Throughout the summer we are showcasing the activities you can access easily with Lothian. Remember, with a valid National Entitlement Card, kids go free on all of Lothian’s services thanks to the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel scheme. Edinburgh and the Lothians has a range of amazing attractions where kids go free, offering a great, value for money day out for all the family.
So, lighten the load on your wallet and explore what’s at your door this summer!
1. Edinburgh Bus Tours
There’s only one way to really see Edinburgh, and that’s from the top deck of one of the open-top tour buses operated by our sister company, Edinburgh Bus Tours! With three signature tours on offer, our five-star customer experience is on everyone’s to-do list this summer!
Kids go FREE on all our tours with up to three children travelling for no charge with every paying adult. Adult tickets are just £18, however if you fancy doing all three tours, get our Grand 24 Ticket for £24 per adult and enjoy the best of Edinburgh with 24 hours unlimited travel on our tours.
Our CitySightseeing Edinburgh tour features a dedicated Horrible Histories children’s commentary narrated by author Terry Deary himself, to bring the city’s gory past to life for a younger audience.
Our tours depart from Waterloo Place, and you can buy your ticket from one of our on-street ticket sellers or from our TourHub across from the departure point. You can also pre-book your ticket. Make sure you hold on to your ticket, which grants access to incredible added value across the city on a wide variety of attractions and visitor experiences.
2. National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland in the heart of Edinburgh’s old town boasts some of the finest artefacts and exhibits from not just Scotland but around the world.
Each collection takes visitors on a journey through history and gives an indication of the role Scotland played in the world we live in today. The stunning building offers hours of exploration, with something for everyone.
The Museum is a featured stop on all of our Edinburgh Bus Tours tour buses, and our Service 35 also stops right at the door.
So why not make a point of travelling back in time and all the way to the present day again? There’s even dinosaur exhibitions to pick a bone with!
3. North Berwick West Beach
North Berwick West Beach is your starting point for a wonderful day’s adventuring in East Lothian. The long stretch of sand boasts great views across to the islands of Craigleith and Bass Rock.
Families flock to the beach every summer to sunbathe, build sandcastles and enjoy a picnic by the coast. There’s even a putting green located nearby during the summer months. Just a short walk from the Scottish Seabird Centre and with a vibrant town centre in North Berwick to enjoy, allow us to take you to your family fun-filled day out at West Beach.
Travelling from Edinburgh? Hop aboard our East Coast Buses 124 or X5 services, alighting at the Beach Road bus stop. For those travelling locally, look out for our Eve Coaches Services 120 and 121.
4. Museum of Childhood
While everyone remembers their own childhood, have you ever wondered how the children of the past lived? Find out all about the childhoods of the past at the world’s first ever museum dedicated to the history of childhood – the aptly named Museum of Childhood! Located on Edinburgh’s iconic Royal Mile, the attraction takes pride of place in any great day out in the capital.
The museum is FREE to enter, although a donation can be made upon your visit should you wish to do so. Take a trip back in time and discover how yesterday’s children lived at home, what their education experience was like and even the toys and games they would enjoy during their free time.
Lothian’s Service 35 traverses up and down the Royal Mile, stopping off at the Museum of Childhood bus stop. Our three city-centre Edinburgh Bus Tours also service the Royal Mile, so not take advantage of your hop-on, hop-off ticket and take in the Museum of Childhood before completing your bus tour?
5. Forth Bridges Trail
The summer is all about getting out and exploring what’s at your door. Did you know that, from Edinburgh, you’re only a short bus ride away from immersing yourself in some of Scotland’s most exquisite scenery?
The Forth Bridges Trail is a circular, five-mile route that brings together 16 separate points of interest in both North and South Queensferry and along the Forth Road Bridge.
Lothian Country’s Service 43 can take you from Edinburgh to South Queensferry, which, itself, is well worth a visit. From there, you can hop on the trail and explore until you find yourself back where you started, safely on a Service 43 back home. Kids can travel FREE with a valid Young Scot NEC, and adult fares start at just £2 (adult single) on the Service 43.
Our value-for-money ticketing ensures you can make your way around Edinburgh and the Lothians for less this summer. Our Network DAYticket offers unlimited journeys on day and NightBus services across our entire network for just £12 for adults and £6 for children*
*Children go free using their under 22s bus pass and over 60s with their National Entitlement Card.