Things to do in Edinburgh with kids

If you’re trying to fill up empty weekends, bank holidays and long summer weeks, taking the kids for days out is a necessity. Whether you have toddlers, juniors or teenagers, activities like reading and video games will only entertain them for so long. Never fear, however, as the city of Edinburgh has plenty on offer to keep kids of all ages engaged, entertained, and eventually too tired to bounce off the walls at home. 

Take them out to a farm

The Almond Valley Heritage Centre is the perfect day out for anyone with animal-loving children. The site is a heritage area around the river Almond, and contains playgrounds, museums, a cafe and the Livingston Mill Farm. Proud of its collection of rare heritage breeds, Livingston Mill provides a chance for you and the kids to get close and personal with Clydesdale horses, donkeys, mice and even reindeer!

Tire them out at a soft play centre

Edinburgh hosts plenty of soft play centres designed to let your little ones run off their energy while you sit back and relax. The Clambers Soft Play Centre is one of many options in the area if you’re looking to sit down with a coffee while your kids climb, slide and play in the ball pit. The Clambers location is separated into baby, toddler and junior areas, letting you bring kids of all ages to have fun in the frame. 

Visit the Museum of Childhood

There’s nothing quite as magical as the Museum of Childhood. Explore the history of toys, games and even school with your kids, and enjoy a few of your own blasts from the past in the process. Teddy bears, shoes and tea sets are among the museum’s vast collection of childhood artefacts sourced from the ages. Spend a day sharing and comparing your childhood with your kids and connect with them about one of their biggest interests: toys!

Spend a day at Edinburgh Zoo

A day at the zoo is essential for any holiday. If you’re visiting Chester or Blackpool, it’s bound to be on the itinerary - so why not in Edinburgh as well? Edinburgh Zoo is home to over 2,500 animals, including monkeys, pelicans, zebras, penguins and even tarantulas! 

Swing through the trees at Go Ape

There’s no better way to entertain a horde of little monkeys than to set them loose in the trees. Take your kids across 8 zip wires in Dalkeith Country Park, a 1,000-acre landscape offering a beautiful view for any treetop antics. The venue also hosts archery and logic games if you have any energy to spare after the Go Ape experience. 

Learn about the world at Dynamic Earth

For any child, a science centre is the perfect place to bring the world to life. Dynamic Earth’s interactive visitor experience is designed to bring a new perspective to science, visualising the solar system in a 360-degree planetarium and educating guests on the Big Bang and the tectonic plates. Turn a fun day out into a learning experience that will give your kids plenty of things to talk about with their friends!

Tire them out at a trampoline park

Any parent will know that kids love to bounce! There’s no stopping them at home, so why not let them get it out of their system at a purpose-built trampoline park? Edinburgh’s Gravity Active trampoline experience offers a full room of trampolines and all the bouncing that your kids need to wear them out before bedtime. The venue is close to the centre of Edinburgh, making it a great way to finish off the day if you’ve been out and about around Old Town.

Roleplay your way through a treasure trail

Whether your kids love mysteries, spies or treasure hunts, a treasure trail is a great way to add some excitement to a Sunday walk. A treasure trail adds a story to a walking route, making you solve puzzles to find the next point on the map and rewarding you with a story conclusion when you reach the end. This is a wonderful way to tickle your kids’ imaginations while keeping them outside and active, and it can be great fun for adults too!

Take them for a ghost walk

If you’re looking for something to really make your teenager’s eyes light up, a ghost walk with City of the Dead Tours could be just the novelty you’ve been waiting for. Nothing will pull their gaze away from their phones quite like an immersive, spooky and thrilling guided tour through the city of the dead. Explore the haunts of a notorious poltergeist as you learn about the darker side of Edinburgh’s history. 

Solve an escape room

Escape rooms are great fun for adults and teenagers alike, combining puzzle solving with teamwork and fun (and sometimes spooky) storytelling. Choose a themed room to lock you and your family inside until you solve the mystery and open the door under the pressure of a timer. Edinburgh is home to plenty of escape room experiences, including Escape Reality, The Department of Magic and Escape. 

Compete for a strike at bowling

While Edinburgh is a beautiful city for outdoor activities, rainy days can creep up on you at any time. If your day out is spoiled by a grim forecast, you can always redirect your attention inside at World of Bowling! An evening at the bowling alley is great fun for everyone involved, especially when you score those unexpected strikes. Compete for the win or sit back and let your teenagers argue their way to first on the scoreboard. 

Explore the waterways in a kayak

Do your teens love the water? If you’re looking to get out and be active with them, you can’t go wrong with kayaking. With Driftwood Adventure, you get to choose which body of water you want to explore around Edinburgh, renting canoes, kayaks and even paddle boats to spend a day discovering the countryside. Battle the Scottish winds while boating around canals and waterways, and try not to get your feet wet in the process!

Delve into the Edinburgh Dungeon

A trip to Edinburgh wouldn’t be complete without delving into the Edinburgh Dungeon. The dungeon provides a fully immersive experience with actors, sets and a drop ride to complete your trip - just make sure your teenagers like haunted houses before you go! 

The best activities for kids in Edinburgh

Hopefully we’ve helped you narrow down your shopping list of things to do with kids in Edinburgh, whether you need to entertain bouncy toddlers, imaginative juniors or rebellious teens. If you’re looking into moving your family closer to Scotland’s hub of history, check out our new homes for sale in Edinburgh today.

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