Best things to do in Edinburgh with kids
From Harry Potter tours to exciting day trips, the MadeForMums team have sourced the best things to do with your kids in Edinburgh, Scotland.
There are plenty of things that Edinburgh is known for, from beautiful architecture to spooky ghost stories, rich poetry and a famous book series about a certain magical boy with a lightning scar.
With so many things to see and do, it can be difficult knowing where to start planning your trip, especially when you're bringing along kids of different ages. That's where we come in.
From delicious chocolate tasting experiences to a magical potion making workshop, day trips and museums, we've rounded up the best activities to do with your children when you visit the city of Edinburgh.
Whether this is your first time in the Scottish capital or it's one of many return trips, we've rounded up the best things to do in Edinburgh with kids.
If you're looking for more things to do over the summer holidays, here's how to get Chessington World of Adventures tickets and how to get LEGOLAND Windsor tickets.
The 10 best things to do in Edinburgh with your kids at a glance
- Edinburgh Zoo| £25
- The Chocolatarium Chocolate Tour Experience | £28
- Jacobite Steam Train and Scottish Highlands tour | from £186
- Visit to Camera Obscura and World of Illusions Edinburgh for Two | £49
- Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour | £18
- Loch Ness and The Highlands Day Trip with Lunch & Optional Cruise| £93
- Visit to Edinburgh Dungeons for Two Adults and Two Children | £67
- Potion Experience at the Edinburgh School of Magic | £192
- Catch a show at the Edinburgh Playhouse
- Harry Potter Tour with Entry to Edinburgh Castle | £58
Best things to do with kids in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Zoo
Days out with kids don't get much better than a trip to the zoo, and Edinburgh Zoo is one of the best in the UK. The zoo is located just 10 minutes outside of the city by bus or car, and features over 1,000 rare animals and 2,500 animals overall.
Here you'll find Scotland's only sloths, as well as the only Queensland koalas in the whole of the UK. You're sure to have an un-fur-gettable time!
Buy an entrance ticket for Edinburgh Zoo for £25 at GetYourGuide
The Chocolatarium Chocolate Tour Experience
If there's one thing that's guaranteed to bring a smile to your child's face, it's chocolate. This immersive chocolate making experience is the perfect rainy day activity for families on holiday, as it allows you to create your own unique Scottish chocolatey souvenirs.
Plus you'll have the opportunity to try some weird and wonderful chocolate, including chilli chocolate, gin chocolate and even haggis chocolate.
Buy The Chocolatarium Chocolate Tour Experience ticket from £28 at Viator
Jacobite Steam Train and Scottish Highlands tour
One of the most iconic scenes in the Harry Potter films is watching the Hogwarts Express chug along the scenic railway viaduct – but did you know that both the train and this surreal landscape is all real?
You can experience it for yourself, with this package that includes a coach tour from Edinburgh with a local guide, and a trip on the Jacobite Steam Train over the awe-inspiring Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Buy Jacobite Steam Train and Scottish Highlands tour from £186 at Fever
Visit to Camera Obscura and World of Illusions Edinburgh for Two
At Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, nothing is quite as it seems. This five-floor world of wonder is Edinburgh's oldest visitor attraction and is located right at the top of the historic Royal Mile.
There are over 100 interactive exhibitions, including the Mirror Maze, Vortex Tunnel and Victorian Marvel show. And when you're finished with the museum, head on up to the Rooftop Terrace for gorgeous 360 panoramic views of the city.
Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour
We couldn't mention Edinburgh without talking about Harry Potter. While the series itself is set between Hogwarts and London, Edinburgh was where J.K. Rowling wrote the majority of the books, and found inspiration for everything from atmospheric settings to character names (some taken from headstones in Greyfriars Kirkyard).
On this tour, you'll learn even more about the world of Harry Potter, as well as taking a quiz, finding out your Hogwarts House and visiting Tom Riddle's grave.
Buy Harry Potter Magical Guided Walking Tour for £18 at GetYourGuide
Loch Ness and The Highlands Day Trip with Lunch & Optional Cruise
There's no shortage of exciting day trips to explore from the Scottish capital. This day trip allows you to explore the iconic Loch Ness and the Highlands, where you can take the kids to visit historic sites and enjoy a picnic lunch.
You'll even have the option to do a cruise – but watch out for the Loch Ness monster!
Buy Loch Ness and The Highlands Day Trip with Lunch & Optional Cruise from £93 at Headout
Visit to Edinburgh Dungeons for Two Adults and Two Children
Like every city, Edinburgh has a bit of a darker past, which you can see come to life at the Edinburgh Dungeons. From the Black Death to the Fearsome Torture Chamber, there are plenty of spooky secrets to be uncovered.
Plus, prepare to come face-to-face with some of Edinburgh's most notorious characters, including murderous twosome Burke and Hare, local cannibal Sawney Bean and the legendary witch Agnes Finnie.
Buy Visit to Edinburgh Dungeons for Two Adults and Two Children for £65 at Virgin Experience Days
Potion Experience at the Edinburgh School of Magic
Sneak your way into the very heart of Edinburgh with the Edinburgh School of Magic Potion Experience, located in a secret, candlelit cave that's been hidden right by St Giles Cathedral ever since the Great Edinburgh Fire.
From spell casting, runecraft, and alchemy, to mini-games and escape rooms, this is an unmissable Edinburgh experience for magic fans.
Potion Experience at the Edinburgh School of Magic for £192 at Fever
Catch a show at the Edinburgh Playhouse
For theatre lovers, there's nothing quite like the thrill of experiencing the theatre scene of a different city. While on holiday in Edinburgh, why not treat you and the kids to a production at the Edinburgh Playhouse?
With upcoming shows including Matilda the Musical, Peppa Pig's Big Family Show and Six the Musical, there are plenty of shows suitable for all ages.
Catch a show at the Edinburgh Playhouse
Harry Potter Tour with Entry to Edinburgh Castle
This package combines two of Edinburgh's most iconic attractions: Edinburgh Castle and the city's rich connection to Harry Potter.
First, you'll embark on a Harry Potter-themed tour, where you'll see the inspiration for Diagon Alley, as well as a visit to the Old Town café where J.K. Rowling wrote parts of the books. Then you'll head on to explore Edinburgh Castle, one of the UK's most iconic castles.
Buy Harry Potter Tour with Entry to Edinburgh Castle for £58 at GetYourGuide