10 Things to Do in Edinburgh with Kids

Edinburgh has so much to see and do and is suitable for all ages: interactive museums, themed tours of mysteries and famous wizards, trips to Loch Ness or spending the day being a real farmer are some of the plans I have in store for you if you come to Edinburgh with children, are you going to miss them? Let's get started!

One of the sagas that children tend to be most passionate about is Harry Potter. If you're coming to Edinburgh, you should know that it was in Edinburgh that author J.K. Rowling began writing the first novel, and it was in these streets that some of the scenes from the films were filmed.

If your little ones love films and the fantastic Harry Potter universe, I don't think they'll enjoy it more than going on a Harry Potter tour of Edinburgh city centre, which takes in the scenes that were filmed on the screen.

These tours usually cost less than €20 and last for two hours, during which time the children will be enthralled and the adults will learn a little more about the secrets of this fascinating city.

There are some sights that offer different views depending on your age and Edinburgh Castle is certainly one of them. While an adult may see it as a historical place from where the city was founded, from a child's eyes it is like a huge theme park where they can let their imagination run wild.

If you are thinking of organising a trip to Edinburgh with your children, don't hesitate to visit Edinburgh Castle with them as it will be an enriching but also fun experience. Its great medieval walls, defensive cannons and mysterious chambers make it a must-see attraction.

If you go with children, I recommend hiring a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle so that it doesn't take too long. Children up to the age of 7 are free of charge and between the ages of 7 and 15 there is a reduced price.

Edinburgh is a city full of stories and ancient legends that will make your hair stand on end. However, despite all this, the city has managed to make the most of it all and organises numerous ghost tours that take you to hidden corners and passageways with a mysterious theme that will appeal to children.

Please note, this is not an activity for younger children as it may be too much of an experience for them. But for ages 10 and up, I can't think of anything more entertaining than being transported back to medieval times by a guide and booking a ghost tour of Edinburgh and discovering its most terrifying past.

If you've come to Edinburgh on holiday with the family and want to take a day trip out of the city, there's a must-see destination for the little ones to enjoy. Have you heard of the Loch Ness Monster? I can't guarantee you'll see it, but it's located near Edinburgh and there are numerous tours that take you to Loch Ness.

Getting to Loch Ness from the Scottish capital is easy enough, but if you're travelling with children I recommend booking a Loch Ness tour from Edinburgh to take the hassle out of transfers and other logistics for around €70.

Plus, you'll keep the kids entertained for the whole trip, eager to find a glimpse of the famous ancient monster that continues to fuel the legend to this day.

Many children tend to get bored when adults spend their holidays hopping from museum to museum or gallery to gallery. That's why one of the alternatives you can do in Edinburgh if you go with children is to make a stop to visit a very different kind of museum, ideal for the little ones of the house: the Camera Obscura.

This museum, located very close to Edinburgh Castle, in the Royal Mile, is very different from what you imagine, since its main objective is to play with your senses with more than 100 optical illusions that will make you the protagonist during the whole visit. Children will have a great time exploring all the floors and interacting freely.

The price can be a little expensive, at around 20€ per head, but access lasts all day, so you can enter as many times as you like.

It's clear that museums are not the highlight of children's holidays. However, there are a few museums in Edinburgh that are essential for learning more about the history not only of the city, but of Scotland as a whole, and which also have an interactive section for youngsters to enjoy and be entertained. This is the National Museum of Scotland.

This museum's galleries contain all the history and culture of the country, but not only that, it also has several interactive rooms where children can touch and actively participate.

In this way, young and old can enjoy and learn. In addition, the building is spectacular and has a huge stained glass window in the central nave. A perfect and free plan for one of Edinburgh's frequent rainy days.

If you come to Edinburgh in summer or spring and you can enjoy a day of good weather and some sunshine, one of the best plans you can organise with your little ones is to enjoy nature and the weather in one of the busiest parks in New Town: Princes Gardens.

This place is close to Walter Scott's monument and it is common that on warm days it is full of people who go to eat in the meadow. To allow the children to run and play to their heart's content, I suggest you have a mid-morning picnic and bring a tablecloth so you can spend the afternoon in true Scottish style.

You can buy food from a takeaway restaurant or from the many supermarkets in the area. Good food, a cool drink and a bit of nature - what more could you ask for?

If there is a museum designed and built for children in Edinburgh, it is the Museum of Childhood, a place dedicated to everything to do with children. Games, toys, dolls and all kinds of collections that show how the way we play and grow up has changed since childhood.

If you are spending a few days in the capital of Scotland with your children or the children in the family, this is the perfect plan for the whole family. The museum is located in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town and admission is completely free, making it a great place for children to see all kinds of toys while adults reminisce about their childhood games.

Yes, Edinburgh is a medieval city that attracts thousands of tourists every year who want to wander its lanes and visit its finest castles. But beyond that, Edinburgh is also about nature and countryside. I can't think of a better way to encourage these values in children and have a different experience than spending the day at the Gorgie Urban Farm, located just 20 minutes by bus from the city centre.

This place, which is completely free, allows children to become farmers for a day, being in direct contact with animals such as rabbits, chickens, sheep and even alpacas.

Its aim is to teach all visitors, whatever their age, how to respectfully care for animals through close contact and affection. The kids will have an incredible experience and will learn to respect and value nature.

One of the must-do activities if you're on holiday with children is a visit to the city's zoo and you're in luck, because Edinburgh Zoo is the biggest zoo in the country. What's more, it's located just over 3 kilometres from the city and can be easily reached by public transport.

With more than 1,000 species, this place is home to all kinds of animals from all over the world and even protects endangered animals such as the white rhino.

You can pre-book tickets to better organise your visit and, for less than 20€, spend an incredible day where children can see animals of all kinds first hand. Plus, the kids get reduced admission, so there's no excuse!

Travelling with children can be an ordeal when planning a holiday. Fortunately, Edinburgh, like other major capitals, is quite well adapted for you to go as a family and you can all enjoy it.

When it comes to getting organised, there are a number of tips to follow. I'm not going to stop here and tell you the general ones that you can apply to any destination, but I'm going to focus on some Edinburgh-specific tips that you might want to know for your visit to Scotland:

Book in advance

Edinburgh is Scotland's most visited city and has internationally renowned landmarks such as Edinburgh Castle which welcomes thousands of tourists month after month. That's why, if you're travelling with children, to avoid annoying queues and tiring them out, it's best to book your tickets to castles, museums and tours in advance.

Don't stay late in pubs

Scottish pubs are world-famous and if you're travelling with children you can visit them too because, as well as domestic beers and whisky tasting, they also serve hearty and tasty local food.

However, if you want to go to one of them for dinner with children, you'll need to plan ahead as after 8pm young children are not allowed as it is not considered to be a child-friendly environment.

Protect yourself from bad weather

I'm not going to lie to you, Edinburgh, and Scotland in general, is a pretty cold place. If you're already thinking about going to Edinburgh in February or March as an adult, with children it can get even more complicated.

A great way to see the city and keep out the cold is to book a seat on the Edinburgh sightseeing bus- kids and adults alike will enjoy it!

As you can see, there's no excuse not to come and visit Edinburgh with children, a cosmopolitan city steeped in history and a mysterious aura that will delight visitors of all ages.