Days out with Kids in Edinburgh

The museums, galleries and monuments owned and managed by the City of Edinburgh Council.

The site includes introductory information on each of the 11 venues, their permanent collections and other museum services also an updated guide to temporary exhibitions currently staged in our venues.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was founded in the 17th century on an area the size of a tennis court. It now extends to 31 hectares and incorporates Specialist Gardens at three very different locations in Scotland and is one of the world's finest botanic gardens.

Please visit the website for full details.

Web: www.rbge.org.uk

Edinburgh Zoo opened in 1913, in leafy hillside parkland just ten minutes from the centre of Edinburgh. Recognised as one of the world’s leading zoos. Lots of animals including all the favourites but the zoo's principal claim to fame is its army of penguins, the most assembled in captivity anywhere. At 2pm, every day between March and October, the penguin parade is one of Edinburgh's most bizarre sights.

Web: www.edinburghzoo.org.uk

The Dungeons bring medieval horrors and gruesome waxwork displays of witchcraft, torture and plague to life. The Dungeons can now be found in London, York, Edinburgh and Hamburg. April-Sept: Seven days a week 10am-5.30pm. Oct-March: seven days a week 10am-4.30pm.

Facilities: café/restaurant, baby/disabled facilities.

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo was first performed in 1950 as the Army in Scotland's contribution to the Edinburgh International Festival.

Today, with its unique blend of music, ceremony, entertainment, and theatre set against the amazing backdrop of Edinburgh castle, it is without question one of the world's greatest shows.

Web: www.edinburgh-tattoo.co.uk

Our Dynamic Earth offers a totally new concept in visitor entertainment. It will take you on a fascinating, ever-changing journey around planet Earth. You will travel back through time to witness the Big Bang. You will experience earthquakes, ice ages and tropical rainstorms. You'll travel to the depths of the oceans and fly high above towering glaciers and mountains. You will see, hear, feel and smell the planet as it was millions of years ago and how it might be in the future.

Web: www.dynamicearth.co.uk

Where else in the world can you . . .

... walk on red hot coals?
... dig to uncover a life-size dinosaur skeleton?
... take part in a scientific ghost-hunting experiment?
... have a conversation with science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke?
... get your hands on (and sit in the cabs of) a stunning assortment of big machines?
... make a 3D photo-realistic virtual image of yourself then use it in a computer game?

Web: www.sciencefestival.co.uk

Take an exciting journey through a tropical rainforest, experience the life and learn about the creatures. See exotic butterflies and tropical birds flying free, handle snakes and spiders, see poisonous frogs and scorpions, leaf cutter ants and much much more.

Web: www.edinburgh-butterfly-world.co.uk