Explore our places, collections and stories
Wherever you are, there are lots of ways to explore and learn about our amazing collections online.
We may have temporarily closed our doors, but there are lots of ways to explore our collections and continue learning at home.
We’ve got some great new ways to enjoy our collections together. Have fun with Lego, get outside to explore the natural world or try out some new activities – from sketching some of our favourite objects to designing new patterns inspired by paper art from Mexico. We’ve even got a family workout – stretch like a big cat, jump like a monkey or just relax like a Buddha.
Explore a range of incredible insect activities for families to explore this summer.
Discoveries with brilliant bugs
For teachers, bring topic learning to life with our digital resources, worksheets and online games.
Discover ideas and resources for teachers
You'll also find lots more below. Plus, don't miss our favourite films and videos, and your chance to engage with our Curators on social media through Ask Me Anythings (#AMA).
If you’re looking to read interesting stories from our collection, head to Explore. Simply filter by subject to discover stories about every area of the collections.
Explore our collectionsWe've been working with Google to publish key objects, online exhibits and Museum Views. Using Google's StreetView technology you can take a behind the scenes look at the National Museum of Scotland including the Grand Gallery, Roof Terrace, Exploring East Asia and Ancient Egypt Rediscovered galleries.
Want to find out more about what goes on behind the scenes? Head to our blog to hear about the fascinating things curators and collection services teams (normally) do all day.
Visit our blog
Watch and listen as we explore the amazing collections of National Museums Scotland through films, animations and podcasts.
Watch & Listen
If you’re a parent or carer trying to entertain your kids, or a teacher looking at remote education, check out our range of online games.
Play and LearnGet up close with this Lewis Chess piece and other objects from our collections. You can see all of our 3D models on Sketchfab.
Our online collection contains a selection of the 12 million objects and specimens in our collections. See what you can discover!
Search our collections| Our family programming is supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery |  |
After nearly five months of closure, we’re almost ready to welcome visitors back to our museums. We've made some changes to make sure everyone has a safe and enjoyable visit, including online booking and new safety measures.
