Maths Week Scotland 2023: What's On for Families?
We are delighted to be offering a big programme of family activities again for this year's Maths Week Scotland (25 September - 1 October), and particularly to have so many libraries on board helping us to expand Maths Week events to some of the more rural areas. There's something for all ages, including for pre-schoolers on weekday mornings, for school aged children and families on weekday afternoons and our big family weekend, and even for adult learners.
Check out our day-by-day listings below to find out what's on each day, or hop over to our handy events map to quickly see what events are happening closest to you. We will be updating this, as new events come in, so please keep checking.
MATHS WEEK EVENTS
PLEASE NOTE: The 'Maths Inside' photography competition deadline has been extended to Monday 16 October.
Saturday 23 September
In-person
East Lothian
- 10am - 5pm: Family Maths Trail at the National Museum of Flight (included in admission)
Edinburgh
- 10am – 4pm: Maths in Motion - from Experiments to Proofs at the University of Edinburgh School of Mathematics (free)
- 10am – 5pm: A World of Maths Trail at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free)
- All Day: Edinburgh’s Mathematical History self-guided trail (free)
Highland
- 10am – 12pm: Maths on Toast Drop-in Craft Session in Grantown on Spey (free)
North Lanarkshire
- 10am – 4pm: Family Maths Trail at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Coatbridge (free)
Stirling
- All Day: Stirling University self-led Maths Trail (free)
Online
- All Day: The Curse of the Burial Dagger online puzzle mystery | for age 10+
- All Day: Maths Inside photography competition (closes 16 October)
Sunday 24 September
In-person
East Lothian
- 10am - 5pm: Family Maths Trail at the National Museum of Flight (included in admission)
Edinburgh
- 10am – 5pm: A World of Maths Trail at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free)
- All Day: Edinburgh’s Mathematical History self-guided trail (free)
North Lanarkshire
- 10am – 4pm: Family Maths Trail at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Coatbridge (free)
Stirling
- All Day: Stirling University self-led Maths Trail (free)
Online
- All Day: The Curse of the Burial Dagger online puzzle mystery | for age 10+
- All Day: Maths Inside photography competition (closes 16 October)
Monday 25 September
In-person
Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
- 10:30am - 11am: Bookbug with Maths at Fraserburgh Library (free; booking required) - SOLD OUT
- 2pm - 3pm: Maths in Motion with TechFest at Aberdeen Central Children's Library (free; booking required)
Argyll & Bute
- 10:30am – 4:30pm: Auchindrain Maths at Auchindrain Township Museum (included in admission)
East Lothian
- 10am - 5pm: Family Maths Trail at the National Museum of Flight (included in admission)
- 2:15pm - 2:45pm: Maths Themed Bookbug at East Linton Library (free)
Edinburgh
- 10am – 5pm: Counting Sheep Trail at National Museum of Scotland (free)
- 10am – 5pm: A World of Maths Trail at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 8pm: Maths riddles & scavenger hunt at Newington Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 8pm: Maths puzzles at McDonald Road Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 1pm - 8pm: Scavenger hunt & maths activity booklet at Moredun Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 4pm - 5pm: Maths Week Chatterbooks at Corstorphine Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 4:30pm - 5:30pm: Maths Week Lego Club at Moredun Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 6:30pm - 7:30pm: Colour by Numbers at Sighthill Library, Edinburgh (free) | for adults & kids
- All Day: Edinburgh’s Mathematical History self-guided trail (free)
Fife
- 10am - 4:30pm: Kipper's Family Maths Trail at the Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther (included in admission)
Highland
- 10am - 5pm: Maths Themed Crafts at Dornoch Library (free); closed 1pm - 2pm
- 2pm - 5pm: Family Learning Maths Fun at Inverness Library (free)
Moray
