Dynamic Earth

Visited with my boyfriend and we ultimately concluded that we were too old to enjoy the experience (aged 20 & 23 respectively). As previous comments stated the walk through experience was mediocre and full of videos which were similar to ones we’d seen at school. The whole thing was very quiet which made the experience a bit awkward as it was just the both of us walking around for about 30 minutes until we seen other visitors.
However, our day was saved by the wonderful staff. Firstly at the cafe as a girl with dyed hair (sorry didn’t make out the name tag) went out of her way to get us ice and sealable cups that we could take around with us. The planetarium was incredible and we were both in awe of the man’s knowledge. The visuals were amazing and it really did make up for the whole experience.

Overall if you’re looking for value for money I wouldn’t really recommend, I’d honestly just go back for the planetarium only.

Managed to get a decent booking where many other attractions fully booked up (England half-term). Used the Hop On/Off bus tour to access, which was easy enough and added some extra local history.
Staff were consistently friendly and helpful and attentive to our young children. The walk-through tour is great, fun, interactive, educational. The time machine & visiting of ancient history is great fun, our kids were so excited. The 4D rain forest flight was also a firm favourite.
We saw the CapCom film at the planetarium which was exceptional. Really worthwhile doing.
Losing one star/rating owing to the cafe experience. Young staff seemed overwhelmed, the queue to be seated rarely abated all the time we were there (early afternoon on a Wednesday). Once seated, and all we really wanted was water or some soft drinks, after some wait we had to request service. Arrival of drinks was slow and finding anyone to request the bill prior to our pending Planetarium showing was hard work. It was apparent from other diners comments to staff that ours was not a unique experience. The only thing marring an otherwise lovely family trip.

Really enjoyed our visit to Dynamic Earth. Everything is’hands on’ for children. It is well layed out and you can look / read at your own pace. I wouldn’t recommend it for younger children as there are sections that require them to listen for a period of time. I would recommend for 7+.

Absolutely fantastic place! The main tour itself was great, lots to see and do for all ages. The only negative really relates to COVID and the planetarium feature (which is an additional fee to attend). Although there were sanitizer stations positioned all over, the entrance to the planetarium was cramped with around 35/40 people in a really small space. In our opinion the cinema room was too full to effectively reduce transmission risk. Most seats were taken (even seats with stickers saying do not use had people on them). We didn't feel comfortable so got up to leave when a kind lady in a smaller group offered to move so we could spread out. Before the film started all doors were closed which again didn't help with air flow but we decided to stick it out as our daughter was desperate to stay. The film was excellent but I'd be reluctant to go again with the current arrangements in place.

Very disappointing experience. Waited 20 minutes over our booked time slot to be allowed in. We were then guided around the back corridors rather than through the ‘time travel’ lift. They’d stuck a few random dinosaur figures to play out the fact that they were taking us through around the back. Each room is just a big video screen with stuff you learn in school, couple more figures along the way. A few interactive screens. Then had to wait 15 minutes to do the final video experience with 3D glasses at the end. Couldn’t wait for it to finish.

I absolutely appreciate that covid means things have to be run differently but this was a joke. It needs to be looked at again. Space out people’s bookings so each group can go around at a good pace instead of having to wait between each section.

Credit to the staff who are doing their best to keep things light and entertaining.

If you’ve got kids then it’ll be somewhat entertaining for them, but if you’re an adult thinking this is going to be something to pass an hour or so on a trip to Edinburgh go somewhere else.

You’ve got to be into science to love this. Science centre in Glasgow is much more family friendly and interactive. £64 for 2 adults & 3 kids, which seems a little expensive for what we got. Presentations were over the head of us adults, let alone the 3 kids aged 6 & 8. Maybe we didn’t research it properly before going.

Rather disappointing, I would not say this is a child friendly exhibit. There is a lot of reading and not much interactive exhibits to keep kids entertained. You are hearded through in groups of 4 families through each section and it takes 90min to get around the exhibit. Staff were friendly and appeared knowledgeable and enthusiastic, but I do not recommend this as a family day out with young children.

We arrived here at 1.45 and were immediately told to go and buy entrance tickets as the desk closed at 2.30. We did this and were astonished to find we had to pay the full entrance fee, considering the place closed at 4.30. We then enquired about getting something to eat, and went to the cafe. Ordered baked potato and tuna for the adults and macaroni cheese and chips for a child. Sat down to eat to be told we needed to be down stairs by 2.30 as that was the last entry time. All the "hot" food was cold, couldn't eat it, disgusting. Had then to run with 2 small children so didn't get time to complain to anyone. Went round the exhibits, this part was good, but then literally thrown out at 4.30. Welcome to Scotland. Not impressed. Would like to see their hot food temperature records. !!!!

Absolutely brilliant visit to Dynamic Earth with my 7 and 10 year olds. They really liked the footage of Apollo 11 landing (CapCom show at the planetarium) and the tour of the biomes. They thought that the graphics were great quality and they “weren’t expecting anything like it.”

One thing stood out to me. All the staff were really relaxed, friendly, chatty and seemed to really enjoy being at work. It made for a really great atmosphere and there was no shortage of staff to explain the different areas and engage with the children.

The cafe could be slightly more exciting but I’m typing while my children demolish their lunch here so clearly they hit the mark with children.

Highly recommend a visit here, great value and we could easily have spent 3-4 hours here.

This is a wonderful exhibit! There were plentiful guides, and they were cheerful and efficient and seemed pleased to be there. They behaved as if I was traveling in a time machine back to the start of the earth, and then moving forward in time, exhibit room by exhibit room. A group at a time) is escorted into and out of each room for active, engaging exhibits that move through the ages of the earth from the Big Bang. When you’re in the earthquake room and they tell you to hold on, DO IT! Two rooms have sweeping flight videos over the earth, and I wish I had taken motion sickness pills. The exhibit on animals was really good, especially the dinosaur coming through the ceiling. And the rain forest was amazing. There were lots of interactive parts to most rooms, as well. The final room was the planetarium, which showed when I was there a video about atoms and molecules and how they fit together that would be understandable and enjoyable for any age over about 4, I think. This was one of my favorite museums.