10 Great Day Trips from Edinburgh

Edinburg is a majestic city that has so many attractions for visitors around it. It is at an ideal location from where you can easily explore destinations in Scotland and England. And if you can get a coach charter, you can take a day trip to some wonderful places.

We have rounded up some great destinations where you can have a day out with family and friends. These areas have amazing parks, castles, distilleries, scenery, and other distinctive attractions. Some places you can go to on your own but for others, we recommend you rent a coach hire with driver.

LOCH LOMOND & THE TROSSACHS NATIONAL PARK

Distance from Edinburgh: About 60 Miles

Travel Time: Between 1.5 and 2 Hours

The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is a must-go destination if you are a resident of Edinburgh. It was also the first place that earned the status of National Park in 2002. The park is one of the most scenic areas in Scotland and there is so much to see and explore.

In case you don’t know the history, it was the renowned poet Walter Scott who made Trossachs famous with his writing piece ‘The Lady on the Lake.’

Now over 4 million visitors get here annually to explore the scenery of Scotland. This is an area where you can do all sorts of activities with friends or family. You can enjoy the scenic view, discover the villages, cycle through the Achray forest, and hike the Munros & Bens. 

The most popular attractions of the area are:

• Scottish Maritime Museum
• Rest and be Thankful viewpoint
• Ben A’an
• Falls of Dochart

ST ANDREWS

Distance from Edinburgh: About 52 Miles

Travel Time: About 1.5 Hours

St Andrews is Scotland’s home of golf and has the oldest University in Scotland as well. This is a perfect destination for people who are fond of quaint places and quaint things. There are so many things to do in St Andrews that you can easily explore on a coach charter.

You can do fine dining in St Andrews in case you arrive hungrily. And if you aren’t in the mood, head down to West Sands Beach for a stroll along the iconic coastline. You can also explore local shops and a charming array of pubs in the city.

But the most exciting attraction in the town is perhaps the St Andrews Aquarium. This is an underwater world of adventure where you can get up close with seals, piranhas, and British sharks.

Other popular attractions in St. Andrews are:

• Craigtoun Country Park
• St Andrews Cathedral
• Eden Mill
• The Swilcan Bridge

GLASGOW

Distance from Edinburgh: About 46 Miles

Travel Time: More than 1 Hour

Glasgow is just 46 miles away from Edinburgh. And if you think a visit to the UNESCO City of Music isn’t worth it, think again. Scotland’s second-largest city has plenty to offer to its visitors.

As a creative and cultural hub, Glasgow has an exciting calendar of world-class festivals. There are hipster places to eat and the city has large botanical gardens with wonderful views. Some other notable attractions that you should visit in Glasgow are:

• Glengoyne Distillery
• The Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel
• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
• Celtic Park
• University of Glasgow

M&D'S SCOTLAND'S THEME PARK

Distance from Edinburgh: About 46 Miles

Travel Time: More than 1 Hour

Glasgow is just 46 miles away from Edinburgh. And if you think a visit to the UNESCO City of Music isn’t worth it, think again. Scotland’s second-largest city has plenty to offer to its visitors.

As a creative and cultural hub, Glasgow has an exciting calendar of world-class festivals. There are hipster places to eat and the city has large botanical gardens with wonderful views. Some other notable attractions that you should visit in Glasgow are:

• Glengoyne Distillery
• The Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel
• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
• Celtic Park
• University of Glasgow

M&D'S SCOTLAND'S THEME PARK

Distance from Edinburgh: About 40 Miles

Travel Time: More than 1 Hour

M&D’s is the largest and premier theme park in Scotland that’s just 40 miles away from Edinburg. It’s the best place to go with your family and kids on coach hire.

The park is a unique place for fun and learning for all ages. There are so many attractions for tourists and kids including a huge range of rides (over 40). If you are planning to visit, add the Tornado, the park’s largest roller coaster, to your checklist.

In addition, there are several fairground-type rides, a log flume, and four roller coasters that are specifically designed for young children. But that’s not all as the area has some of the finest restaurants in Scotland.

INVERNESS

Distance from Edinburgh: More than 155 Miles

Travel Time: More than 3 Hours

Situated on Scotland’s northeast coast, Inverness is another beautiful city to explore on a day out. It’s located in an area where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth. Named the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands, this is a place that has a lot to offer to visitors.