- 10am - 8pm: Mystery Number Trail in Buckie (free)
- All Day: Family Activity Trail in Keith (free)
North Lanarkshire
- 10am – 4pm: Family Maths Trail at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Coatbridge (free)
Scottish Borders
- 9:30am - 5pm: Crack the Code at the Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels (included in admission)
- All Day: Stirling University self-led Maths Trail (free)
Online
- All Day: The Curse of the Burial Dagger online puzzle mystery | for age 10+
- All Day: Maths Inside photography competition (closes 16 October)
Tuesday 26 September
In-person
Aberdeenshire
- 10:30am - 11am: Bookbug with Maths at Ballater Library (free; booking required)
Angus
- 11am – 11:30am: Bookbug in the Theatre at Webster Memorial Theatre, Arbroath (free)
Argyll & Bute
- 10:30am – 4:30pm: Auchindrain Maths at Auchindrain Township Museum (included in admission)
East Lothian
- 10am - 5pm: Family Maths Trail at the National Museum of Flight (included in admission)
Edinburgh
- 10am – 5pm: Counting Sheep Trail at National Museum of Scotland (free)
- 10am – 5pm: A World of Maths Trail at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 5pm: Scavenger hunt & maths activity booklet at Moredun Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 8pm: Maths riddles & scavenger hunt at Newington Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 8pm: Maths puzzles at McDonald Road Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10:30am - 11am: Maths Week Scotland Bookbug at Moredun Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 11am - 11:30am: Maths Week Bookbug at Corstorphine Library, Edinburgh (free; booking required) - SOLD OUT
- 11am - 12pm: Cosy Sudoku at Sighthill Library, Edinburgh (free) | for adults
- 2:30pm - 3pm: Maths themed Bookbug at Gilmerton Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 3:15pm - 4:15pm: Maths Week Lego Club at Stockbridge Library (free)
- 3:30pm - 4:30pm: Maths Week Lego Club at Corstorphine Library, Edinburgh (free)
- All Day: Edinburgh’s Mathematical History self-guided trail (free)
Highland
- 2pm - 7pm: Maths Themed Crafts at Dornoch Library (free)
Moray
- 10am - 5pm: Mystery Number Trail in Buckie (free)
- 4pm - 5pm: Fun Number Event in Aberlour (free; booking required)
- All Day: Family Activity Trail in Keith (free)
North Lanarkshire
- 10am – 4pm: Family Maths Trail at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Coatbridge (free)
Orkney Islands
- 10:30am - 5pm: Maths Week Activities at The Pier Arts Centre (free)
- 2pm - 2:30pm: Bookbug Session at Orkney Library & Archive (free; booking required)
Scottish Borders
- 9:30am - 5pm: Crack the Code at the Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels (included in admission)
- All Day: Stirling University self-led Maths Trail (free)
Online
- 11am - 11:30am: Online Bookbug session hosted by North Lanarkshire Libraries
- All Day: The Curse of the Burial Dagger online puzzle mystery | for age 10+
- All Day: Maths Inside photography competition (closes 16 October)
Wednesday 27 September
In-person
Aberdeenshire
- 10am - 10:30am: Bookbug with Maths at Banchory Library (free; booking required)
- 11:30am - 12pm: Bookbug with Maths at Stonehaven Library (free; booking required)
- 10:30am – 4:30pm: Auchindrain Maths at Auchindrain Township Museum (included in admission)
- 10am - 10:30am: Maths Themed Bookbug at Dunbar Library (free)
- 10am - 5pm: Family Maths Trail at the National Museum of Flight (included in admission)
- 10am – 5pm: Counting Sheep Trail at National Museum of Scotland (free)
- 10am – 5pm: A World of Maths Trail at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 8pm: Maths riddles & scavenger hunt at Newington Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 8pm: Maths puzzles at McDonald Road Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10:30am – 11am: Magic Carpet Maths in Motion Special at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free, booking required) - SOLD OUT
