Congratulations! You’ve taken on The Bogthistle Sorting Ceremony, our newest self-guided walking trail in Edinburgh. You’re ready to decipher 1,000-year-old runestones, dodge ghost-lawyers along the Royal Mile, and uncover which of Bogthistle’s four legendary houses your family belongs to.
However, even the most ambitious Shooglesoots or clever Crowfootes hit a wall when low blood sugar kicks in. Exploring Scotland's capital with young witches and wizards requires strategic pitstops.
If you are hunting for family friendly stuff to do in Edinburgh while tackling your trail, we’ve mapped out the absolute best kid friendly Edinburgh cafes, hot chocolate havens, and peaceful pitstops positioned directly along your sorting route.
Stop 1: Fuel Up at George Square (Before Meeting Ghost Richie)
Before you kick off your magical quest at the Viking runestone, you’ll want to make sure everyone is fully caffeinated, hydrated, and fed.
- The Elephant House Studio (Victoria Street / George IV Bridge area): While the original spot on George IV Bridge suffered a fire, their takeaway locations and nearby coffee hubs near the trail head offer magical inspiration for aspiring young writers.
- Meadows Compass & Kiosks (2 mins from George Square): If it’s a fair-weather day, grab takeaway hot beverages and fresh pastries at the edge of the Meadows while the kids burn off initial energy on the grass before class starts.
Stop 2: The Mid-Trail Treat on Victoria Street & West Bow
As your adaptive storyline brings you towards Victoria Street (the rainbow-coloured inspiration behind famous fictional wizarding streets) you enter prime territory for kid friendly food in Edinburgh.
- Mimi’s Bakehouse (Royal Mile / City Art Centre): Famous across the city for serving up the ultimate sweet treats. Their massive cupcakes, traybakes, and famous scones are guaranteed to cure any mid-walk grumbles.
- Oink (82 Victoria Street): If your team craves something savoury over sweet, grab a legendary pulled pork roll with crackling and apple sauce. It’s quick, delicious, and easy to eat on the move.
- Mary’s Milk Bar (Grassmarket): Just a tiny detour off West Bow into the Grassmarket brings you to Edinburgh’s undisputed home of artisan gelato. The flavours change daily (think fresh mint, malted milk, or peach sorbet), making it one of the most popular family activities in Edinburgh on a sunny afternoon.
Stop 3: Rainy Day Rescue & Museum Pitstops
One of the best things about our smartphone-led trails is their flexibility: you can pause the timer whenever you like. If the Scottish weather decides to get unpredictably atmospheric, duck into these free, kid-approved spots right along the trail.
- National Museum of Scotland (Chambers Street): Located steps away from your route, this is arguably the crown jewel of things to do in Edinburgh with kids. It’s completely free and packed with interactive galleries, from giant dinosaur skeletons to energy-generating hamster wheels. Plus, the Museum Cafe has plenty of highchairs, kid-friendly lunchboxes, and indoor seating.
- Museum of Childhood (Royal Mile): Further along your Royal Mile path, step back in time to explore toys, games, and hobbies from centuries past. It's a quick, fascinating, free stop that parents and grandparents love just as much as the kids.
Stop 4: Celebrating Your House Sorting
Once your team reaches the final landmark, makes your last choice, and officially discovers your Bogthistle house, it's time to celebrate your new magical alma mater!
- Laila Cafe (Cockburn Street): Celebrating a Wifflewafft placement? Head down Cockburn Street to Laila for instagrammable buttermilk pancakes, pink hot chocolates, and vibrant brunch options.
- The City Cafe (Blair Street): A classic 1950s-style diner serving up thick milkshakes, burgers, and hot dogs. It has a super relaxed vibe where kids can sit in shiny vinyl booths while discussing how the trail choices shaped their sorting outcome.
Tips for a Stress-Free Family Trail Day
- Pacing is Power: The trail takes around 90–120 minutes of actual walking time, but there is zero penalty for stopping. Take a 45-minute lunch break on Victoria Street—your progress saves automatically in your browser.
- Lean on the Hints: Every puzzle comes with gentle, built-in hints directly on screen. If a clue feels a little tricky for younger minds, tap a hint to help them connect the dots themselves, keeping the momentum going and keeping puzzle-solving fun rather than frustrating!
- Team Up on Answers: Let younger kids spot the physical landmarks (like dates on stone buildings or shapes on iron gates), while older kids use their deduction skills to figure out how that answers the puzzle.
Ready to discover your true house and explore the city's coolest stops? [BOOK NOW VIA LINK], pack your appetite, and we'll see you at the runestone!