10 FREE Things to Do in Edinburgh with Kids (2023)

FAQs

Is Edinburgh good with kids? ›

Edinburgh is one of the best cities in Europe to take your kids. Visit a castle, climb an extinct volcano, take a Harry Potter tour, learn about medieval history, and pay a visit to a spooky dungeon.

You can walk around the exterior including the cemetery without paying a fee. You can buy a pass and see both Edinburgh and stirling castle for a reduced fee. Edinburgh castle has the Scottish Crown Jewels on exhibit.

Edinburgh is absolutely filled with free galleries and museums, including that of Modern Art. The Gallery of Modern art is part of the National Galleries, and as a result is completely free to visit (although donations are always welcome).

There are 4 Edinburgh theme parks and funfairs to pick from. Find the perfect places to go with your kids and get out on your next adventure!

It totally depends if the pub has a childrens' licence. You need to ask them. Either email the pub of your choice in advance, ask here about specific pubs, or pop in and ask at the bar. Many pubs in Edinburgh allow children so you'll find somewhere.

Edinburgh is famously one of the UK's most expensive cities, but that doesn't mean it has to cost you a pretty penny – there are myriad affordable things to do on a visit here.

The best time to visit Edinburgh is June through August when the average high temperatures rise to a balmy 65 degrees Fahrenheit. But this is also the city's busiest time for tourism, especially in August when festivals fill up the calendar.

One of the biggest Scotland travel tips is to avoid shopping at tacky souvenir shops that sell imported stuff. You'll find polyester tartan, cheap plastic toys, and a whole plethora of clichés. These shops are plentiful, especially on and around the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

The ascent of Arthur's Seat is very steep and rocky. Alternatively, there's also a lazy man's route is up from Queen's Drive to Dunaspie Loch and then straight up. Heading up to the summit from Dunaspie Loch you'll find the paths cross ancient agricultural terraces carved out by early farmers.

While meal prices in Edinburgh can vary, the average cost of food in Edinburgh is £31 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Edinburgh should cost around £13 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner.

Is park and ride free in Edinburgh? ›

Conveniently located just off the A8 towards Edinburgh Airport, The City of Edinburgh Council's park and ride site at Ingliston offers free parking with over 1,000 spaces including electric vehicle charging points.

No, all included in the main entrance fee. Check on the zoo website to see if you need to book a time slot to see them, we did not need to and stayed in the viewing area for as long as we wanted.

Despite the connection between Edinburgh and the Harry Potter series, none of the filming for the movies took place in Edinburgh. However, you can find Harry Potter filming locations in Scotland, including the Hogwarts Express steam train.

Harry Potter at Alnwick Castle

Although Alnwick is across the border in England, Haggis Adventures offer a day tour to Alnwick Castle from Edinburgh. Here you can visit Hogwarts Castle, or at least the parts of Alnwick Castle which were used for scenes of Hogwarts Castle in the first two Harry Potter films!

Inside Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle has a lot to offer, there are so many rooms to explore and lots of information about so that you can learn all about the history of the Castle. Inside the rooms are stunningly decorated rooms. Your kids will enjoy pretending they are king/queen for the day.

There are several play areas around the zoo, designed to allow children to have fun in a safe environment. Please ensure that your children are supervised at all times.

Helping child development at 3-4 years

Your child might like messy play in sand or mud, pretend play with puppets, or outdoor play with plenty of running, tumbling and rolling. Make time for creative and artistic play: this might be painting, drawing or dress-up games.

However, if you're 16 or 17 and accompanied by an adult, you can drink (but not buy) beer, wine or cider with a meal. If you're 16 or under, you may be able to go to a pub (or premises primarily used to sell alcohol) if you're accompanied by an adult.

Can 14 year olds drink in Scotland? ›

The legal drinking age in Scotland is 18, but did you know children under 18 can have a drink with a meal. Parents can allow their teenage children a beer or a glass of wine with a meal if eating in a restaurant.

Families are welcome to dine in the majority of our pubs; however, permitted hours for customers aged under 18 years may vary from pub to pub. During these permitted hours, 16- and 17-year-olds (with the exception of some pubs in Scotland) are welcome to visit, without adult supervision, for food and soft drinks only.

