Aquariums in Scotland

Scotland has two aquariums on this list, and they sit on opposite sides of Fife. Deep Sea World in North Queensferry is the bigger one: its tourism page calls it Scotland's National Aquarium, describes one of Europe's largest shark collections across more than 40 marine displays, and puts the underwater tunnel at 112m, one of the world's longest. St Andrews Aquarium is smaller and, by its own account and that of reviewers, better on the inside than the exterior suggests.

The tunnel is the reason to go to Deep Sea World. Reviewers keep coming back to it, along with the seal feeding sessions and friendly staff, and a parent on one forum says it still has the wow factor it had in the 90s and suits kids up to about 12. The same forum thread carries a dissenting voice who has heard it has gone downhill in recent years, and reviews describe it as compact for the price, so most families are done in two to three hours. There is a Junior Shark Dive for ages 8 to 15 that must be booked ahead, and it can be reached by a short train ride from Edinburgh.

St Andrews Aquarium is the pick for families who want close-up animal encounters over scale. Reviews rate the shark and stingray feeding shows highly and describe the exhibits as clean and the animals active. Forum posters mention meerkats, marmosets and penguins, though one notes the seals were temporarily away after storm damage to their pool, and the aquarium's own site says Asian short-clawed otters have arrived in a new Otter Kingdom habitat. Sixty to ninety minutes covers it, which makes it an easy half-day anchor for a St Andrews trip, and reviewers recommend the burger spot next door afterwards.

Both are indoors, pram friendly, wheelchair accessible, and have free parking and a cafe.