8 Things to do in Musselburgh with Kids
By Yvette Webster (Wayfaring Kiwi)
East Lothian is a fantastic region to explore for families, with an abundance of child-friendly activities and some of the best scran in the country.
We usually spend the weekends exploring different areas located within the Central Belt, and East Lothian has recently become our go-to destination for family fun. We recently had a great weekend exploring kid-friendly activities in Musselburgh with our toddler, Alex.
Located on the coast of the Firth of Forth, Musselburgh is a stone's throw from Edinburgh- making it an ideal day trip from the city. Musselburgh is rich in history; it's Scotland's oldest town, and it was first settled by the Romans. You can still see evidence of Roman occupation near Inveresk.
Musselburgh is also famous because it's home to the oldest golf course in the world - a course that Mary Queen of Scots is said to have played there in the 16th century. A quirky feature of the golf course is that it is surrounded by a racecourse!
Read on for some recommendations for things to do in Musselburgh with kids.
1) Visit Company Bakery at Eskmills
Company Bakery was started by five friends who had a common goal: to create the best sourdough possible. They began as a wholesaler supplying Michelin restaurants and 5-star hotels with bread, and they have now opened their own cafe at Eskmills, offering locals a taste of the magic they conjure up in their kitchen.
From their award-winning sourdough to flaky pastries, gooey cinnamon buns to brownies, the cafe is stocked with decadent goodies that will leave you satisfied.
2) Go for a walk along the River Esk Walkway
The River Esk Walkway is an easy walk that is well-suited to little ones. The walkway is 3 kilometres in length, and takes just over one hour to complete.
The route is tarmacked making it perfect for prams, cyclists and walkers. It’s a peaceful walk flourishing with birdlife (we saw a heron and Canadian geese) and it links up some of Musselburgh’s Roman sites.
3) Visit Newhailes House & Gardens
A visit to Newhailes House and Gardens is a fantastic day out for the family. There are woodland walks to enjoy, a lovely modern cafe with outdoor seating, a shop, a playpark, and even a second-hand bookshop!
The house itself is a 17th-century Palladian villa that played a prominent role in the Scottish Enlightenment. They have just started doing family-friendly tours of the house, designed to be interesting for both adults and kids.
Weehailes Adventure Playpark is located on the grounds of Newhailes House. It's a large playground suitable for ages 2+, and has a variety of colourful houses to explore, slides, swings, sandpits, a maze, and flying foxes. There are plenty of picnic tables for adults to relax while the kids run around and explore.
Alex absolutely loved this park and it's now a firm family favourite.
4) Visit Prestongrange Museum
Prestongrange Museum is a free, family-friendly open-air museum on the site of a former coal mine. It's a fantastic free activity for kids and adults with an interest in the Scottish Industrial Revolution.
Lido Musselburgh is so trendy that it wouldn’t look amiss in Edinburgh- they also have a great kids' menu! We opted for the Tapas sharing platter, while Alex had fish goujons and chips.
Described as laid-back Mediterranean-inspired eating, the food was delicious and so was the ambience- a great change from the sometimes plain family-friendly restaurants. Treat the kids with one of their delectable milkshakes or floats!
6) Enjoy a fish supper from East Coast
East Coast has won multiple awards, including the Best Chip Shop in the East at the Scottish Fish and Chip Awards. Their win was deserved because its easily the best chippy we’ve had in Scotland! They also have a Seafood and Grill restaurant if you’d prefer to eat inside.
7) Grab an ice cream from Lucas
Lucas Ice Cream is a Musselburgh institution, and the best ice cream I’ve tasted in Scotland.
Dine in at their restaurant, or get a cone or pot of ice cream to take away. Let the kids get creative and order a ‘Build Your Own’ sundae where they can choose from a variety of different flavours and toppings.
They also sell tubs of their ice cream in-store so that you can enjoy it at home.
8) Play at Musselburgh Beach
On a sunny day, head down to Musselburgh Beach for a play in the sand.
Be sure to visit the giant mussel sculpture at the western end of the beach, on Murdoch Green. Designed by Michael Johnson, the sculpture is called ‘Memory and Reflection’ and portrays Musselburgh’s history of its people, agriculture, connections to the sea, the river and the Romans.
Fisherrow Harbour, located at the eastern end of the beach, is a great place to explore with wee ones. Alex loved scooping up the sand with some cups we'd brought with us, and seeing the boats bobbing in the harbour.
Interested in seeing the above recommendations in action? Watch the video of our adventure on Facebook or Instagram.
Yvette Webster is a Scotland travel expert and an award-winning content creator at Wayfaring Kiwi. She lives in West Lothian with her husband and their two-year-old son, Alex, and they regularly explore Scotland as a family, sharing itineraries and tips.
Author: Jackie Gardiner
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