Map
Open this stop on the map.
Open this stop on the map
Edinburgh · Museum
Dynamic Earth
Dynamic Earth takes families through volcanoes, glaciers, rainforest, ocean and space, with a daytime Planetarium show included in the main admission. It is best for curious primary-school children and works well as the main plan for a wet Edinburgh half-day. Some dark, loud, shaking or 4D sections can be intense, so think about how your child handles those effects before booking.
- Best ages
- Primary school; toddlers may find the effects intense
- Admission
- Paid Annual Pass; under-4s free
- Weather
- Indoors — a strong rainy-day choice
- Allow
- 2–3 hours for galleries and a show
Our family take
We would choose this for a wet Edinburgh half-day with curious primary-school children. The Annual Pass is better value if you can return; for a one-off visit, the set route and big effects need to be what your family wants.
- Best for. Curious primary-school children who enjoy science, big visual effects and following a set journey.
- Not ideal for. Families needing a free, very flexible or low-stimulation visit, or anyone hoping to fill a whole day with the core experience alone.
- Sensory effects. Some galleries are dark, loud, bright or cold, with weather effects, a shaking floor and a 4D section.
- Budget for. Individual Annual Passes for the full visit, plus parking if you drive. A shorter Planetarium-only ticket does not include the galleries.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Opening pattern
- Opening days, closing times and final admission vary by date. Check the official calendar for the day you plan to visit.
- Tickets
- Online Annual Passes cost £23 for adults (16+), £15 for children (4–15) and £20 for concessions. Walk-in prices are £24.50, £16.50 and £21.50 respectively. Under-4s and eligible carers receive free day tickets: add them when booking, and bring proof for carer entry.
- What is included
- The individual, non-transferable Annual Pass covers the galleries and daytime science Planetarium shows for 12 months from purchase. Planetarium Lates, special film screenings and seasonal events need separate tickets.
- Booking
- Book online for the lower price and guaranteed gallery entry; walk-ins depend on space. Your gallery time slot does not reserve a Planetarium seat. Annual Pass holders can book return visits online at no extra admission charge.
- Parking
- The 24-hour underground car park is paid, first come and cannot be reserved. Allow £10 for 2–3 hours or £12 for 3–4 hours. The height limit is 2.3m. Six Blue Badge bays are available; Blue Badge parking is free after staff validate your ticket before you leave.
- Food and facilities
- Core Café is open to the public, with a children's menu and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Standard and accessible toilets are available; baby changing is near the café, which has highchairs and offers bottle warming on request.
- Access
- All areas of the building are wheelchair accessible, with ramps and lifts between levels. Ask at the Welcome Desk for sensory resources. If you need to keep a larger buggy with you through every gallery, check the arrangements before travelling.
ParkingCafé or restaurantGift shopAccessible toiletsToiletsBaby changing
7 October 2026
Visit official websiteA little more detail
Make it work for your family
What children do
The core visit follows a set journey rather than letting families jump freely between galleries. You move from the story of the early Earth into volcanoes, glaciers, polar regions, rainforest and ocean spaces, with films and physical effects carrying much of the experience.
Included daytime science shows are first come, first served and subject to capacity. Check the programme and be at the waiting area 10 minutes before your chosen show.
Best ages and sensory effects
Primary-school children are likely to get the most from the Earth story as well as the iceberg, rainforest and big effects. Under-4s enter free and may enjoy the spectacle, but this is a more expensive and less flexible choice for the adults if their toddler is likely to rush through or find dark, loud, shaking or 4D spaces difficult.
The sensory map flags loud, bright, dark, cold and strong-smell areas, plus weather effects and a shaking floor. Explorer Packs and ear defenders can help, and selected relaxed or quiet sessions are worth checking if your child needs a gentler version of the visit.
Sensory map, social stories and quieter sessions · Checked 7 October 2026
Tickets, parking and arrival
The full gallery visit uses an individual Annual Pass. That is useful for Edinburgh families who may return, but visitors making one city trip should judge the price against a free and more flexible option such as National Museum of Scotland. The 12 months start when you buy the pass, so keep that in mind if booking well ahead.
Driving is possible because the car park sits under the building, but it adds a noticeable cost and spaces cannot be reserved. Public transport or walking from the city centre may be easier on a busy Edinburgh day.
If you only want a short space show, a Planetarium-only ticket costs £8 online or £9.50 at the door for adults, children and concessions; under-4s go free. It covers one 30-minute daytime science show, with no gallery entry or Annual Pass. Check the programme before choosing, as special films and evening events are separate products.
Official ticket prices and admission rules · Checked 7 October 2026
Getting here
Allow about 20 minutes to walk from the city centre, or around 15 minutes from Waverley’s Market Street exit. Bus 35 stops about three minutes away; North Bridge bus stops are about a 10-minute walk away. The visit itself is indoors, but leave time for that last part of the journey in wet weather.
Official directions and parking · Checked 7 October 2026
When to choose something else
This earns its place as the main plan for a wet Edinburgh half-day when the family wants a structured, paid science attraction. It is more contained and story-led than National Museum of Scotland, and easier with step-free access than Camera Obscura.
Choose National Museum of Scotland if cost, flexibility or mixed ages matter more. Skip Dynamic Earth if a child is likely to struggle with dark, loud or moving effects, or if you need a full day from one admission.
Plan the rest of your day
Save this stop
Add it to your trip plan or save it for later.
Nearby stop
National Museum of Scotland
Choose this for a free, more flexible indoor visit with broad mixed-age galleries and no need to commit to a set route.
Nearby stop
Camera Obscura and World of Illusions
Choose this for a shorter, more playful Old Town visit if stairs, pram storage and a visually busy route suit your family.