Things to Do in Fife with Kids
Things to do in Fife with Kids – Welcome to the Kingdom, the Kingdom of Fife! Just north of Edinburgh, yet miles away from the hustle and bustle of the capital city, Fife has lots of family friendly options to enjoy throughout the year. We’ve explored each of these venues personally, and cut anything that we don’t recommend. So see what appeals to you and your tribe.
Visit St Andrews – Things to Do in Fife with Kids
St Andrews is a hugely popular town for tourists and golfers, and it offers so much for families. Where to start?
St Andrews Aquarium – Things to do in Fife with kids
We began at the town’s aquarium. I’d describe it as mid-sized and home to creatures such as seals, Humboldt penguins, snapping turtles, iguanas, Smooth Hound sharks, dwarf crocodiles, marmosets and the obligatory clown fish (Nemo) and Blue Tang (Dory). I was transfixed by the beautifully calming moon jellyfish and the zen-like seahorses. And the skate birthing pods were really unusual, like tiny purses containing their babies (wish that’s how mine arrived). To enhance your visit, try to catch a feeding session with the keepers. And remember that a ticket lasts all day, so we visited twice to get our money’s worth! £42.00 for a family ticket. Open 7 Days a Week 10am – 5pm.
St Andrews Castle & Cathedral – Things to do in Fife with kids
From the aquarium we walked to St Andrews Castle. A mum pal told me that her daughters loved the dank dungeons, but we admired the ruins from the outside (as it’s currently closed for maintenance). Junior’s eyes got so wide when we read the plaque outside sharing the story of George Wishart, who was burned to death by Cardinal Beaton for his Protestant beliefs. Wishart’s pals were highly unimpressed, and subsequently captured the Cardinal, executed him and hung his body from the battlements that Junior could see right in front of his very eyes. What a slice of horrible history! [Pics above courtesy of VisitScotland / Kenny Lam]
From the castle we walked past St Andrews small but picturesque harbour, under the town’s entry walls before reaching the famous cathedral. Again, it’s currently closed for maintenance but you can see a lot from the roadside for free. It’s quite an epic ruin, and we explained to the kids that the people pulled it down, ‘cleansed it’ after a fiery speech by Protestant Reformer John Knox in 1559. The castle visitor centre, toilets and exhibition are open and free to visit. When the castle reopens it will be free to Historic Scotland members. When the cathedral reopens it should be £14 for a family ticket, but free to Historic Scotland members.
R&A World Golf Museum – Things to do in Fife with kids
I’m neither a spectator nor player of golf but St Andrews World Golf Museum is way more family friendly than I’d predicted. Rather than endless information boards, the history of golf is told visually/orally through people and stories, their passions and lives, so it comes to life quite naturally for kids and non-golf-fanatics. Children can dress up in traditional golfing clobber, swing a club and hit the targets, or disappear into a child-friendly learning zone for some crafts and time out. It felt very ‘When in Rome’ to learn about golf in the home of golf. Tickets – Adults £10, Children (aged 5-15) £6, Children 4 and Under – Free.
Things to Do in the East Neuk of Fife
Explore the East Neuk of Fife – Things to Do in Fife with Kids
This stretch of villages, including Anstruther, Elie, Crail, Kingsbarn, Pittenweem and St Monans, is picture-postcard perfect. I have an entire separate post on the East Neuk of Fife so check it out here. Highlights include…
Cambo Gardens
Kids go free at this elegant country estate. Explore the extensive walled garden, glasshouses and edible garden, before letting the kids run riot in the nature playground called Elf Village. Cambo’s café is well stocked with fruit and veg from the gardens and has garnered a strong reputation for vegan and vegetarian food, but we made a beeline for the cakes. Unusually, Cambo also has its own private beach, Cambo Sands, so explore the estate looking out for the former dairy, farm and mausoleum, before heading to the seaside. cambogardens.org.uk – Entry to the gardens is £6.50 for adults and free for under 16’s.
Swim at Pittenweem’s Tidal Pool
FREE Take a dip at Pittenweem’s glorious tidal pool – be sure to check the tide times here.
Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther
Children go free at Scotland’s Fisheries Museum, which charts the area’s rich fishing history and heritage. The museum is a bit of Tardis and covers the many professions associated with the industry, from sail makers to the fishing lassies who followed the herring fleet down the east coast. A gift shop and café are available on site. scotfishmuseum.org – Adult: £9.00, Child: Free.
