Unmissable Things to Do in Scotland with Kids

If you're just starting to plan a trip to Scotland, you may be wondering what the best way to spend your time is. Should you stay in Edinburgh, visit the Highlands, or do a mix of both?

I spent a week in Scotland with my oldest daughter for her birthday trip. We both love the Harry Potter series, so Scotland made sense as a destination since we could see filming locations from the movies as well as places that inspired JK Rowling as she wrote the books.

We spent 4 nights in Edinburgh and took a 3-day tour of the Scottish Highlands as part of a group bus tour. After experiencing just the highlights of the Highlands, I know it's an area I want to return to with the rest of my family so we can explore at our own pace. 

I'll share my favorite spots that I think are worth a visit with kids!

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Things to Do in Edinburgh with Kids

1. Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is one of the most iconic landmarks in Edinburgh. It's hard to miss the imposing fortress perched high above the city on Castle Rock, an extinct volcanic hill. 

The city's main attraction will capture kids' imaginations with dungeons, cannons, and stories of royalty and knights. 

We loved that there were audio tours for both adults and kids, so the whole family could enjoy learning about the sieges, the kings and queens that lived there, and the famous Stone of Destiny.

My daughter and I spent at least 2 hours walking around and listening to our audio guides. We especially enjoyed seeing the Crown Jewels and taking in the spectacular view of the city.

This is a great place to visit even if you have young children. We picked up the "Into the Lion's Den" guide for kids, along with a quiz kids can fill out as they go through the castle to keep them engaged. Plus, kids ages 0-6 get free admission! Find more information about how to have the best experience with kids at Edinburgh Castle here. 

Tip: buy your tickets online in advance. They sell out quickly!

2. Walk the Royal Mile

The Royal Mile gets its name from the 2 palaces that mark both ends of the street. Edinburgh Castle sits at the top of the road while Holyrood Palace sits at the bottom.

This historic street is one of the most popular thoroughfares in Scotland, and you can see many iconic landmarks here. 

There are street performers dressed in traditional Scottish garb playing the bagpipes, as well as tons of souvenir shops, cafes, and hidden alleyways.

In addition to the 2 palaces, you'll also find St. Giles' Cathedral, Canongate Kirk, and the Real Mary King's Close. 

My daughter and I spent lots of time just wandering up and down the Royal Mile, whether we were on our way to a scheduled activity, or just soaking in the atmosphere of the city. 

3. Free Harry Potter Walking Tour

One of the main reasons we visited Edinburgh for my daughter's birthday trip is because we are both huge Harry Potter fans, and JK Rowling wrote the books in Edinburgh!

Because of this, there are quite a few tourist activities that revolve around Harry Potter or just magic in general.

I saw another content creator posting about a free Harry Potter walking tour in Edinburgh, so I decided to book that for my daughter and me. 

The Potter Trail offers both free public tours and paid private tours. The main sights you'll see on the tour include Greyfriars Kirkyard (where JK Rowling found many of the names she used in her books), the cafe where JK Rowling wrote the first Harry Potter book, and the street that inspired Diagon Alley. 

There were a lot of adults on this tour, but it was engaging for both adults and children. Our tour guide asked Harry Potter trivia questions along the tour, and whoever answered correctly stated which Hogwarts House they belonged to. One Hogwarts House won the trivia match by the end of the tour! (I want to say Hufflepuff won on our tour). 

Though the tour is free, be sure to book it in advance because there is a limit to how many people can attend each tour. You also have the opportunity to tip whatever you thought the tour was worth at the end but are under no obligation to do so. Our tour guide did such a great job, and I was prepared ahead of time with cash so I could tip her!

This tour is a great way to see the city while also brushing up on your Harry Potter knowledge!

4. Afternoon Tea at the Department of Magic

Another Harry Potter-themed activity we did in Edinburgh was the Magical Afternoon Tea at the Department of Magic. 

I think this was such a family-friendly activity and one of the best things to do in the city even if some of your kids don't know a single thing about Harry Potter.

We booked the first time slot of the day at 12:30 p.m. and had the entire place to ourselves. 

The tea comes with a tower of sandwiches, scones, snacks, and treats which you can take in a to-go box if you can't finish it all.

You also get to make your own magic potion (your tea). You select which tea you want, then you'll receive an instruction card and the supplies you'll need to make your potion. This interactive experience might involve crushing berries, muddling ingredients, or stirring a certain number of times. Then they bring out a clear kettle of bubbling and smoking water to pour over your tea. 

This is so much fun for older children, but with a little help, I think younger children will really enjoy it, too. 

