Photo: Ad Meskens (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Edinburgh
Wondering what to do in Edinburgh? This guide lists the area's attractions — zoos, museums, theme parks and more — with distances, so you can plan every day of your trip.
Showing museums, aquariums and attractions with indoor areas — the ones that work whatever the forecast.
Aquariums
8.7 mi from Edinburgh
Deep Sea World
Deep Sea World is an aquarium in Edinburgh, Scotland, sited next to the Forth Rail Bridge and known for its sand tiger sharks and Europe's longest underwater moving walkway. You ca...
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Museums & Galleries
0.2 mi from Edinburgh
Museum of Childhood
The Museum of Childhood is a museum that houses a collection of children's toys and playthings, situated on the Royal Mile, in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is the first museum in the wo... — Wikipedia
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0.2 mi from Edinburgh
Museum of Magic, Fortune-Telling and Witchcraft
Tucked away in Chalmers Close off the Royal Mile, this small museum is packed with curious artefacts, including a 17th-century mummified cat, the world's oldest Ouija board, voodoo...
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0.2 mi from Edinburgh
Trinity Apse
Trinity College Kirk was a royal collegiate church in Edinburgh, Scotland. The kirk and its adjacent almshouse, Trinity Hospital, were founded in 1460 by Mary of Guelders in memory... — Wikipedia
0.3 mi from Edinburgh
St Cecilia's Hall
St Cecilia's Hall is the University of Edinburgh's musical instrument museum, housed in the oldest purpose-built concert hall in Scotland. Inside, you'll find a small portion of Mu...
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0.3 mi from Edinburgh
Writers' Museum
The Writers’ Museum, housed within Lady Stair's House in Edinburgh, presents the lives of three of the foremost Scottish writers: Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Steven... — Wikipedia
0.3 mi from Edinburgh
Museum on the Mound
The Museum on the Mound sits in the heart of Edinburgh's city centre, just 500 metres from Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street. Inside, you can see a million pounds on display, vie...
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0.3 mi from Edinburgh
The People's Story Museum
The People's Story Museum is located in the historic Canongate Tolbooth, and features collections that narrate the story of the working-class people of Edinburgh from the late 18th... — Wikipedia
0.3 mi from Edinburgh
Museum Collections Centre
This centre houses the reserve collections of the city museums.
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0.4 mi from Edinburgh
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland sits on Chambers Street in Edinburgh's Old Town, offering thousands of objects across multiple galleries under one roof. You can explore stories fro...
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0.4 mi from Edinburgh
Talbot Rice Gallery
Talbot Rice Gallery is a contemporary art space within the University of Edinburgh, combining a 19th century former natural history museum with a modern white cube gallery. You can...
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0.5 mi from Edinburgh
Surgeons' Hall Museums
Surgeons' Hall Museum is one of Scotland's oldest museums, housed within the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and tells over 500 years of surgical history through its collec...
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0.6 mi from Edinburgh
Anatomical Museum
The Anatomical Museum sits within Edinburgh University's historic Old Medical School and holds one of the largest and best preserved anatomy collections in Scotland, including the...
0.6 mi from Edinburgh
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum sits within Edinburgh Castle and tells the story of the regiment from its origins in the late 17th century through to today. You'll see a perm...
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0.6 mi from Edinburgh
The Royal Scots Regimental Museum
The Museum of the Royal Scots and the Royal Regiment of Scotland is a regimental museum displaying the collections of the Royal Scots and the Royal Regiment of Scotland. It is base... — Wikipedia
0.6 mi from Edinburgh
National War Museum
The National War Museum sits within Edinburgh Castle and explores over 400 years of conflict through military objects, artwork and personal stories. It's a good choice if you're in...
0.6 mi from Edinburgh
Dynamic Earth
Dynamic Earth is Edinburgh's science centre and planetarium, telling the story of the planet from the big bang to the present day through a 90-minute interactive walk-through and p...
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0.6 mi from Edinburgh
The King's Gallery
The King's Gallery, previously known as the Queen's Gallery, is an art gallery in Edinburgh, Scotland. It forms part of the Palace of Holyroodhouse complex. It was opened in 2002 b... — Wikipedia
0.7 mi from Edinburgh
Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage
The Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage sits in Edinburgh city centre and tells the story of Scottish firefighting, from the world's first municipal fire service to today's equipment...
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1.5 mi from Edinburgh
Trinity House
Trinity House, 99 Kirkgate, is a building in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, which was a guild hall, custom house, and centre for maritime administration and poor relief. In the Late M... — Wikipedia
Zoos & Wildlife
24.5 mi from Edinburgh
Scottish Deer Centre
The Scottish Deer Centre is a wildlife park set across more than 55 acres of Fife countryside, home to 12 species of deer alongside wolves, lynx, Scottish wildcats and a European b...
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Where to stay near Edinburgh
Places to stay within easy reach of these days out.
More around Edinburgh
Itineraries
- A weekend in Scotland with the kids · 2 days
- A weekend in Scotland · 2 days
- A weekend in Scotland with older parents · 2 days
Haunted Britain
The attractions grouped under Edinburgh on BritStays reach well beyond the city. They take in museums listed under St Andrews, Stirling, Fife and the Scottish Borders, plus a scattering of castles, a garden and a National Trust property. That gives you plenty of choice. It also means planning matters, because you won't fit everything into one day. The simplest approach is to pick one cluster per day and resist criss-crossing.
