We keep it fun for all the family, suggesting magical attractions and activities that everyone can take part in.
From family ski lessons in June(!!) to farm parks, zip lining or treehouse adventures, there's loads to do and see in & around Edinburgh.
Jupiter Artland
Jupiter Artland presents sculpture at it's very best. All visitors are allowed to get up close and explore the artwork. Climb up the swirling land-art by Charles Jenks. Step (quite literally) into an Andy Goldsworthy and explore the garden, woodland, and pond, discovering sculpture as you go. The many, inventive pieces are creatively set within the landscape. Jupiter Artland often run workshops for children. They serve an excellent lunch from their retro silver bullet caravan.
Family farm parks
Craigie's Farm Shop welcomes children and encourages them to visit the farm animals. They also have a tractor-themed play park for young farmers more interested in the machinery! Spend an afternoon picking your own berries in the orchard. Kids can spend a sunny afternoon on the hunt for strawberries, blackcurrants, and redcurrants.
East Links Family Park also gets the kids (big and small) down on the farm with added tractor-bikes, go-karts, and trampoline-jelly-bean!!
Midlothian Ski Centre
Set on a Pentland hillside just a few miles from Eastside is the UK's biggest artificial ski slope. Have a family ski or snowboard lesson with the kids all year round. The slopes are usually very quiet if you avoid the ski school and opt for private lessons.
An alternative is tubing (sledding), also available here, with children from four years old sliding down the hill in donuts! Helmets, boots, skis and poles all available to hire. Their Alpine Rollercoaster has just opened and offers a different type of speedy decent in the Pentlands.
Ski CentreEdinburgh International Climbing wall
Explore and challenge yourself on the hundreds of climbing routes at EICA: Ratho, built in a disused quarry. You don’t need to stick to climbing the walls either there are rocks for bouldering without ropes.
Older children can explore the clip and climb area (pictured) while the younger children are welcome to play, bounce, scramble or climb in the Rock Tots softplay area.
EICA: Ratho
The National Museum of Flight
Wing over to this former airfield and explore aviation from the First World War to the present day. See Concorde and other amazing aircraft in the converted hangars. Fill your day with interactive exhibitions, supersonic experiences, and acres of green grass and fresh air. Check the website for fun kids workshops and their annual airshow!
The National Museum of Flight
Glentress mountain biking
Glentress Forest is a mountain biking haven set deep in the heart of the Tweed valley. They offer bike hire, tuition, green to black graded trails and from here it's only a short hop to Innerleithan's Red Bull downhill trail. It's bound to keep all levels from the keenest mountain biker to the beginner entertained for hours!
GlentressDalkeith Country Park
Shopping, restaurants & wellbeing lab for the big kids while the youngsters have the time of their lives at 'Fort Douglas' the magical treehouse adventure park. The GoApe aerial assault course is strung through the wonderful, mature tree canopies with zip wires and rope bridges.
Check the Dalkeith Park website for regular activities from archery & bushcraft to bike hire & zorbing!
Fort Douglas Treehouse at Dalkeith Country Park
Foxlake
Foxlake makes a brilliant day out for all the family with beginners and taster wake-boarding lessons on the purpose-built lake. For those that don't want to get wet, there are aerial assault courses and woodland Sedgeway trails.
Foxlake
Boat trips
There are a couple of boat trips to enjoy in the Forth estuary. Both offer a slightly different experience:
Forth boat tours leave from South Queensferry and journey under the famous Forth bridges to Inchcolm Island. Here you are welcome to disembark for a picnic on the grassy banks and beaches or explore the ruined island abbey.
For the young ornithologist we would recommend boarding the Sula II at North Berwick (just outside the Scottish Sea bird centre). See and experience the scale and wild nature of the Bass Rock and the amazing Gannets that inhabit it during the summer months. Puffins and dolphins are regulars and you can even bring the dog!
Surfing
Coast to Coast Surf School has a brilliant reputation for high quality surf and adventure sports teaching. They offer lessons and courses in Surfing, Bodyboarding, Stand-Up-Paddling and Coasteering. Perfect for introducing the younger generation to the sea.
The newly opened Lost Shore surf resort is an incredible surf facility built in a disused quarry. The state-of-the-art Wavegarden technology allows them to adjust the size, power, and shape of the waves - perfect for lessons and for finding your feet.
