Lothian is a great place to have a day out with the kids. Below we've tried to list as many attractions as we can to make it easy for you to find fun places to visit - we hope you find our website useful - and easy to use. Do you know of any other great
places to go that we may have missed? If so, it would be really nice if you could you get in touch, so that other kids can enjoy the day out as well - thanks a lot - have fun!
Family Days Out in Lothian
Create Craft Cafe
Whitburn
Create Craft Cafe At Create Craft Café you can explore your creative side in our Paint it Yourself Pottery Workshop.
Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Zoo is the largest and most exciting wildlife attraction in Scotland offering the opportunity to see over 1000 wonderful animals!
Edinburgh Butterfly and Insect World
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Butterfly and Insect World Discover an abundance of tropical butterflies, insects, snakes, frogs and more. Handling sessions, snake feeding, special exhibitions and workshops.
Scottish Seabird Centre
North Berwick
Scottish Seabird Centre Multi award-winning, fun family attraction set in a stunning location looking over the sea and sandy beaches. See amazing wildlife - puffins, gannets, seal pups on live cameras - and sometimes even dolphins and whales! Exciting Discovery Centre with Kids' Zone, aquarium, Environment Zone, Wildlife Cinema. Kids' Puffin Club and a fantastic programme of childrens workshops and activities all year.
East Links Family Park
Dunbar
East Links Family Park a train safari where you can feed the farm animals, as well as pony rides and small animal handling.
Big and little kids can play outside on the Go-Karts, toboggan run, milk can skittles and giant maze. as well as soft play and trampolining indoors.
Five Sisters Zoo Park
West Calder
Five Sisters Zoo Park Five Sisters Zoo boasts a wide variety of mammals, birds and reptiles from all over the world as well as an indoor soft play centre, ensuring a fun and educational day out for all ages.
Gorgie City Farm
Edinburgh
Gorgie City Farm Gorgie City Farm, with it's animals and gardens, has always been considered as a place to visit, relax and see what is new, and of course with no admission charge, people can call in for short visits, to have lunch, or just to take some fresh air even on the most dismal winter's day. Kids can also enjoy cuddle corners with rabbits and small animals, pony rides and work alongside a farmer.
Almond Valley Heritage Trust
West Lothian
Almond Valley Heritage Trust All the family will enjoy a wonderful day out at Almond Valley Heritage Centre, situated at the heart of Scotland. Nestled in a pleasant riverside site with woods and green spaces that extend for almost a mile, there's so to do and see.
Our Dynamic Earth
Edinburgh
Our Dynamic Earth is a visitor attraction in the heart of Edinburgh which tells the story of our planet Earth. Taking you on a journey of discovery and exploration of our dynamic planet's past, present and future, it's the Mother Earth of all adventures!
Prestongrange Museum
Prestonpans
Prestongrange Museum A museum site of major importance in the story of Scotland's Industrial Revolution, you can still see the remnants of glass works, potteries, coal mine and brick works, as well as the Hoffman Kiln and the unique Cornish Beam Engine. Games, toys and trails keep children occupied inside and out.
Leith Waterworld
Edinburgh
Leith Waterworld This is the City's largest leisure pool where you and your family can venture onto the Flumes or Float through the River run, dodge the Water Cannons or play in the Waterfalls, feel the surf in the wave machine and, if that's all too much relax in the Lagoons or Spa pool.
Dunbar Leisure Pool
Dunbar
Dunbar Leisure Pool The big, yellow flume with its separate splash pool is the main feature of the pool although it also has waves, sprays and a bubble bed.
Royal Commonwealth Pool
Edinburgh
Royal Commonwealth Pool Swimming Pool - Diving Pool - Childrens Pool - Clambers childs play area (a multi level adventure area for children)
Newbattle Swimming Pool
Midlothian
Newbattle Swimming Pool Newbattle swimming pool offers the community a diverse range of waterbased activities and facilities including a 25m swimming pool, 8m training pool, high and spring diving boards, and sauna.
Montrose Swimming Pool
Angus
Montrose Swimming Pool Standard, teaching and diving pool with 1 and 3m Springboards, 5m Platform.
Wester Hailes Education Centre
Edinburgh
Wester Hailes Education Centre Main and teaching pools, plus diving pool with 1m springboard and 2m platform. There is also a kids' pool with frog shute and giant air flume!
Clown Around Indoor Play Centre
Edinburgh
Clown Around Indoor Play Centre Our new 0-3 year softplay has its very own trampolines to allow the tots to bounce around freely, is brightly coloured with interactive surprises, a slide and much more! This area is strictly for the smaller ones as there is a separate area for older children together with 6 large trampolines.
Playbugs Play Centre
Linlithgow
Playbugs Play Centre For the older children there are 3 floors of crazy fun to be had for those making their way to the 3rd floor there are rope bridges to climb over, a mystery tunnel and wobble board, on the 2nd floor there is access to our very own super fast astro slides, tunnel tube slide, mouse holes and much more
Time Twisters
Edinburgh
Time Twisters TimeTwisters is far more than your average "soft play" centre, it offers a completely unique experience for both children and parents; with its state of the art play facilities, unique Ancient Egyptian themed environment, lots of comfortable seating, superb quality tea and coffee and a healthy café that serves a range of tasty, freshly prepared meals and snacks; parents and kids will be sure to enjoy their stay.
Scrambles
Edinburgh
Scrambles Kids love exploring, crawling and swinging around in EICA's climbing soft play. In fact they love it so much, that by popular demand we have made it even bigger!
