Mentioned by Fodor's Choice
Sights in Edinburgh and the Lothians
"Camera Obscura and the World of Illusions Camera Obscura is located one block down the Royal Mile from the Edinburgh Castle. If you are visiting Edinburgh with kids, this is an awesome spot to visit. Six floors are filled with illusions, puzzles, and optical tricks."
"The eye-catching Camera Obscura building stands at the top of the Royal Mile and contains an amazing range of optical experiences across five floors. The 'camera' itself is a giant Victorian periscope offering an interesting 360° perspective on…"
"EdinburghMore fun than you can imagine - 5 floors of interactive hands-on fun!. Fantastic views of Edinburgh and 3 galleries full of amazing optical experiences."
"***If you’re a morning person, grab a blanket, a thermos of hot chocolate, tea, or coffee, and enjoy the sunrise from Calton Hill. One of the most enchanting and TOTALLY free things to do in Edinburgh, Scotland. Obviously, if you hate mornings, you can watch the sunset instead, (just make sure you have clear skies, which are something of a rarity) but you’ll just have a bit more company."
"If you’re in the market for a picture-perfect proposal spot, look no further than Calton Hill It boasts sights of the city and looks absolutely magical at dawn and dusk. As an added plus, it comes with built-in engagement photo backdrops - the Nelson Monument and National Monument."
"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)"
"If you’d like a taste of how the other half lives, then step aboard the Royal Yacht Brittania, the personal ship of the Royal family from 1953 to 1997. Located in the harbor of Leith, which is easily accessible from Edinburgh’s city center, the ship has 5 decks just waiting to be explored. The rooms in which the Royals spent the majority of their time are on the upper decks."
"One of the most popular things to do in Edinburgh is visiting The Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith. This floating museum is Her Majesty the Queen’s ex-Royal Yacht. Built in 1953 it served as the Royal Yacht until it was decommissioned in 1957."
"I’d also suggest you make the time to head out to an icon of the Edinburgh surrounds – the Firth of Forth bridges, and in particular, the UNSECO World Heritage Listed Firth of Forth Rail Bridge. This is a mighty red cantilevered bridge construction spanning the Firth of Forth, opened in 1890, and still operational today. At it’s time of construction it was the longest single cantilever bridge in the world, and despite now being the second longest, is still might impressive."
"The Nelson Monument is a commemorative tower in honor of Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, located in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is included in the list of 15 places in Edinburgh because it is situated on top of Calton Hill and provides a dramatic termination to the vista along Princes Street from the west. The Royal Navy’s White Ensign and signal flags spelling out Nelson’s famous message “England expects that every man will do his duty” are flown from the Monument on Trafalgar Day each year."
"Another architecturally inspired monument which sits on Calton Hill is the Nelson Monument. Built in 1807, this commemorative tower is an ode to Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson and is frankly unmissable against Edinburgh's skyline. It is situated at the highest point of Calton Hill and stands at 106 ft. tall, contributing to the towers' epic and majestic quality."
"Take note of the time ball on the monument which serves the same purpose as the Edinburgh Castle One O’Clock Gun."
"One of the best things to do in Edinburgh with kids is to take them to Gorgie City Farm, a free farm that features an awesome outdoor learning experience and of course, adorable animals. The farm prides itself on being a slice of countryside life right in the heart of Edinburgh, and it is a working farm so the animals are being raised for food production in case this is something you need to take into consideration before you visit. In addition to having lovely animal exhibits, there are also regular educational talks as well as the opportunity to host kid’s birthday parties or other events here."
"This free-to-enter attraction, LOVE Gorgie Farm brings a slice of countryside to the heart of the city. This unique outdoor resource is the best place in Edinburgh to learn about farming hands-on. Head along and meet all the animals including chickens, ducks, cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, and take in all the sights and smells of the herb and sensory garden."
"Have fun at the farm with your little ones at Gorgie City Farm. This largely volunteer-run, community-owned urban farm is a long-time favourite with local families. Kids will be able to get up close to some of Gorgie's animal residents, including sheep, goats and pigs, while learning more about farming and food production."
"Edinburgh may be one of the world’s most popular cities, but at Le Monde Hotel you can experience life on different continents!. Each of the 18 rooms are styled to reflect the traditions and cultures of global destinations, from the urban chic of New York to the carnival soul of Rio, while the cocktail creations in the champagne bar are infused with the finest flavours from around the world. Every bedroom benefits from a 42” plasma television, air conditioning, rainfall shower, safe, complimentary refreshments, and WiFi."