Latest Updates

• Is the Helix Visitor Centre open?

  The Visitor Centre including toilets, gift shop and café are now open with a limited menu for takeaway and sit in. Opening hours are 10am – 4pm 7 days a week.

• Will the toilets be open at the play parks?

  The Plaza Café toilets and Helix Car Park toilets are open 7 days a week 9am till 8pm.

  Additionally, the public toilets at Callendar Park are open 7 days a week from 8.30am to 4pm as well as the toilets are Muiravonside Country Park. New Park Farm toilets are open 10.30-2.30pm and Muiravonside Visitor Centre Toilets are open 10.30-4pm

• What play parks are open?

  You can access the play parks at the Helix Park, Callendar Park, Kinneil Estate and Muiravonside Country Park.

• What safety measures are in place at the play parks?

  We have put in place stencils on the ground to encourage social distancing and have signage up to encourage parents/carers to:

  • Supervise you child closely
  • Observe social distancing
  • Please bring hand sanitiser to use after touching shared equipment in the park

• How can I safely socially distance if the park is busy?

  If you are not comfortable with the volume of visitors at the playpark and feel unsafe then you may wish to return at another time. As the parks are open, we cannot and do not have the staffing capacity to manage numbers using the parks.

• Is the Plaza Café at the Helix and the kiosk at Callendar Park opening too?

  We have reopened the Plaza Café at the Helix for takeaway from 10am to 4pm. The kiosk at Callendar Park is currently closed however food and drinks are available from mobile catering units across from the kiosk.

• Will you be providing hand sanitisers or other PPE for customers at parks?

  No, unfortunately we won’t have hand sanitisers available at the parks as it’s likely they would be stolen, we are therefore requesting that users of the parks bring their own and do not share with others.

• Are there any traffic/parking restrictions in place at these venues?

  The car parks are open across all our parks, please ensure you check the closure times beforehand.

• Can we bring our own picnic?

  Yes, but for your own or take away items, please be mindful of leaving litter behind and either bin it or take it home with you. We will also be offering take away afternoon tea as well as drinks and snacks at Callendar House.

• There is an increase of litter in your parks and other areas, how are you dealing with this?

  We are aware and of course disappointed in the level of litter our staff are having to clear up across our parks. we have put up posters asking visitors to kindly bin or take their litter home with them. If a person is found guilty of the offence, they can be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £80 or could potentially be prosecuted and risk a fine of up to £2,500.

• Can I visit the Kelpies now?

  The Helix, Home of the Kelpies has remained open to the local community who have been using the park as part of their daily exercise. 

• Are the Kelpie Tours available?

  The Kelpies Tours have resumed on a flexible basis. The Tours operate from the 'Head-Down' Kelpie and are delivered on a rolling basis, so pre-booking is not required or available. The next available Tour time will be displayed at the entrance to the Kelpie.
  Due to the resources required to operate we may not be able to operate the Tours on certain days, so we would suggest checking our message at the top of our website home page by 10am for an update on Tours for that day.

• What is the price for a tour?

  Adults tickets are £5, Concession are £4.50 and Children go free based on 2 children with one accompanying adult.

• How long does the tour last?

  Our tour lasts for 15 minutes and capacity for a Tour is 20.

• Can I make a group booking?

  If you have a group booking request, please complete the Group Booking Form which can be found here and we will accommodate your request based on Tour availability.

• Is Kinneil Museum open?

  Kinneil Museum is now open. Our opening hours remain the same: 12.30pm - 4pm, Wednesday - Monday. You must wear a face covering (unless exempt), stay 1m apart from other households and provide your contact information for Test and Protect to visit the museum.

• Are the Exhibitions and Gallery open at Kinneil Museum?

  Yes, both ground floor and upper floors are open.

• What safety measures are in place at The Visitor Centre?

  It is mandatory to wear a face mask indoors, although not when seated in the café. We have hand sanitiser available throughout the centre, a one-way system to allow social distancing alongside, an enhanced cleaning regime and sneeze screens in our Café and Gift Shop. We also ask customers use contactless card payments and one person per party queues to order food where possible.

• Can I visit Newparks Farm?

  Under the regulations for parks and outdoor attractions, the park will remain open, hand sanitisers are available and clear customer guidance on social distancing. Newparks Farm is open 10am – 4pm each day.