See & Do

National Museum of Scotland

Free

Attraction Heritage

Hightlight

Cafe
City Centre
Events
Family Friendly

Our world-class collections will take you on a journey through the history of Scotland, the wonders of nature and diverse cultures from around the globe.Discover scientific breakthroughs and marvel at exquisite art, design and fashion from across the centuries. From the tiniest creatures to towering spacecraft and ancient times to the present day, there are thousands of stories to discover.

Grand Gallery, Collecting Stories and Window on the World
With its soaring pillars and high windows, the light-filled atrium of the Grand Gallery is one of Scotland’s most beautiful spaces, and provides a spectacular start to your museum visit.

Art, Design and Fashion galleries
These sumptuous galleries showcase the best of decorative art, design, fashion and style. Discover a treasure trove of creativity, explore the influence of design on everyday life and see how contemporary makers continue to innovate

Natural World galleries
Our much-loved Tyrannosaurus rex guards the entrance to a stunning series of galleries about our precious planet. Here we ask the big questions: how does the world work? What do we know about it? What is our place in the universe?

Science and Technology galleries
Communications, transport, industry, engineering, energy and medicine: how have scientific and technological inventions changed our lives? Explore the history of innovation in Scotland and across the world through interactive games and thought-provoking displays.

Scottish History and Archaeology galleries
Our Scotland galleries guide you from the Palaeolithic era to the present day, from the earliest cultures to space age science, prehistory to pop culture. Come face-to-face with iconic historic artefacts, learn how Scottish innovation has helped shape the modern world, and see how the lives of everyday Scots have changed through the centuries.

World Cultures galleries
In the World Cultures galleries you can encounter diverse peoples, cultures and objects, discovering how we differ and what we all share. The objects on display are drawn from some of museum’s oldest collections and demonstrate Scotland’s international links.

Ancient Egypt and East Asia galleries
Discover the remarkable culture and achievements of the ancient Egyptians and explore one of the most significant East Asia collections in the UK.

Family Galleries
Filled with interactives and spaces for reflection, stories and experimentation, our family friendly galleries have something for everyone.

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Opening Hours

Monday: 10:00 - 17:00

Tuesday: 10:00 - 17:00

Wednesday: 10:00 - 17:00

Open now

Thursday: 10:00 - 17:00

Friday: 10:00 - 17:00

Saturday: 10:00 - 17:00

Sunday: 10:00 - 17:00

Google Reviews

National Museum of Scotland

4.854316 reviews

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Mohsin Raza

2 weeks ago

Exploring the National Museum of Scotland was an incredible journey through history, culture, and science all under one roof. The architecture of the museum itself was stunning, and the wide variety of exhibits kept me amazed at every turn. From ancient artifacts to modern innovations, there was so much to see and learn. I especially loved the sections on Scottish history, the natural world, and the impressive displays of art and design. The interactive exhibits made the visit even more engaging, and the sheer scale of the collections was remarkable. The National Museum of Scotland was both educational and inspiring, making it a true highlight of my trip.

Ajay Ramesh

in the last week

This museum is amazing and very huge with many sections ranging from natural history, science and technology, Scottish history, and interactive activities. You can easily spend an entire day in here. Locker services are provided for storage starting from 3 GBP. There is a balcony cafe to grab quick food. The toilets are clean and easily accessible. Moreover, the free admission makes it totally worth. A must visit, when in Edinburgh.

James Horner

in the last week

I absolutely loved this museum, the information is accessable enough for children, whilst still being engaging for adults. They have a huge collection of artifacts spread over 6 floors. If you are visiting Edinburgh it is well worth carving out a few hours to visit to this museum. The staff and volunteers are very friendly and knowledgeable. This museum is free to enter, but they do politely encourage a £5 donation and a fiver is a steal for this experience.

DENNY JAMES ALUKKA

2 months ago

The National Museum of Scotland is absolutely fantastic! The building itself is stunning, and inside there is so much to explore. From ancient history and dinosaurs to science, fashion, and technology, there’s something for everyone. The layout is easy to follow, and every section is full of fascinating displays. I especially enjoyed how interactive it is – perfect for both adults and children. You can easily spend a whole day here and still discover new things. The museum is also free to enter, which makes it even more amazing. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere was very welcoming. Whether you’re visiting Edinburgh for the first time or you live nearby, this museum is a must-see. Truly one of the best museums in the UK!

Elizabeth Davies

a month ago

Me and my mate visited here in late August and had an enjoyable time, yet a handful of things left me with a slight bittersweet experience. The Pros ✅ - The exhibitions and displays are arranged in a very eye catching and awe inspiring way 🤩. It really gives you that feeling of wonder and wanting to learn and understand more🤓. The height of the building really gives these spaces an advantage, allowing visitors to see the scope of some larger pieces. - While there are quieter areas, with simple displays and plaques, there are also plenty of interactive displays as well. This makes it a really engaging place for everyone, including families with younger children. - Obviously the free entry is fantastic, especially for a museum with such scope 🤑. The Cons ❌ - While looking through a section of which I have a level of expertise, I found some information to be inaccurate. While I'm certain they wouldn't blatantly lie, it makes me wonder how much of their information is 100% factual 😶. - The plaques are interesting yet I found that many were very to the point with surface-level information 🥲. As someone who works in the museum industry I believe it's not just important to explain one piece, but to give the wider context and be transparent about what we do and don't know. This inspires someone to ask questions, think about what they're learning and ask why it matters today 👏👏👏. It encourages a different perspective, so people don't just learn history, but learn from history. I found most of the museum told me things but didn't make me think. - It was cool to go up to the rooftop terrace, but the elevator was quite frustrating. It would already get quite full on the bottom couple of floors so those waiting on the four floors in-between them and the roof had to hope that there was enough room for them to squish in. Either way the high volume of people meant the elevator was called to almost each floor... Resulting in a long ride with a lack of personal space 😅😆. Overall me and my friend still had a nice time here. If anyone wanted a fun day out I'd recommend this place. If anyone had a more specific interest or wanted some more detailed information, I'd recommend somewhere else 😁.

National Museum of Scotland

Hightlight

Hightlight

Opening Hours

Google Reviews

National Museum of Scotland

Mohsin Raza

Ajay Ramesh

James Horner

DENNY JAMES ALUKKA

Elizabeth Davies

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