help with Edinburgh itinerary

Don't know why you would need the one hour bus tour. Also think a 3 and half hour walking tour would be too much for her and probably you. That said, try to be at castle at 1pm for the shooting off of the cannon. We loved Mary King's Close and the royal yacht which is an easy bus ride from town to the water. She might also be interested in Grey Friar's Bobby which is right by the castle. Story of a faithful dog who slept on his master's grave for years after the master died. They are buried in the churchyard by the pub which is across the street from the museum. Enjoy the city. Maybe you could go down to the yacht first thing in the morning, get back to town by lunch and get to the castle about 12:30 or so. Or you could spend the day by the castle, Mary King's first, early lunch and castle by 12:30 and the rest of the day on the Royal Mile, walk to Holyrood and back.

I take that you have not jet lag concerns, right? In that case, a hike up Arthur's seat would be good. You haven't scheduled any time in New Town which is an interesting part of Edinburgh. You might want to try to get over to the Georgian House. It's not very big, but is very well done and introduces you to life in Edinburgh during the late 18th and early 19th century. Edinburgh Castle is terrific and worth spending time visiting. The views are spectacular, but there are some interesting things to see. You can buy your tickets in advance online and you can plan your visit which might help your 12 year old. http://www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk/index.htm I particularly like the Honors of Scotland, the Prisons exhibit, and the Great Hall. Also, check out the little room where Queen Mary gave birth to James VI. As my grandfather fought in WWI I personally find the War Memorial very moving. I would then just walk down the Royal Mile. The Camera Obscura might interest you 12-YO. I think Gladstone's Land is very good. I also like Holyrood Palace. I did enjoy my ghost tour. It's a bit hokey, of course. The Yacht is a good tour. BTW if your 12 YO likes science, don't forget Dynamic Earth. There's a good section on the creation of Scotland Geography and Glaciation. Alternate for a rainy day. Pam

Don't know where in Edinburgh you are staying, but I recommend walking to the Castle and seeing it on foot. Sure, it's uphill. Pace yourself. The Castle will take about half a day. Then you can walk the Royal Mile. And then your day will be done. It's difficult to predict what kids will like. But, Edinburgh is so different from any large American city she will have been in that I'd be very surprised if it didn't keep her attention. If she, or either of you, are Harry Potter fans, the little coffeeshop where Rowlings wrote the first book is just off the Royal Mile. Just a little hole-in-the wall place trying to exploit that connection, but maybe worth a visit by true fans.

If you've interest in Grey Friar's Bobby, the fountain statue is near the church yard where you can see his grave. Also, at the Museum of Edinburgh you can see a display about Bobby with his collar, bowl, pictures, etc. I recommend having a small flashlight in your pocket for the Mary King's Close (wished I'd had one). Stop in and put your name down for a time when you know about you could be there. On thing to remember is that you will not know the weather until you arrive. Perhaps have some sites/activities in mind if you arrive and it's raining. I'm trying to remember what interested me at twelve. Wow, it's been a while. I knew about Grey Friar's Bobby, but does your daughter? I searched edinburgh for kids .. some good looking hits: http://www.kidsedinburgh.com/
http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/Scotland/edinburgh.htm (I did see/enjoy a number of interactive displays at the National Museum of Scotland, plus it's free entry)

We missed seeing the Real Mary King's Close because we waited until the end of the day (off season) and discovered that it was a school holiday and everyone had booked tickets earlier in the morning. From the description, I imagine the Close might appeal to teens, so if you plan to go make sure you check the ticket booth early and obtain the time you want. There is also an interesting Museum of Childhood that has several floors of toys and games from past eras. It is primarily nostalgia for adults but the kids and teens we saw there seemed to be enjoying it, too.

Thanks for all the good suggestions! I think I'll plan on the museum as a rainy day option for the afternoon we arrive. It sounds like our full day would best be spent at the castle and on our own on the mile, with Mary King's Close and Gladstone's Land if time permits. I will also try to fit in Bobby...I think my daughter would really like the story. In terms of booking ahead for Mary Kings...is early morning soon enough, or should (can) we get tickets the day before? Or book way ahead on line? What's the difference between this tour and the Mercat's underground vaults?? Do any of the bus tours include Britannia...or is that only with the full Scotland Pass? (I'm mainly interested in avoiding the lines) What suggestions do you have for inexpensive places to eat near the mile? We would rather spend money on sights than food! Thanks!

Ruth, When we missed our chance at Mary King's Close, they told us earlier that day we would've been able to secure a place on a tour. (We waited until after 5pm. Basically we saw the other sites that all closed at 5, then walked to the Close which closed at 9pm.) It seems booking that day is usually fine and walk-ups might even have been OK had it not been a peak season. (This was in October 2009). But my experience may not have been typical so I am sure others may reply.
Enjoy. Edinburgh is a great city to explore.

Ruth, I have no specific suggestions for cheap eats on the Royal Mile, but there are plenty of places. It's a shopping, business, and tourism street. You won't have any trouble finding a cafe, pub, or coffee shop. What you'll see are a mix of locally-owned places and the usual franchises.

Arthur's Seat: absoutelyreally enjoyed this on my 2009 trip. It was the first thing my friends and I did after we checked into the hotel. Edinburgh Castlecertainly one of the main activities in the cityenjoyed this, though you can spend a lot of time therelots of areas to see. Royal Milebroke this pretty much into two days, going into stores, side streets, cathedral, cemeteries, meals, shopping ToursI'm not a big bus tour person; would have liked to do one of the walking tours Calton Hilldramatic overlook of the city, with many monuments and a cemetary Grassmarket Squarewith several pubs to choose from