National Museum of Scotland

What's on

List of Exhibitions

  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.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

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  2. Close up of a taxidermy specimen of a grey legged douroucouli, looking directly at the camera. The douroucouli has grey fur, and a round face with a flat nose. It's main features are its eyes, which are red, striking, and looking directly at the camera.
    Exhibition

    Monkeys: Our Primate Family

    –
    Monkeys: Our Primate Family is one of the most comprehensive exhibitions on primates ever staged, featuring over 50 rare primate specimens.

    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.
    Exhibition

    Giants

    –
    Giants showcases the colossal prehistoric creatures that lived 66 million years ago, through life-sized sculptures, skeletons, and fossils.
    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. A visitor looking at a group of monkeys perching on a branch in a museum display case.
    Event

    Morning Curator Tour: Monkeys: Our Primate Family

    Wed 13 and Fri 15 Aug 09:15 - 10:00
    Join our exhibition curator for an exclusive early morning tour of 'Monkeys: Our Primate Family'.

    National Museum of Scotland

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  2. An abstract printed scene, showing the figure of a person sat down, holding a mask with horns up to their face. The person is printed in black ink, and is set against a background of bright green circular shapes.
    Event

    Okolo: Artwork by Nkem Okwechime

    Wed - Fri, 13 - 22 Aug, 11:00 - 16:00
    As part of Edinburgh Art Festival, view artwork influenced by the museum's African collection by artist and printmaker Nkem Okwechime.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

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  3. A tacidermied family of emperor tamarins are sat on a log. One of them looks like it is whispering in the other's ear.
    Event

    BSL Tour of Monkeys: Our Primate Family

    Thu 14 Aug, 15:00 - 16:00
    Join BSL guide Babs Brown for a guided tour of the exhibition. This event is aimed at D/deaf community BSL visitors. It will be delivered in BSL with no interpretation provided.

    National Museum of Scotland

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  4. A woman sits holding her legs crossed on a large piece of cloth which extends up behind her. It is covered in hand printed or painted illustrations of leaved and plants.
    Event

    Barkcloth Making from Niue - An ancient practice from the South Pacific

    Sat 16 – Sun 17 Aug, 10:00 and 14:00
    Join artist Cora-Allan from Niue to draw your own hiapo (barkcloth) pattern and try some traditional tools.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

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  5. A Taxidermy gorilla specimen is in profile, looking to the right of the camera. Behind him is some foliage.
    Event

    Audio Descriptive Tour: Monkeys: Our Primate Family

    Wednesday 3 September, 17:30 - 19:00
    Join us for an audio-described guided tour of our current exhibition, Monkeys: Our Primate Family.

    National Museum of Scotland

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

    The Sunday Sketch

    Sun 21 Sep - Sun 23 Nov, 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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  7. A group of children stand around a person sitting in a wheelchair playing a banjo
    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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  8. Event

    In Conversation: Peter Ross and Fraser Hunter

    Sun 28 Sep, 15:00 - 16:00
    Bestselling author Peter Ross and curator Dr Fraser Hunter discuss Peter’s new book 'Upon A White Horse' which features objects from the museum’s archaeology collections.

    National Museum of Scotland

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  9. Illustrated repeating colour print of the bust of Queen Victoria surrounded by flags, leaves and flowers, and various animals including a tiger and a kangaroo.
    Event

    Centre for Open Learning: Victorian Scotland

    1 Oct – 10 Dec 2025, Wednesdays 11:00 – 13:00
    This course uses selected items from the museum’s collections as the basis for studying Victorian Scotland.

    National Museum of Scotland

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