Schools visits to the National Museum of Scotland

Our programme for the 2023 - 2024 school year will be announced soon and bookings will open on 14 August 2023.  

There is so much to see and do - your class can plan to spend a full day visiting the National Museum of Scotland:

• Visit ten galleries dedicated to Art, Design and Fashion, and Science and Technology. 
• Travel the world in our fascinating World Cultures galleries, including our ancient Egypt gallery.
• Come face to face with birds and beasts from around the world and learn about extinction and survival in our new Natural World galleries.
• See Scotland's story from Pictish stones to the Industrial Revolution, William Wallace to Harry Potter.
• Discover our special exhibitions programme, which changes frequently.
• Older students have the opportunity for independent study in our research library.
• Teachers can sign up for our CLPL events or can arrange to undertake a pre-visit to help plan ahead.

Prepare your class for a visit by using our visual story PowerPoints in class:

• Visual Story self-guided visit
• Visual Story workshop visit
• Visual Story in Ukrainian

You can also find out more about the ASN resources available for your visit.

• ASN Resources 

The video below shows a school visit to National Museum of Scotland. We suggest you also read the general visit page for more information. You can also book a pre-visit to help you plan the day.

To ensure your visit runs smoothly, all school visits to the National Museum of Scotland must be booked in advance. 

Pre-booked general school visits and downloadable resources are free of charge. 

The cost of all other events, activities and workshops is detailed on relevant session pages.

Your school will be invoiced after your visit. 

Please check visit type information pages for our Terms & Conditions and Cancellation policies. 

National Museums Scotland does not currently offer travel subsidies.  Children and young people aged between 5 and 21 years living in Scotland are eligible for free bus travel.  Find out more at www.transport.gov.scot/concessionary-travel/young-persons-free-bus-travel-scheme/.

Our programme for the 2023 - 2024 school year will be announced soon and bookings will open on 14 August 2023.  

Please arrive at the time stated on your booking. This is to stagger groups arriving in our Entrance Hall (Level 0, Chambers St entrance) and minimise noise levels.

We have a range of resources available to use in both the classroom and museum. You can find them in the Learning resources section.

We also have topic specific trails to help guide your class through the museum which you can download in advance. 

There is a coach drop-off point outside the museum on Chambers Street.

Pay and display parking is available on Chambers Street and at NCP Quartermile.  More parking info.

• Booked groups are allocated a storage tub in our school’s cloakroom for coats, and packed lunches. Please encourage pupils to bring with them only what they will need for the day.
  
  
• The tubs have lids, but are not lockable. Please note that the tubs are not located in a secure area. Belongings are left at the owner’s risk.
  
  
• Space is limited and we are unable to store large rucksacks or suitcases.
  
  
• Please note that bags can only be stored in the cloakroom while you are on the premises

Where can we eat?

• School groups can eat in the Museum lunchroom. This is the only designated space for group lunches in the Museum, and must be pre-booked. Your 30 minutes lunch time slot is included in your booking information.
  
  
• The packed lunch space will be very busy during your visit. Please help us to keep it running smoothly by sticking to your booked 30-minute time slot(s), sharing tables with other schools, and tidying up after your group.

The Learning Centre and galleries are fully accessible via lifts and we have accessible toilets on all levels. There is a Changing Places (U) toilet in the Entrance Hall on Level 0. 

Please read our information for visitors with access needs. 

We are happy for you to take photographs, including flash photography, in the general museum. Photography is not permitted in special exhibitions, unless otherwise stated. If you wish to take a photo of a member of museum staff, please ask their permission before doing so.  

We may also wish to take photographs of you and your group. We will always discuss with you in advance and will supply a photography permission form for you and your class to be completed prior to visiting. 

There is a Museum Shop in the Entrance Hall, Level 0 (please ensure there is a ratio of 1 adult to 10 children when in shop). 

There is a café on the Level 3 balcony, overlooking the Grand Gallery. Take-away tea/coffee/liquids are not permitted in the museum.  

We ask that pupils visiting in school groups are accompanied at all times during their visit at a ratio of: 

1 adult: 5 pupils (under the age of 5) 

1 adult: 10 pupils (primary school pupils) 

1 adult: 15 pupils (secondary school pupils) 

Where pupils require support on a 1:1 ratio, this adult should be included over and above these ratios. 

Ensure everyone attending, including adults, are aware of our Visit Guidelines. These guidelines include details of the COVID safety measures we have in place.  Please be aware that all our bookings will comply with Scottish Government guidelines and NHS Scotland Test and Protect. 

In addition, please read and follow any safety notices and instructions from Visitor Experience staff during your visit.

You can download our guidelines for teachers to help you write your own risk assessment. Teachers can make a free pre-visit to carry out their own risk assessment. 

We have developed an agreement which sets out what we aim to offer during your visit, and in return what we ask from you. We ask that pupils visiting in school groups are accompanied at all times during their visit at a ratio of: 

1 adult: 5 pupils (under the age of 5) 

1 adult: 10 pupils (primary school pupils) 

1 adult: 15 pupils (secondary school pupils) 

Where pupils require support on a 1:1 ratio, this adult should be included over and above these ratios.