National Museum of Scotland

What's on

List of Exhibitions

  1. 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.
    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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  3. A Roman stone altar with the face of the Roman god Sol carved into it. Rays of light pass through slits around the head of Sol.
    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

    National Museum of Scotland

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  4. Two women looking at geological samples in a museum display case.
    Membership

    Become a Member

    Enjoy a range of benefits, including free entry, unlimited access to our special exhibitions, and event discounts. 

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List of Events

  1. Woman and baby in arms sitting on the floor on a checked carpet.
    Event

    Magic Carpet

    Fri 6, 13 and 20 Mar, 10:30-11:15 and 11:45-12:30
    Explore the collection with our Magic Carpet sessions for under 5s. Inspire curious little minds through song, rhymes, movement and sensory play.
    Just announced

    National Museum of Scotland

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  2. 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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  3. A young person in glasses and a hat looking at a robotic hand.
    Event

    Friday Friends

    Various dates, 14:00 - 16:00
    Our Friday Friends programme offers a welcoming space for visually impaired and D/deaf children and their families.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

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  4. 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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  5. 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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  6. An array of tools for block printing lying on a sheet on a table
    Event

    Creative Workshop: Block Printing

    Saturday 21 March, 11:00 - 15:30
    Join paper folding artist Kate Colin for a bespoke workshop, inspired by our Giants exhibition.

    National Museum of Scotland

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  7. An underwater photographer swims next to a Humpback whale.
    Event

    Doug Allan: Giants of the Sea

    Join award-winning wildlife photographer Doug Allan as he shares his experiences of getting up close to the world’s great marine mammals.

    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. A Egyptian sculpture made of brown stone, showing a pharaoh's head with a prominent headdress and serpent motif.
    Event

    Annual Director’s Lecture: Buying Power

    Discover the history of antiquities collecting in Egypt and Sudan in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

    National Museum of Scotland

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