Guides · Family days out
Days out,
already planned.
Whole days worked out for you: where to start, when to stop for lunch, how to get between places and what to do if it rains. Every stop links to its own page with opening times, prices and a map.
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ScotlandDinosaurs, rockets and a time machine: a wet day in Edinburgh's Old Town
Edinburgh city centre
Spend the morning in the free National Museum of Scotland, where skeletons, space kit and a whole floor of science and technology galleries keep curious kids busy. After lunch, walk downhill to Dynamic Earth for a journey through the planet's history under one roof, with no need to step outside for long.
National Museum of Scotland → Dynamic Earth
One dayAges 8–12Rainy dayCost ££
ScotlandPenguins and a castle garden on Edinburgh's west side
Edinburgh (Corstorphine)
Edinburgh Zoo fills most of the day, with its hillside paths leading from penguins near the bottom to big cats and views near the top. Finish with a gentle wander and picnic in the free grounds of Lauriston Castle, which run down towards the Forth.
Edinburgh Zoo → Lauriston Castle
One dayAges 3–7Sunny dayCost £££
ScotlandFarm, fruit fields and sharks by the Forth bridges
South Queensferry / North Queensferry
Start at Craigie's Farm on the edge of South Queensferry with an early bite in the farm café and a look around the fields. Then cross the Forth to Deep Sea World, where a walk-through tunnel puts sharks and rays right over little heads, all indoors.
Craigie's Farm Cafe → Deep Sea World
One dayToddlersCost ££
ScotlandSeabird cams, harbour lunch and a cliff-top fortress in North Berwick
North Berwick
The Scottish Seabird Centre on North Berwick harbour has live cameras trained on the islands offshore, so children can zoom in on gannets and seals. After lunch in its café, drive a few minutes east to Tantallon Castle, a huge red-stone ruin on the cliffs facing the Bass Rock.
Scottish Seabird Centre → Seabird Cafe at the Scottish Seabird Centre → Tantallon Castle
One dayAges 8–12Sunny dayCost ££
ScotlandTrams, tall ships and a dinosaur hall: Glasgow's free museum day
Glasgow West End
Two of Glasgow's best free museums sit within a mile of each other along the Kelvin. The Riverside Museum is packed with trams, cars and a walk-through old street, and Kelvingrove's halls hold everything from a Spitfire to a stuffed elephant.
Riverside Museum → Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
One dayAll agesRainy dayFree
ScotlandCastle, monument and safari: two days around Stirling
Stirling
Day one is Stirling's big history double: the royal palace and great hall of Stirling Castle, then the climb up the Wallace Monument for views across the Forth valley. Day two heads north-west to Blair Drummond Safari Park, with a stop at Doune Castle on the way home.
Stirling Castle → The National Wallace Monument → Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park → Doune Castle
WeekendAges 8–12Cost £££
ScotlandThe Kelpies and the boat lift: a Falkirk canal day
Falkirk
Start at The Helix park, where the giant horse-head Kelpies sculptures tower over the canal and there's a big play area. In the afternoon, take a boat into the air on the Falkirk Wheel, the world's only rotating boat lift.
The Helix → The Helix Visitor Centre cafe → Falkirk Wheel
One dayAges 3–7Cost £
ScotlandIce cream, a castle and a country park in St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews Castle has a clifftop ruin and an underground mine and counter-mine for brave explorers. Fuel up with gelato in town, then drive out to Craigtoun Country Park for a picnic, play areas and, in season, its family attractions.
St Andrews Castle → Jannettas Gelateria → Craigtoun Country Park
One dayAges 3–7Sunny dayCost £
ScotlandShip, design and science on Dundee's waterfront
Dundee waterfront
Climb aboard RRS Discovery, the polar research ship built in Dundee, then cross the road to the free V&A Dundee for design galleries and lunch. Finish with a booked session at Dundee Science Centre, a few minutes' walk away.
Discovery Point → V&A Dundee → Tatha Bar & Kitchen → Dundee Science Centre
One dayAges 8–12Rainy dayCost ££
ScotlandSteam train and castle woods on Royal Deeside
Banchory
On a running day, take a short heritage train ride along the River Dee from Milton of Crathes, then eat at the brasserie by the station. In the afternoon, head a mile down the road to Crathes Castle for the gardens, woodland trails and the adventure play area.
Royal Deeside Railway → Crathes Castle Garden and Estate
One dayAges 3–7Cost ££
ScotlandThree days in Aviemore: steam, wildlife and reindeer
Aviemore
A base in Aviemore puts the best of the Cairngorms within half an hour. Ride a steam train and walk round a castle loch on day one, see polar bears and a 1700s township on day two, and meet free-ranging reindeer before a beach afternoon at Loch Morlich on day three.
Strathspey Railway → Loch an Eilein → Highland Wildlife Park → Highland Folk Museum + 2 more
Three daysAll agesCost £££
ScotlandRiver islands and glasshouses: an easy Inverness morning
Inverness
Follow the River Ness south from the city centre to a string of wooded islands linked by footbridges. Next door, the Botanic Gardens have warm glasshouses for a cactus and jungle detour, and a café with baby changing for lunch.
Ness Islands Walk → Inverness Botanic Gardens → Café Botanics
Half dayToddlersFree
Written by Tumble from each place's own published information, checked October 2026. Times are suggestions, not bookings. Opening hours and prices change, so check each place's page before you set off.