Travel trade
The National Museum of Scotland is a free, five-star attraction in Edinburgh. Its central location, stunning Victorian architecture, and spacious galleries make it a great choice for your clients.
Our world-class collections will take you on a journey through the history of Scotland, the wonders of nature and diverse cultures from around the globe.
Find information here to plan group tours and access helpful resources for visits. You can also request a brochure of our travel trade offers.
Self-led tours
You can bring groups to the National Museum of Scotland with your own guide or tour leader.
No booking is required.
We allow a maximum of 20 people per guide.
Exhibition discount
Groups of 10 or more can receive a discount on our special exhibitions.
This discount is automatically applied when you book exhibition tickets online.
Please note we do not allow tour guides into our special exhibitions.
Related items
- Exhibition
Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire
–'Roman Scotland' will tell new stories of Roman occupation and reshape our understanding of Scotland’s relationship with the Roman world.Just announced - Exhibition
Scotland's First Warriors
–'Scotland's First Warriors' reveals the origins and impact of conflict in prehistoric Scotland.Free - Exhibition
Giants
–'Giants' showcases the colossal prehistoric creatures that lived 66 million years ago, through life-sized sculptures, skeletons, and fossils.
Museum highlights
Over 20,000 objects are on display at the National Museum of Scotland.
Discover Scotland’s must-see treasures in one spectacular museum, including:
- Dolly the Sheep
- Mary Queen of Scots’ jewellery
- Vivienne Westwood suits
- the Lewis Chess pieces
Highlights audio tour
Discover some of the highlights of our collections introduced by the voices of the museum team as they reveal the stories behind our most iconic objects.
Explore the galleries
From the age of dinosaurs to the technology of the future, our galleries contain treasures from around the world.
Roof Terrace
Make your way up to the Roof Terrace (Level 7) for an unforgettable view of the Edinburgh skyline.
Info for your visit
Opening times
Open daily, 10:00 – 17:00.
Closed 25 Dec.
Open 26 Dec, 12:00 – 17:00.
Open 1 Jan, 12:00 – 17:00.
Coach parking
Coach drop off is available outside the museum entrance on Chambers Street and coach parking is available at Johnston Terrace.
Visit our plan your visit page for more transport options.
Accessibility and facilities
We want everyone who comes to our museums to enjoy their time with us and make the most of their visit. All the info is in one place.
Visit our accessibility page for general access information for the National Museum of Scotland.
Museum map
Our museum map is available for download in a variety of languages.
Eating and drinking
Catering Options for groups are available at the Museum Kitchen. Book clients in for a coffee and pastry package from £6.50.
For free time visitors, snacks, lunches or afternoon teas are available as walk ups at the Museum Kitchen (in the Entrance Hall), Balcony Cafe (Level 3) and Hawthornden Court cafe (Level 1).
Shops
The museum shops are in the main Entrance Hall, the Tower Entrance and outside Exhibition Gallery 1. We sell a range of items and gifts for all ages.
We accept cash and card payments.
You can browse our shop products online.
Request a brochure
If you would like a PDF brochure of our travel trade offers, get in touch at:
- Email: groups@nms.ac.uk