We also ordered a few more "magic potions" in the form of non-alcoholic mocktails and shooters. We tried the Herbology 101 drink, and the Felix Felices and Butterbeer shooters. 

5. Calton Hill

Calton Hill is one of the best places to go for incredible views of the city. There are several monuments and a city observatory there, so it's a great place to watch the sunset or have a picnic.

Our hotel (Hotel Indigo Edinburgh Princes Street) was located just a few blocks away, so it was an easy walk from there, as Calton Hill is located on the east end of Princes Street. 

In the summertime, the sun doesn't set until after 10 p.m. in Edinburgh, but you can still get beautiful lighting after 8 p.m. if you don't want to keep your kids up that late for sunset. 

6. Palace of Holyroodhouse

Holyrood Palace was not on our original itinerary, but we found ourselves with some extra time on our first full day in Edinburgh so we decided to give it a try.

I was shocked at how much we loved the experience, and my daughter, who was 11 at the time, raved about how great the audio guide was. We loved the self-guided tour at Holyrood House better than the one at Edinburgh Castle.

The reason we were so invested in the tour was the story of Mary Queen of Scots who lived at Holyroodhouse while she was in Edinburgh. One of her closest friends and advisors was murdered in the Palace, and as you go through the tour the narrator drops hints and clues about this "murder mystery." You even get to see the spot where he died.

I loved that my daughter's interest in Mary Queen of Scots grew thanks to visiting this palace. 

While I still think Edinburgh Castle is a must-visit attraction, try to make time for the Palace of Holyroodhouse, too, especially if you have slightly older kids. 

7. Double Decker Bus Tour

One of the things my daughter was most excited about on our trip was riding a double-decker bus, so we decided to buy tickets for Edinburgh Bus Tours at the last minute. 

These are hop-on hop-off bus tours, so it's the perfect thing to do on your first day in Edinburgh to get acquainted with the layout of the city and to hear some background about the sights you'll be seeing.

There are headphones you can grab when you board the bus so you can listen to the audio guide as you go. 

There are both indoor and outdoor seats on the top deck of the bus, which was nice because it started raining halfway through our tour!

8. Greyfriars Bobby

Greyfriars Bobby is said to be a Skye Terrier that belonged to an Edinburgh police officer in the 1800s. When his master died, Bobby spent the remainder of his life guarding his master's grave in Greyfriars Kirkyard. 

Bobby is buried in Grefriars Kirkyard with his own grave marked by a small pink granite headstone, and visitors can also get a picture with the lifesize statue of Bobby located just outside the Kirkyard in the Old Town of Edinburgh. 

Stop at nearby Greyfriars Bobby Bar or Bobby's Sandwich Bar and Coffee House. We grabbed a coffee and hot chocolate at the sandwich shop before our Harry Potter walking tour since that was the meeting spot.

9. Waterstones Bookstore

I'm always on the hunt for a cute cafe with a view, so when I discovered the Waterstones Bookstore Cafe on TikTok, I knew we had to stop there!

One morning we got up early to get some photos on Victoria Street and the Royal Mile without the crowds. Most cafes don't open until 9 a.m., so we were out and about by 8 a.m.

By the time we were finished taking pictures, the cafe at Waterstones was just opening up. We timed it perfectly, because this cafe is located on the 3rd floor of the Waterstones Book Shop on Princes Street, and has floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of Edinburgh Castle, and only a few tables near the windows. Since we were one of the first ones in the cafe as it opened, we were able to get one of the tables and enjoy our coffee, hot chocolate, and cinnamon roll with one of the most incredible views of the Castle in the city.

After we finished our morning coffee, we wandered through the bookshop and browsed the books. I let my daughter pick one book out to buy, and it was the perfect way to spend a morning in Edinburgh.

If you have younger kids, there's a great children's section with a small play area that toddlers and preschoolers would love. 

10. Princes Street Gardens

Princes Street Gardens is an iconic park in Edinburgh, and it's worth taking the time to stroll through the park with kids. If you have younger kids you can visit the castle-themed playground in the West Gardens. 

Enjoy the Ross Fountain for an iconic photo opportunity, and search for the floral clock in spring or summer. 

If you're visiting in the winter, you can enjoy the Christmas Market leading up to the holidays!

We didn't do much beyond stroll through it a few times since it was near our hotel, but it's a lovely green space in the midst of the city where you can enjoy nature. 

11. Scott Monument

Just outside of Princes Street Gardens, you'll see the Scott Monument. This gothic landmark is a monument to the author Sir Walter Scott, and you can find a statue of the writer and his dog at the base of the monument.

