National Museum of Scotland

What's on

List of Exhibitions

  1. A man and young girl are standing in the centre of the image, pointing upwards at a giant, 3D sculpture of an animal. Other visitors are to the left and right, looking at the same sculpture, and the sculpture of a gorilla to the left
    Exhibition

    Giants

    –
    Giants showcases the colossal prehistoric creatures that lived 66 million years ago, through life-sized sculptures, skeletons, and fossils.

    National Museum of Scotland

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  2. A Bronze Age spearhead. The base of the spearhead has a delicate gold hatched design.
    Exhibition

    Scotland's First Warriors

    –
    Scotland's First Warriors reveals the origins and impact of conflict in prehistoric Scotland.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

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List of Events

  1. 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

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  2. A parent and child play with red Lego bricks on a table.
    Event

    Giants: Half Term Big Build

    Sat 14 - Sun 22 Feb, 10:30 - 16:00
    Get inspired by our Giants exhibition and join us this half term for LEGO activities for all the family.

    National Museum of Scotland

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  3. Large 3D origami like sculptures of giant animals, in the giants exhibition space. In the foreground is a woolly mammoth, with glass panels on the legs that show real fossilised bones inside.
    Event

    Giants: Half Term

    Sat 14 - Sun 22 Feb, 10:30 - 16:00
    Join us in the Grand Gallery for free family activities to celebrate the recent opening of our new exhibition, Giants.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

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  4. A close up of a musician playing a violin with the Grand Gallery in the background.
    Event

    Live Music Mondays

    Mon 15 Dec – Mon 16 Feb, 12:45 – 13:30
    Come along to free live music performances featuring folk, classical, traditional Scottish, and modern fusion styles. 

    National Museum of Scotland

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  5. Close up of a gold necklace inset with a large red stone.
    Event

    Discovering the National Collections: Jewellery from Antiquity to Present Day

    Thu 19 Feb - 19 Mar 2026, 14:00 - 15:30
    Discover the diverse world of jewellery in this five week course.
    Sold out

    National Museum of Scotland

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  6. Two people sitting at a table listening to a member of museum staff talk about a sword from the collections.
    Event

    Museum Socials

    Third Friday of the month, 10:30 – 12:00
    Our Museum Socials are designed for people living with dementia, their relatives, friends, carers, and supporters.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

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  7. A person stands behind a stall that has different maths and magic activities on it. The stall is in a shopping centre.
    Event

    The Amazing Mathemagic Show

    Sat 21 Feb, 10:30 – 13:00 and 13:30 – 16:00
    Join students and staff from Edinburgh University as they use maths to transform into performers, musicians and astonishing mind readers. 
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

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  8. Young woman sketching on clipboard in front of wildlife exhibition
    Event

    The Sunday Sketch

    Sun 22 Feb - Sun 22 Mar, 14:00 - 16:00
    Join us to learn how to sketch, taking inspiration from the incredible collections on display in our museum galleries.

    National Museum of Scotland

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  9. Close up of a musician in a blue shirt playing a guitar.
    Event

    Ceòl aig an Taigh Tasgaidh Music at the Museum

    Mon 23 Feb, 11:00-11:45, 13:00-13:45
    Join us for a free Gaelic concert for World Gaelic Week.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

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