Dynamic Earth

Dynamic Earth is the answer to the question every family in Edinburgh asks at some point: what do we do with the children when it rains? It sits at the foot of the Royal Mile on Holyrood Road, under a white tented roof between the Scottish Parliament and the cliffs of Salisbury Crags, which is fitting, because those crags helped the eighteenth-century Edinburgh geologist James Hutton work out how deep geological time really runs. The attraction tells the story of the planet in a walk-through sequence that takes about ninety minutes. You start with the Big Bang and the formation of the Earth, ride a time machine back through billions of years, stand on a shaking floor while a volcano erupts, then move through the oceans, the polar regions and a rainforest where a monsoon storm breaks overhead. The best-loved moment is the polar zone, where you can put your hands on a real block of iceberg ice. Along the way, interactive displays explain plate tectonics, climate and evolution at a level that works for primary-school children without boring their parents. There is also a planetarium dome, which Dynamic Earth describes as Edinburgh's only planetarium, with full-dome films and shows that change through the year, and live astronomer events at times. The venue is accessible throughout, with lifts to every floor, and it runs relaxed sessions with reduced noise and extra seating on some afternoons. There is a cafe with a children's menu and on-site parking, which is rare this close to the Old Town. Book online.

Who is it for? Children from about five to twelve get the most out of it: the earthquake floor, the iceberg and the rainforest storm are what they will talk about afterwards. Teenagers and adults with an interest in science will enjoy it too, but anyone who has been to a big natural history museum recently may find some sections simplified. It is unashamedly an experience rather than a collection, and that is the point. The National Museum of Scotland, which is free, is the better choice if you want real objects, while Dynamic Earth is the better choice if you want an immersive, story-led afternoon.

Planning the visit: Forever Edinburgh, the official tourism board, lists opening from the morning to late afternoon on weekdays and a little later at weekends; confirm before you travel, as hours vary around holidays. School holidays and wet weekends are busiest, so book a slot online and arrive early. Seasonal programming runs through the year, including Easter and Halloween trails and a Christmas grotto, and an annual pass is available if you live locally or are staying a long time. From the Royal Mile it is a five-minute walk downhill past the Parliament; from Waverley, about fifteen minutes. The building is on the edge of Holyrood Park, so you can combine it with a walk below the Crags if the rain stops.

Making a day of it: the bottom of the Royal Mile is full of options. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is next door, though better suited to older children, the Scottish Parliament offers free entry to its public areas on business days, and Holyrood Distillery is a short walk away for the adults on another day. For a full family day in wet weather, combine Dynamic Earth in the morning with lunch in its cafe, then Camera Obscura or the National Museum of Scotland in the afternoon.