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112-116 Holyrood Road
Edinburgh EH8 8AS
0131 550 7800
Edinburgh EH8 8AS
0131 550 7800
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10:00 - 18:00
- Good for Children:
- Yes
6 reviews for Dynamic Earth
All Reviews
Dynamic Earth
12/6/2010
Poor old Dynamic Earth, I really can't understand why there are so many bad reviews about it! The first time I visited this place was on a Primary 7 class trip when it first opened. That was a while back now but I absolutely loved it, especially the earthquake, the huge ice berg and the rainforest. After all this time, it's still been a place that's always stood out in my memory and it was definitely one of my favourite trips ever. I was a little shocked then, to find so many low star reviews about it when I looked it up on Yelp. Perhaps it had changed since the last time I was there? So I decided to give it another visit to see what's gone awry.
After my second visit to Our Dynamic Earth a few weeks ago, I'm still confused as to why it has so many bad reviews. It's still awesome! Okay, it was better when I was younger but it is designed for children so you can't really fault it just because you've grown up and have lost most of your imagination and childhood spirit.
Rather than just strolling around at your own pace, it's designed as a tour where you are transported back to the beginning of time. You are then taken all over the world to experience all the different climates, the ice-berg is still my favourite. You even get to go on a plane, well, a 3D cinema with a flight film. In fact, I think it might be 4D as there's even snow, wind and heat too.Very cool.
Definitely one for the kids, but if you still have any imagination at all then this place is great and even if you're too grown up for the tour, the planetarium at the end is beautiful so there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Dynamic Earth
Updated - 22/5/2010
I came here recently for a conference. I always knew Dynamic Earth was used as a venue but never got to experience it. And it makes for a stunning corporate venue.
There are many rooms to make use of, for workshops and presentations. They have a great system for lunch, there was about 200 people at the event yet there were no queues and the layout was brilliant. The food was really good too - I was expecting something totally drab and unexciting. As it was a sunny day, we got to use the outdoor patios for our coffee, it was lovely!
I was told that you can get married here too. I would turn my nose up at that prospect, but now that I've seen what else it has to offer, I would consider it.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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15/4/2010
I live at the bottom of Holyrood Road, and believe me there is NOTHING to do down there if you live… Read more »
Dynamic Earth
8/5/2010
1 photo
I dont know what people have against this place!
Dynamic Earth is childishly fun but in a good way, educational and fasinating. From the moment I stepped in that 'Time Machine', I was enjoying myself. Our Dynamic Earth follows the earths history from its creation (where you observe the big bang in a space ship, hence the time machine) through the volcanic periods, the ice ages and the creation of the earth as we know it today. Yes, the acting is a bit hammy, and the anamatronics are a little dated - but the fun is there, and it really is interesting too. As for the 'ice cube' - it is actually more like and ice burg, kept in a room at a constant temperature just below freezing. There was also an unbelievable 360 degree, 3D tour of the universe called 'We Can All Be Astronomers' with David Tennant doing the voice over which was mind blowing and more than a bit trippy.
Yes, this place may be expensive, but who says you need to eat at the cafe? You're slap bang in the middle of a city - go out and do something else!
For me, and many ithers - this was a great day out.
Dynamic Earth
11/4/2010
1 photo
The worst, most boring overpriced place on Earth. I have never been anywhere I have like disliked as much as here (and I was briefly wrongly arrested.. it's worse than jail).
It's somewhere that's supposed to teach children the wonders of the natural world around us. This is done by having a 2metre square ice cube in the middle of a tent.
Can't even hang around in the cafe because if you want a carton of juice it'll cost you 6 and half thousand pound for the pleasure. Too far out the way to wonder down to, pointless when you get there, no parking, big ques.
Rubbish.
Dynamic Earth
5/5/2010
1 photo
As someone who can be a bit of a geek I'm not gonna lie, I found Dynamic Earth quite enjoyable times. It's a little bit more than just a science centre but not really interactive enough to be called an 'attraction'.
The building itself is quite interesting looking, you can tell the designers were going for a 'futuristic' feel but what they ended up with is a condensed version of the Millennium Dome. No matter it's what's inside that counts.
And so your journey begins with an eager guide explaining that you're about to head into the past through a time travelling machine (or a glorified lift, but let's not ruin the magic) and discover how our beloved Earth began and progressed. I love this kinda stuff so I was all for it.
Generally every room has a different theme, taking you chronologically through the Earth's stages. There's information and facts everywhere but it becomes a little much to take in at once. Although there are attempts to engage the youngsters through puzzles and such it wears out after a few rooms I feel. There is however a HUGE ice block in the Ice Age room which is probably one of the few 'wow' factors about this place. The only other points of interest in Dynamic Earth are the 4D Adventure Ride which has its elements of fun provided you're not prone to motion sickness and the short presentation 'We Are Astronomers' shown in the 360 degree dome.
I guess it comes down to how into science you are or whether you have any enthusiasm for learning to say how much you'll enjoy your visit. I would say be cautious when taking kids under 8,they might get bored. Other than that give Dynamic Earth a go. There's student discount, the staff are great, it's an excuse to check out the Old Town of Edinburgh and you might just learn something.
Dynamic Earth
19/7/2009
The most exciting part our child had while visiting this exhibition was the train ride there when a train was passing in the opposite direction.
I've not been to a single science exhibit of this stature in the UK or the US that fails to capture the imagination as this one does. Not only are their typos on their displays,they can't even locate Yellowstone park correctly on their earthquake map for Yogi's sake.
It's not just the small things the mismatching of the video screens, particularly in the polar section, is really off-putting and maybe they want you to sit in case you get motion sickness and fall over?
It's dull, I don't mean the topic but the whole experience, which is in fairly low light, with loads of text to read to the young ones. Loads of text without a lot of contrast.E.G, The ocean section has sheets that undulate the text back and forward and unless you are right at the bar it's pretty hard to pick up.
Food is basic and, well it's edible so, let's leave it at that .Here we have yet another ecologically aware science exhibit that sells utter crap in the gift shop for the most part. It would be nice if they could practice the kind of restraint the walls urge the visitors to do.
It's not all bad the 360 theater is pretty impressive but a really basic movie was showing on the day we went. I.E., what's an astronomer? The movie overstates Galileo a bit and left Copernicus out entirely,that's nice but it's indicative of the cursory geology, astronomy, biology et all within the exhibit that tries to fit too much into a small space and everything suffers from it. I think kids over 7 will start to get more out of it but it's light for things to do below that age.
( edited for typos / grammar)