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 August

30  The Architecture of the Museum

31  Deadly Weapons

Themed tours in September

1    Scotland Transformed

2    Early People Gallery

3    Scottish Pewter

4    Travel Through the Ages

5    Mary Queen of Scots

6    Phoebe Traquair and her contemporaries

7    Scotland Transformed

8    Birth of a Nation: Scotland 1-1000AD

9    Telecommunications

10  Bagpipes and other Musical Instruments

11  Scots, Ships and the Sea

12  The Romans in Scotland

13  The Craftsmen of Scotland

14  Silver in Scotland

15  18th Century Scotland

16  Scotland Transformed

17  Bagpipes and other Musical Instruments

18  Treasures from the Past

19  Rebellion and Genocide

20  Scottish Country Life Through the Ages

21  The Jacobites

22  Kings and Covenants

23  Some Edinburgh Relics

24  The Auld Alliance

25  Scottish Snuff Boxes

26  Paintings in the Museum

27  Scotland Transformed

28  Victorian Life: Rags and Riches

29  Steam Engines

30  Magical Objects

Family tours

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

Family tours in September

4    The Plesiosaur

11  Let’s go to a Victorian School

18  How to Dress a Samurai

25  Hoof and Horn

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.