The Kids' Guide to Edinburgh

This article is taken from the 2025 edition of The Skinny Guide to Edinburgh – a 116-page selection of some of our favourite things to do and places to go across the city. Pick up a copy at venues across Edinburgh this summer, or read it online via Issuu.

An interview with Elena, aged 5

What do you like to do in Edinburgh?

“I like Gravity. It's where there's tons of trampolines, maybe 100 of them, but there's some like that [indicates diagonal angle with her arm], then you bounce like that [indicates bouncing legs at an angle] then you slam back on the trampoline, like that. And there's also one, where you go up, then stand on a high thing above the ground, then you jump on a trampoline, then land on a soft bit.”

Anything else in Edinburgh you like to see, visit, do, go to?

“I don't think so, actually I like going to soft play and the climbing walls, the climbing centre.”

At Ratho?

“[nods] And there's a soft play and climbing centre together, and that's where I went with Pappy and Granmarie.”

What do you like to do with mummy and daddy when we go out by ourselves, without the other children?

“Play, play eye spy, go to the theatre.”

What's your favourite theatre?

“Umm, the one we went with school and the one where we watched Snow White.”

You mean the cinema?

“Yeah.”

So you're talking about the cinema, not the theatre? The Dominion Cinema.

“[nods] And I think that's it.”

What about the theatre?

“I don't know… watching movies and eating popcorn.”

Mmm, but the theatre isn't a movie. The theatre is like, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

“Oh, so I like The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe where, cause there's a magic drawer, where there's people going inside it and then they disappear at a different, like, life, where there's a person that's bad.”

OK, but I don't think it's a drawer, I think it's a wardrobe.

“A wardrobe.”

That's why it's called The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

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Trees, Mountains, Tigers: More kids' highlights

Xavi, aged 6

“I like going to the Botanic Gardens. You get to run around. They grow lots of different trees and flowers there. I feel peaceful there. I like being in the outdoors.”

Ronan, aged 4

"Going on a walk, all the way here... climb the mountain Arthur Seat... we can take a photo of the city. You can bring ice cream up the hill – Arthur Seat – my feet were sore.

"The museum – maybe we could go there again now!? To see dinosaur skeletons!"

Oran, aged 6

“I like to go to the zoo to look at all the animals. My favourites are the lizards and snakes. All the things in the reptile house. And spiders.”
Are there any shows in August you would recommend? “Those silly ones. You know those silly ones?” The Listies? “Yeah those ones!”

Edie, aged 6

“Libraries, bookshops, Primal Gym. Easy.”

Lucy, aged 7

“My favourite thing to do is to go to the cinema and eat popcorn. My favourite movie is How to Train Your Dragon, it's the best movie ever.”

Angus, aged 6

“I love going to Foxlake and doing all the activities there, I especially like the wakeboarding.”

Roo, aged 7

“Go Ape because I really like ziplines. The other thing I like to do is Aquadash because it's an obstacle course in water and I love being in water and I love obstacles.”

Morgan, aged 6

“I like going to the zoo, and my favourite animals are the tigers.”