Now it would be easy to say for families it is a great idea to come in August when the Festival is on as this has enough entertainment and attractions for the whole country, but you may not be able to come then so instead, here are 6 great attractions that you can visit all year round.

Dynamic Earth

It may look a bit like a beetle of some kind or perhaps like a wonky copy of the O2 Arena in London but this exhibition centre nestled between the Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Palace and Arthur’s Seat, is a great place for a family day out. Dynamic Earth’s main feature is an exhibition on planetary evolution but with tons of other shows and events all year round there is always something new to see.

Edinburgh Castle

While very young kids may or may not appreciate the old walls and suits of armour, if you know your kids will get a thrill from visiting one of the most historic sites in the UK then you have to walk up the cobbled streets to the castle gates. Check out the cannons, the crown jewels and the amazing rooms filled with weapons.

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, UK by Kevin Gibbons

Edinburgh Zoo

Only 10 minutes west of the centre of town Edinburgh Zoo is as family friendly as attractions come. You can teach your child about all kinds of species and enjoy seeing lions and giraffes and even giant pandas at the same time. Who doesn’t love the zoo?

Scottish Seabird Centre

It may be 30 minutes east of Edinburgh on the train but North Berwick is a beautiful town and home to one of the best Seabird attractions on the planet. You can expect great staff and fun and interesting stuff to do too.

Deep Sea World

Hop across the Firth of Forth and plunge into the brilliant world of the sea. This award-winning centre is home to hundreds of species of all manner of sea creatures and even has an underwater walkway that your kids will love.

Edinburgh Butterfly World

Yes it really is a world full of butterflies and only 20 minutes south of the city. You and your kids can walk into their habitat and see and feel them flying all around you. Then you can go through and see the centres amazing collection of weird and wonderful insects and bugs. They may be a bit gross for some but are always fascinating for children.

Edinburgh Butterfly World, Scotland, UK by Silversyrpher

Best thing about all these attractions is that they offer family discounts or cheap tickets for kids.

Agatha Jones helps run a wedding reception venue in Edinburgh. She has found that Edinburgh tend to offer better than expected facilities for kids.

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Coastal Edinburgh, Scotland, UK / Stuart Caie

Edinburgh offers great opportunities for romance. Great restaurants, beautiful scenery, rickshaw rides, oodles of fabulous hotels… Here are some ideas to help you plan for your weekend away:

Lodgings

There are some great websites that will help you learn a lot about the available hotels. You’ll find travellers’ sites and review websites where people share their experience at hotels they’ve stayed at. You’ll also find deals online where you can book hotels for significant discounts. This could mean staying at a 4 or 5 star hotel for the price of a 3 star hotel.

Many Edinburgh hotels offer very romantic packages including meals and often including extra sightseeing activities as part of the fee. A bit of shopping around could help you save a lot of money.

Restaurants

Check out some restaurant reviews, too, to see what’s near your hotel and what’s on offer during the time you’re expecting to visit.  Your hotel may offer free meals as part of the package or vouchers for local restaurants, too. You can also find out on online review sites a bit about the average price of a meal for restaurants within walking distance of your hotel. If you want a special treat and are willing to splurge on a romantic meal, there are a few restaurants with Michelin stars, too.

Edinburgh Castle / Saffron Blaze

Finding Things to Do

Beyond spending plenty of alone time together in your cosy love nest, here are some of the common things lovers love to do in Edinburgh. (Many of them are low cost or even free):

• Dean Village – is a pretty and picturesque village. Perfect for a romantic stroll.
• Royal Mile – This road leads toward Edinburgh Castle and is great for shopping, sightseeing, eating, and soaking in the history of this city.
• Royal Botanical Gardens – The gardens offer a lush and aromatic place to stroll and this is a very popular place to visit for tourists.
• Museums and art galleries – The Museum of Scotland is great if you’re interested in finding out more about Scotland’s history. There are probably at least several museums and art galleries within reasonable walking distance of your hotel, too.
• There are often organised walking tours at night, too, that share some of the darker secrets of the city. Those tours will probably make the hairs on the back of your head stand up and make you want to get closer to your significant other!

The above list doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface. There are family activities, couples’ activities, and plenty of sights to see. You’ll find many top fifty and even top one hundred lists online with things to see and do in Edinburgh. If it’s romance and privacy you’re after, you won’t be disappointed, either! Again, a bit of shopping around will help you save money and you’ll also find plenty of info to help you make the most of your weekend getaway.

Mohammed Haroon writes for Today’s Great Deals. He invites you to check out Edinburgh’s Great Deal for a great deal on your next trip to Edinburgh.

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