A VIP tour of Dynamic Earth

Last week we were treated to a VIP tour of Dynamic Earth, a popular visitor attraction in Edinburgh for all the family. 

Dynamic Earth have been running an outreach programme to get feedback from the local community on how to improve their facilities and in advance of creating their new gallery space, Discover the Deep. Euan's Guide volunteers had online chats about disabled access with Dynamic Earth, so it was great to be able to visit in person, see the venue and speak to the Dynamic Earth staff face to face. 

We were met by Fran and Rob from the Dynamic Earth community learning team, who gave us an overview of what to expect on the tour before we set off round the building. We started off listening to a hologram of James Hutton, a Scottish geologist, agriculturalist, and physician who was integral in establishing geology as a modern science, who spoke in detail about the incredible rock formations and findings in Edinburgh. 

Immediately afterwards, we were taken back through time in the time traveller which told us about the first creatures on earth, finding ourselves entering the world of dinosaurs and other ancient beings. As we continued the tour, we experienced a moving volcano, a real-life 'iceberg' in a freezing cold room, a glaciers theatre, the rainforest, a 4D film and an incredible planetarium show of the planets and stars which left us all feeling incredibly small in comparison. When this was mentioned, our personal astronomer from Dynamic Earth, Ali, reminded us that our bodies are also universes all of their own. 

We were all agreed that Dynamic Earth was a brilliant way to spend a few hours, or indeed an entire day, since there was so much to see) and although the cafe was almost closed when we got there it would be ideal for refuelling throughout your visit.

As far as accessibility goes, we were impressed by the drop-off point at the front of the building and the car parking, as well as the entirely flat terrace, café, and foyer. There were disabled toilets available but only on one level, with one lift to access the different levels. Moving around was pretty good as there was enough space for wheelchairs and powerchairs but the room with the volcano was very dark and we suggested some floor lighting or spotlights would be beneficial for people with mobility aids and / or visual impairments. Another issue with the volcano experience was the vibrating/moving platform which wasn't very clearly marked for those who couldn't or wouldn't want to experience the simulation. The other access issues we came across were in the theatre and the planetarium, where the wheelchair spaces were right at the front and therefore didn't offer particularly good viewing experiences, though we were assured this was on their wish list for adapting. Another potential change is the addition of a Changing Places Toilet which would likely be positioned outside, making it accessible 24 hours for those with a Radar key.

Overall, we loved the experience and how friendly, helpful, and genuine the staff who showed us around were. We felt incredibly lucky to be shown around Dynamic Earth out of hours and many of us were already figuring out when to return for another visit!

Tags: dynamic earth, edinburgh, review