The Secret Bunker
This underground warren was the former Scottish HQ in the event of nuclear war. Built in 1953, it only closed in 1993. Guests descend underground – it’s really spacious and not claustrophobic at all but the temperature drops (pack coats and/or jumpers). We saw the dorms where the staff slept, radar that spotted Soviet incursions into UK air space, maps of Scotland highlighting the wind direction, while recordings and sirens played in background. Powerful stuff. Also look out for two friendly bunker cats, plus there’s an informal café. secretbunker.co.uk – Family Ticket (2 adults, 2 children), £37.95.
Visit Cupar
Hand-feed Deer at the Scottish Deer Centre
This outdoor attraction was a real hit – we spent hours there on a bright winter’s day. As the map reveals there are so many deer to meet and feed (bags of feed cost £2.50), from iconic Red deer, to Santa’s reindeer and (my personal favourite) the gorgeous Pere David’s Deer with their velvety soft antlers.
But it’s not just about deer. Visitors can also potentially spot quite exciting animals that used to wander in the wilds of Scotland, such as wolves, European brown bears and Highland Cattle, as well as otters, birds of prey and Scottish wildcats. There are several play areas, both inside and out, with highlights being the outdoor bouncing pillow and a vast play house and playground. It’s possible to pick up crepes from the Crepe Shack and sit at outdoor picnic tables (service can take a while, as they’re made from scratch). £35.00 for a family ticket, plus extra for feed.
This Cupar feature may also help you…
Go Pony Trekking at Barbarafield Farm
Idea for beginners, young and old, Barbarafield Farm has 21 ponies to trek through the Fife countryside. For the little ones, there’s a 20 min intro or a half-hour instructional hack which is a great start to horse riding. We opted for the half hour hack, which is a simple walk exploring the farm’s 300 acres. Equipment is provided, and if this your first time the instructors even help you get on the horse.
Mr Husband rode Duke, I was given Beauty, Mr To
t (aged 8) was on Rosy, and Junior (aged 7) was allocated Chase. The instructors are SO good with kids, they’ve seen it all before! When Junior got on his horse he was crying, ‘Take me Down, Take Me Down!’, but I know my boy, and I know he rejects experiences then regrets it for months or even years later. Melissa, his instructor, never stopped chatting to him, never stopped talking to him, set him tiny targets to achieve, and within five minutes they were discussing their favourite Roald Dahl books and he LOVED his horse ride. I was so impressed.
Equally, if your family are keen horse riders, the instructors will take you out for a canter. They even ensure you leave with a few family photos, plus my lad was given a birthday rosette when they heard his special day was looming. As it’s a working farm we also got to see the new born lambs, and the cows were due to calve imminently too.
Prices:- 20 min intro ride £15 // 30 min ride £20 // 1 hour ride £35 // 90 min ride £50 // 2 hour ride £65 // Group of 4 for one hour £130.
Visit Dunfermline – Things to Do in Fife with Kids
Dunfermline is so compact with the key tourist attractions right next to each other, and they’re all FREE!
Carnegie Library and Galleries
FREE As Scotland’s ancient capital you can make a day of it here. The Carnegie Library and Gallereies is hands-on and child friendly. It summarises Dunfermline’s history, from the thousands of mill workers who worked in the town’s industrial era to the famous faces who originate from the town. The town’s regal connections are impressive too, including Queen Margaret of Scotland, Queen Anna of Denmark and King Robert the Bruce. My kids enjoyed dressing up in ruffs and feathered caps fit for a prince. The library is beautifully modern so we curled up to read a few books too. Plus there’s cafe space called The Granary with great views over the Abbey.
Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum
FREE My kids love a rags to riches tale. At the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum step inside the humble cottage where weaver’s son Andrew Carnegie lived. He left Scotland for the US aged twelve to make his fortune in steel and return the richest man in the world! He then proceeded to give away roughly 90% of his fortune for the betterment of others.
Read a full guide to Dunfermline here…
Dunfermline Abbey – Things to do in Fife with Kids
FREE The library and gallery are right next and Dunfermline Abbey and Palace. There is ample space both indoors and outdoors at the abbey for little legs to explore. Inside, look out for the elegant Tiffany Window and the Carnegie Window that depicts William Wallace, King Malcolm, St Margaret and Robert the Bruce (both funded by Andrew Carnegie). The remains of Robert the Bruce are buried under an ornate red and gold memorial plaque on the floor under the church pulpit (it’s easy to miss so be sure to see it).
