Edinburgh
New Town
Princes Street Gardens - The Princes Street Gardens are big (more than 30 acres), located between Waverly Bridge and Lothian Rd. The park has plenty of grass, benches, trees, snack bars, so on a summer's day join all the other families with their picnics and relax.
Tip: In the park we had a great time listening to a street band with a bagpiper, drummer and electric guitar, playing rock piping songs.
If kids feel like exercise, climb up 287 steps to the top of the Sir Water Scott Monument for 360 views of the city (at the bottom is a statue of Sir Walter Scott, sitting with his dog). An excellent large playground is located at the northwest corner of the park (Lothian Road and Princes Street). Christmas Market - From mid November through the New Year, at night gardens are brillantly lighted with large ferris wheel, amusement park rides, ice skating rink, carousel, live music, Santa Stories, and large Christmas market.Scottish National Portrait Gallery - Start your exploration of the museum on the top (second) floor with portraits of Mary Queen of Scots - one wearing black and a white ruff, the other with Mary looking very young and beautiful, King James V and Mary of Guise, Lord Darnley, Bonnie Prince Charlie in a red coat and blue sash, Flora Macdonald wearing a tartan dress.
Don't miss the Great Hall wall murals, with scenes from Scottish history - the battles of Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn, St. Columba and the Picts, marriage procession of King James IV, plus many important figures over 2000 years.
The museum is free, and is a good indoor activity on a bad weather day.
