Are we crazy? We will be going to the UK in Aug/Sept to see MIL in London, and wanted to take a side trip to Edinburgh (on train, we'll have no car). We also have a 4 yr old. Doable?

Edinburgh isn't any less doable than London. What are your main concerns?

How long were you planning for the Edinburgh excursion and which dates? August is a VERY busy time in Edinburgh w/ the festivals and Tattoo and is mostly booked up by now. But if your trip up is into Sept, accomodations are a lot easier.

We are in the UK from Aug 26th to September 9th, and haven't picked the dates for Edinburgh yet. Which would be least busy? I guess concern is hotel rooms with tiny baby. Hotel cribs skeeve me out a bit.

If your Edinburgh visit is towards the end of that time frame you will have an easier time finding a room. I personally wouldn't have concerns about using a hotel crib, so can't help you there. (BTW - the term in the UK is <u>cot</u> so that is what to look for when booking) Maybe bring your own bedding for the cot - in fact, many B&amp;Bs and hotels will provide a cot but not the bedding.

Th etrain goes from Kings Cross to the very center of Edinburgh in a bit over 4 hours. I would try for weekday trains up/back because weekends is when there are more likely to be delays due to track work.

I'd take an early morning train and be in edinburgh by linch time. Then the next day leave Edinburgh after an early dinner and you'd be back in London by 11 p.m. or so. 1.5 days is enough to see a good bit of Edinburgh. But if you can squeeze in a 2 night/2.5 day visit - all the better

The Edinburgh Fringe &amp; Book Festivals finish on 28 August. The International Festival finishes on 3 September.

As cities go, I can't think of a better one to bring a 5 year old to than Edinburgh.
Especially in festival time.
Aside from the countless 'fun' things (including, but not limited to, the castle, Museum of childhood, Edinburgh dungeon, various tours, the Zoo, Princes Street gardens etc etc)...there will be street entertainers, live music, puppet shows and a list of cool things for small kids longer than my arm.
And I have a very long arm.

Add to that the fact that Edinburgh isn't a huge city, and I say do it, do it, do it ! He'll love it...my kids do.

Edit : I thought you said 5 'year' old, not 5 'month' old.

Forget about everything I've written then...he might not appreciate the street entertainers at 5 months.

Note to self.....concentrate harder on what other people post. Doh.

MacSporran, the OP has both a 5 month old (in the post title) and a 4 year old (in the post itself), so your comments will apply (well, minus a year and plus an infant!)

Yes, the festival would be great for a 4 yo - but accomodations will be much easier to find after the festivals have ended . . . .

The weekend of the 2nd - 4th September would be a good weekend to think about as the Bank of Scotland Fireworks, above Edinburgh Castle are ongoing that weekend. the show starts about 9p.m and lasts for about 1 - 1.5hours. It can be seen from a number of vantage points throughout the city but probably the best place would be Princes Street or the Mound.
Try the likes of the Apartment By Castle or some of the other city centre apartments which can supply free of any cost, baby cots and baby linen if required. This will give you and the family the opportunity to do the things you would want them to see and do.

I wouldn't advise taking small children to Princes Street or the Mound for the fireworks - amongst the crowd of 500,000. But there is a 'family viewing area' in Inverleith Park, so staying near there might be useful if you are there then.

Think hard about why you're going? If it's to see the city then wait til the festival is over because everything will be quieter and easier and you will not be sharing your experience with hoards of drama students. If it's to go to the festival then remember there's very little you can take kids that age to and all you'll see is street entertainment. BUT Edinburgh is a great city for kids, I lived there for a year with my baby as she grew into a toddler. The museums are child friendly (she learnt to crawl at the modern art gallery) and on the stairs of the museum of scotland, it's all walkable and there are great places for kids to eat (mainly italian). You might buy a copy of Edinburgh for Under 5s, written by a group of local parents for detailed listings.
My top 5 for the under 5s
1. Museum of Scotland (glass lifts, roof terrace, goldfish pond inide)
2. Modern Art Gallery, Dean Gallery + Water of Leith walk through Dean Village
3. Stockbridge and the Botanical Gardens
4.Walk on the Meadows, followed by icecream at Luca's cafe at Bruntsfield (also great place for breakfast)
5. Wander round the New Town, visit to Scotland Yard adventure playground.