Heritage: castles, towers and old houses
If history is your main draw, you have a lot to choose from. Thirlestane Castle in the Scottish Borders and Alloa Tower, listed under Stirling, are both run as museums, so they make dependable anchors for a day. The landmarks list adds a long run of castles and historic houses:
- Rosslyn Castle
- Neidpath Castle
- Fa'side Castle
- Melville Castle
- Carlowrie Castle
- Merchiston Tower
- Calder House
Lamb's House is a National Trust property. Not every historic building on this list operates as a visitor attraction with regular opening, so check access before you set off. Borthwick Castle Hotel also appears among the heritage landmarks. It's worth a look if you like the idea of a castle as part of a stay, but confirm directly what's open to non-residents.
Rainy day: museums worth the trip
When the weather turns, the museums do the heavy lifting. St Andrews has the densest cluster:
- Wardlaw Museum
- St Andrews Museum
- St Andrews Castle Visitor Centre
- St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum
With four museums listed in one town, you can fill a wet day with very little driving. In the Scottish Borders, Sir Walter Scottʼs Courtroom, Old Gala House and Commendator's House Museum make a similar indoor-focused day alongside Thirlestane Castle. Closer to the city, the Forth Bridges Light House Museum is listed under Edinburgh itself.
Family days
For mixed ages, the heritage centres and more unusual museums tend to hold attention best. Here are three to consider:
- Almond Valley Heritage Centre, listed under Edinburgh, is the most convenient family option if you're staying near the city.
- Stirling Old Town Jail has a theme that older children often find more gripping than a conventional gallery.
- Wemyss Cave Museum & Visitor Centre in Fife is another with a distinctive subject.
Check age suggestions, facilities and any seasonal events on each attraction's own website before you go.
Outdoors
Malleny Garden is the one garden on the list, and it's a good choice for a gentle, unhurried few hours when the weather is kind. Several castle sites, such as Rosslyn Castle and Neidpath Castle, can also anchor a day spent mostly outside. Pair them with an indoor stop in case of showers, which is rarely bad advice in Scotland.
How to group a sensible day
Build each day around one area.
- St Andrews day: choose two or three of the town's four museums and leave time to wander between them.
- Stirling day: combine Stirling Old Town Jail with Alloa Tower.
- Borders day: pair Thirlestane Castle with Old Gala House or Sir Walter Scottʼs Courtroom.
- Edinburgh day: stay closer to the city with Almond Valley Heritage Centre, the Forth Bridges Light House Museum and Malleny Garden.
Two main attractions plus a relaxed lunch is usually more enjoyable than three rushed ones. Check journey times before you commit, as some of these areas are a fair way apart.
Where to eat
We don't currently list specific places to eat for this region. Food hygiene in Scotland is assessed under a Pass or Improvement Required scheme rather than the star ratings used elsewhere in the UK, so you won't find 5-star hygiene scores here. Check a venue's inspection result online, and ask at the attractions you visit whether they have a café. If you're heading somewhere quieter, packing a picnic is a sensible back-up.
Turning it into a short break
A long weekend lets you cover two clusters comfortably. Three or four nights opens up a third. There are 284 places to stay on BritStays in this region. Rather than defaulting to the city, choose your base according to the area you most want to explore. That might mean staying near St Andrews for the museums, or towards the Scottish Borders for the castles and Sir Walter Scott connections. Then make shorter trips out from there.
Practical tips before you go
- Confirm opening days and times directly with each attraction, as smaller museums and historic houses often keep seasonal hours.
- Check whether castle and house landmarks are actually open to visitors before building a day around them.
- Look up journey times between clusters, and don't plan more than one area per day.
- Keep a museum in reserve for every outdoor day.
- Book your stay early if you're travelling in school holidays.
Frequently asked questions
Which town has the most museums in this region?
St Andrews has the most, with Wardlaw Museum, St Andrews Museum, St Andrews Castle Visitor Centre and St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum all listed there. That makes it the easiest place for an indoor day with little travelling.
What is there to do on a rainy day?
Head for the museums. St Andrews has four listed museums. The Scottish Borders has Sir Walter Scottʼs Courtroom, Old Gala House and Commendator's House Museum. Stirling Old Town Jail and Alloa Tower suit a wet day around Stirling.
Are there family-friendly attractions near Edinburgh?
Almond Valley Heritage Centre is listed under Edinburgh and is the most convenient family option near the city. Stirling Old Town Jail and Wemyss Cave Museum & Visitor Centre in Fife are also worth considering. Check age suitability with each attraction before you go.
Is there a garden to visit?
Yes. Malleny Garden is the garden listed for this region and makes a good choice for a relaxed outdoor visit.
Why are there no 5-star hygiene ratings listed for places to eat?
Scotland uses a Pass or Improvement Required food hygiene scheme rather than star ratings. Check each venue's inspection result online, and ask attractions whether they have a café.
How many places to stay are there in this region on BritStays?
There are 284 places to stay on BritStays in this region. It's worth choosing a base close to the attractions you most want to visit, such as St Andrews for museums or the Scottish Borders for castles.
More ways to explore
Not booked yet? See the best places to stay in Edinburgh.