360-degree Showdome that shows 3D films as well as the recently added 4Dventure flight simulator. Visitors will be treated to the chance to fly through time and space to discover different parts of the world.
Museum of Childhood
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Parents will have the chance to take a stroll down memory lane at the Museum of Childhood, which can be found at 42 High Street. In addition to displaying a huge collection of toys that date all the way back to the Victorian era, the museum also features exhibits relating to other aspects of childhood. Visitors will find out what it was like to go to school during the Victorian era, take part in a number of authentic games, and even try different types of sweets and snacks.
www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/venue/museum-childhood
Harry Potter Tour
Children who have a love for magic are sure to enjoy the Harry Potter Tour. This special experience takes visitors on a magical two hour tour of Edinburgh, highlighting the many sites that helped J.K Rowling bring the stories to life. In addition to viewing the city in a unique way, visitors are treated to a special audio-visual quiz that will test their knowledge of Harry Potter and his companions. One of the main highlights of the tour is the actual grave of Tom Riddle, which can be found in Greyfriars Kirkyard.
Outdoors
Climb up Arthur’s Seat
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Visitors are sure to enjoy the spectacular views from Arthur’s Seat, which is an extinct volcano and one of Edinburgh’s most popular tourist attractions. The bottom of the walk up to Arthur’s Seat is within easy walking distance of the city centre and people who complete the climb up to this impressive and very large slab of stone will be greeted by the sight of the whole of Edinburgh spread out beneath them. This is the perfect way to get a feel for the natural beauty of the area. And if you don’t want to tackle the full climb there is the option to drive up to the duck pond half way and begin your ascent from there.
Royal Botanic Gardens
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Families that want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city should take the time to unwind in the Royal Botanic Gardens, which can be found in Inverleith – just a short walk from the city centre. This large and lovely green zone covers a little over 70 acres and includes attractions such as the largest palm house in Britain, rock gardens, an impressive collection of colourful orchids, great family friendly cafes and much more.
Edinburgh Zoo
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The kids will be able to interact with a large collection of animals from all over the world at Edinburgh Zoo. More than a thousand different animals can be found here including the only giant pandas and koalas in the whole of the United Kingdom. The whole family is sure to have fun watching the penguin parade as they shuffle their way through the zoo, while the Budongo Trail Chimpanzee attraction is also sure to delight. Edinburgh Zoo also boasts a large collection of colourful tropical birds and the atmospheric creepy crawly room. Visitors can reach Edinburgh Zoo by catching a bus to Corstophine Road on the outskirts of the city and this popular attraction is open throughout the year.
Something a Bit Different
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
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Visitors who make their way to the top of the iconic Outlook Tower will find the magnificent Camera Obscura. This unusual and exciting attraction uses a system of mirrors and lenses to project an image of the city onto a table. Visitors are treated to a running commentary of the things that can be seen in this special projection. One of the great things about this attraction is that it allows visitors to take a detailed tour of the city of Edinburgh without having to move from their seat.
Escape Rooms
Taking part in a locked room mystery is a great way for families to bond. The escape room experience presents players with a series of challenging puzzles to solve and there are special versions that have been created especially for families. Players are given an hour to solve all of the puzzles and get to the heart of the mystery. Escape rooms are uniquely created by the Escape Hunt team and new mysteries are regularly created. Some of the venues where this interesting and exciting experience can be enjoyed include 1 St Colme Street, 26-28 Morrison Street and 54 Dalry Road.
Mary King’s Close Ghost Tour
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Visitors will have the chance to take a walk on the spooky side by joining this atmospheric tour. The Mary King’s Close Ghost Tour takes place at 22:00 every Saturday throughout the month of July gives visitors the chance to explore the streets of 17th century Edinburgh. This part of the city has long been reported to be haunted and for this special experience the lights are turned off to help create the atmosphere. Visitors can be sure that there will be plenty of thrills and spills along the way and guests of all ages will have the chance to find out how brave they are.
