Edinburgh with Kids
Places that work with children
These places are built for children or have a play area, a wildlife draw or a hands-on exhibit. Check each place's own page for age rules, booking and opening hours.
41 places
All year When
The places
Landmark · Old Town Edinburgh Castle The castle on the rock above the city, home of the Honours of Scotland, Mons Meg and the One o'Clock Gun. It sits within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Museum · Old Town The Real Mary King's Close A preserved 17th-century street beneath the Royal Mile, visited on guided tours. Its own page gives the address as 2 Warriston's Close.
Museum · Old Town Camera Obscura and World of Illusions A five-floor attraction on Castlehill with more than 100 illusions and a rooftop terrace over the city. Its page says a valid Kids for a Quid train ticket gets one free child ticket per full-paying adult.
Park · Holyrood Holyrood Park A royal park of crags, lochs and hills beside the palace, run by Historic Environment Scotland. It has a scenic walk and an audio guide on the Geotourist app.
Museum · Holyrood Dynamic Earth A science centre and planetarium that tells the story of the planet from its beginning. Its page gives the address as Edinburgh EH8 8AS and notes a section of Holyrood Road was closed for works.
Museum · Old Town Museum of Childhood The first museum in the world dedicated to the history of childhood, opened in 1957. It is free to visit.
Museum · Old Town Edinburgh Dungeon A live-actor attraction on Edinburgh's dark history. The page showed 11:00 to 16:00 with a last tour at 15:45 on the check date.
Park · New Town Princes Street Gardens The gardens in the valley between the Old Town and Princes Street, managed by the City of Edinburgh Council.
Landmark · New Town Scott Monument The Gothic monument to Sir Walter Scott on Princes Street, which you can climb. It is open 7 days a week 10:00 to 17:00, with guided tours every 30 minutes and adult tickets at £9.
Museum · Old Town National Museum of Scotland Scotland's national museum on Chambers Street. The National Museums Scotland site refused automated reading, so hours are not listed here.
Park · Marchmont and the Meadows The Meadows A large open park south of the Old Town with the biggest play area in the city, tennis courts, a cafe and toilets, according to the Council. Bruntsfield Links adjoins it.
Park · Bruntsfield and Morningside Bruntsfield Links A green space beside the Meadows with a short-hole golf course that is free to play, a play park and seating. The Council notes it is among the earliest known locations for golf.
Park · Canonmills Inverleith Park A large park of grass and tree-lined paths with sports pitches, a play area, tennis court, allotments and a sundial garden.
Park · Leith Leith Links A large open space that began as a golf course, with a community orchard, play area, tennis courts and tree-lined walkways.
Park · Newhaven Victoria Park A Green Flag park in Trinity with two play areas, ball courts and a large circular path.
Park · Gorgie and Tynecastle Saughton Park and Gardens A 34-acre park with a rose garden, walled garden, glasshouses, a cafe, an athletics track and the biggest skateboard park in Scotland.
Park · Bruntsfield and Morningside Hermitage of Braid and Blackford Hill A local nature reserve with Hermitage House and its visitor centre, an ice house, a walled-garden doocot and woodland walks. It has held a Green Flag since 2011.
Park · Cramond Cramond Walled Garden A small park in an old walled garden next to Cramond Kirk Hall, with play equipment for toddlers and teenagers.
Park · Gorgie and Tynecastle Hailes Quarry Park A Green Flag park along the Union Canal with a play area, an outdoor gym and a 340 m pump track.
Park · Gorgie and Tynecastle Harrison Park A 7-hectare community park on the Union Canal with pitches, two play areas and a formal garden.
Park · Leith Lochend Park A Green Flag park around a loch with waterfowl, a play area, community woodland and historical buildings, behind Meadowbank.
Park · Leith Pilrig Park A park with hard paths, two play areas, a football pitch, community woodland and allotments.
Park · Colinton Spylaw Park A park on the banks of the Water of Leith known for its mix of mature trees, with a play area.
Park · Canonmills St Marks Park A small park on a bend of the Water of Leith with city views and a children's play area.
Park · Portobello Joppa Quarry Park A neighbourhood park with a play area, playing fields and seating at Joppa.
Park · Craigmillar Inch Park A large park with tree-lined paths, copses and the Braid Burn along its north edge, with a play area, football, cricket and an outdoor gym.
Market · Stockbridge Stockbridge Market A Sunday market in Jubilee Gardens, listed by the official city guide as open every Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00.
Park · Canonmills Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh One of the world's leading botanic gardens. Its site says the historic Palm Houses have reopened.
Park · Portobello Portobello Beach Edinburgh's seaside, with a promenade that the Council has a project to improve. The official guide calls Portobello the city's year-round seaside resort.
Park · Corstorphine Edinburgh Zoo The zoo run by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. Its registered address is 134 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 6TS.
Park · Gorgie and Tynecastle Gorgie City Farm A community city farm in Gorgie. The farm's site refused automated reading, so no hours are listed.
Park · Midlothian Dalkeith Country Park A country park with Fort Douglas, Go Ape and Restoration Yard. The site showed 07:00 to 19:00 on the check date and the Old Oak Wood walk closed for winter from 2 November 2026.
Day trip · Midlothian Jupiter Artland A contemporary sculpture garden over 120 acres of meadow and woodland. In November and December 2026 it is open Friday to Sunday, 10:00 to 16:00, with last entry at 15:00.
Day trip · East Lothian Scottish Seabird Centre A marine conservation charity's visitor centre in North Berwick with wildlife boat trips and exhibitions. Its site says it is open daily.
Day trip · Stirling and the Trossachs Stirling Castle One of Scotland's best-known castles, run by Historic Environment Scotland. Young Scot and National Entitlement Card holders can visit for £1, and the car park is limited to coaches and accessible parking.
Day trip · Stirling and the Trossachs National Wallace Monument A tower above Stirling commemorating William Wallace and the Scottish wars of independence.
Day trip · West Lothian and Falkirk Linlithgow Palace The ruins of a Renaissance royal residence and the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.
Day trip · West Lothian and Falkirk The Kelpies The world's largest equine sculptures, the centrepiece of The Helix park, a 350-hectare park in Falkirk.
Day trip · Fife Deep Sea World Scotland's national aquarium in North Queensferry, with an underwater tunnel. Its site says it is open daily except Christmas Day and lists Monday to Sunday 10:00 to 16:00.
Day trip · St Andrews St Andrews Botanic Garden An 18-acre garden of woodland walks, meadows and ponds.
Day trip · West Lothian and Falkirk The Falkirk Wheel The rotating boat lift that joins the Forth and Clyde Canal to the Union Canal, run by Scottish Canals.
