What’s On in East Lothian: Discover things to do and see for Easter 2025, just 30 minutes from Edinburgh

If you’re looking for a great day out with all the family over Easter, East Lothian has plenty to offer – and it’s all on the doorstep.

Located just 30 minutes from the centre of Edinburgh, the region boasts stunning coastline, historic sites, outdoor adventures and fantastic attractions.

Leave the car at home

East Lothian is well connected by bus and train with services from Edinburgh to North Berwick, East Linton and Dunbar, making it easy to explore without a car, and giving the whole family a relaxing day out with no driving stress.

One of Scotland’s top destinations to discover, the area offers a true escape to the country, combining stunning coastlines and beautiful beaches with some amazing attractions and activities to keep all the kids – big and small – entertained.

If you’re the outdoors type, you’ll love a walk or cycle along the John Muir Way, exploring the beautiful beaches that you pass, history-buffs will enjoy the historic locations and castles East Lothian has to offer and there’s plenty of museums – many of which have free entry. You could be stepping on board Concorde at the National Museum of Flight or learn more of the area’s industrial past at Prestongrange Museum.

Combine all that with fantastic food and plenty of places to eat and drink, wildlife, leisure centres and more, the region really does have something for everyone.

We’ve picked out some highlights to help you plan your trip, including some of the activities lined up especially for Easter.

Family Easter events

- East Links Family Park Easter Egg Hunt – 18th-21st April https://www.eastlinks.co.uk/

- Easter Egg Trails & Magic Workshop at Newhailes House & Gardens - 18th-20th

- Sustainable Skies, National Museum of Flight – 14th-18th April

- Musselburgh Racecourse Easter Saturday Raceday – 19th April

Family-Friendly attractions

Scottish Seabird Centre – Enjoy a great day out at the seaside at the award winning Scottish Seabird Centre, in North Berwick and explore the wonders of Scotland’s marine wildlife and habitats.

Foxlake Adventures – if you’re looking for adrenaline-filled outdoor activities, check out Foxlake Adventures. This 5-star award-winning centre includes the Foxfall ropes course over water, an aqua park, wakeboarding, ringos, open water swimming, sauna and cold plunge!

Archerfield Walled Garden and Fairy Trail – For a more gentle activity step, into old Archerfield Wood and begin an enchanted hunt for fairies. Willow structures, sculptures and a swing can be found along the trail too. There’s no need to book and it’s free of charge. While away an hour as you amble around the woods and back via the Willow Walk and pond then pop in for a bite to eat in the café.

Dunbar Leisure Pool – The kids can make a splash at this family-friendly leisure pool and gym. With flume slides and a wave machine the kids will love it, while the grown-ups could take a break at the beachside café area, work up a sweat in the gym or a fitness class or wind down in the sauna or steam room.

John Muir Alpacas – Walk, talk and play with these gentle creatures – who doesn’t love an alpaca. John Muir Alpacas is an exciting trekking and tourism business close to John Muir Country Park and the John Muir Way where you can get to meet some of the 50 alpacas and get to find out more about them, and their very individual personalities.

Tantallon Castle – Scramble up to the battlements of this, the last of the grand medieval castles, and marvel at its scale. Set high on a cliff edge and featuring a massive red sandstone curtain wall, Tantallon Castle was home to the Red Douglas dynasty and was besieged by Oliver Cromwell’s Army.

Dirleton Castle – Another magnificent fortress to explore is this castle and its stunning gardens. The fortress served three successive noble families over 400 years but was badly damaged by Cromwell’s army in 1650. Later a new mansion house was built and the castle ruins became a rather dramatic garden feature!

Preston Mill – Featured in the TV series Outlander, this picturesque mill on the banks of the River Tyne has a waterwheel, millpond, and doocot. See and hear the mill in action and learn more of the people who worked here. With its unusual Dutch-style conical roof, the mill is an architectural oddity which intrigues visitors and is a photographers’ favourite. Wildlife lovers will enjoy a stroll along the river spotting kingfishers, mergansers and heron too.

Outdoor activities

Why not take a boat trip with Blue Wild & the Scottish Seabird Centre, or lace up your boots for a walk in John Muir Country Park or along the stunning beaches like Yellowcraig and Belhaven Bay.

If two wheels are your thing then you can take the whole family out on a leisurely ride thanks to Komoot or take a guided bike tour with Ezee Riders.

If you fancy trying sailing, then check out the activities at Whiteadder Sports Centre. This reservoir in the Lammermuir Hills offers tuition and hire for sailing, open water swimming, sit on kayaking and paddleboarding tuition and hire and fly-fishing, including lessons for young people and boat hire.

Food and drink

There are plenty of places for great food and drink including award-winning Fish & Chips and Ice Cream from East Coast Restaurant, Alandas & Lucas.

Free entry museums

John Muir’s Birthplace – John Muir was an inventor, botanist, geologist, glaciologist, farmer and artist. He achieved fame as a bestselling writer, explorer and environmental campaigner. You can explore the life and legacy of this remarkable man in the house where he was born – now a unique museum and the starting point of the John Muir Way.

Dunbar Townhouse Museum & Gallery – With its distinctive witch's hat tower and its bell, clock and sun dials, the Town House has been the focus of town life since the 16th century. The building is now home to a museum and gallery with changing historical and art exhibitions.

John Gray Centre Museum – Discover the history of East Lothian in 1000 objects in this innovative interactive museum at the heart of the county. Learn how ordinary, and extraordinary, people earned a living and spent their time from the Stone Age to the present day. You’ll find objects to touch and handle, costumes to wear and activity sheets too.

Prestongrange Museum – For over 400 years, Prestongrange was a focus of industry. A harbour, glass works, pottery, colliery and brickworks have all left their marks on the landscape including a vast brick kiln and a Cornish beam engine, visit the new engine shed home to a collection of locomotives and rolling stock. You can have a free audio tour, and afterwards, enjoy refreshments at the Pithead Café.

Coastal Communities Museum – Discover more of the history and pre-history of this captivating coastline and associated hinterland, including a collection of old photos. The children’s area provides a lively way to make history fun, with plenty of hands-on activities and the chance to dress up as a range of story book characters, from pirates to princesses.

Musselburgh Museum – Discover the history of the 'Honest Toun' from earliest times, through its Roman settlement and medieval upheaval to its former valuable industrial mill complex and thriving agricultural, mining and fishing communities.

Find out more

For more inspiration and information, visit the Visit East Lothian website here.