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Edinburgh

Camera Obscura – Illusions on Castlehill, Then Lunch

A few hours, from Edinburgh Waverley and back.

The route

When it's pouring in Edinburgh, Camera Obscura and World of Illusions is the place to take the children: floor after floor of mirror mazes, spinning tunnels, hands-on puzzles and optical tricks at the top of the Royal Mile.

Afterwards it's a few minutes downhill to the Scottish Cafe at the National Gallery for a warm lunch from the children's menu. It suits families with children of every age, toddlers included.

Before you go

  1. Book accommodation nearby

    If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.

    Old Town ChambersClose byOld Town ChambersA place to stayMoment George IV BridgeClose byMoment George IV BridgeSleeps 2West End MuseClose byWest End MuseSleeps 4The Scott HotelA mile awayThe Scott HotelA hotel

  2. Book Camera Obscura tickets

    Book a Camera Obscura time slot online for about 10am, as it often sells out and tickets are sold at the door only if there's room; under-5s go free but still need a place on the booking.

The day

Castlehill

This is a morning almost entirely under a roof, with only a few minutes' walk at each end. The children get a couple of hours of illusions and a view over the whole city, and lunch is a short walk down the hill.

About three and a half hours

  1. Camera Obscura

    Camera Obscura

    An attraction

    It's 10 minutes' walk uphill from Waverley to Castlehill, at the top of the Royal Mile. Book a time online, as it often sells out; the first slots are the quietest, and under-5s go free. There are six floors of illusions, from a mirror maze to a spinning vortex tunnel and a wind-up dog playing the piano for two cats, with the rooftop and its camera show at the very top. Allow about two hours. There's no lift and nearly 100 stairs, so leave a pushchair in the foyer; baby carriers are lent free, and there's baby changing in the toilets.

    More about Camera Obscura

  2. 5 min on foot

    The Scottish Cafe

    Lunch

    The Scottish Cafe is 5 minutes' walk down from Camera Obscura, at the National Gallery's Gardens Entrance. Lunch is served every day from noon to 4pm, and there's a children's menu. Walk-ins are welcome, and booking is only recommended for afternoon tea. There are no steps inside the restaurant.

    More about The Scottish Cafe

If it rains

All of it is under a roof but the few minutes' walk between: this is the wet-day morning.

Camera ObscuraThe Scottish Cafe