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Scottish Sun
14-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
I took my kids to the beautiful UK city with huge Lego ships and illusion museums
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IF you're looking for the best views in Edinburgh, you might climb Arthur's Seat hill or make the ascent up the Royal Mile. But with sons Ralph, eight, and five-year-old Max in tow, my husband and I marched up Corstorphine instead, a lesser-known member of the city's Seven Hills — but significantly more child-friendly. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Alex Lloyd with Ralph and Max at the castle Credit: Alex Lloyd 5 Playing with a wonder ball at Camera Obscura Museum in Edinburgh Credit: Alex Lloyd 5 An optical illusion at the museum Credit: Alamy It's the home of Edinburgh Zoo and reaching the top rewards you with giraffes munching on a leafy lunch — a strong motivating factor to get my children racing up the steep path. While a chilly breeze meant the lions and tigers kept a low profile, the newly arrived capybaras were keen to say hello. We were also charmed by Haggis, a rare pygmy hippo born last October and fast becoming the zoo's star attraction. But my boys' favourite was red panda Bruce, closely followed by the playful penguins. Edinburgh was the first zoo in the world to house these birds in 1914. After all our walking, it was good that our base for the weekend, the Novotel Edinburgh Centre on Lauriston Place, was an easy bus ride away. And it ticked the boxes of each family member — a comfy double bed and spacious sofabed for the kids (me), cool bar with live music (my husband), basement swimming pool with jacuzzi (Ralph) and a waffle machine at the breakfast buffet (Max). The location was ideal, too, with the street quiet but within strolling distance of Grassmarket, Greyfriars Bobby and the National Museum of Scotland. Our taxi driver also told us that George Heriot's School next door had inspired JK Rowling's Hogwarts, to the kids' delight. The hotel was just minutes from our next destination — Camera Obscura, the city's oldest tourist attraction, in a lookout tower on Castle Rock (home to Edinburgh Castle, unsurprisingly). Martin Lewis gives travel advice about checking your passport Earthquake simulation Its five floors of interactive illusions — from the mind-bending Maze of Mirrors to the dizzying Vortex Tunnel — were as irresistible to my 21st-century kids as they would have been to our Victorian ancestors when it opened. From here, we took a leisurely stroll down the Royal Mile. The boys loved the atmosphere and were so full of energy that it took a lot of coaxing to stop them leaping into the Scottish Parliament's ornamental ponds. Full soaking averted, we headed to Dynamic Earth — which takes you back in time to the origins of the universe. Aptly located at the foot of Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano, it's an immersive experience with earthquake simulation, a 4D plane ride around the planet and a mini- iceberg that you can touch. After a good night's sleep back at the hotel — followed by bao buns at its Tap Kitchen — we headed down the Royal Mile once more, this time by double-decker bus to the Port of Leith. 5 A new baby Pygmy Hippo called Haggis Credit: Andrew Barr 5 A bagpiper in Edinburgh Credit: Alamy Here, we boarded the Royal Yacht Britannia, which recently opened a new exhibition that includes an 11ft Lego replica of the vessel. I feared my lads would be as bored as Prince Louis on an official engagement, but this wondrous yacht had them rapt. So their good behaviour was rewarded with tea and cake in the Royal Deck Tearoom. The scones were so big, even Prince Louis would have raised a smile.
The Irish Sun
14-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
I took my kids to the beautiful UK city with huge Lego ships and illusion museums
IF you're looking for the best views in Edinburgh, you might climb Arthur's Seat hill or make the ascent up the Royal Mile. But with sons Ralph, eight, and five-year-old Max in tow, my husband and I marched up Corstorphine instead, a lesser-known member of the city's Seven Hills — but significantly more child-friendly. 5 Alex Lloyd with Ralph and Max at the castle Credit: Alex Lloyd 5 Playing with a wonder ball at Camera Obscura Museum in Edinburgh Credit: Alex Lloyd 5 An optical illusion at the museum Credit: Alamy It's the home of Edinburgh Zoo and reaching the top rewards you with giraffes munching on a leafy lunch — a strong motivating factor to get my children racing up the steep path. While a chilly breeze meant the lions and tigers kept a low profile, the newly arrived capybaras were keen to say hello. We were also charmed by Haggis, a rare pygmy hippo born last October and fast becoming the zoo's star attraction. But my boys' favourite was red panda Bruce, closely followed by the playful penguins. Read More on Travel Edinburgh was the first zoo in the world to house these birds in 1914. After all our walking, it was good that our base for the weekend, the Novotel Edinburgh Centre on Lauriston Place, was an easy bus ride away. And it ticked the boxes of each family member — a comfy double bed and spacious sofabed for the kids (me), cool bar with live music (my husband), basement swimming pool with jacuzzi (Ralph) and a waffle machine at the breakfast buffet (Max). The location was ideal, too, with the street quiet but within strolling distance of Grassmarket, Greyfriars Bobby and the National Museum