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. A child and adult looking at a geological specimen.
    Event

    Relaxed Curiosity Club

    Sat 25 Oct – Sat 28 Mar, 14:30 - 15:30
    Join us for our exciting series of hands-on sessions for curious ASN families.

    National Museum of Scotland

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  2. A man and a boy sit on a bench in the grand gallery looking at a large dinosaur picture book. The boy is wearing ear protectors.
    Event

    Relaxed Morning

    1 Feb - 6 Dec 2026, 10:00 - 12:00 (Quiet space open until 12:30)
    Join us for our monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

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  3. A child paints at a table
    Event

    Sensory Sunday

    Sun 1 Feb – Sun 6 Dec 2026, 11:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 15:00
    Exciting, hands-on sensory play sessions for children with additional support needs.

    National Museum of Scotland

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  4. 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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  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. 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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  8. 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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  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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