A group of four visitors walk along Level 3 of the Grand Gallery.

Self-guided group visits

Information to plan your self-guided group visit to the National Museum of Scotland.

You are here Home National Museum of Scotland Plan your visit Self-guided group visits

Group guidelines

Please note this page contains information for groups of 10 or more wishing to visit our special exhibitions or undertake self-guided tours of the museum.

Group visits are not guided tours. If you would like to book a guided tour, please contact our tours administrator on 0131 247 4041 or email tours@nms.ac.uk.
If you would like to book a school visit, please complete the form in our schools section here.
If your group consists of fewer than 10 people, there is no need to contact us before your visit.
Please note we do not allow guides in our special exhibition galleries.

How do I book a group visit?

To make a booking for groups of 10 or more to visit the museum, please contact groups@nms.ac.uk or phone our groups booking line on 0131 247 4049.

There is no requirement to book in advance: you can simply pop in on the day. However, by booking in advance we can help you get the most from your visit. Groups or 10 or more can also receive discounts on our special exhibitions.

How much does a visit cost?

Visits to the National Museum of Scotland are free. Tickets to paid exhibitions are specially discounted for groups of 10 or more. Please note there are no group discounts for paid events.

Prices will be confirmed by email to all enquirers.

Payments options available are cash or debit/credit card. Please note we do not invoice groups unless a historical agreement is in place.

What you book is what you pay for, and group numbers cannot be decreased after booking, unless a historical agreement is in place.

National Museums Scotland reviews its approach to pricing on an annual basis.

Refund policy

National Museums Scotland have a non-refundable and non-transferable ticketing policy. You will only be provided with a refund if your booking has been cancelled by the museum or museum closure has taken place due to circumstances out with our control. However in regard to group bookings National Museums Scotland will allow tickets to be transferred to a different day subject to availability.

Where should we go?

All groups should enter the National Museum of Scotland via the main street level entrance on Chambers Street. This entrance is suitable for wheelchair access. Our Visitor Experience Team is located at the Ticket and Information Desk and will be pleased to help with any additional information you may require or assistance.

Where can we eat?

Eating and drinking is prohibited within the National Museum of Scotland. You can however enjoy our Balcony Café and Brasserie at your leisure and convenience.

Where can we leave our jackets and bags?

Self-service lockers are located in the entrance hall. The lockers come in three sizes which accommodate coats and small bags right up to small flight cases. You will need a smart phone and mobile payment or credit card to access the lockers or if you’d rather pay cash just visit our shop to purchase a voucher. Charges for all day storage range from £2 - £7 and all profits made go towards the work of National Museums Scotland.

Where can we be dropped off or park?

There is a coach drop off point outside main entrance to the museum on Chambers Street (postcode: EH1 1JF).
Pay and display parking is available on Chambers Street and off-street parking nearby at NCP Quartermile. Further information on parking can be found at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/parking.

Is there a museum shop?

Your group may wish to visit the museum shops, which are located in the Entrance Hall, the Tower Entrance and outside Exhibition Gallery 1. The shops stock ‘pocket money’ items as well as more high valued pieces. To reduce crowding please bring your group into the shop in groups of no more than 10. We suggest you stagger group visits throughout your trip.

Are wheelchairs available?

The National Museum of Scotland has a limited number of wheelchairs available for visitors. Please ask about availability at the Information Desk on arrival.

How much do your maps cost?

All maps and 'What’s on' guides are free of charge at the National Museum of Scotland and can be picked up from our Ticket and Information Desk in the main Entrance Hall. You can also download maps and trails in various languages here and see what's on here.