Best Museums in Shandon

"This is a fantastic museum for children – so much to keep the little minds active and entertained. This gem of a place covers everything from Scottish history, to nature, space, transport, art, design, science, technology, fashion, the animal kingdom and more. There’s something for everyone, however, be warned you may struggle to drag your kids away from this place… there’s so much to see and do!"

"Pro Travel Tip:The National Museum of Scotland and the Surgeons’ Hall Museum are located near each other. If you tend to move quickly through museums, you can visit both of these before lunch (this is what we did)."

"Head to the National Museum of Scotland. Plan to spend at least an hour here (or more, depending on your interests)."

"The Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh was the first museum in the world to focus solely on childhood. Recently completely renewed, the result is a celebration of books, toys, games and dolls all the way from the early 1800s to the present day. Free to enter, this one-of-a-kind museum is located on the grounds of Sudbury Hall on the Royal Mile."

"A Royal Mile gem, this collection of toys and games was the first museum of childhood in the world. From the 1740 Queen Anne doll (the oldest in history), to a huge Victorian doll’s house with electric lighting and running water, to a 1970s’ Raleigh Chopper bike, there’s plenty for kids to get involved with."

"Discover the story of Planet Earth, from the Big Bang through the chill of ice ages to the devastating power of volcanic eruptions, watch the Northern Lights dance and hear the sounds and sights of the rainforest at Dynamic Earth. Or plunge to the depths of the ocean to discover life beneath the waves (from the comfort of a yellow submarine), as well as searching for whales and watching a 30 foot wall of waves. If only geography had been quite as exciting when I was at school – the 360 degree ShowDome cinema brings the whole dramatic tale to life while you’ll also find Mission Earth augmented reality experience."

"Learn about the creation of our planet and travel through time as we explore Earth's past, present and future. Get thrust back in time to the very beginnings of our universe, and witness first hand the big bang and the very first moments of our galaxy and solar system. Make your way back to the present day through volcanic explosions, landscape-forming glaciers and the evolution of our life on Earth."

"This phenomenal museum celebrates the beauty of the earth via innovative technology. It is situated at the opposite end of the Old Town from the castle, near Holyrood Palace in the shadow of the crags and Arthur's Seat. Interactive exhibits allow visitors to experience simulated earthquakes, tropical rainstorms, the ocean floor, ice ages, glaciers and mountains."

"Transport yourself to the Outlander set at Callendar Park & House. Callendar Park & House was used for one of the most well-known Outlander scenes as the Duke of Sandringham’s home."

"Housed in the historic Cannongate Tolbooth, the People's Story Museum tells the story of the people of Edinburgh from the late 18th century to the present day. The three galleries explore life in an Edinburgh tenement during the eighteenth century and recount the stories of Edinburgh citizens during the twentieth century using waxworks, recorded oral histories and written sources. The museum also houses an impressive number of early reform flags and banners in support of political reform, trade unions and the anti-apartheid movement."

"Canongate, The Royal Mile, EH8 8DX (website) Open daily 9:30am-6pm (26 March to 31 October) and 9:30am-4.30pm (1 November to 25 March)Adult: £6.70, Over 60/Students £6.10, Under 17/Disabled: £3.40, unders 5's go free. If you like art but find conventional art galleries too big and daunting, then the Queen's Gallery is the answer, as it hosts small intimate exhibitions as part of the Royal Collection Trust. The building is a conversion of a former Holyrood Free Church and Duchess of Gordon’s School and features a beautiful teak and sycamore staircase."

"Situated at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, this gallery is one of 15 in the UK that houses the Royal Collection, the largest private art collection in the world. This is a fascinating record of the personal tastes of kings and queens over the past 500 years, comprising decorative arts, drawings, watercolours, paintings and photographs. Those that have made contributions to the collection over the years include Frederick Prince of Wales, George IV, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary."

"The Palace of Holyroodhouse and The Queens Gallery lie at the east end of The Royal Mile, opposite the Scottish Parliament. The visit is best achieved by taxi, local bus service from Waverley Bridge or tour bus. Walking takes around 15 minutes from Waverley Station."

"Why: Don’t be alarmed by the blue and purple neon lighting and heavy black velvet curtains at Karen’s Unicorn – the food is as fun and inviting as its name. The subtle Cantonese cooking is evident in house specialities such as salt and spice squid, and steamed seabass in a black bean sauce. Right in the centre of town, it’s also good for lunch when sightseeing or a hearty meal before painting the town red."

"These guys do both sit-in and takeaway meals, and a quick glance at the reviews reveals that their dim sum is an out-and-out treat. For the restaurant to have had almost 1000 reviews and still sit near the top of the pile with such a fantastic rating tells you how good it is. However some do say it's a touch on the small side, so best to book to make sure you get a table."

"You'll find traditional Cantonese cuisine on offer at the extremely popular Karen's Unicorn Chinese Restaurant in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town. It has been so successful that there are actually two restaurants now within a few streets of each other. They offer a huge menu packed with tempting house specialties and a number of set banquets."

"Located on Slateford Road, Taste Good is one of Edinburgh's best Chinese restaurant and takeaways according to readers. Their menu includes pork, duck, sweet & sour, chicken and beef dishes."

"Oink has been roasting pig since the turn of the millennium, and what began as a small street food hog roast has now bloomed into several Edinburgh sites, each touting deliciously loaded pork rolls. Check out its location on gorgeous Victoria Street, where every day a new roast sits proudly displayed in the window. The menu is small but simple with hog roast sandwiches on soft white baps in small, medium or large sizes."

"There are 3 outlets across the city centre, serving up delicious pulled pork rolls for a bargain price. First you choose your amount of pork - Piglet (small) for £3.95, Oink (medium) for £5.40 or the Grunter (large) for £6.80. Then, choose your bread, stuffing and a range of sauces."

"Now that Munchkin can read, he reads everything he sees and tells everyone what he has come up with. Sometimes they are accurate, sometimes they are not. But when they peak his attention, everyone needs to know about it, and his baby sister is his biggest fan."