About Makkin it!

From the television to the telephone, fridges and fingerprinting to the humble flushing toilet, we Scots have invented a fair few useful things.  

Join our Learning Team in the Grand Gallery to discover the good, the great and not so great (or as we'd say in Scots, 'the guid, the great an' no sae great') of Scottish inventions. 

Get hands-on with some of our favourite inventions, press and investigate your totally unique fingerprint, then head off and explore our galleries with a copy of our Inventors trail. 

Accessibility and facilities

We want everyone who comes to our museums to enjoy their time with us and make the most of their visit.

How to get to the space

You can get to the Grand Gallery by taking the stairs or lifts from the Entrance Hall.

For level access to the gallery, enter the museum via the Tower Entrance. Follow the ramp to the Hawthornden Court and the Grand Gallery will be ahead of you.

Wheelchair access

There is significant space to use a wheelchair in the Grand Gallery.

You can borrow a wheelchair from the information desks at the Entrance Hall and Tower Entrance. They cannot be booked in advance.

Noise levels

The Grand Gallery can become noisy when busy.

Check our sensory map, which has information about noise and light levels in the museum.

If you or someone you are visiting with finds the visit overwhelming, a member of staff can direct you to quieter areas in the museum.

Seating

There are fixed benches and seats in the Grand Gallery. If you require a folding chair, please ask a member of the Visitor Experience team.

Toilets and baby changing facilities

There are toilets at both ends of the Grand Gallery. There are standard toilets and an accessible toilet. The accessible toilet is next to the entrance to the Animal World gallery.

There is a baby changing table in both the standard toilet and the accessible toilet next to the Animal World gallery.

If you require a changing places toilet, please ask a member of staff.

Check the museum map for more information.

Visit our accessibility page for general access information for the National Museum of Scotland.