Tours

Don't know where to start? Our tour guides can help.

Our knowledgeable guides will take you on a fascinating tour of our collection highlights. There are also themed tours on offer, which change on a daily basis, and short tours for families.

Scottish collections tours

Date: Daily
Time: 11:30 / 13:30
Duration: 1 hr
Cost: Free
Venue: Meet in Hawthornden Court

Themed tours

Date: Daily
Time: 14:30
Duration: 1 hr
Cost: Free
Venue: Meet in Hawthornden Court

Themed tours in July

28 Jacobites
29 Railways and Locomotives
30 The Jacobites

31 Scottish Pewter

Themed tours in August

1    Printing in Scotland

2    Romans in Scotland

3    Some Edinburgh Relics

4    Steam Engines

5    Scotland's First People

6    Rebellion and Genocide

7    Telecommunications

8    The Stewarts: Bruce to Bonnie Prince Charlie

9    Saints and Sinners

10  Scotland Transformed

11  The Auld Alliance

12  Victorian Life

13  An Orkney Story

14  Scottish Snuff Boxes

15  Scottish Gold

16  Jewels and Jewellers of Scotland

17  The Romans in Scotland

18  Scotland's Ultimate Mystery: The Kilt

19  Mementoes of James VI and I

20  Mary Queen of Scots

21  Art and Architecture in the Museum

22  Scottish Pewter

23  Scots, Ships and the Sea

24  Birth of a Nation: Scotland 1-1000AD

25  Bagpipes and Other Musical Instruments

26  Demon Drink or 2000 years of Happy Hours

27  Life in Georgian Edinburgh

28  Phoebe Anna Traquair and her contemporaries

29  Kings and Covenants

30  The Architecture of the Museum

31  Deadly Weapons

Family tours

Date: Every Sat
Time: 14:00
Date: Daily
Duration: 15 mins
Cost: Free
Venue: Meet in Hawthornden Court

Family tours July 2010

31 Hoof and Horn

Family tours in August

7    Let’s go to a Victorian School

14  Hoof and Horn

21  How to Dress a Samurai

28  Secret Hoards of Treasure

Please note that these titles may change at short notice.

Access: touch or signed (BSL) tours

Visitors with special access needs are very welcome at National Museums Scotland. To arrange special tours and handling sessions for visually impaired visitors at the National Museum of Scotland, or to book a BSL interpreter, telephone 0131 247 4041 or email f.caines@nms.ac.uk.

Please give at least two weeks' notice of your visit.

Booked tours

In addition to the regular programme of guided tours, you may book tours for individuals and groups at £2 per person by contacting Fiona Caines on f.caines@nms.ac.uk or calling 0131 247 4041. You can download a list of tours here.