Winter in Edinburgh

The coldest months of the year are January and February, with average lows of 33.8°F (1°C) and highs that rarely exceed 44.6°F (7°C).

For first time visitors, we recommend spending at least two or three days in Edinburgh, which will give you enough time to explore the city centre and see the main sites.

There is, however, a lot of rain—nearly 5 inches a month during the heaviest rainfall months of November to January. In summer there is plenty of daylight to enjoy the outdoors. On the longest day, in June, the sun rises around 4 a.m. and doesn't set until after 10 p.m., giving over 17 hours of daylight.

Scottish etiquette

When you first meet someone it is considered impolite to ask personal details about their age, their political beliefs and how much money they earn. It's best to avoid these subjects until you are friends.

Situated at the top of the Royal Mile on top of Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle is Scotland's most-visited paid-for attraction and the most iconic building in the city. Perched on top of an extinct volcano, the Castle and its Esplanade offers unparalleled views of Edinburgh.

What is the nicest area in Edinburgh? ›

There were 16 known victims of the serial-killers plus the first person sold "to the doctors", namely a man who had died of natural causes. However, the murder victims were primarily female, while the eight surviving figures are male.

Arthur's Seat…a jagged, grassy prominence rising up from the urban sprawl of Edinburgh, offers one of the best views of the city. It's a short, slightly strenuous hike to the highest point, but absolutely worth it to look out over Edinburgh from this vantage point.

It's free to go up Arthur's Seat. Allow 2 hours to go up and down. If it's a hot day take water with you.

Tipping in Scotland is not a requirement or expected, but just a nice thing to do if you receive good service. Scots are generally a kind, helpful bunch, so you may even find that your tip may not be accepted on some occasions!

Irn Bru – Scottish Soft Drink

It's impossible to walk through a city in Scotland without seeing one of its most famous Scottish drinks – Irn Bru. Irn Bru (pronounced like “iron brew”) is an orange-colored soft drink.

It totally depends if the pub has a childrens' licence. You need to ask them. Either email the pub of your choice in advance, ask here about specific pubs, or pop in and ask at the bar. Many pubs in Edinburgh allow children so you'll find somewhere.

The Dome serves food as well as running a bar. There will be no issue in taking kids in for a family bite to eat, early evening.

What age is Edinburgh Dungeons for? ›

We recommend the experience is suitable for children 8 years and above, but this is at the discretion of the parent or guardian. Children under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult 18 years and above.

A further restriction is that no unaccompanied child under the age of 16 is allowed on any premises licensed for the sale and consumption of alcohol on the premises between the hours of midnight and 5am if it is open for business.

It is unlawful under the Act to allow unaccompanied children aged under 16 years into relevant premises between midnight and 5 a.m. where alcohol is supplied for consumption on the premises. In effect, this applies to many nightclubs as they operate longer hours and have alcohol for sale after midnight.

Let your child play with sand toys or plastic containers, spoons, or a funnel in the tub or in a sandbox. Help your child do simple puzzles with shapes, colors, or animals. Name each piece when your child puts it in place. Encourage your child's curiosity and help her learn and explore new things.

No it is a bar so children shouldn't be here but if you have adult children then absolutely! over a year ago.

Children are welcome to visit The Edinburgh Dungeon, however, the recommended age to visit The Edinburgh Dungeon is 8 years and older.

Children can also generally remain on the premises until 1am when a private function is taking place, and accompanied by an adult. In pubs this varies between 8pm and 10pm for children, and is generally 11pm for young people.

Teaching D&D to children is a great way to foster young imaginations and immerse them in a world of fantasy that will stick with them -- and that's only one of many benefits to playing as a family.

Is there a Dungeons and Dragons for kids? ›

Good D&D Modules for Kids

These are a few good ones to try: DnD Adventure Club– A kid-friendly D&D adventure subscription box!

D&D For 7-8-Year-Olds

Campaigns for 7-8-year-olds should involve as much decision-making as possible, providing several, clear, options for character classes and races, as well as potential storylines and exploration paths. This will allow them to take charge of their own learning and feel proud of the outcome.