- 1pm - 8pm: Scavenger hunt & maths activity booklet at Moredun Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 2pm - 2:30pm: Maths Week Bookbug at Corstorphone Library, Edinburgh (free; booking required)
- 2pm – 2:30pm: Magic Carpet Maths in Motion Special at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free; booking required) - SOLD OUT
- 4:30pm - 5:30pm: Chatterbooks at Sighthill Library, Edinburgh (free)
- All Day: Edinburgh’s Mathematical History self-guided trail (free)
Fife
- 10am - 4:30pm: Kipper's Family Maths Trail at the Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther (included in admission)
Highland
- 9:30am - 1:30pm: Maths Themed Crafts at Dornoch Library (free)
- 3pm – 5pm: Lego Patterns at Inverness Library (free)
Moray
- 10am - 8pm: Mystery Number Trail in Buckie (free)
- All Day: Family Activity Trail in Keith (free)
North Lanarkshire
- 10am – 4pm: Family Maths Trail at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Coatbridge (free)
Orkney Islands
- 10:30am - 5pm: Maths Week Activities at The Pier Arts Centre (free)
Scottish Borders
- 9:30am - 5pm: Crack the Code at the Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels (included in admission)
- 10am - 4pm: Maths is Everywhere (for adult learners) at The Centre Livingston (free)
- All Day: Stirling University self-led Maths Trail (free)
Online
- All Day: The Curse of the Burial Dagger online puzzle mystery | for age 10+
- All Day: Maths Inside photography competition (closes 16 October)
Thursday 28 September
In-person
Aberdeenshire
- 10am - 10:30am: Bookbug with Maths at Aboyne Library (free; booking required)
- 10:30am - 11am: Bookbug with Maths at Newmachar Library (free; booking required) - SOLD OUT
- 10:30am - 11am: Bookbug with Maths at Westhill Library (free; booking required)
Argyll & Bute
- 10:30am – 4:30pm: Auchindrain Maths at Auchindrain Township Museum (included in admission)
East Lothian
- 10am - 5pm: Family Maths Trail at the National Museum of Flight (included in admission)
- 10:30am - 11am: Maths themed Bookbug at Musselburgh Library (free)
- 10:30am - 11am: Maths themed Bookbug at Prestonpans Library (free)
- 11am - 11:30am: Maths themed Bookbug at Tranent Library (free)
- 3:30pm – 4:30pm: Tranent Library Lego Challenge (free)
Edinburgh
- 9:30am - 10am: Story time for Under 5s at the Edinburgh Bookshop (free)
- 10am – 5pm: Counting Sheep Trail at National Museum of Scotland (free)
- 10am – 5pm: A World of Maths Trail at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 5pm: Maths riddles & scavenger hunt at Newington Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 5pm: Scavenger hunt & maths activity booklet at Moredun Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 5pm: Maths puzzles at McDonald Road Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10:30am - 11am: Maths Week Scotland Bookbug at Moredun Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10:30am - 11am: Bookbug Celebrates Maths Week Scotland at Morningside Library, Edinburgh (free; booking required) - SOLD OUT
- All Day: Edinburgh’s Mathematical History self-guided trail (free)
- 10am - 4:30pm: Kipper's Family Maths Trail at the Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther (included in admission)
- 10am - 12:30pm: Crafty Fun at Muir of Ord Library (free)
- 11am - 11:30am: Maths themed Bookbug at Muir of Ord Library (free)
- 11:15 – 11:45am: Bookbug Shapes & Numbers at Inverness Library (free)
Moray
- 10am - 5pm: Mystery Number Trail in Buckie (free)
- 4pm - 5pm: Fun Number Event in Tomintoul (free; booking required)
- All Day: Family Activity Trail in Keith (free)
North Lanarkshire
- 10am – 4pm: Family Maths Trail at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Coatbridge (free)
Orkney Islands
- 10:30am - 5pm: Maths Week Activities at The Pier Arts Centre (free)
Scottish Borders
- 9:30am - 5pm: Crack the Code at the Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels (included in admission)
- All Day: Stirling University self-led Maths Trail (free)
Online
- All Day: The Curse of the Burial Dagger online puzzle mystery | for age 10+
- All Day: Maths Inside photography competition (closes 16 October)
Friday 29 September
