Edinburgh Castle
The most-visited paid attraction in Scotland, perched dramatically above Princes Street with sweeping views over the Firth of Forth.
Scotland · Edinburgh
Edinburgh & Lothians
Top attractions, upcoming events, festivals and family activities across Edinburgh & Lothians.
About Edinburgh & Lothians
Edinburgh and the surrounding Lothians pack more world-class culture into a small footprint than almost anywhere else in Britain. From the cobbled closes of the Old Town and the elegant Georgian terraces of the New Town to the seaside promenades of Portobello and the buzzing waterfront at Leith, the capital offers a year-round calendar of festivals, gigs, theatre, food markets and family days out.
If you're planning what to do in Edinburgh this weekend or looking for family-friendly events across the Lothians, the region rewards both spontaneous day-trippers and long-weekend visitors. The compact city centre is easy to explore on foot, while regular buses and trains link Edinburgh with Musselburgh, Dalkeith, South Queensferry and the rolling countryside of East and West Lothian in under an hour.
Below you'll find our editors' pick of top attractions, headline festivals, family activities, popular venues and a live feed of upcoming events across the region — updated daily.
Top attractions in Edinburgh
Arthur's Seat & Holyrood Park
An extinct volcano in the middle of the city offering a 45-minute climb and one of the best free viewpoints in Europe.
Royal Mile
The Old Town's spine, stretching from the Castle to Holyroodhouse and packed with historic closes, whisky bars and street performers.
Royal Botanic Garden
70 acres of glasshouses, rock gardens and Chinese hillside — a peaceful family favourite just north of the city centre.
Leith Shore & Ocean Terminal
Waterfront restaurants, the Royal Yacht Britannia and a growing craft beer scene make Leith the capital's coolest neighbourhood.
Portobello Beach
Two miles of sand five minutes from the city, with vintage arcades, sauna huts and Sunday market stalls.
Upcoming events in Edinburgh
See allNo upcoming events currently listed for Edinburgh & Lothians. Check back soon or browse all Scottish events.
Festivals in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
AugustThe largest arts festival in the world, taking over every venue in the city with theatre, comedy and cabaret.
Edinburgh International Festival
AugustProgrammed classical music, opera, dance and theatre from leading global companies.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay
30 Dec – 1 JanOne of the planet's most famous New Year celebrations — torchlight procession, street party and fireworks over the Castle.
Edinburgh's Christmas
Nov – JanSix weeks of markets, ice rinks and light trails across Princes Street Gardens and George Street.
Edinburgh International Book Festival
AugustThe largest public celebration of books and ideas in the world.
Beltane Fire Festival
30 AprilA dramatic pagan-inspired ritual on Calton Hill marking the start of summer.
Family activities in Edinburgh
Ideas for families visiting Edinburgh & Lothians — most work rain or shine and pair well with the events listed above.
- Edinburgh Zoo and its resident pandas and penguins
- Camera Obscura & World of Illusions on the Royal Mile
- Dynamic Earth interactive science exhibits at Holyrood
- Museum of Childhood — free entry, all ages
- Water of Leith walkway from Balerno to Leith Shore
- Cramond Island low-tide causeway walk
- Almond Valley Heritage Centre near Livingston
When to visit Edinburgh
Spring brings blossom to the Meadows and the return of outdoor markets at Stockbridge and Leith. Summer is festival season — book accommodation early if you're visiting in August.
Autumn is arguably the best time to explore, with clear skies over Arthur's Seat and the Edinburgh International Storytelling Festival in late October. Winter delivers the world-famous Christmas Market and Hogmanay street party.
Popular venues in Edinburgh
All venuesWe're still building our venue directory for Edinburgh & Lothians. Browse all Scottish venues.
Explore Edinburgh by category
Curated landing pages for the biggest event types in Edinburgh.
Local guides
Things to do in Edinburgh
Editorial city guide with attractions, food and neighbourhoods.
Free things to do in Scotland
Ideas for museum visits, walks and outdoor events that cost nothing.
Best festivals in Scotland
Our roundup of major festivals worth planning a trip around.
Weekend events guide
What's on across Scotland this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Edinburgh — Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Edinburgh this weekend?
Browse our live events feed further down this page — it's updated daily with gigs, family activities, comedy, tours and free things to do across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
When is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
The Fringe runs throughout August every year. The full programme is published in June, and most tickets go on sale immediately.
Is Edinburgh good for family days out?
Yes. The Zoo, Dynamic Earth, Camera Obscura, National Museum of Scotland and Portobello Beach are all popular with families, and many of Edinburgh's museums are free.
How do I get to Edinburgh from other parts of Scotland?
Edinburgh Waverley station has direct trains from Glasgow (50 min), Dundee (75 min), Aberdeen (2h 15) and Inverness (3h 30). The tram links the airport to the city centre in 30 minutes.
What Christmas events happen in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh's Christmas runs from mid-November to early January with a big wheel, ice rink, markets across Princes Street Gardens and the annual torchlight procession opening Hogmanay.