I took my 2 year old son to visit as he's obsessed with anything firefighter related and he loved it. There was ample toys/puzzles to keep him entertained and the dress up section is great! The staff were lovely and very engaging with my little one. Great activity, unfortunately I didn't get to view much of the museum it's self as the wee one was more interested in the fire appliance and ambulance on the courtyard! ☺️

Visited with group of children and booked a tour and workshop in advance. It was excellent. Highly recommend it!

I decided to visit after reading about it online. It wasn't very far out of town, so it was easy to get to. I met up with David and spent almost an hour chatting about the history of firefighting in Edinburgh from the very first horse-drawn steam pump to the first motorised vehicle to the present day. Very informative pictorial displays and loads of articles and equipment clearly show how basic items have changed dramatically over the years. At the back of the museum, huge windows look out over the exercise yard, so if you are lucky, you might get to see the firefighters doing a drill* All in all, it is a fascinating experience, and if you are into firefighting history, here's your chance *times vary and no guarantees

Did you know that modern firefighting practices was started in Edinburgh of all places? A free museum that maximizes the experience in spite of the limited spacing. The staff were so lovely and engaging. They gave context for why the museum was started and gave instructions on how to best proceed through the exhibit. I will be providing an educator’s perspective on the experience. I loved how there were backpacks full of activities for families to best enjoy the experience. I saw several parents encourage their kids to complete the scavenger hunt. I loved how the museum incorporated multiple primary sources (including recording interviews with 999 communication operators. There was a particular interview in which the worker got very emotional, making it an especially powerful listening experience. Furthermore the addition of subtitles made it easier to follow along- accessibility for the win). I loved how I could watch some old tv advertisements on fire safety. I couldn’t track when these ads were created but I could tell they were produced from different decades based on the tone and focus. I really liked how there was even an opportunity for visitors to try to perform specific knots needed right achieve firefighter certification. One small recommendation would be that the photo instructions were a little janky sometimes. Perhaps a slowed video would be more effective. There is even a small section for kids to dress up as firefighters. This is definitely for family but all can enjoy this experience.

This is a great museum and well worth a visit! You get a great experience of fire fighting through history, and staff are full of knowledge too. Highly recommend!