Birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment, Edinburgh is famous for an eighteenth century outpouring from intellectuals and scientists including engineer James Watt, mathematicians James Clerk Maxwell and Lord Kelvin, and the founder of modern economics, Adam Smith. Investigate the city’s important historic accomplishments at the recently refurbished National Museum of Scotland. Make mathematical connections with the world of science, technology, art and nature and record  architectural shapes and patterns of the museum’s distinctive buildings.

Discover the story of aviation from biplanes to supersonics at the National Museum of Flight, collect data to compare statistics. Challenge your students: if Concorde used two tonnes of fuel just taxiing to the runway, how much fuel was consumed on the flights! Enjoy superb views of the castle, Arthurs’ Seat and the Royal Mile from the Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, then have fun getting lost in a vortex tunnel and investigate ideas of scale, pattern and magnification with its amazing mirrors and giant kaleidoscopes.

When you’ve tired of museums, use grid references to explore the elegant streets and parks, examine statistics at the Mining Museum, or identify the golden ratio at Edinburgh’s excellent art galleries.

Our best value sample itinerary from £175

3 Days to Edinburgh

Day 1:
Morning departure from school. Arrive at your accommodation. Take a walking tour of the central area of Edinburgh. Visit the Camera Obscura.

Day 2:
Spend the morning exploring the science and technology galleries of the National Museum. Search for geometric shapes in the exhibits and grounds of the National Gallery of Modern Art.

Day 3:
Visit the National Museum of Flight before your return trip to school.