Mom’s Guide to Traveling to Scotland: Edinburgh and Kingdom of Fife

Edinburgh is packed with fun things to do with kids.  And it’s a very walkable city.  The walking isn’t necessarily short distances, but it’s set up with lots of easy walking paths and sidewalks.

The Royal Mile

Running approximately a mile from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of the Holyroodhouse, you will find all the kitschy fun you would expect.  It’s very touristy, but it’s kind of fun for a first-timer. We strolled and took our time and  made a day of it.

We started at Edinburgh Castle.  You don’t need to go in.  Being just outside of it is so fun and going in takes at least 3-4 hours.  There are so many museums within the castle.  With young kids, I would say it’s not worth the cost or your time. But you know your family better than I do. 

Walk the mile and check out the shops, the many street performers, the bakeries, the little museums along the way including the Museum of Childhood and the Writer’s Museum.  Check out the nooks and crannies along the cobblestone street.  Listen to a bagpipe, eat some chocolate.  It’s great. 

Halfway along the route, you will come to St. Giles’ Cathedral.  This doesn’t seem to necessarily be kid-friendly, but if you get the right guide (all of this is free), you can hear some fun stories and go searching for John Knox’s grave.  Also, you can also check out the Thistle Chapel where the Order of the Thistle meets and see where the royalty sits when they convene.  

At the end of the mile is the Palace of the Holyroodhouse where the King stays when he is in Edinburgh.  We enjoyed touring this historic palace because it is still used, but we are invited to learn all about the history as well.

Princes Street Gardens

Not far from the Royal Mile is Princes Street which takes you past Waverly Station to travel by train and past the Scotsman Hotel (a very posh hotel that was once the headquarters for the Scotsman newspaper).  It’s very very cool.  You will see it when you come out of Waverly.  It’s hard to miss.

But if you turn and head the other way, you can walk through the Princes Street Gardens where the Walter Scott Monument and the Royal Scots Monument are.  You can also check out the Floral Clock and the Ross Fountain as well as do some shopping on this bustling street.

Edinburgh is full of so many things to see and do.  I think the best way to do it is to make a day of it by going slow and listening to performers and eating yummy food.