Get ready for a hands-on adventure where science meets play!
DiscoveryLab at the City Art Centre is a newly reimagined experience designed to spark curiosity and creativity in young minds. With five floors of interactive activities, experiments, and premium workshops, it’s the perfect way for families to explore, learn, and have fun together!
Explore Five Floors of Discovery
Play the role of a scientist and let your imagination soar!
DiscoveryLab is packed with exciting activities for all ages. Whether you love hands-on experiments, creative challenges, or interactive exhibits, there’s something for everyone!
- Science Studio – Let your creativity flow as art meets science! Learn about aerodynamics and how things balance in our hands-on crafty activities
- Curiosity Corner – Expand your mind while enjoying our mini-science cinema, enjoy The Playroom, an exhibition by artist John Brown, or take a break from the excitement in our Quiet Space
- Exploratorium – Little scientists can explore through play in this space designed for 3–4-year-olds, with engaging story time sessions and fun arts and crafts!
- Power Plant – Get ready to experience a real lightbulb moment! Discover the science behind electricity and experiment with the green energy of the future
- Construction Yard – It’s time to tinker! Put your building skills to the test with a series of fun construction challenges, and design and race your very own land yacht
Choose Your Workshop
Kids aged 5–11 can take their DiscoveryLab experience to the next level by booking one of our premium workshops!
- Dig up a Dino – Ready to become a palaeontologist? Uncover dinosaur remains at our dig site!
- Wild Vets – Become an animal conservationist and learn how to care for wildlife.
- Splat-tastic – Get gooey with chemistry! Design your own smelly slime to take home.
- Creative Coding (Supported by SeeByte) – Meet Marty the dancing robot! Learn to program him to follow commands and navigate an obstacle course.
- CSI: Crime Scene – A crime has been committed… can you help us solve the mystery?
Enjoy Activities at Your Own Pace
Your DiscoveryLab ticket gives kids access to all five floors of hands-on interactive activities, which you can enjoy at your own pace! Just turn up and let curiosity take the lead.
This year, three former premium workshops – Speedy Sails, Energy Makers, and Little Electrics (supported by Hitachi Energy) – are now available without booking a set time. That means the whole family can take part together, making DiscoveryLab more exciting and accessible than ever. Discover all eleven additional activities which are available to explore at your own pace.
Access & Facilities
The City Art Centre is located in the heart of Edinburgh, just a short walk from Waverley train station
- Level access at the entrance
- Lift to all floors
- Accessible toilet on the ground floor
- Sensory packs available upon request
DiscoveryLab is a vibrant and exciting space that at times may be overwhelming for some people. These are available to all, particularly visitors with autism or other sensory needs.
- We have sensory backpacks and ear defenders available free of charge from the ticketing desk on the ground floor
- Quiet Space on the fourth floor where you can take a breather from the noise
Where Science Meets Play
Our newly reimagined experience at the City Art Centre – play the role of scientist and let your curiosity run wild as you discover our living laboratory!
Explore five floors packed with hands-on activities designed for all the family to get involved in. Children aged 5–11 can also book entry to one of our premium workshops.
Take Time to Recharge
We can’t have the kids going hungry! Pack some snacks and take a break on the 5th floor snack space. Whether you need a quick bite or just a moment to relax before diving back into science fun, this is the perfect spot to refuel and refresh.
Rest Your Legs, Engage Your Brain!
Don’t miss the Knowledge Nook on the 3rd floor! Learn exciting new facts as you browse our science library, and watch some short documentaries in our mini-science cinema.
Special Edition Patches
Special Edition Patches will be available for purchase at the box office, ground floor.
Sustainable Travel with Lumo
We encourage visitors to travel to the City Art Centre by public transport to reduce environmental impact. That’s why we’re delighted to partner with Lumo, offering a low-carbon travel option for those arriving by train!
Lumo operates 100% electric, affordable, and sustainable rail services between cities – including routes to Edinburgh Waverley, just a short walk from DiscoveryLab. By choosing Lumo, you’re reducing emissions while making travel easy and convenient.
Additional transportation tips:
- Bus – 100 (Waverley Bridge), 27, 41, 23 (The Mound)
- Taxi – Drop-off outside and taxi rank outside Waverley Station
- Tram – Tram stop on Princes Street
- Train – 200m from Edinburgh Waverley station
Saturday 5 April – Saturday 19 April
Times: 9.45am & 2pm (3-hour sessions)
Location: City Art Centre, Market Street, EH1 1DE
Tickets purchased at City Art Centre on the day will cost £1 extra per ticket – book ahead to save!
Ages 0–2: Free
Ages 3–4: £6
Ages 5–11: £16 (Includes one bookable workshop!)
Adults: £8
Registered Disabled/Unemployed: £5
Exhibition: What Makes an Engineer?
Kelly Anna’s sculpture What Makes an Engineer? represents engineer Alice Kan who played a key role in the manufacture of the Covid-19 vaccine.
We are delighted to display this sculpture at City Art Centre as part of DiscoveryLab – its first display outside of London. Created to mark National Engineering Day 2024, this sculpture was part of an art project to celebrate inspirational engineers.
DiscoveryLab Venue Sponsor
DiscoveryLab is supported by Cirrus Logic. Cirrus Logic is proud to support the Edinburgh Science Festival as it provides hands-on opportunities to explore how science, technology and creativity can shape the future for all.
Supported by Cirrus Logic – Cirrus Logic is proud to support the Edinburgh Science Festival as it provides hands-on opportunities to explore how science, technology, and creativity can shape the future for all.
