Plan your visit

The legal requirement to wear face coverings in our museums has lifted. However, we still strongly recommend that all visitors over the age of 12 wear them in our indoor spaces to help protect themselves and our staff.

We have developed a new museum map to show which parts of the site are open and what can be enjoyed during your visit.

Garden Detectives gallery in the museum building and the Farmhouse are now open! We ask that visitors do not pet the animals at the farm, including our farm cats. The farmhouse is open until 16:00 each day.

Farm Explorer tractor-trailer ride tickets are available at the museum ticket desk. Tickets are on a first-come first-served basis with limited availability each day. The last tractor to the farm departs at 15:00.

Shielings Café is open, serving a full sit-in menu and takeaway options. The café takes card and cash, with card being the preferred method of payment.

National Museums Scotland Members receive a 20% discount in the café.

You are welcome to bring your own picnic to eat in our outdoor play and picnic area. Please dispose of your rubbish responsibly in the bins provided. Barbecues and gas stoves are not permitted.

The museum shop is open, accepting card payments only.

National Museums Scotland Members receive a 10% discount on all shop purchases.

Our outdoor play and picnic area is open with new equipment to enjoy. There are picnic tables and hand sanitiser nearby.

Families and children of all ages are welcome at the National Museum of Rural Life.

• Trained first aiders are always on duty and a policy is in place if children become separated from their party.
• Baby changing facilities and a breastfeeding room are available.
• Children are welcome in Shielings Café, where you’ll find a children's menu, high chairs and a facility for warming baby bottles.
• There is an outdoor picnic and play area.
• Please note we are currently unable to store buggies and pushchairs, and the lockers are temporarily unavailable.
• Farm Explorer tractor-trailer ride tickets are available at the museum ticket desk. Tickets are on a first-come first-served basis with limited availability each day. The last tractor to the farm departs at 15:00.

• The National Museum of Rural Life can now offer free admission to pre-booked educational groups for self-led visits.
• To book please visit our schools pages for more information about booking a school visit to the museum. 
• We offer paid for school workshops.
• Discounts available for group bookings

For the safety of our visitors and staff, no birthday parties will be offered during this period.

Assistance dogs are welcome in the museum buildings and on the outdoor site.

Non-assistance dogs are welcome outdoors, but must be on a lead. They are not allowed in the museum buildings.

Read the outdoor access code for dog walking.

We are happy for you to take photographs, including flash photography, in the galleries and the outdoor site.

No prior permission is needed for photography intended for personal use. However, anyone wishing to use additional photography equipment (eg a tripod) should contact the information desk to obtain a photo pass.

All photographers wishing to take photographs for commercial use are asked to contact Maggie Wilson at the Picture Library on 0131 247 4026 or at m.wilson@nms.ac.uk.

We want all our visitors and staff to be safe at the National Museum of Rural Life. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to a member of our Visitor Experience team. You can also help us keep the museum safe by reporting anything that looks out of place or suspicious to our Visitor Experience Assistants.