Discover the Ultimate Family-Friendly Guide to Edinburgh

Published on December 2, 2023

Grab a cup of tea and settle in for an 11-minute read

This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).

Edinburgh is a city straight out of a fairy tale, with its spiky turrets, soaring towers, grand squares, and cobbled streets that look like they belong to dragons and princesses – not to mention a certain famous boy wizard. J.K. Rowling called this city home while writing most of the Harry Potter series, and it’s easy to see where she found the inspiration for her magical world. Kids can let their imaginations soar as they wander through the higgledy-piggledy medieval streets of the Old Town, visit Edinburgh Castle, or hike through regal Holyrood Park to the extinct volcano hilltop of Arthur’s Seat. The city’s elegant Georgian streets and friendly locals make it a perfect family city break, rain or shine. Here’s how to make the most of it.

What to do in Edinburgh with kids

Toddlers: Even little legs can manage a stroll along the city’s showstopping Royal Mile, where a jumble of kirks (churches), cathedrals, and medieval closes (alleyways) jostle for attention with seemingly endless shops selling all manner of kid-enticing trinkets and curios – including plenty of fudge.

The Royal Mile runs from the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King’s official residence in Scotland, to Edinburgh Castle. From here, you can loop around to Princes Street Gardens so the kids can blow off steam on the grassy slopes of what was once a loch. At Christmas time, the gardens really come alive, with a family funfair, carol concerts, a Christmas market, and Scotland’s largest Ferris wheel. It’s best after dark, when everything is illuminated with twinkly lights, and there’s mulled wine and hot chocolate on tap to keep families toasty.

On rainy days, wee ones can head indoors to explore the Imagine gallery at the National Museum of Scotland. Aimed at under-fives, it’s a riot of color, complete with a story corner, dressing-up gear, and interactive elements.

Children under 10: Edinburgh was the first city in the world to open a museum dedicated to the history of childhood. The Museum of Childhood first opened to the public in 1955 and moved to its present location on the Royal Mile in 1957. Its collection spans the 18th to the 21st centuries, and there are hundreds of toys on display, from Muffin the Mule to Buzz Lightyear. Kids can dress up, play games, and connect with parents over their own childhood memories.

Near Holyrood, science center Dynamic Earth is the sort of museum the kids will talk about for years to come thanks to its real iceberg,

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