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

Contact:

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 black and white photo of a group of people standing in a city square holding balloons. There is a child's pram covered in protest signs and buttons.
    Exhibition

    Cold War Scotland

    –
    Exploring Scotland’s critical position on the frontline of the Cold War, this exhibition tells the stories of the Scots at the centre of this global conflict.

    National Museum of Scotland

    More info
  2. An adult helping a child with a science experiment
    Event

    Find Out Fridays

    6 Sep – 20 Dec 2024, every Friday afternoon during term time 13:30 – 16:00
    Taking a different theme and activity each week, our Engagement team will share some of the fascinating facts and surprising stories behind our collections.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

    Find out more
  3. A number of young children sit with adults on a colourful carpet.
    Event

    Magic Carpet Explorers

    Mon 2 Sep - Mon 11 Nov 2024, 10:30 - 11:15 or 14:00 - 14:45
    Explore the museum through song, rhymes and sensory play with our Magic Carpet activity sessions for toddlers and early years.
    Tickets available

    National Museum of Scotland

    Find out more
Three adults turning pedals as part of an interactive display in a multi-storey museum gallery.

See and do

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

Families

All you need to know for a great family visit at the museum.
Find out more

Stories from the collections

  1. Two women with short hair wearing blazers and jumpers looking to camera placed side by side
    Discover

    The pioneering women of ornithology

    Known as ‘the good ladies' of bird collecting, Dr Evelyn Baxter (1879–1959) and Leonora Rintoul (1878–1953) were born one year, and just a few miles apart, in Fife. Together they devoted their lives to collecting and studying the birds of…
    Keep reading
  2. Discover

    Discovering dinosaur bones on a Scottish island

    Dr Elsa Panciroli was walking along the shore of the island of Eigg when something caught her eye. She had stepped on a boulder, but there was something unusual buried in it.Dr Panciroli, a Research Associate at National Museums Scotland,…
    Keep reading
  3. A white sheep looking to camera, shown from the shoulders up against a grey background
    Discover

    The story of Dolly the sheep

    Dolly the sheep was the first cloned mammal ever to be created from an adult cell. Affectionately named after country music legend Dolly Parton, Dolly caused excitement and controversy among both scientists and the public.Why is Dolly…
    Keep reading
  4. Mannequins wearing colourful clothes on display in a museum
    Discover

    Developing new mannequins for our fashion displays

    Our displays are evolving to reflect different bodies and to tell new stories. Find out more about our process and where we plan to go from here.
    Keep reading
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Awards