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Castle No visit to Edinburgh is complete without a visit to the Castle. You will be overwhelmed by the spectacular views and history of this "Castle of Castles".
The Cadies and Witchery Tours
Edinburgh
The Cadies and Witchery Tours The award-winning Cadies & Witchery Tours invite you to join our fearless phantoms for a suspenseful and mirth-filled tour of Edinburgh's Old Town. Step back a few hundred years as Adam Lyal (deceased) and his spooky chums bring the Capital's grisly past vividly to life.
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Edinburgh
Palace of Holyroodhouse The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence in Scotland of Her Majesty The Queen, stands against the spectacular backdrop of Arthur's Seat. This fine baroque palace is closely associated with Scotland's rich history especially the reign of Mary Queen of Scots.
Edinburgh Dungeons
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Dungeons Deep beneath the pavement at locations across Europe, chilling tales and petrifying aspects of our history are reenacted, providing eerie, spine-chilling fun for anyone who dares enter the world of the Dungeons!
Birkhill Fireclay Mine
Birkhill
Birkhill Fireclay Mine The experienced guides show you the underground workings, the 300 million year old fossils and describe the life of the fireclay miners. Tours last approximately an hour and are co-ordinated with the railway timetable.
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Edinburgh
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions The Camera Obscura show is a fascinating and highly amusing way to see the city and learn about its history. This unique experience has delighted and intrigued people for over 150 years. It is a 'must' on any visit to Edinburgh.
Black Hart Edinburgh Tours
Edinburgh
Black Hart Edinburgh Tours Special tours for kids - Secret City and Secret Scotland Walk plus tours for older kids - Underground City of the Dead - Twisted Tales of St.Andrews - Haunted Graveyard Tour
Go Ape! Hire Wire Forest Adventure
Linlithgow
Go Ape! Hire Wire Forest Adventure Go Ape! Think you, your friends and family can handle 3 hours of tree top adventure? Are you wild enough to climb 30ft up a rope ladder, Tarzan swing into a giant rope net then zip wire through trees, crawl through tunnels and tackle high wire rope bridges?
Tenpin Edinburgh Fountain Park
Edinburgh
Tenpin Edinburgh Fountain Park Kids love a family day out bowling, and if they are too little to hold a bowling ball they can use a ramp.
Alien Rock
Edinburgh
Alien Rock Indoor climbing! Discover the thrill and excitement of climbing walls 10 meters high! Try walls from easy slabs to steep overhangs. Kids clubs at weekends, taster sessions, parties and groups. Parent and child courses. Suitable for 8's and over. Please book in advance for all instruction.
The Royal Yacht Britannia
Edinburgh
The Royal Yacht Britannia Visit the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith and see five decks of this famous ship with your complimentary audio guide.
Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway
Bo'ness
Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway Steam trains and heritage diesels take passengers from Bo'ness by the River Forth to Birkhill in the West Lothian countryside. Guided underground tours of Birkhill Fireclay Mine begin at and at and return to Birkhill Station. Explore the history of Scotland's railways in the Scottish Railway Exhibition at Bo'ness Station.
Polkemmet Country Park
Whitburn
Polkemmet Country Park Polkemmet Country Park is a popular 68 hectare (168 acre) visitor attraction near Whitburn.
Dalkeith Country Estate
Edinburgh
Dalkeith Country Estate From quiet woodland walks to the rough and tumble of the adventure playground; from a riverside picnic to the Stable Yard Tearoom; there is definitely something for everyone at Dalkeith Country Estate.
3D Loch Ness Experience
Edinburgh
3D Loch Ness Experience Discover real truths beneath the world's most famous mystery. Your chance to learn about the environment of the real Loch Ness and to investigate the legend of Nessie at our exhibition in Edinburgh.
Huntfun Edinburgh Treasure Hunt
Edinburgh
Huntfun Edinburgh Treasure Hunt A great fun way to explore in your own town or when visiting somewhere new. Fun for all the family and something a bit different getting everyone out and about in the fresh air for a few hours.
Linlithgow Spy Treasure Trail
Linlithgow
Linlithgow Spy Treasure Trail Looking for a fun and interesting way to explore Linlithgow? Don't just wander around aimlessly, do a Treasure Trail! These fun treasure hunts will teach you fascinating facts about the area and show you some beautiful scenery. Enjoy a fun family walk in the fresh air and solve an intriguing mystery at the same time.
Thanks for all the great places to go when visiting Lothian you keep sending in.
Now the summer holidays are upon us, we're trying to find as many things to do with kids as possible, especially cheap and free family friendly places to visit this year - theme parks, waterparks and swimming pools, museums, indoor soft playcentres, petting farms, wildlife parks and zoos, castles, railways, pottery making and ceramic cafes, roller and ice skating rinks, dry and indoor ski slopes, climbing walls, ten pin bowling alleys, steam railways and other tourist attractions.
Also teachers may find the site useful for ideas for the best places to take their classes on school journeys.
So, if you've been for great days out with the kids, or a school trip, which isn't listed above, just send in an email and we'll add it on so people on holidays and all the other children in Lothian can enjoy the great day out as well.
If you're looking for fun places for kids when visiting america on vacation, go to our new site familydaysoutusa.com
Family fun in Fife | Fun days out in Central | Fun with kids in Borders
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Places to visit in Lothian | Pottery Making and Arts and Crafts in Central