The remains of St Margaret’s Shrine can be found just outside the church. And the ruins of the Royal Palace are due to reopen in 2024 after a period of closure. (To step inside the Abbey and Palace find out about access and prices at Historic Scotland.To complicate matters slightly the Abbey’s church is run by the Church of Scotland but it’s free to visit and all joined up so the reality is easier than it appears.)
Abbot House – Things to do in Fife with Kids
The blush Abbot House (next to the library and abbey) is the oldest house in town. My boys tore around the gardens of the Abbot House (reinvented by the BBC’s Beechgrove Garden team). You can also browse its cute bookshop, pick up souvenirs in the gift shop (home to lots of independent makers’ products) have refreshments in Prost Coffee and a new visitor centre is planned too.
Pittencrieff Park – Things to do in Fife with Kids
FREE Finally, let the kids run riot in Pittencrieff Park. At 76 acres, it’s jam-packed with squirrels but best known for its proud peacocks. Visit the Peacock Sanctuary at weekends between 1100-1500. There are also several playgrounds, a glasshouse, Japanese Garden, Kitchen Garden,Rock Garden and a more formal Laird’s Garden.
Looking for somewhere to stay? This may interest you…
Beach Life – Things to do in Fife with Kids
FREE Fife boasts a long list of beautiful beaches. From cute seaside towns in the East Neuk of Fife to the sweeping sands of Burntisland or West Sands in St Andrews. Even modern towns like Kirkcaldy are home to extensive beach boulevards, so make the most of the shoreline.
Spend a Day in Crail
Highlights include a tearoom and gallery with jaw-dropping views, a free museum, a free doocot, sandy beaches, pottery and amazing food at The Shoregate. The buildings are so beautiful in Crail. Read all about it here.
Walk the Fife Coastal Path
FREE Stretching from Kincardine to Newburgh, we loved tackling a section of this path. It’s a total gift for local and visitors alike. We walked from Shell Bay to Elie, where we had lunch before retracing our steps. Glorious views every step of the way.
Country Parks & Green Spaces
FREE The beach is so tempting in Fife, but don’t forget about all the parks ands and reserves, including Lochore Meadows Country Park (near Cowedenbeath and Burntisland), Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve (near the Tay bridge, north of St Andrews) or Letham Glen. Free
We whizzed to Craigtoun Country Park just west of St Andrews to hit the playground and bounce on the inflatable pillows. In the summer a tiny train takes passengers on a tour of the parkland.
For a short hike, we parked at the National Trust for Scotland’s Hill of Tarvit country mansion, and hiked to the hillside viewpoint at the back of the house (just nip through the ornate gates at the rear of the property).
Food & Drink
Foodie pitstops we’d recommend include grabbing a fudge donut from one of the many Fisher & Donaldson bakeries in Fife. Fish and chips and/or seafood from the Tailend in St Andrews, where kids eat free in the restaurant on Sundays. Macaroni toasties from the Cheese Shack at Kingsbarn Beach (seasonal), the monthly food markets at Bowhouse, and chocolate treats (including ice cream with a chocolate spoon and chocolate sauce) at Pittenweem’s Cocoa Tree.
Where to Stay
For self-catering we couldn’t believe how reasonably priced the Cupar Burgh Chambers were. They also look like something straight out of a period drama.The Madeira Gardeners cottage near Pittenweem (with hot tub) are also definitely worth considering.
We loved the reasonably priced Bay Hotel in Burntisland, plus it has a pool! Or treat yourself at the Fairmont (which also boasts a pool and a games room), or head to the restful Rufflets in St Andrews – its expansive grounds are great for kids, and the lay out of the family rooms works really well.
If the feature ‘Things to Do in Fife with Kids’ helped you plan a break then please consider subscribing here or buy me a coffee. Scots2Travel received complimentary accommodation access to the Deer Centre, Golf Museum, Localmotion and the Aquarium for review purposes. Join the conversation on Facebook, or check out the bonny photos on Instagram. For any queries or opportunities please email scots2travel@hotmail.com. Content and images copyright of Scots2Travel. Check out our Privacy Policy here. Copy contains affiliate links that I may make a small percentage from.