In-person
Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire
- 9:30am - 10am: Bookbug with Maths at Inverurie Library (free; booking required)
- 10am - 10:30am: Bookbug with Maths at Banchory Library (free; booking required)
- 10:30am - 11:am: Bookbug with CityMoves at Aberdeen Central Children's Library (free; booking required)
- 10:30am - 11am: Bookbug with Maths at Balmedie Library (free; booking required) - SOLD OUT
- 12:15pm - 12:45pm: Bookbug with Maths at Westhill Library (free; booking required)
Argyll & Bute
- 10:30am – 4:30pm: Auchindrain Maths at Auchindrain Township Museum (included in admission)
East Lothian
- 10am - 5pm: Family Maths Trail at the National Museum of Flight (included in admission)
Edinburgh
- 9:30am - 10am: Story time for under 5s at the Edinburgh Bookshop (free)
- 10am – 5pm: Counting Sheep Trail at National Museum of Scotland (free)
- 10am – 5pm: A World of Maths Trail at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 5pm: Maths riddles & scavenger hunt at Newington Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 5pm: Scavenger hunt & maths activity booklet at Moredun Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 5pm: Maths puzzles at McDonald Road Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10:45am - 11:15am: Maths Week Bookbug at Sighthill Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 11am - 11:30am: Maths themed Bookbug at Gilmerton Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 1:30pm – 4pm: Find out Fridays: Maths in Motion Special at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free)
- 2pm - 3pm: Maths Week Crafternoon at Corstorphine Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 2pm - 3pm: Lego in the Library! at Kirkliston Library, Edinburgh
- 2pm - 3:30pm: Maths Week Friday at Granton Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 2:30pm - 3pm: Maths Week Crafternoon at Newington Library, Edinburgh (free
- 2:30pm - 3:30pm: Maths themed Craft Time at Stockbridge Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 3pm - 4pm: Maths Week Children's Crafts at McDonald Road Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 5:30pm - 6:30pm: "Knotty Problems" Public Lecture at Appleton Tower, Edinburgh (free) | for adults
- All Day: Edinburgh’s Mathematical History self-guided trail (free)
- 10am - 4:30pm: Kipper's Family Maths Trail at the Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther (included in admission)
- 9:30am - 5pm: Maths Themed Crafts at Dornoch Library (free); closed 1pm - 2pm
- 3pm - 4pm: Maths themed Lego Club at Muir of Ord Library (free)
- All Day: Family Activity Trail in Keith (free)
Orkney Islands
- 10:30am - 5pm: Maths Week Activities at The Pier Arts Centre (free)
- 10am – 4pm: Family Maths Trail at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Coatbridge (free)
- 9:30am - 5pm: Crack the Code at the Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels (included in admission)
- All Day: Stirling University self-led Maths Trail (free)
Online
- All Day: The Curse of the Burial Dagger online puzzle mystery | for age 10+
- All Day: Maths Inside photography competition (closes 16 October)
Saturday 30 September
In-person
Argyll & Bute
- 10:30am – 4:30pm: Auchindrain Maths at Auchindrain Township Museum (included in admission)
East Lothian
- 10am - 5pm: Family Maths Trail at the National Museum of Flight (included in admission)
Edinburgh
- 10am – 4pm: Maths in Motion Pendlums and Patterns exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 4:30pm: Pinwheel Craft Drop-in & Maths Trail at Edinburgh Central Children's Library (free)
- 10am – 5pm: Counting Sheep Trail at National Museum of Scotland (free)
- 10am – 5pm: A World of Maths Trail at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 5pm: Maths riddles & scavenger hunt at Newington Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 5pm: Maths puzzles at McDonald Road Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am - 5pm: Scavenger hunt & maths activity booklet at Moredun Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 11am - 12pm: Maths Week Lego Club at Sighthill Library, Edinburgh (free)
