The Easter holidays are on the horizon – and if you’re looking for ways to entertain the kids, you’re in luck, as Scotland has plenty to discover and enjoy.
From beautiful natural landscapes to fascinating museums, there’s hundreds of exciting places to visit – and they’re all accessible by train.
Better yet, with ScotRail ‘Kids for a Quid’ tickets, you can enjoy a fun family day out for less. With a fare-paying adult, up to four kids aged 5-15 can travel for just £1 return each, with under 5s travelling for free.
This brilliant ticket is available all day, every day, all year round; is valid on routes across Scotland; and can be purchased at a station ticket office or on the train itself*, proving that fun doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
And in advance of your train journey, ScotRail is sharing five great tips to make sure your train trip with the kids runs smoothly, because it’s just as much about the journey as the destination!
1. Involve kids in planning
Kids will be much more invested in a trip if they have a stake in it.
Change a trip from ‘meh’ to ‘magic’ by planning it together, from where to go using ScotRail’s handy Inspiration Hub comprising hundreds of great ideas, to which train routes and seats to pick, as well as discussing what sights you’ll see along the way.
You can use ScotRail’s dedicated journey planner online or via the app to plan train timings that work for you.
2. Pack smart
When it comes to a day out with the kids, a big part of the fun is definitely the journey, so you want to make sure you’re making the most of it.
As well as the essentials like food and drink, be sure to pack games, colouring books, and other things that inspire creativity.
It’s also a good idea to only take bags that fit into the overhead racks to make getting on and off the train much easier, especially with kids in tow.
3. Play smart
One of the best things about travelling by train is that it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy activities and make special memories together, from playing games to drawing – things you couldn’t do if travelling by car.
Consider taking playing cards, packing triangular crayons that don’t roll, and following an interactive map of your journey – via a map app on your phone – as you whizz across the beautiful Scottish countryside.
Kids can even keep their artistic drawings aside to be compiled in a scrapbook at a later date – creating a nice keepsake for the future.
4. Snacks for the win
No train journey is complete without munching down on a bag of crisps alongside the epic views.
No matter how long or short the journey, bringing your favourite snacks along will always go down a treat – especially with the younger ones.
5. Ask for help and travel with confidence
When you travel by train, there’s always help along the way. Staff at the stations and on trains are always happy to answer any questions.
There are also interactive help points at every station, and things like wide-access gates and lifts can make it easier when travelling with kids and bags.
Top tip: If you have a pram with you, an easier way to board the train is by stepping on yourself first and then pulling your pram on from inside, rather than trying to lift-push the pram on from the platform.
5 attractions to visit by train
Deep Sea World, North Queensferry
Disembark at North Queensferry Station and discover the UK’s longest underwater viewing tunnel at Deep Sea World, where you’ll come face-to-face with sharks and other fantastical deep sea beasties.
Better still, you will receive one free child entry when you show a valid ‘Kids for a Quid’ train ticket and purchase a full-price, standard adult admission.
Scottish Football Museum, Glasgow
An 11-minute walk from Mount Florida Station, take your energetic young ones to the home of Scottish football and get a stadium tour.
You can also see one of the world’s most impressive collections of football memorabilia, including the Scottish Cup.
Attraction tickets must be booked in advance online; enter the code ‘SCOTRAILKIDS’ into the discount code box when booking to claim a free child ticket.
Upon your arrival at the museum, staff will ask for both admission tickets and a valid ‘Kids for a Quid’ train ticket.
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
From aircraft and ancient artefacts, to fossils and fashion, Edinburgh’s National Museum of Scotland is just a short walk from Waverley Station and has something for everyone, no matter their interests or their age.
The ‘Family Galleries’ are a particular must-visit, with play areas for babies and interactive exhibitions for older kids.
Discovery Point, Dundee
Step out of Dundee Station and climb aboard Captain Scott’s infamous ship, RRS Discovery. Travel back in time to 1901 via the ‘Discovery Dome’ and 10 interactive galleries, and discover how the ship survived being moored in ice for years.
Enjoy an Antarctic adventure on the east coast of Scotland, and receive one free child entry when you show a valid ‘Kids for a Quid’ train ticket and purchase a full-price, standard adult admission.
National Mining Museum Scotland, Newtongrange
A five-minute walk from Newtongrange Station, the National Mining Museum has plenty to enjoy.
Browse two floors of fascinating exhibitions, dress up as a Victorian and experience ‘wash day’, take a tour of the recreated underground, and get your scientist hat on at the Energy Lab and Interactive Hub areas.
You will receive one free child entry when you show a valid ‘Kids for a Quid’ train ticket and purchase a full-price, standard adult admission.
For more inspiration on great days out with the kids, visit scotrail.co.uk/kids
*’Kids for a Quid’ tickets are not available to buy online.