Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Some more ideas for outdoor activities include exploring the Royal Botanic Garden (
Click here
), going to see
the animals at Edinburgh Zoo (
Click here
)
, visiting the statue of Greyfriars Bobby (
Click here
)
and feeding the
swans and playing on the beach at Cramond (
Click here
)
. During the Edinburgh and Fringe Festivals there is also
plenty of
street theatre
for kids, especially on the High St and at the foot of The Mound, and in December there's
an open-air ice rink and fairground rides in Princes Street Gardens.
If it's raining, you can visit the Discovery Centre, a hands-on activity zone on level 3 of the National Museum
of Scotland (
Click here
), play on the flumes at the Royal Commonwealth Pool (
Click here
)
, try out the earth-
quake simulator at Our Dynamic Earth (
Click here
)
, or take a tour of the haunted Real Mary King's Close (
Click
You should be aware that the majority of Scottish pubs, even those that serve bar meals, are forbidden by law to
admit children under the age of 14. Even in the family-friendly pubs (ie those in possession of a Children's Certi-
ficate), under-14s are only admitted between the hours of 11am and 8pm for a meal, and only when accompanied
by an adult. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds can buy and drink beer and wine with a meal in a restaurant.
Childminding Services
For information on government-approved childminding services, contact
Edinburgh Childcare Information
Service
(
0800 032 0323)
The following are reliable Edinburgh agencies that charge from £8 an hour for
babysitting:
Super Mums
(
0131-225 1744;
www.supermums.co.uk
; 6 Glencairn Cres)
Panda's Nanny Agency
(
0131-663 3967;
www.pandasnannyagency.co.uk
; 22 Durham Pl)
Craigmillar Castle
(HS; Craigmillar Castle Rd; adult/child £5/3; 9.30am-5.30pm Apr-Sep, to 4.30pm Oct,
to 4.30pm Sat-Wed Nov-Mar)
If you want to explore a Scottish fortress away from the
crowds that throng Edinburgh Castle, try Craigmillar. Dating from the 15th century, the
tower house rises above two sets of machicolated curtain walls. Mary, Queen of Scots
took refuge here after the murder of Rizzio; it was here too that plans to murder her hus-
band Darnley were laid. Look for the prison cell complete with built-in sanitation,
something some 'modern' British prisons only finally managed in 1996.
The castle is 2.5 miles southeast of the city centre. Take bus 33 (eastbound) from Prin-
ces St to Old Dalkeith Rd and walk 500m up Craigmillar Castle Rd.
CASTLE
EXPLORING YOUR SCOTTISH ANCESTRY
Genealogy is a hugely popular pastime, and many visitors to Scotland take the opportunity to do some detective
work on their Scottish ancestry.
