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Huddlepin

BY PARENTS, FOR EDINBURGH PARENTS

Family days out in Edinburgh

Never hear “I’m bored” on a Saturday again.

Every great family day out in Edinburgh: farms, museums, parks and hidden gems, with the details parents actually need before setting off.

271 places listed57 free days outThu 6pm the Weekender lands

PLAN A DAY

What's on, when you need it

This weekend in full →
14 on right nowWED 7 OCT
Today

Everything open and on in Edinburgh today, with times and prices.

TOP PICKPick & Play - Pumpkins! · free
See today
15 things onFRI 9 - SUN 11
This weekend
  • Fri13 things · Pick & Play - Pumpkins!
  • Sat13 things · Frankenstein
  • Sun12 things · Night Walk for Edinburgh
See the weekend
TomorrowThu 8 · 17 things onRainy days135 under a roofFree57 cost nothing
SEASONALENDS 31 OCTHalloween: pumpkin patches, spooky trails & torchlight. 9 already live.
Plan Halloween

PICK A LANE

Jump straight to your kind of day

All categories →
Zoos & Wildlife Parks in EdinburghZoos & Wildlife Parks5Farms & Petting Farms in EdinburghFarms & Petting Farms6Adventure Parks & High Ropes in EdinburghAdventure Parks & High Ropes17Museums in EdinburghMuseums14Science & Discovery Centres in EdinburghScience & Discovery Centres3Aquariums & Sea Life in EdinburghAquariums & Sea Life1Castles, Historic Houses & Heritage in EdinburghCastles, Historic Houses & Heritage20Model Villages & Miniature Railways in EdinburghModel Villages & Miniature Railways2Steam Railways & Boat Trips in EdinburghSteam Railways & Boat Trips14Caves, Mines & Underground in EdinburghCaves, Mines & Underground10Tours, Trails & Treasure Hunts in EdinburghTours, Trails & Treasure Hunts13Observatories & Planetariums in EdinburghObservatories & Planetariums2Soft Play in EdinburghSoft Play8Trampoline Parks in EdinburghTrampoline Parks1Climbing & Bouldering Centres in EdinburghClimbing & Bouldering Centres1Laser Tag & Nerf Arenas in EdinburghLaser Tag & Nerf Arenas4Bowling in EdinburghBowling4Escape Rooms in EdinburghEscape Rooms6Crazy Golf & Adventure Golf in EdinburghCrazy Golf & Adventure Golf2Roller & Skate Rinks in EdinburghRoller & Skate Rinks5Arcades, VR & Gaming in EdinburghArcades, VR & Gaming6Board Game & Play Cafés in EdinburghBoard Game & Play Cafés12Pottery Painting & Craft Studios in EdinburghPottery Painting & Craft Studios8Sensory Rooms & Play Sessions in EdinburghSensory Rooms & Play Sessions8Parks & Playgrounds in EdinburghParks & Playgrounds1Country Parks & Nature Reserves in EdinburghCountry Parks & Nature Reserves3Woodland & Forest in EdinburghWoodland & Forest3Gardens & Arboretums in EdinburghGardens & Arboretums3Beaches & Coast in EdinburghBeaches & Coast2Walking & Cycling Trails in EdinburghWalking & Cycling Trails2Splash Parks & Paddling Pools in EdinburghSplash Parks & Paddling Pools3Pick-Your-Own & Pumpkin Patches in EdinburghPick-Your-Own & Pumpkin Patches4Skate Parks & BMX Tracks in EdinburghSkate Parks & BMX Tracks1Viewpoints & Picnic Spots in EdinburghViewpoints & Picnic Spots3
Yoga, Pilates & Barre1Baby & Toddler Groups in EdinburghBaby & Toddler Groups2Dance in EdinburghDance3
Drama & Performing Arts1Music Lessons & Choirs in EdinburghMusic Lessons & Choirs3Art & Craft Classes in EdinburghArt & Craft Classes2Cooking & Baking Classes in EdinburghCooking & Baking Classes2Coding, STEM & Robotics in EdinburghCoding, STEM & Robotics1Languages in EdinburghLanguages1Scouts, Guides, Cadets & Youth Clubs in EdinburghScouts, Guides, Cadets & Youth Clubs2Holiday Clubs & Camps in EdinburghHoliday Clubs & Camps3Parenting, Antenatal & Postnatal in EdinburghParenting, Antenatal & Postnatal2Adult Workshops & Evening Classes in EdinburghAdult Workshops & Evening Classes5Wellbeing & Mindfulness in EdinburghWellbeing & Mindfulness4Theatres & Shows in EdinburghTheatres & Shows26Pantomime & Family Theatre in EdinburghPantomime & Family Theatre6Cinemas in EdinburghCinemas2Live Music & Gigs in EdinburghLive Music & Gigs19Comedy in EdinburghComedy23Galleries & Exhibitions in EdinburghGalleries & Exhibitions20Libraries in EdinburghLibraries7Circus & Street Performance in EdinburghCircus & Street Performance8Talks, Lectures & Author Events in EdinburghTalks, Lectures & Author Events7Immersive & Touring Exhibitions in EdinburghImmersive & Touring Exhibitions4Indian & South Asian in EdinburghIndian & South Asian2
Christmas3
Halloween & Pumpkin Events3
Festivals & Fairs1
Markets & Car Boots2Party Venues in EdinburghParty Venues2