There are plenty of ancient sites of interest that you can explore. If that does not fascinate you, the area has natural landscapes and quaint towns that you’ll find cherishing.

Some of the most popular attractions to visit in Inverness are:

• Inverness Botanic Gardens
• Tomatin Distillery Visitor Centre
• North Coast 500
• Fort George
• River Ness

Inverness Cathedral, Inverness castle, and Victoria Market are some other key places that you can explore.

FALKIRK

Distance from Edinburgh: About 30 Miles

Travel Time: About 1 Hour

Falkirk is merely 30 miles away from Edinburgh and you can easily reach there within an hour. However, if you are travelling with friends or an educational group, we recommend you to get a coach charter with driver. That’s because the destination has such a rich cultural area around it in central Scotland.

If not for its view and culture, Falkirk is worth visiting for its rich history. This is the area where William Wallace saw the defeat in 1928 and the incident shaped the fate of Scotland.

The most amazing attraction point to explore here is the rotating boat lift, Falkirk Wheel. The wheel is nothing short of a marvel that links the Forth and Clyde Canal to the Union Canal. It’s the only rotary connector that you’ll see in the entire world.

Other popular attractions to visit in Falkirk are:

• Callendar House
• The Kelpies & The Helix
• Muiravonside Country Park
• Xtreme Karting Falkirk

You should also explore other key tourist attraction points like Antonine Roman Wall and the Scottish Segway Centre.

ABERDEEN

Distance from Edinburgh: About 128 Miles

Travel Time: Between 2 and 3 Hours

For food lovers, there is no better destination than Aberdeen. It’ll take you about 3 hours to reach there but the trip is worth it. This is an area with a rich coastline where fresh seafood is hauled in each day.

Aberdeen is dotted with harbours and fishing ports which means you get to taste the best and freshest Scottish cuisine. The area is renowned for its Angus beef and lush pastures. You will also find beautiful gardens, charming scenery, architecture, and interesting museums.

The top attractions to visit in Aberdeen are:

• Duthie Park Winter Gardens
• Aberdeen Maritime Museum
• Slains Castle
• The Gordon Highlanders Museum

OBAN

Distance from Edinburgh: About 130 Miles

Travel Time: More than 3.5 Hours

Oban is a town situated on the Scottish coast that splits into North and South. This is a brilliant touring base for people who truly want to explore Scotland. You can spend hours exploring beaches, castles, villages, gardens, and forests.

The scenery that you’ll get to explore in Oban is startling and eye-catching. Moreover, there are plenty of glens and castles near Oban that you can visit. Some popular attractions that you can visit are:

• Dunstaffnage Castle & Chapel
• McCaig’s Tower
• Oban Distillery
• Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds

If you are travelling with kids on a minibus hire, we encourage you to explore further. You should visit the Arduaine Garden, Oban War & Peace Museum, and McCaig’s Tower as well.

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

Distance from Edinburgh: More than 120 Miles

Travel Time: More than 2.5 Hours

Newcastle upon Tyne is another vibrant city known for its breathtaking scenery and spectacular bridges. Its delicious food, wild nightlife, incredible museums and theatres are the main reasons why tourists love this destination.

It’ll take you about 2.5 hours to reach here on a minibus hire from Edinburgh. But once you are in Newcastle, you’ll love the vibe of the city. If you are travelling with kids, you should visit:

• Victoria Tunnel
• St James’ Park
• The Flight Experience
• Flight Sim Centre
• TeamSport Indoor Go Karting Newcastle

Other notable attractions that you should explore are Jesmond Dene, The Discovery Museum, and St James’ Park.

MANCHESTER

Distance from Edinburgh: About 220 miles

Travel Time: More than 4 Hours

The last destination on our list is the first industrial city in the world. Manchester is a bit far from Edinburg but you can reach there in about 4 hours on coach hire. The city is the best place to explore modern culture and fantastic food.

There are so many things to do in Manchester including a visit to:

• The Manchester Museum
• The City of Manchester Distillery
• Science and Industry Museum
• The John Rylands Library

And if you are a football lover, don’t miss the chance to visit Manchester United FC.

FINAL NOTE

We have tried to include only the best and great attractions near Edinburgh. There are cities and places where you can spend a day out with friends and families and will have fun. We recommend you get a Coach hire Edinburgh if you are travelling with a large group of people. The Coach Company can provide you with a vehicle of your choice anywhere in the UK.