Edinburgh, Scotland is one of our favorite capital cities to visit. It has the perfect blend of history, culture, and family-friendly museums packed into a walkable area. Our first visit was in August of 2018 and we enjoyed the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival. (If you have older children, then I would look into attending during Fringe).

For our second visit, we stayed for 4 nights in June and planned about 48 hours of activities to keep our 6-year-old daughter engaged and happy (we were jetlagged on the first day and took a day trip outside the city on another day- so we really only spent 2 days). The city was a bit chillier and rainy in June, so we planned for more indoor activities. I can honestly say that every activity that was “for kids” also was great for adults.

Here’s our favorite museums, activities, and restaurants in Edinburgh that can keep the whole family happy.

Museums in Edinburgh for kids

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
Cost: Adult: £23.95 Child (5-15 years): £17.95 Under 5: Free
Why your family will love it: Camera Obscura offers 5 quirky floors to explore and play. At the top floor, you can enjoy panoramic views of Edinburgh. As you work your way down, there are hands-on interactive exhibits. Mazes, mirror rooms, illusions, sound, lights- lots to keep your kiddo busy. (If you get motion sickness easily, or are jetlagged, you might want to skip a couple sections here.)
The camera obscura, located at the top of the tower, has been operating since 1853. Make sure to ask about displays of the camera when you buy your tickets at the front desk. The Camera Obscura is powered by nothing but daylight. We were lucky enough to enjoy a sunny day, and could watch people outside through the magic of the camera.
Pair it with: A visit to Edinburgh Castle- it’s just down the street and a good way to have the children run around before a slowed-paced tour of the castle.

2. Dynamic Earth: Science Museum

Cost: Adult: £21.50 (16+) Child £13.50 (ages 4-15)

Why your family will love it: Your children can imagine what it feels like when there is an earthquake and can get up close and personal with an iceberg without hiking in Iceland. The goal of Dynamic Earth is to explain how the earth came to be and how it has evolved over time. As a bonus, Dynamic Earth allows you to book time slots so that you can go without being stuck in a crowd. There is a one-way path that includes elevators, doors, and as rooms open and close, you will be separated from other groups. We visited on a busy weekday when school was still in session, however, we had the entire experience to ourselves. The planetarium is included and the show was incredibly kid-friendly. If your children do not love museums, then they will likely still love this place. There is also food on site if you cannot wait to eat.

Tip: Buy your tickets online before you arrive in order to save a few quid. Tickets are also good for one year, so once you buy them, you automatically have an annual pass (register with your email). If you want to visit Dynamic Earth once at the start of your trip and your kids like it, you could stop by again (or take in two different planetarium shows if you have to fill a rainy day).

Pair it with: A visit to Palace of Holyroodhouse, The Museum or Childhood, or a hike up Arthur’s Seat (for older kids).

3. National Museum of Scotland

Cost: Free!

Why your family will love it: The national museum has something for everyone. Technology, animals, cars, history, and hands-on exploration. You will be able to spend hours there. We stayed for two hours and only saw one quarter of the museum.

Pair it with: A walk down Victoria Street, a visit to the statue of Greyfriars Bobby or Tom Riddle’s grave (for all you Potterheads!)

Free activities in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a very walkable city, and if your kids are still in a carrier or have strong walking legs, there’s a lot you can see on foot. Here are some of the free activities you might enjoy. Our daughter enjoys museums, churches, and graveyards, but if your children do not, you can mostly skip this section! For each stop on this list, you could spend as little as 30 minutes.

Walk the Royal Mile: The Royal Mile has a section that is mostly closed to cars. It runs from Edinburgh Castle at the top to Holyrood Palace at the bottom. The main section has lots of restaurants and you will often find street performers the car-free area. We saw talented bagpipers present every single day (usually across from Starbucks). When we visited, there was also a man who made giant bubbles for the kids to play with. Bring a few pounds with you, and drop it in the cups and cases left out.
Visit St. Gile’s Cathedral: Established in 1120, the cathedral is still a working church and located on the Royal Mile. It’s a beautiful place to stop and admire the stained-glass, architecture, and art. We live in Pennsylvania, and our local church choir was going to be singing at St. Giles.
Museum of Childhood: If you want to show your kids what childhood used to look like, then pop into the Museum of Childhood. If you were born before 1990, then this will be a blast into the past for you, too. Admission is free, but you can donate on your way in or way out with electronic payments.
Writer’s Museum: The Writers’ Museum celebrates the lives of three giants of Scottish Literature – Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. This small museum offers insight into the incredibly legacy of these three authors who have left an indelible mark on the world. (P.S. If you have never heard of Robert Burns, it’s important to know that Scotland reveres this man and he has his own holiday called Burns Night. Do yourself a favor and read some of his poetry!)
Hike Arthur’s Seat: Part of Edinburgh sits atop an ancient extinct volcano, and Arthur’s Seat is the main peak of the group of hills in Edinburgh, Scotland, which form most of Holyrood Park. We did not hike this with our 6-year-old, but if she was still in a carrier, we would have. We hiked it in 2018 during our first visit.

St. Giles Cathedral, Royal Mile, Edinburgh

Where to eat in Edinburgh with kids

Edinburgh is full of chain restaurants and unique experiences, too. Be prepared with reservations if you are traveling during peak tourist season. Here’s our favorite places we ate while we were in Edinburgh. Our daughter found something on each menu to keep herself happy, too.

American Cuisine:

If you too are jet-lagged while wandering up the Royal Mile and from the US with picky eaters, we had a great experiences when popped into the Filling Station on High Street. This was a great place for our first meal and gave us enough energy to wander the Royal Mile.

Makars Mash Bar: Gourmet Mash Bar. I was skeptical of this restaurant, but in the end, we waited in the rain for an hour to get a table. (Don’t be like us- make a reservation.) This small restaurants has the best roasted chicken and mashed potatoes of our lives. Our 6-year-old ate everything we put in front of her. Just go there (and stop by the Writer’s Museum if you have to wait for a table).

Zebra: If you see someone walk by with a delicious coffee and a massive nutella-filled cookie, they probably stopped at Zebra. This is near the Writer’s Museum.

Magical Tea: If you have a Harry Potter fan or a child who likes theatrical meals, then try out the Magical Tea at the Department of Magic. While the servers are not performers, they are in character and bring you treats that are steaming with magic and you can order potion drinks that change colors. We had a full tea here for lunch and could not finish the meal between the three of us. (They were kind enough to box up the leftover scones and sandwiches and we gave them to a woman on the street who needed a meal).