A multi-level open museum space with balconies and an arched ceiling. There are lots of visitors looking at objects on display.

National Museum of Scotland

With thousands of amazing objects across multiple galleries, the Museum offers you a world of discovery all under one roof

Visitor information for National Museum of Scotland

Admission details:

Free entry

Find us:

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

Tel: 0300 123 6789

Opening hours:

Open daily, 10:00 - 17:00

Closed 25 Dec. Open 26 Dec, 12:00 – 17:00. Open 1 Jan, 12:00 – 17:00.

What's on

  1. A visitor looks at a bust sculpture of a Roman figure.
    Event

    Centre for Open Learning: Discovering Decorative Arts

    15 Apr-17 Jun 2026, Wednesdays 14:00-16:00
    Discover how technology, trade, belief systems, and industry have shaped decorative art in this ten week course from the University of Edinburgh.
    Sold out

    National Museum of Scotland

    Find out more
  2. Curator Tacye Phillipson looking at mineral specimens in the Earth Systems gallery
    Event

    Centre for Open Learning: Colour in Science and Nature

    16 Apr - 14 May 2026, Thursdays 14:00-15:30
    Explore colour throughout science and nature in this five week course from the University of Edinburgh.
    Sold out

    National Museum of Scotland

    Find out more
  3. A person with a pram is talking to a museum worker, in the grand gallery at the national museum of scotland. The museum worker is at a small stand, with a sign saying 'Engagement team' behind them.
    Event

    Find Out Fridays

    5 Sep 25 - 26 Jun 2026, every Friday afternoon during term time 13:30 – 16:00
    Drop-in Friday fun for families of all ages.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

    Find out more
See what else is on

Stories from the collections

  1. Twelve bronze objects, including some rounded fittings with concentric circle designs and a rattle pendant. They are all silvery, with some green corrosion on the surface.

    What is the Peebles Hoard?

    Archaeology, Scotland

    The Peebles Hoard is a spectacular collection of bronze, leather and wooden material. Dating to the Late Bronze Age (c.1000-800 BCE), it contains several hundred elements from a complex set of objects. A complete sword in a wooden scabbard…
    Short read
  2. Bronze clock-looking model with ornate dials and decoration to represent the motions of the Sun and stars.

    A 1000-year-old star catcher

    Science and technology

    Written by Dr Rebekah Higgitt
    This astrolabe was made by Muhammad ibn al-Ṣaffār in Córdoba in Al-Andalus (now Spain) during the period of Umayyad rule. It dates to the year 417 in the Islamic lunar calendar, which equates to 22 February 1026 to 10 February 1027 CE.This…
    Long read
  3. An open book, with the left hand page showing an illustration of a peacock, and the right showing scrolled text.

    6 highlights from our library

    Art and design, History and cultures

    Written by Morven Donald
    Founded by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, the library at National Museum Scotland received its first book in 1781 – which is still on our shelves. Over the past 234 years, the library has gathered a wide-ranging and often…
    Listicle

  4. 'I am yours': 11 Scottish posy rings

    History and cultures, Scotland

    Written by Dr Georgia Vullinghs
    Posy rings are some of the most evocative objects of love in National Museums Scotland's collections. These finger rings are named for the short inscriptions engraved on the inside of their band. 
    Listicle
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