of Scotland. Most read in City breaks Our taxi driver also told us that George Heriot's School next door had inspired JK Rowling's Hogwarts, to the kids' delight. The hotel was just minutes from our next destination — Camera Obscura, the city's oldest tourist attraction, in a lookout tower on Castle Rock (home to Martin Lewis gives travel advice about checking your passport Earthquake simulation Its five floors of interactive illusions — from the mind-bending Maze of Mirrors to the dizzying Vortex Tunnel — were as irresistible to my 21st-century kids as they would have been to our Victorian ancestors when it opened. From here, we took a leisurely stroll down the Royal Mile. The boys loved the atmosphere and were so full of energy that it took a lot of coaxing to stop them leaping into the Full soaking averted, we headed to Dynamic Earth — which takes you back in time to the origins of the universe. Aptly located at the foot of Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano, it's an immersive experience with earthquake simulation, a 4D plane ride around the planet and a mini- iceberg that you can touch. After a good night's sleep back at the hotel — followed by bao buns at its Tap Kitchen — we headed down the Royal Mile once more, this time by double-decker bus to the Port of Leith. 5 A new baby Pygmy Hippo called Haggis Credit: Andrew Barr 5 A bagpiper in Edinburgh Credit: Alamy Here, we boarded the Royal Yacht Britannia, which recently opened a new exhibition that includes an 11ft Lego replica of the vessel. I feared my lads would be as bored as So their good behaviour was rewarded with tea and cake in the Royal Deck Tearoom. The scones were so big, even Prince Louis would have raised a smile. GO: EDINBURGH GETTING THERE: Edinburgh Waverley Station is served by the LNER, Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, ScotRail and Transpennine networks. STAYING THERE: Novotel Edinburgh Central has queen rooms with sofabed from £140 per night. For details and booking, visit MORE INFO: See
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Daily Record
The Scottish city that was named 'nicest place for summer visit' with family
It offers countless fun attractions for visitors of all ages. With May already halfway over, summer is so close we can practically taste it. That also means that we are about to enter the peak of the holiday season. If you aren't planning to fly off to Europe, there are a lot of options for a fun break closer to home. Summer is a great time to plan an exciting Scottish city break, especially if you are travelling with the whole family. Earlier this year, a list of the top 10 "nicest places in Scotland to visit in summer season with family" was revealed by Executive Cabs Glasgow. Coming in at number one on the list was Edinburgh. The Scottish capital is famous all around the world for its incredible history and culture, as well as its amazing architecture. Tourists love exploring its cobbled streets and many hidden closes. Edinburgh was praised by Executive Cabs Glasgow for its unique blend of heritage and fun. They singled out iconic attractions such as Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. Another must-visit place in Edinburgh according to the experts is Arthur's Seat. The extinct volcano that dominates the city's skyline is the ideal place for a hike with the family on a sunny day. Meanwhile, there is unsurprisingly lots to get up for children in Edinburgh too. Many of the city's top attractions are specifically catered towards offering a fun day out for all ages. One of the best visitor attractions in Edinburgh that kids will love is Camera Obscura and World of Illusions. The attraction is home to more than 100 interactive exhibits, such as the Vortex Tunnel, Mirror Maze, and Ames room. Elsewhere, the National Museum of Scotland is free to enter and offers so much to see and do that it can be overwhelming. With thousands of rare objects, as well as lots of interactive exhibits, the museum will teach visitors about history, the natural world, fashion, and much more. Another must-visit destination in Edinburgh, especially for those with an interest in history, is The Real Mary King's Close. The spooky attraction details more than 400 years of history, with colourful characters bringing the city's grisly past to life. With summer on the way, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival will also once again soon be returning. Held each year over August, the biggest performance arts festival in the world hosts thousands of different shows across comedy, music, dance, and more. Edinburgh is also one of the best cities for food in the UK, with a seemingly endless list of acclaimed eateries. Among the city's Michelin-starred restaurants are LYLA, Timberyard, Heron, and Martin Wishart. Executive Cabs Glasgow commented: "Edinburgh is one of the best summer destinations in Scotland, where tradition sits alongside fun. The famous Edinburgh Castle gives guests fantastic views of the city, while Arthur's Seat is an easy family hike with beautiful views. "Edinburgh is also the home of the world's largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which takes place in the summer and provides children with street theatre, puppetry, and interactive exhibits. "The Royal Mile is a must-see, where performers known as buskers, and historic sites give the area a unique character." For the full list of the "nicest places in Scotland to visit in summer season with family", visit the Executive Cabs Glasgow website.