You can climb the 287 steps to the top of the monument for a small fee. We decided not to make the ascent, but just enjoyed the view of the monument as we walked past every day. We could even see if from our window at the Hotel Indigo!

12. Victoria Street

Victoria Street was one of my favorite spots in Edinburgh. Having been to Diagon Alley in Universal Orlando, I was so excited to see the street that inspired it!

I was not disappointed. This curved street is so full of character and charm with the colorful storefronts and cobblestone streets. It's a great place to duck in and out of shops whether or not you're a Harry Potter fan. 

I would recommend getting up early to get pictures of Victoria Street without the crowds, because if you visit during the day you'll have so many other tourists in the background of your photos. 

We arrived by 8 a.m. and there wasn't a soul in sight. Edinburgh in general doesn't really wake up until 9 a.m., so you don't have to get up at the crack of dawn to get those photos!

A few shops we enjoyed on Victoria Street were Museum Context (a shop with Harry Potter merchandise) and John Kay's Bookshop. 

13. Museum Context

Speaking of Museum Context, I think this shop is a destination in and of itself. 

There are 2 locations of the store: one on Victoria Street and one on Cockburn Street. They carry a unique collection of officially licensed Harry Potter merchandise to celebrate Edinburgh being the birthplace of Harry Potter.

Edinburgh Activities We Didn't Get a Chance to Visit

Here are a few more Edinburgh stops to add to your itinerary. We didn't end up having time to include these on our trip, but they are attractions or experiences I would add for future trips or if we had an extra day.

14. Edinburgh Zoo

I was on a trip with just my 11-year-old daughter, so we didn't feel we needed to make time for the Edinburgh Zoo, but if I had visited with my younger kids in tow this likely would have been a great stop to add to our itinerary.

We drove past the zoo on the way into the city from the airport, and our driver highly recommended seeing the giant pandas at the zoo! 

In addition, Edinburgh Zoo is located on a hill, offering fantastic views of the city.

It is a bit outside of the city center, so you'll need to figure out transportation. 

15. National Museum of Scotland

The National Museum of Scotland has free admission and specific family-focused interactive galleries, so this would be the perfect place to spend a few hours on a rainy day.

Learn about the natural world, Scottish history, and world cultures with interactive exhibits for big kids, or let babies and toddlers play in a dedicated spot where parents can sit and relax.

16. Camera Obscura

We passed Camera Obscura several times as we walked the Royal Mile, and I'll admit we were definitely curious about it! 

Camera Obscura is an attraction where you can experience optical illusions, light displays, and puzzles, plus there are supposed to be great views of Edinburgh Castle from the rooftop terrace!

17. Arthur's Seat

Arthur's Seat is located at the highest point of an extinct volcano and is a fun hike to do as a family. 

It starts at Holyrood Park, so you could do this before or after visiting the Palace of Holyroodhouse!

Things to Do In The Scottish Highlands with Kids

I saw a TikTok video as I was researching what to do on our trip to Scotland that said the biggest mistake you could make when visiting Scotland is to stay in the cities and miss seeing the highlands.

I took that to heart. Because I was by myself with my child, I knew I didn't want to try renting a car and driving on the opposite side of the road. I was nervous that something could go wrong and we could get stuck in the middle of nowhere in the highlands.

So I decided to book a few guided tours of the highlands. 

The first was to ride the Jacobite Steam Train which was just a day trip from Edinburgh. The second group tour was a 3-day bus tour of the highlands, during which we spent 2 nights in Inverness and saw some of the national parks and the Isle of Skye.

While we didn't get to spend as much time as we would have liked in all of the following locations in the highlands, I still think they are worthwhile to visit! In fact, I would love to go back with the whole family and slowly road trip through the highlands. 

18. Glenfinnan Viaduct

The Glenfinnan Viaduct is the railway bridge the Hogwarts Express passes over made famous by the Harry Potter movies.

It is located near Fort William, and they have a visitor center, restaurant, and several viewpoints for watching the Jacobite Steam Train cross the viaduct. 

There are several ways to get to the Glenfinnan Viaduct from Edinburgh. You can drive, take a train to Glenfinnan, or visit the spot on a guided tour.

We chose to do a guided day trip from Edinburgh and a 3-day tour of the highlands, both of which stopped at the Glenfinnan Viaduct. 

The 3-day tour gave us more time there, and we timed it to see the train cross. 

19. Ride the Jacobite Steam Train

The Jacobite Steam Train, also known as the Hogwarts Express, is a scenic train journey that runs roundtrip from Fort William to Mallaig. As a die-hard Harry Potter fan, this train ride was on my bucket list!

