As long as you know where to look, Edinburgh is full of great things to do with your children. Be a savvy parent and banish the phrase ‘I’m bored’ from your house, with these top activities for kids in the Capital.
Butterfly and Insect World
www.edinburgh-butterfly-world.co.uk
If your kids are into their creepy crawlies then this is the ideal place to keep them entertained for an afternoon. Be enthralled by the huge, exotic butterflies that float around the tropical glass house and admire the procession of leaf-cutter ants hard at work above your heads. And if you’re feeling brave there’s even the chance to hold a snake or a tarantula (unless you’d rather leave that to the young ones, of course).
Our Dynamic Earth
Our Dynamic Earth takes you on a journey through the planet’s past, present and future using fun techniques that will keep children fascinated. Travel back through time in a time machine, gaze down upon earth from a spaceship or stand on the edge of an erupting volcano, as you find out more about our planet in an exciting, interactive way. It’s also worth checking out their popular kids club, Dino’s Dynamos.
Edinburgh Zoo
One of Edinburgh’s best-loved attractions, the zoo has welcomed a number of new residents in recent months, including an Indian rhino and two Cambodian sunbears. The chimpanzee Budongo Trail is another popular attraction, as is Nils, the penguin who has been Knighted by the Norwegian Army (yes, really). And there are all the usual animals you might expect to see too, plus regular events just for children.
Indoor Rock Climbing
As long as it’s properly supervised, indoor rock climbing can be a great activity for children. Alien Rock and Ratho both have great climbing walls with instructors on hand to help if you’ve never been before. A good option for a kid’s party or special event.
Scottish Seabird Centre
Admire beautiful gannets and cute-and-cuddly puffins at this award-winning wildlife centre in North Berwick. The discovery centre with its live web-cams is a great way to see the seabirds in their natural habitat, and kids will enjoy the Puffin Club (held at weekends and holidays), as well as the new soft-play area.
Ice Skating
www.murrayfieldicerinkltd.co.uk
You can ice skate all year round at this purpose-built stadium at Murrayfield. All the usual kit is for hire, the rink is fully supervised and you can even get lessons if you need them. There is also a disco on Friday nights which may be suitable for teenagers. See their website for session times and prices.
Edinburgh Festivals
There’s always a lot to do with kids in Edinburgh, but when the festivals begin you really are spoilt for choice. The Science Festival always has a range of weird and wonderful interactive events that children will love, and the Book Festival brings a selection of their favourite authors into town (past speakers include Philip Pullman and Louise Rennison). When the Fringe rolls around expect a wealth of comedy, music, dance, drama and interactive events, with something to appeal to kids of every age.
Dalkeith Adventure Park
This huge woodland adventure playground has a flying fox, a wooden treetop walkway and a huge slide. One of the best parks around, it’s situated in the beautiful Dalkeith Country Estate and is the perfect location for a family day out. Children will be entertained by the adventure playground for hours, while adults will love exploring the historic grounds.
