Before our first review assignment

Last year, we were stepping into the great unknown, wondering how we would get on reviewing shows, and perhaps keeping to relatively safe choices as it was our first year as reviewers.

This year, our review team is of course all a little older, and the challenge to find shows aimed at the right level is proving a little more tricky. The transition from childhood to the teenage years means that our elder reviewer, at age 13, is eager to try more ‘adult’ shows, while our younger reviewer at age 9 is happy to see shows which satisfy his curiosity and love of magic and science.

All of our reviews can be found over at Edinburgh Spotlight, but here are links to the first few for you.

The Amazing Bubble Man (USA) – The Amazing Bubble Show (C too) – read review

Comedy Club 4 Kids (The Bongo Club) – read review

I Hate Children Children’s Show – Bad Magician (Zoo Southside) – read review

Nunsense – American High School Theatre Festival (Pilrig Studios) – read review

Dan from Potted Panto with McNaughton Family Reviewers

Our 2edinburgh blog is designed to give a flavour for things to do and places to go when visiting Craigwell Cottage, our little city centre cottage (with parking) right in the heart of the city of Edinburgh.

We occasionally review special events and happenings in Edinburgh, but as a family we’re not able to cover a vast range of different types of event, preferring to focus on little news items about permanent attractions or events which are annual occurrences in the Edinburgh calendar.

This year, our family was given the opportunity to undertake a very special assignment – that of guest reviewers at some Festival Fringe performances on behalf of the review site Edinburgh Spotlight. We were very excited to be asked, and as soon as the Fringe Programme was issued we pored over it working out and planning which shows we would ask to review, and fitting reviews in as best we could with other holiday activities we had planned.

As first time reviewers we really had no idea what we were letting ourselves in for, but the owners of Edinburgh Spotlight were very helpful and patient with us, explaining what would be required. We also opted to go to some shows simply as ‘the audience’ so that we could relax and enjoy them without having to exercise our critical faculties.

Our first reviews of CBBC’s Dan and Jeff in Potted Panto, and the West End Glee Club have now been published, and you can find our other reviews by following the links below We hope you enjoy sharing our experiences.

Hairspray

Sausage & Samosa

Dr Bunhead is Volcano Head

Azincourt performed by Willington School

James Campbell’s Comedy and Song for Kids

Things that go…bump, rattle, klunk, cackle, woo!

Water Babies – Stage Stars Young Actors Company

Fabulous Female A-Capella – In the Pink

Dandelion’s Story – Modl Theatre

Shipwrecked – The Amazing Tale of Louis de Rougemont as told by Himself

Time-Tastical Productions – Dr Austin and Sparks in Space

Indefinite Articles – Pinocchio

Thanks Edinburgh Spotlight for this opportunity to experience so much of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2010.

As agreed with Lottie and Scottie yesterday, it was to be a trip to Dynamic Earth today. So after our delicious breakfast from The Manna House, it was off up Campbell’s Close to the Royal Mile, then over the road past Canongate Primary School and up to Bull’s Close to find a shortcut through to Dynamic Earth. Plenty of photo opportunities en route as we passed the Scottish Parliament building with its interesting ultra modern facades. Lottie had been watching some kids show on BBC this morning about kids setting rules for their parents and says she’s banning me from taking more than 5 photos a day.
Susan McNaughton
October 2008

Our first guests at Craigwell Cottage are travelling with a young old child, so we thought it would be a good idea to put together some ideas of activities which would suit a family with small children holidaying in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo is a firm favourite no matter what age you are! It’s open every day of the year – including Christmas Day, so no matter when you visit Craigwell Cottage, you’ll be able to pay a visit to Edinburgh Zoo during your stay. You’ll find opening times and admission charges by following this link.

Getting to Edinburgh Zoo from Craigwell Cottage:

The most frequent bus service which passes the Zoo is the 26 which you can catch from the stop opposite the main branch of Marks and Spencer in Princes Street.

