




Explore interactive river exhibits, enjoy woodland walks, and relax at the community café in a renovated schoolhouse by Edinburgh's Water of Leith.
Free entry
Venue Type
Indoor & Outdoor
Typical visit duration
1-3 hours
Booking
Walk-in
Recommended ages
2 years – 10 years
Within 10 minutes walk
Free entry
Volunteer run café serving snacks, coffees, teas, and freshly baked goods. Available sit-in or takeaway.
Hours: 10:00-16:00 daily
Visit websiteWe analysed 17 parent reviews from the past 12 months and distilled the key insights for you.
Updated 27 February 2026Join KiddyCompass™ Family to unlock 10 insight categories and age suitability data.
Become a Family MemberWhat a lovely little cafe and shop, there is also an exhibition about the walk, absolutely to stop while have a walk.
Very nice visitor centre and cafe, convenient if walking the middle sections of the Water of Leith Walkway. Very friendly staff and very reasonable prices for food and drink (great cup of tea at both the start and the finish of the walk). A good selection of free leaflets are available, plus books and maps for sale, toilets, and interesting gallery and exhibition areas. Great cup of tea, but there was only a small selection of food available, and it would be good to have more options if planning a lunch at the centre. The Trust do a fabulous job of looking after the walkway and the lovely wooded dells, although signage and information on closures of paths could be better, particularly for people from outside the area who may not be familiar with the path network. We bought a map for £1 and walked up to Colinton tunnel, which was straightforward, apart from having to double back due to maintenance works at one point, and came back via the canal towpath, which was okay, but this route has a much narrower path, which is also used by cyclists, and is especially tricky on the aqueduct just before returning to the visitor centre. None of this spoiled our enjoyment though and we look forward to returning to the visitor centre to walk another section of the walkway. Artwork is just one of many in the Colinton Tunnel, worth looking at.
Lovely place to come and visit, the indoor water play area was excellent for the kids! And we loved a little walk along to see trains coming in to Edinburgh.
Lovely place. Great place. It's just perfect for immersing yourself in a tranquil atmosphere. Delicious drinks and various treats are combined with friendly people working here. In the café, you can buy themed goods, one way or another connected with the magical river Water of Leith. Just imagine. You buy a hot drink, go into the courtyard and settle down at a table overlooking the bridge and The Path. You can listen to the river and feel part of a huge world. Isn't it worth it?
I met Kat from the conservation trust here for a guided walk of the dells! It was a charming autumnal walk with lots of info about decomposition! There is a lot of space at the visitor’s center. It’s perfect for groups. Parking is limited. It’s be great for cyclist, walkers and dogs if Scottish water added one of their free fountains.
Reviews last updated: 15 February 2026
Free entry
This venue was last updated on 15 February 2026
