National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
© VisitScotland / Peter Dibdin
They may have been extinct for millions of years, but dinosaurs are often very much alive in the minds of youngsters. Check out where to see them in Scotland:
Dino Park, near Dumfries – a close encounter with a T-Rex will make for a memorable holiday highlight. You can also see replicas of Mesozoic-era reptiles.
Jurassic Parrr, Glasgow – head for some dino-themed adventure golf fun. Explore the dinosaur’s enclosure on this 18-hole golf course where you’ll come across rocks, caves and waterfalls.
Staffin Dinosaur Museum, Isle of Skye – budding palaeontologists will have the opportunity to see preserved dinosaur fossils and footprints.
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh – see a life-size skeleton cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex.
Stirling Castle
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
For princes and princesses who are enchanted by fairytales
Scotland's castles are amazing places to imagine yourself living out the pages of a storybook. Stirling Castle has costumed characters that bring history to life, and in the palace vaults kids can get dressed in medieval garb and have a go at playing Renaissance-era instruments.
In Angus, child-friendly Glamis Castle has plenty to see inside and out, as does Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfries & Galloway. For breathtaking coastal ruins, plan a family day out to Tantallon Castle in East Lothian or Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire.
Skara Brae, Orkney
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
Do you have a few budding history buffs in your household?
Kids who love history will also love Scotland's castles, but there are lots of other fantastic attractions where they can get to grips with Scotland's fascinating and, at times, tumultuous history. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre, Stirling – school-age kids can discover the history of one of Scotland’s most exciting battles and use 3D technology to try out their own medieval battle strategies.
Skara Brae, Orkney – visit this prehistoric village to uncover a true archaeological treasure and see a place which was inhabited before the Egyptian pyramids were built. Fans of the Vikings will also love the Norse heritage of Orkney and Shetland.
Vikingar!, Largs – discover more viking fun and learn more about these ancient seaborne plunderers in Scotland.
De haven van Lerwick, Shetland
Sail the high seas
Arr, arr mateys! Scotland has some incredible nautical attractions where you can climb aboard a berthed ship and feel like a captain for a day.
The Tall Ship Glenlee, Glasgow – located beside the Riverside Museum, this ship has sailed around the world four times and is one of only five Clyde-built steel sailing ships still afloat.
The Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh – this former royal yacht is now a 5-star visitor attraction and is proudly docked in the city’s Leith district. Enjoy a majestic maritime experience and take a tour around Britannia’s five decks.
RRS Discovery, Dundee – explore the vessel that took Scott and Shackleton on their first expedition to Antarctica. The River Tay is also home to the HM Frigate Unicorn, a 19th century Royal Navy ship.
Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine – kids can discover fascinating stories of Scottish invention and boatbuilding with lots of interactive exhibits. They’ll even get to take charge in manoeuvring a sailboat in the indoor and outdoor boating ponds.
Fancy heading out of mainland Scotland? A ferry ride to one of our islands can also make a great day out!
Stoomtrein The Jacobite, Mallaig
For youngsters who go loco for trains
You’re on track for a great time as you hop onboard a magical rail ride through Scotland:
Royal Deeside Railway, Aberdeenshire – follow in the footsteps of Queen Victoria. The journey up and down the Deeside line was an annual tradition for the monarch up until her husband’s death.
Cairn Gorm Mountain Railway, Aviemore – take a trip on Scotland’s only funicular railway up the side of the Cairn Gorm Mountain.
National Museum of Flight, East Lothian
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
For little aeronauts who have their heads in the clouds
If the thought of flying through the skies sends you to cloud nine, then check out the country’s aeronautical-themed attractions:
The National Museum of Flight, East Lothian – home to the Concorde, see the pioneering aeroplane capable of supersonic flight in all its glory. Including lots of other amazing aircraft under two hangars.
Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum, near Dumfries – uncover fascinating wartime history.
Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre, Angus – visit one of the oldest airfields in the UK which is home to a replica Spitfire.
Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig
© VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins
See creatures big and small
There's a huge wealth of zoos and wildlife parks across Scotland where children can find their favourite species from all over the globe. Let your kids take a walk on the wild side at these fabulous attractions:
Edinburgh Zoo – say hello to the zoo’s tallest residents – the Nubian giraffes!
Blair Drummond Safari Park & Adventure Park, near Stirling – set out on a safari experience like no other as you encounter cheeky monkeys, majestic birds of prey, tigers, rhinos and much more.
Highland Wildlife Park, near Aviemore – home to red pandas and rare Scottish wildcats, see endangered animals from some of the world’s mountain and tundra regions in the spectacular Highlands landscape.
Camperdown Wildlife Park, Dundee – kids can become a zookeeper for the day and get to know the animals.
Five Sisters Zoo, West Lothian – home to 160 different species of animals, feed a lemur, meet the resident brown bears before a sit-down breakfast or get snappy with a photography experience.
Sea Life Aquarium bij Loch Lomond Shores
Visit aquariums with oceans of marine life...
For some fishy fun, explore one of Scotland's many great attractions where you can discover fascinating sea creatures:
Deep Sea World, North Queesnferry – Scotland’s national aquarium. Walk through an underwater tunnel and see the biggest collection of sharks in Europe!
St Andrews Aquarium – open seven days a week, see dangerous piranhas and lionfish through the glass.
SEA LIFE Loch Lomond – feed a turtle or a shark and discover a magical underwater world.
Scottish Seabird Centre, North Berwick – although not strictly an aquarium, it’s a great place to discover the wonderful birdlife and seals of Scotland’s east coast.
Een Schotse Hooglander
Muck in at the farm
From bouncing spring lambs to big shiny tractors, farms have huge draws for kids, and luckily Scotland's got some fantastic attractions where you can get a flavour of life in the country.
The National Museum of Rural Life, near Glasgow – this Georgian farmhouse lets you experience what life was like on a farm in the mid-20th century. There's a whole host of farm favourites to meet, including Tamworth pigs, Ayrshire cows, Blackface sheep and Clydesdale horses.
Dalgarven Mill, Ayrshire – home to the Museum of Country Life and Costume. Set in a restored Victorian grain mill, it will feel like you've stepped back in time as you browse the fascinating exhibits.
Dundee Science Centre
© VisitScotland / Luigi Di Pasquale
Are your kids mad scientists in the making?
Curious kids love to know how things work. Expand their little minds and feed their inquisitiveness at one of Scotland's amazing attractions dedicated to fun science and learning:
Glasgow Science Centre – connect with the cosmos at the planetarium.
Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh – be taken on a journey through time and space as you discover how our planet came to be.
Dundee Science Centre – you'll find fantastic exhibits dedicated to exploring the five senses.
Aberdeen Science Centre – take part in real life experiments where things have a tendency to fizz, defy gravity and even explode!
Take a look at other science-related attractions in Scotland
Ayr Pavilion
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
For beach babies who love to be beside the sea
Scotland has miles of coastline with stretches of sand that are perfect for rockpooling, paddling and sandcastle building - all things wee ones love to do at the beach. But if the weather is changeable, try these places where you'll find indoor family fun as well as brilliant beaches.
By Ayr beach you'll find Pirate Pete's, a family entertainment centre with adventure play, mini golf, laser tag and fun fair rides. In the north east, Aberdeen beach is home to Codona’s. As well as a sizeable outdoor amusement park, there is ten-pin bowling, pirate-themed adventure golf and Smugglers Cove indoor play in the sunset boulevard complex.
