Family galleries
Our family friendly galleries have something for everyone.
From interactives and experiments to quiet spaces and stories, our family galleries are great for exploring the collections together.
Imagine
Location: Level 1
This colourful, friendly space uses objects from our collections as a starting point for fun activities. Play with sound, dress up, or read together in the comfy story corner.
There's a dedicated space for cruising babies where they can play safely and parents, grandparents, and carers can take a seat and relax.
Adventure Planet
Location: Level 5
Packed with fun interactives, Adventure Planet lets visitors explore the wonders of the natural world. Learn about how to protect our planet and care for the wildlife around us.
Take a deep sea dive in our mini submersible, uncover the remains of an extinct dinosaur or find out if you can be a Clean-up Champion in our Beach Clean Challenge!
Explore
Location: Level 1
Get inspired by our Explore gallery which brings science and innovation to life. Hands-on games and interactive exhibits sit alongside amazing objects from our collections.
Launch a hot air balloon high into the air or get a robot to spell out your name. Try out some great science experiments, from designing a glowing pig to testing your reaction speed. And don't forget to take a selfie with Dolly the Sheep!
Animal World
Location: Level 1
Our dramatic Animal World gallery introduces the themes of behaviour and interaction with the environment.
Here you can explore the lives of animals from around the world, from the Arctic to Australia. You can even see how you measure up – do you weigh more than a chimpanzee?
Gallery highlights
Gallery accessibility
Getting to the galleries
Lifts are available to all floors of the museum.
You can check the museum map or ask a member of the Visitor Experience team for the nearest lifts. Information on lift dimensions is available on the AccessAble website.
In the galleries
Seating
Seating is available in the family galleries and throughout the museum. There is also plenty of space for buggies, wheelchairs, and mobility scooters in these galleries.
Lighting and noise
The family galleries are bright and noisy spaces.
You can check our sensory map to explore all the different sensory experiences in different parts of the museum.
Facilities
Toilets
Accessible toilets are available on Levels 0 and 3, as well as a Changing Places (U) toilet in the Entrance Hall on Level 0. You can access the museum map to find those nearest to you.
Cloakroom and storage
Self-service lockers are located in the Entrance Hall. They can store luggage up to 58 x 44 x 66cm in size.
There is buggy storage available in the museum. It is located on Level 1 of the Scotland galleries, behind the Kingdom of the Scots gallery.
Quiet spaces
If at any time you or someone you are visiting with finds the visit overwhelming, a member of staff can direct you to quieter areas in the museum. The sensory map also identifies the quieter spaces.
Visit our accessibility page for full access information for the National Museum of Scotland buildings.