CURATED FOR YOU

Or start with a Huddlepin list

Hand-picked and honestly described.

KIND TO THE WALLET

57

Brilliant days out that cost nothing

Proper days out with free entry, bring a picnic and you're done.

See the list →

FEED & STROKE

10

Farms, lambs and llamas

Everything you can feed, stroke or watch being ridiculous.

See the list →

INDOOR LIFESAVERS

135

Rainy day rescue

For when the forecast betrays you, all under a roof.

See the list →

STEP BACK IN TIME

75

Museums & heritage

Castles, caves and machines kids are allowed to gawp at.

See the list →

THE EVENT CALENDAR

What's on this weekend

October
Craigies Little FarmersFri 9 OctPick & Play - Pumpkins!Craigies Little FarmersDetails →
Craigies Little FarmersFri-SunCraigies Pumpkin FestivalCraigies Little Farmers · 3 daysDetails →
Fruitmarket GalleryFri-SunNight Walk for EdinburghFruitmarket Gallery · 3 daysDetails →
The Edinburgh DungeonFri-SunFrankensteinThe Edinburgh Dungeon · 3 daysDetails →
Edinburgh ZooFri-SunDaily talksEdinburgh Zoo · 3 daysDetails →
Kings Theatre KirkcaldyFri 9 OctIndia Ford Academy - A Night at the MusicalsKings Theatre KirkcaldyDetails →
Aberdour Castle and GardensFri-SunDrawn from the ArchivesAberdour Castle and Gardens · 3 daysDetails →
Kitty O'Shea's EdinburghFri-SunLive MusicKitty O'Shea's Edinburgh · 3 daysDetails →

Plus 7 more events this weekend across Edinburgh.

MORE THAN A LIST

One place, a hundred ways to explore

Browse the map, follow the crowd, or save a shortlist for the school holidays: whatever works for your family.

Explore the map

Parents' favourites

  1. 01Secret Solstice GamesSecret Solstice Games
  2. 02Museum display of vintage firefighting helmets and uniforms with red and gold striped background panels.Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage
  3. 03Bright, modern children's play space with wooden play structures, toys, climbing equipment and seating areas beneath decorative pendant lights.Make Believe Soft Play
  4. 04Spirit Of Scotland ShowSpirit Of Scotland Show
  5. 05Boom Battle Bar EdinburghBoom Battle Bar Edinburgh
See everything →

Your shortlist, saved

Tap the heart on anything and it's waiting for the next free Saturday. No account needed to start.

Open your shortlist →

COLLECTION

Rainy day rescue

135 indoor lifesavers for when the forecast lets you down.

Open the collection

KIND TO THE WALLET

57

completely free days out within 30 minutes of Edinburgh

Show me the free ones →

Want lists like these in your inbox every Thursday? Join the Weekender: free, in time to plan your weekend.

HIDDEN GEMS

The ones you've never heard of

Places that aren't on the usual lists, written up honestly.

See every place →
A man drinking from a white cup whilst sitting at a café table beside a potted plant and decorative tribal mask.

No. 01Edinburgh

Black Medicine Coffee Co

A coffee shop with board games on hand, open long hours for a low-key sit down with the kids.

Read the write-up →

Person dressed as a judge in a white curled wig and red robe holding a gavel, posed in a historic dungeon setting.

No. 02Edinburgh · from £7.50

The Edinburgh Dungeon

Live actors march you through 75 minutes of Edinburgh's grislier history, from courtroom trials to Burke and Hare.

Narrow stone passageway lit by warm lights, with wet flagstone floor and historic brick walls on either side.

No. 03Edinburgh · from £16

City of Edinburgh Tours

A guided ghost walk through Edinburgh's Old Town and down into the underground vaults, aimed at kids five and up who like a proper scare.

THE WEEKENDER

Next weekend, sorted. Every Thursday, free.

The best family things happening around Edinburgh, one hidden gem, and a rainy-day backup plan, from a dad who's been there with a bored seven-year-old.

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