If you drive to Fort William or take the train there from Edinburgh, you can get a round-trip ticket for the Hogwarts Express. It's a 2-hour journey to a small fishing village called Mallaig. You'll get 2 hours to explore Mallaig and grab a bite to eat before the return journey to Fort William.

We didn't want to rent a car, and getting to Fort William via train from Edinburgh would have added an extra day to our journey, so we decided to do a guided day trip in order to ride the Jacobite Steam Train. 

We booked the Hogwarts Express and Scottish Highlands Tour with Highland Explorer Tours. We left Edinburgh early in the morning and made a stop at the Glenfinnan Viaduct. However, Harry Potter fans should note that the stop is only 30 minutes, and is not timed correctly to see the train cross over the viaduct. The views are still beautiful, but if seeing the train cross the bridge is something that's very important to you, this tour might not be for you.

You also stop in a town called Pitlochry for food, coffee, and a bathroom stop on the way to Mallaig.

Once we arrived in Mallaig, we had around an hour to eat lunch and do some shopping before boarding the Hogwarts Express. The ride from Mallaig to Fort William is also around 2 hours, and our driver met up with us in Fort William to take us back to Edinburgh, with a pit stop in Glencoe for photos along the way.

On the Jacobite Steam Train, you can get treats like butterscotch hot chocolate (butterbeer) and chocolate frogs from a trolley that comes around to your seats.

20. Glencoe

The Glencoe Valley is one of the most scenic areas in the Highlands, and definitely worth a stop. 

This was a stop on our 3-day highlands tour, but we didn't stay for long, but we got to walk around the Visitor Centre where you can watch a short film to learn more about Glencoe National Nature Reserve or stop at the Highland Coo Cafe. 

Just outside of the Visitor Centre there are a few short walking paths where you can take in panoramic views of the mountains. 

If you want to stay in Glencoe longer, consider staying in Glencoe Village and discovering some of the many hiking trails in the area. 

21. Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park

Loch Lomond was another stop on our 3-day Highlands tour, but we merely passed through Trossachs National Park. 

Loch Lomond is one of several lakes within Trossachs National Park and is the longest inland stretch of water in Britain. It's quite scenic and a great spot to add to your Highlands road trip itinerary.

There are plenty of scenic drives and lookout points in the Trossachs National Park, as well as wildlife to see. 

22. Inverness + Search for the Loch Ness Monster

We stayed for 2 nights in Inverness on our 3-day Highlands tour, though we didn't have much time to really explore the town. 

We did, however, have the opportunity to take a boat trip on Loch Ness in Fort Augustus at the base of Loch Ness. 

My daughter and I skipped the tour in favor of walking around the town. We got fish & chips from Monster Fish & Chips, then walked over by the lake to see if we could spot Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. 

23. Isle of Skye

You could easily spend several days exploring the Isle of Skye, and this was one spot I really wished we had more time.

We spent one full day on the Isle of Skye on our tour with stops in Portree (the colorful port town), Old Man of Storr (which was obscured by clouds when we stopped), Kiltrock (an epic waterfall on a cliff), and Quirang, which was my favorite stop on the Isle of Skye. The scenery is jaw-dropping, and exactly what you dream of when you picture the Highlands. 

24. Cullodon Battlefield

We had the chance to stop at Culloden Battlefield where we wandered through the museum to learn more about the Jacobite Uprising and the Battle of Culloden.

My daughter (age 11 at the time of our visit), was fascinated by what she learned here. There was a great interactive kids program she filled out as we walked through the museum.

After the museum, we went outside to see the battlefield itself where stones are erected to commemorate each of the clans that participated in the uprising. 

25. The Kelpies

One last fun stop in the Highlands is the Kelpies! The Kelpies are 2 giant horse head monuments between the towns of Falkirk and Grangemouth. Kelpies are shape-shifting sea creatures that appear to humans in the form of horses. It kind of reminds me of the scene in Frozen 2 where Elsa is riding the horse in the water. 

Anyway, there's a small gift shop here with a restroom, as well as some food trucks where you can get coffee, hot chocolate, and sweets. 

If you’re traveling to Scotland with kids, there are so many things to see and do.

It’s impossible to fit everything into 1 week, so pick a few spots and really take your time exploring. Or just book another trip there after you get back!

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Emily Krause is a Wisconsin-based travel content creator who writes about exploring the world with kids.

On A Mom Explores you’ll find the best family travel destinations, Disney World tips, and how to make travel with babies and toddlers a little easier.

Emily believes that exploring starts in our own backyards, and adventure can happen anywhere with the right mindset.