We spent over two weeks taking our kids through England and Scotland, from London all the way up through the Highlands, down to the Scottish Borders, and back to Edinburgh. It was ambitious with two toddlers in tow, and it was also one of the best trips we’ve done as a family.
This post is the map. Below, I’ve broken the trip down by region, with a quick take on each stop and a link to the full guide for all the details, where to stay, what to do, where to eat, and everything we’d do differently. If you’re planning your own UK trip with kids, use this as a starting point and pull whichever regions fit what you’re after.
England
London
London was our first stop, and it’s more stroller-friendly and kid-tolerant than people expect. We’ve actually done it twice with little ones, once with just our son as a baby, and again with both kids as part of this bigger trip. Parks everywhere, free museums, a Tube system that mostly works with a stroller, and food that’s a lot better than London gets credit for.
Read the full London with Kids guide.
The Scottish Highlands
This was the heart of the trip, and if you only have time for one region of Scotland with kids, this is the one I’d point you toward.
Inverness
Inverness was our first stop in Scotland and it earned its reputation as the gateway to the Highlands. We stayed at a working farm just outside the city, took a short Loch Ness cruise, and used it as a home base for day trips to castles and battlefields nearby.
Read the full Inverness with Kids guide.
Isle of Skye
From Inverness, we drove to Skye, stopping at Eilean Donan Castle along the way. Skye is bigger and slower to get around than it looks on a map, so we picked a section and focused on it rather than trying to see the whole island. Fairy Glen and the Fairy Pools were both very doable with toddlers, and Old Man of Storr and Quiraing were better appreciated from a viewpoint than a full hike with little ones.
Read the full Isle of Skye with Kids guide.
Glencoe
We left Skye by ferry and made our way to Glencoe, stopping first at Glenfinnan to catch the Jacobite Steam Train crossing the viaduct, the real-life inspiration behind the Hogwarts Express. Glencoe itself is some of the most dramatic scenery in the Highlands, and we stayed right on the water at a hotel where the kids spent hours skipping rocks. This region is also where we started picking up Outlander filming locations, including Doune Castle and Midhope Castle, on the drive south.
Read the full Glencoe with Kids guide.
The Scottish Borders
Schloss Roxburghe
After Glencoe, we headed south to the Scottish Borders for three nights at Schloss Roxburghe, a castle hotel we found through the points and miles world that turned out to be one of the most family-friendly luxury properties we’ve stayed at. Kids club, a playground on the grounds, and a pool schedule that split the day between family time and adult time. The surrounding area is packed with castles, abbeys, and day trip options if you’re driving down toward England.
Read the full Schloss Roxburghe review.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh was our final stop, and it closed the trip out well. It’s genuinely easy to navigate with kids, walkable, and dense with things to do, Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, playgrounds tucked into the city, plus a real cluster of Harry Potter and Outlander spots if your family is into either. We also snuck away for a few evenings once my mom was on kid duty, and Edinburgh’s bar scene deserves its own mention.
Read the full Edinburgh with Kids guide.
How We Paid for All of It
This was a big trip for our family, five people across six stops, and we didn’t pay full price for most of it. We used a mix of transferable points, free night certificates, and cash where it made sense, and ended up saving over $13,000 compared to what it would have cost paying cash the whole way.
See exactly how we booked the entire trip here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a UK and Scotland trip with kids be?
We spent just over two weeks covering London, the Highlands, the Borders, and Edinburgh, and it felt full without being rushed. If you’re tighter on time, I’d rather you cut a region entirely than try to squeeze all four into a week.
Do you need a car for this whole trip?
Yes, for most of it. London and Edinburgh are both walkable on their own, but everything in between, Inverness, Skye, Glencoe, and the Borders, requires a car. We picked up a rental after London and dropped it off before flying out of Edinburgh.
What age is best for a trip like this?
We did this with a 4 year old and a 1 year old, and it worked, but it wasn’t effortless. The driving days are long, and a lot of the Highlands scenery is more of a “look out the window” experience than a hands-on one for younger toddlers. If your kids are old enough to handle a hike or two, you’ll get more out of the outdoor stops.
Is this trip better for Harry Potter or Outlander fans?
Honestly, both. Glencoe and Edinburgh alone cover a real mix of filming locations and inspiration spots for each, so you don’t have to choose one over the other to build a trip around it.
How far in advance should you book something like this?
We booked most of our hotels using points and free night certificates, which meant planning several months out to make sure award availability lined up with our dates. If you’re paying cash, you have more flexibility, but I’d still book 3 to 4 months ahead for peak summer travel.
Before You Go
I put together a free Hotel Upgrade Guide with the exact strategies I use to get room upgrades, resort credits, and better rates. Grab it below.
Want Help Planning Your Trip?
If you’re planning a trip to the UK or Scotland and want help figuring out where to stay, how to sequence your stops, or how to pay for it with points, I do this for families all the time and it costs you nothing.
Shoot me an email at [email protected] and tell me where you’re headed.
