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Brilliant things to do at Fort Kinnaird this summer

Days out ideas, kids’ entertainment, menus and more

Planning days out in Edinburgh this summer? From kids’ menus and sweet treats, shopping and toys to the biggest movie blockbusters, special seasonal offers and discounts, here’s how to get inspired at Fort Kinnaird.

1. See the biggest movies

This summer, it’s all about the blockbusters with the arrival of live-action Lilo & Stitch and Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (23 May), live-action How To Train Your Dragon (13 June), Jurassic World: Rebirth (2 July), Superman (11 July), The Fantastic Four: First Step (25 July), The Bad Guys 2 (1 August) and Freakier Friday (8 August). Phew!

Odeon is the place to see them with all tickets £7.50 all day with the Odeon app. They’ve also got family tickets from £19, kids screenings for £2.75, 2-for-1 tickets with Meerkat Movies and 30% off discounts with Frankie & Benny’s. Book your seats here.

2. Discover the best kids’ menus

• Head to wagamama for special kids’ menus for just £7.70 – choose from one of their mains made mini (yaki soba, ramen, chicken katsu) with drinks and desserts of chocolate brownie, tropical fruit lolly or vanilla ice-cream.
• Pizza Hut is the perfect place for kids with free unlimited salad and bottomless drinks plus mains (pizza, pasta, chicken and more) and desserts of ice cream for just £7.99. While older kids get all this plus fries or corn on the cob for £8.99. See the latest menus here.
• Pizza Express is unmissable with dough balls, pizza, pasta or salad, a dessert, a bambinoccino and a Piccolo Activity Pack for £8.
• Frankie & Benny’s has brunch for £4.70 (mini classic breakfast or pancakes with a juice or milk), saucy bowls of pasta, crispy omega-3 fish fingers, baked salmon and chicken wraps across £6.80 Small Eaters or £8.30 Big Eaters menus. Desserts include jelly and fruit for just £2. Yum! Book here.

3. Go shopping for kids’ (and pets) bits and pieces

Fort Kinnaird is home to some of the best stores to find toys, new summer wardrobes, holiday packing and entertainment. For toys including Gabby’s Dollhouse, garden swing sets, movie action figures and Sylvanian Families, head to Smyths Toys and Argos. For babies and toddlers’ clothes, toys, prams and furniture, there’s Mamas & Papas.

Find summer clothes and shoes at Primark, schuh kids, Skechers and TK Maxx then swing by Waterstones for picture books, games and chapter novels for older ones.

If you’ve got pets, visit Pets At Home with the kids and choose everything from cosy beds to fish food.

4. Grab some food on the go

Make it a quick and easy meal for everyone with some of the best food-on-the-go favourites. We’ve got Five Guys, Greggs (perfect for bacon sandwiches before 11am), Marks & Spencer (a main, a snack and drink for just £4), McDonalds and Nando’s (sign up to the app to easily order at your table and build up loyalty points with Nandino meals of a main, two sides, a drink or dessert).

For seriously good burgers, head to local heroes Bread Meats Bread which have stacked burgers and kids’ menus for £8 featuring cheese toasties, chicken bites, beef and chicken burgers and hotdogs served with chips, drink and ice cream. See the menu here. Chaiiwala’s Indian street food is a crowd pleaser with refreshing chais, Bombay toasties, Mogo chilli chips and poppadom nachos.

5. Get crafting

Unleash their creative imaginations with plenty of pens, paints, paper, glue and DIY projects from Hobbycraft. Hobbycraft runs a host of workshops for all ages including knitting, acrylic painting and clay creatures (see what’s available here) or get them cooking brownies, biscuits and cupcakes with finds from ProCook and TK Maxx.

Keep tweens happy…

Have some tweens to keep entertained? Head to Superdrug for travel minis, face masks and a host of beauty brands and perfumes and Claire’s for hair accessories, jewellery and nail art.

Go for a sweet treat

All that shopping and exploring can leave you feeling wiped out so take the kids to Hotel Chocolat for fun kids’ finds including tasty Tiddly Pots, jaw-dropping hot chocolates and Smile Milk Chocolate lollies. Sign up to their loyalty scheme for discounts and birthday specials.

Celebrating your Birthday?

Always check the Fort Kinnaird offers page which has special birthday discounts and giveaways from across its stores. Find them here.

It’s easy to get to Fort Kinnaird by car and public transport – find directions here and see what’s available for family-friendly facilities here.

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Last updated Friday 16 May, 2025