- 1pm - 4pm: Edinburgh Maths Circle at the University of Edinburgh (free)
- All Day: Edinburgh’s Mathematical History self-guided trail (free)
Fife
- 10am - 4:30pm: Kipper's Family Maths Trail at the Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther (included in admission)
Highland
- 10am - 12pm: Maths Themed Crafts at Dornoch Library (free)
Moray
- 10am - 12pm: Mystery Number Trail in Buckie (free)
- All Day: Family Activity Trail in Keith (free)
North Ayrshire
- 10am - 12pm: Nautical Numbers Family Event at Eglinton Country Park, Irvine (free; pre-booking essential) - SOLD OUT
- 12:30pm - 2:30pm: Nautical Numbers Family Event at Eglinton Country Park, Irvine (free; pre-booking essential) - SOLD OUT
North Lanarkshire
- 10am – 4pm: Family Maths Trail at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Coatbridge (free)
- 12pm - 3pm: Map Attack! at North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre, Motherwell (free)
Scottish Borders
- 9:30am - 5pm: Crack the Code at the Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels (included in admission)
- All Day: Stirling University self-led Maths Trail (free)
Online
- All Day: The Curse of the Burial Dagger online puzzle mystery | for age 10+
- All Day: Maths Inside photography competition (closes 16 October)
Sunday 1 October
In-person
Argyll & Bute
- 10:30am – 4:30pm: Auchindrain Maths at Auchindrain Township Museum (included in admission)
East Lothian
- 10am - 5pm: Family Maths Trail at the National Museum of Flight (included in admission)
Edinburgh
- 10am – 4pm: Maths in Motion Pendlums and Patterns exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free)
- 10am – 5pm: Counting Sheep Trail at National Museum of Scotland (free)
- 10am – 5pm: A World of Maths Trail at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free)
- 10:30am - 12pm: Sensory Sunday at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (free; booking essential) - SOLD OUT
- All Day: Edinburgh’s Mathematical History self-guided trail (free)
Fife
- 10:30am – 12pm: Forces of Golf family event at the World Golf Museum, St Andrews (included in admission)
- 11am - 4:30pm: Kipper's Family Maths Trail at the Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther (included in admission)
Moray
- All Day: Family Activity Trail in Keith (free)
North Lanarkshire
- 10am – 4pm: Family Maths Trail at Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life, Coatbridge (free)
Scottish Borders
- 9:30am - 5pm: Crack the Code at the Great Tapestry of Scotland, Galashiels (included in admission)
- All Day: Stirling University self-led Maths Trail (free)
Online
- All Day: The Curse of the Burial Dagger online puzzle mystery | for age 10+
- All Day: Maths Inside photography competition (closes 16 October)
BEYOND MATHS WEEK
Year Round Events
Whilst the majority of our events take place during Maths Week itself, we do also have events that happen throughout the rest of the year, so do keep checking our events page for any updates. Some things to look forward to include:
- Monthly drop-in maths activity sessions for families in Grantown on Spey from October 2023 until February 2024 (free)
- Family maths activities at the Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage in Edinburgh during the October half term holidays (free)
Online Activities
If you enjoy doing fun maths activities together as a family, we also have a big archive of online resources with maths inspired games, puzzles, and art & craft activities to do at home. You can browse them all on our Family Activities page.
Latest News and Events
Maths Week 2024 - Tales Highlights
We have enjoyed seeing what everyone got up to for Maths Week Scotland this year, in particular the different ways everyone was inspired by this year's theme of 'Maths Tales'. We've picked out a few highlights to share.
Scottish Museums Day 2024
For Scottish Museums Day (3 October) we’ve rounded up some of our favourite activities from museums from across the country, from this year's Maths Week Scotland.