Pentland Plants

What it’s like

A garden centre day out with craft sessions, story time and a proper café, free to just wander round.

This one's a garden centre rather than an aquarium in the strict sense, and the main draw for kids is the craft activities and story time sessions rather than anything with fins. There's a children's afternoon tea too, which is a nice touch if you want to make more of the visit than just a browse round the plants.

Getting in costs nothing, which makes it an easy one to slot into a free afternoon. Most people seem to spend an hour or two here, wandering the site, stopping for food, maybe doing a craft table if one's running. It's outdoor, so a dry day helps, though the café gives you somewhere to retreat to if the weather turns.

Café Panola is the other half of the visit really, with 120 seats inside and 30 out, homemade food with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options covered. If you want the children's afternoon tea specifically, that's £15 a head and has to be booked ahead on their website, so don't turn up expecting to walk straight into it. The café closes at 4:30pm, a bit before the rest of the site shuts, so don't leave your cake stop until the last minute.

Dogs are welcome round the garden centre and there's a dog-friendly bit of the café too, which is handy if the walk's a family affair rather than just the kids. The site's flat with ramps where needed, and they'll lend you a wheelchair if you need one. Parking's free and right outside, and there are buses from the city centre if you're coming without a car.

Facilities

Need to know

Last entry

Café closes at 4:30pm

Parking

Free parking available directly outside the centre

How long to allow

1-2 hours

Food

Café Panola: 120 indoor and 30 outdoor seats, freshly-prepared homemade meals with locally-sourced ingredients, vegetarian, vegan

Wheelchairs

Wheelchair accessible with ramps

Dogs

Welcome in garden centre and designated seating area in café

Getting there by bus or train

Buses 37 and 47 from city centre, approximately 40 minutes

• The café closes at 4:30pm even though the centre stays open later
• Children's afternoon tea has to be booked online in advance, no turning up on the day
• Opening hours stretch to 6pm on weekdays in May and June
• No cafe bookings otherwise, but they'll buzz you when a table's free if it's busy

Plan your visit

Featured in 2 Huddlepin lists

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