By Bus

Edinburgh Zoo, located on Corstorphine Road, is well serviced by public transport. With bus stops located directly outside the Zoo, it makes it easily accessible by the following buses;

All the following Lothian Buses go from Princes Street, Edinburgh city centre;

12 – The Jewel – Princes Street – The Gyle. Timetable link: here

26 – Tranent – Princes Street – Clerwood. Timetable link: here

31 – Polton – Princes Street – East Craigs. Timetable link: here

X48 – The Ingliston Park and Ride Timetable link: here

Your Day at Edinburgh Zoo

At the entrance to the Zoo you’ll be given a daily schedule of events. It’s a good idea to take a few minutes to read this and plan your day’s activities as there are often interesting talks on, or chances to see animals up close.

Our recommendation would be to arrive early in the morning and take advantage of the free Hilltop Safari rides which take you up to the top of the Corstorphine Hill on which the Zoo stands. The first Hilltop Safari ride starts at 10 am.

It’s quite a good idea to take a picnic with you as this keeps the cost of the trip down, and is usually a favourite option for young children. There are plenty of picnic benches and grassy areas throughout the Zoo where you can picnic. But don’t worry if you haven’t brought your picnic with you, there are places where you can buy a picnic, or cafés and restaurants throughout the Zoo park too. You’ll find further information about Picnics at the Zoo by following the link.

Don’t forget your camera – if it’s a clear day you’ll get wonderful views over Edinburgh and particularly towards the Pentland Hills to the south.

One of the main events which Edinburgh Zoo is famous for is the daily ‘Penguin Parade’ which takes place every day at 2 pm at the Penguin Enclosure – any penguins who feel like taking a stroll are allowed out of the enclosure to parade round the children’s play park. It’s a purely voluntary affair these days, so some days only one or two penguins come out for a walk, and other days there are many more. Provides lots of photo opportunities though.

Holyrood Park
A short walk away from the cottage and providing spectacular scenery in the centre of Edinburgh, you’ll find Holyrood Park. You can take a stroll round the low level paths, or try a more adventurous walk up by Salisbury Crags, or scale Arthur’s Seat (these two prominent geological features give the ‘Sleeping Lion’ skyline). You’ll find Historic Scotland’s Education Centre at Holyrood Park Education centre, which is shown on the map you’ll find on the Historic Scotland web page about the park. There is a play park off Queen’s Drive between the Dynamic Earth exit and the Commonwealth Pool exit.

From Craigwell Cottage turn right and walk down Calton Road to the end, then turn right and follow the road past the front of the Scottish Parliament and you’ll find the entrance to Holyrood Park. The Ranger Centre is on the grassy area behind Holyrood Palace – also a great place to kick a ball or fly a kite!

Commonwealth Pool
When travelling with small children it’s sometimes hard to find the places that the local Mums know about for providing activities for kids to run off some of their energy and give them a safe place to play. One of the favourites when our children were small is the play area at the Commonwealth Pool, called ‘Clambers’ – there’s a soft play area where children can climb and explore in relative safety, and there’s a coffee shop where you can buy light snacks and refreshments. The swimming pool was originally constructed for the 1970 Commonwealth Games and it is in serious need of renovation – but there is a 0.8 metre deep kids’ pool which is also worth a visit if your kids enjoy splashing about or practising their swimming technique.

From Craigwell Cottage you can walk through Holyrood Park – it’s a steady uphill climb and probably only manageable by young ones if they’re travelling in a buggy. At the Holyrood Palace entrance turn to your right and follow Queen’s Drive to the Commonwealth Pool exit (it’s probably best if you refer to the Ranger Service map for directions).

Ocean Terminal
A shopping centre with a difference – there’s plenty available at Ocean Terminal for a day out for all ages. The former Royal Yacht Britannia is moored at Ocean Terminal where there’s a great visitor centre and tours of the ship. You’ll also find Molly’s play area near the entrance to the Royal Yacht, where small children can have an hour or so of adventurous activity while Mum or Dad relaxes with a coffee and a good book! It’s a reasonably priced place to have a child friendly lunch or snack too.

For older children there’s the challenge of the 40-foot climbing adventure which is The Totem
- my eight year old had a wonderful time there being shown how to climb wearing a harness and exploring the different zones. See the website for more details and on-line booking of the half-hour sessions.

There’s also a Vue Cinema at Ocean Terminal where you can catch up with all the latest releases.

From Craigwell Cottage you can get a bus directly from the bottom of the Royal Mile – Lothian Buses route 36 travels through Edinburgh’s new town to Ocean Terminal, while route 35 goes in the opposite direction and passes Leith Links before arriving Ocean Terminal.