After joining The Balmoral team in 2006, David Musk was instantly hooked on the feeling of making people’s stays memorable. Raising his daughter in Edinburgh has given David an education in seeing the city from her point of view.
David's top five:
1. National Museum of Scotland
Fun, interactive, and free of charge
2. The Chihuahua Cafe
Cake and cuddles with tiny four-legged friends
3. Royal Botanical Gardens
Beautiful, with plenty of space for kids to blow off steam
4. Camera Obscura
Ideal for a rainy day and great views
5. The Potter Trail
A fun way to follow in the footsteps of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who took inspiration from around the city for her books
The Best Museum for a Family Adventure
The National Museum of Scotland is fantastic – from the moment you walk inside the Grand Gallery, there is so much to see. From natural history to science and technology, a huge section focussing on Scottish history, and cool interactive sections, where kids can get hands-on and build things. I’ve enjoyed spending half a day here with my daughter many times. It covers all the bases - inspiring for adults and plenty for the kids to do.
Family-friendly restaurants and cafes
For a relaxed atmosphere and friendly service, Howie’s is just a two-minute walk from our hotel. It’s been here for 30 years and the food is great. Of course, we recommend families try our restaurant, Brasserie Prince, with a specially created kids menu.
For something different, there’s the Chihuahua Cafe just off Princes Street. You can book a slot and enjoy tea and cake alongside 7 or 8 chihuahua residents, who decide whose laps they want to sit on. If you’re not a dog person, Maison de Moggy is the same concept, but with cats. They’re all different breeds and personalities - some very cuddly, others more aloof. It’s great fun, and the kids go mad for it.
Best Rainy Day Activities
A great indoor option is the Camera Obscura, the oldest-built tourist attraction in the city. First launched by Maria Short in the 19th century to guarantee visitors the best views of Edinburgh, it was later reopened by Patrick Geddes whose aim was to expand the world-view of local residents of Old Town. The camera projects a live image of the street below while the fourth floor is dedicated to optical illusions, leaving you pleasantly dizzy. Parents always have to coax their kids out because they are not ready to leave.
Best Place for the Kids to Let Off Steam
On the north side of the city, the Royal Botanical Garden is a huge 70-acre landscape with more than 13,000 species of plants. There are beautiful glass houses, an amazing rock garden, and plenty of space for kids to run around. It’s easy to spend hours there and not see the same thing twice. Another place I loved visiting with my daughter is the Jupiter Artland. It’s in a beautiful natural setting just outside the city, with modern art pieces installed in the woodland.
Family Activities Exclusive to the Balmoral
We’ve enjoyed partnering with the Potter Trail company to offer our guests a private tour from the hotel to the places that inspired the Harry Potter series, including ‘real life’ Diagon Alley (the colourful Victoria Street) and Greyfriars Kirkyard, where you might spot some familiar names on the headstones. And of course there’s our very own J.K. Rowling Suite where the author wrote the final pages of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
The Balmoral, 1 Princes Street, where Old Town meets New, a legendary hotel and landmark clock tower: a symbol of its city
Phone Number*
Address
1 Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2EQ
Edinburgh EH2 2EQ
Edinburgh EH2 2EQ
The Balmoral, 1 Princes Street, where Old Town meets New, a legendary hotel and landmark clock tower: a symbol of its city
Phone Number*
Address
1 Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2EQ
Edinburgh EH2 2EQ
Edinburgh EH2 2EQ
The Balmoral, 1 Princes Street, where Old Town meets New, a legendary hotel and landmark clock tower: a symbol of its city
Phone Number*
Address
1 Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2EQ
Edinburgh EH2 2EQ
Edinburgh EH2 2EQ