Top 10 Kid Friendly Things To Do and Attractions in Gullane

"One of the best ways to enjoy the stunning views of the city with your partner is visiting Camera Obscura, which means a dark room. The site is located behind the Edinburgh Castle and it is a Victorian Rooftop chamber with excellent views. It is one of the oldest buildings in Edinburgh and accepts visitors since 1892."

"A fascinating must-visit place for kids and elders which uses science optical principles into play is Camera Obscura and World of Illusions. Located on the Royal Mile next to the Edinburgh Castle, is a perfect stop for fun. Camera Obscura originates from a Latin word meaning ‘dark room’."

"Weave your way through a world of illusions, and remember, nothing is what it seems. Venture through five floors jam-packed with over 100 illusions. You’ll need at least two hours to discover them all."

"The unfinished acropolis is completely unmistakable - referred to historically as “Edinburgh’s shame”, but any notion of that is wholly absent should you take the journey up the stairs and experience the joy to be found at the summit. Panoramic views of the city, the undulating buildings contoured to the cities foundations. Rugged and beautiful, and uniquely Edinburgh."

"Calton Hill is a mix of bustling commercial areas and quiet residential streets. The hill itself, with its city views, is home to the Collective contemporary art gallery and the unfinished National Monument. Calton Hill (World Heritage Site)"

"The hill overlooks the entire town, including Princess Street, which is the direction of the castle. Within that view is the Dugald Stewart monument, which makes for a wonderful shot. Calton Hill is particularly breathtaking at sunset."

"If you don’t want to venture too far out of the city, kids can also play in Prince’s Street Gardens in the shadow of the Scott monument – which you can climb, although at 287 often narrow and twisty steps, you might want to stick to the views from the Camera Obscura instead. At Christmas, the gardens turn into a Winter Wonderland including Christmas market, ice rink and ferris wheel, dubbed the Edinburgh Eye."

"While you're in Edinburgh, be sure to take a walk through the pretty Princes Street Gardens in the centre of town. From here, you’ll see Scotts Monument, a Victorian Gothic building dedicated to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. It is the largest monument to a writer in the world."

"The gardens serve as a large public park that runs parallel to Princes Street, divided into east and west by the castle’s mound. Before it was the garden grounds, it was the Nor Loch defensive lake. The Nor Loch sat before the castle until the 18th century."

"In the city centre, seek out the Heart of Midlothian for a uniquely Scottish piece of history. The Heart of Midlothian is set in the pavement on the Royal Mile, constructed from coloured granite blocks that form the shape of a heart and cross. This landmark records the position of the 15th century ‘heart’ of the town, the Old Tolbooth."

"Edinburgh’s Old Town is home to Scotland’s thoroughly modern Parliament building. Open to visitors Monday-Saturday, why not take advantage of a free tour and learn about its history, work and contemporary architecture?. You can even visit a debating chamber and if Parliament is in session, view proceedings from the public gallery."

"Swing by the Scottish Parliament and see a, how shall I say this diplomatically (I made another lame funny!), rather interesting building. Yeah, the design is super offbeat and modern so you will either love it or place a curse upon the man that conceived of the building."

"A quiet suburban sanctuary just off Leith Walk, this elegant four-storey Georgian townhouse is a hidden secret behind Calton Hill. Appealingly simple, its snug doubles and suites are the place to whisper sweet nothings; in particular, the two Georgian Suites, with fit-for-two roll-top baths, feature wallpaper and four-poster beds that cry out for pillow talk. The ground-level Brasserie offers a classic Scottish tasting menu, but another close-at-hand option is Roberta Hall’s the Little Chartroom, where the cooking will have passions running high."

"Located in Edinburgh’s trendy East End, No 11 Brasserie has created a space that celebrates fresh Scottish produce and ingredients with an ever-changing seasonal menu. Their current autumn menu includes Fillet of Sole Meuniere and Butternut Squash with local foraged woodland mushrooms and many more. The brasserie’s interior also reflects the heritage of the city’s Georgian architecture."

"New Town is architecturally stunning and is full of wonderful cafes, we think you’ll love staying here:. The Bearded Baker started off by supplying wholesale bagels to many of the city’s best cafes, and when the opportunity arose to turn The Bearded Baker into a cafe, they jumped at the opportunity!. We’re so glad they did as the cafe is a gem, and most importantly they also serve up a fabulous range of delectable doughnuts."

"With the Royal Botanic Gardens nearby, Canonmills is a lovely part of Edinburgh to stay in, and we think you’ll enjoy your stay at. The Bearded Baker is a cosy bakery and coffee shop located in Canonmills – who are famous for their delicious bagels!. As well as bagels, they also offer a variety of cakes, doughnuts, sourdough loaves and coffee!"

"Bearded baker Rowan creates his bagels and treats from scratch every day, and it really shows. Where: 46 Rodney St, EH7. Shop online at:thebeardedbaker.co.uk"

"Papii may not seem like much from outside but this little café has a reputation as one of the best on Hanover Street. Their speciality is ''eggs Papii'': a toasted English muffin, poached free-range eggs and homemade hollandaise sauce (they also do more traditional options like eggs benedict, eggs florentine and eggs royale). If you don't fancy eggs, then don't miss their famous buttermilk waffles, which come with a number of different toppings including crispy bacon, fresh strawberries or honey and cream."

"What: Small and with no fuss, Papii is a very popular spot in the city, so you’ll have to make sure you get their early to secure a table. Although there’s no fried breakfast to be found here, there are plenty of other options to satisfy you, including the likes of filled breakfast rolls, paninis and bagels, as well as eggs any way you like. The main attractions though, are Papii’s indulgent buttermilk vanilla waffles and the smoothies which are made from fresh fruit."

"Finally, somewhat of a hidden gem on the brunch scene, Papii Café is a small, Mediterranean inspired café with a real neighbourhood feel to it. Their menu is varied, but the two dishes that get people talking are the waffles and the eggs benedict. Despite being a classic brunch food, waffles don’t seem to crop up on too many breakfast menus in Edinburgh."

"Website:https://www.johnniewalker.com/en-gb/visit-us-princes-street/. Where to stay: A fabulous apartment with a fabulous location on South Charlotte Street which is less than a minute from Princes Street and overlooks beautiful Charlotte Square. Less of an Edinburgh eatery, but no less worthy of a mention."

"As it makes its way ever-closer to completion, we are dying to have a drink out on the new Johnnie Walker rooftop bar. With unbeatable views over Princes Street and Edinburgh Castle, the whisky experience has transformed the old House of Fraser store into something completely different."

"For brunch at any time of day, while you roam the many streets of the Old Town, head to The City Cafe. This fun, vibrant, American style diner will provide you with delicious food all day long, and you can head back again in the evenings if you feel like getting a few drinks. You can find all the classics on their brunch menu, whether you want sweet or savoury, and you’ll find Scottish ingredients, like haggis, alongside American classics, such as pancake stacks or poached eggs and hollandaise."

"The cool mix of coffee, breakfast foods and booze on their website are enough to make me want to visit here. The menu is heavy on burgers and serves all-day breakfast, which is two things I look for in a family-restaurant #sorrynotsorry I love that they specify that their pancakes are American style. I feel like there is a huge gap in knowledge between what Europeans call pancakes ( Canadian Crepes) and what we in North America call pancakes."

"A kitschy American diner by day, the City Café becomes a pre-club party joint by night. Cocktail and beer pitchers are the main event, and on the weekends guest and resident DJs spin funk, hip hop and house tracks to get you in the mood for nearby dancefloors."