A multi-level open museum space with balconies and an arched ceiling. There are lots of visitors looking at objects on display.

National Museum of Scotland

With thousands of amazing objects across dozens of galleries, the museum offers a world of discovery under one roof

Visitor information for National Museum of Scotland

Admission details:

Free entry, charges for some special exhibitions.

Find us:

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

Tel: 0300 123 6789

Opening hours:

Open daily, 10:00 - 17:00

Closed 25 Dec. Open 26 Dec, 12:00 – 17:00. Open 1 Jan, 12:00 – 17:00.

What's on

  1. An array of bronze age weapons including a brown shield with a hole in the centre, a dark grey spearhead and a stack of green and grey short swords against a black background.
    Exhibition

    Scotland's First Warriors

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

    National Museum of Scotland

    More info
  2. Two children examine museum objects on a trolley. One is holding a small bone while the other looks intently.
    Event

    Summer Family Fun

    Every Mon and Fri, 29 Jun - 7 Aug, 10:00 - 16:00
    Get crafty, get curious, get up-close with our free summer holiday activities.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

    Find out more
  3. A sheep on display in a glass case, in a science-themed gallery. 
    Event

    Dolly at 30: The Life and Legacy of a Cloned Sheep

    Thurs 16 Jul, 18:30 - 20:30
    Join our expert panel for a free evening discussion and pop-up display exploring the history and legacy of Dolly the sheep.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

    Find out more
See what else is on

Stories from the collections

  1. Twelve bronze objects, including some rounded fittings with concentric circle designs and a rattle pendant. They are all silvery, with some green corrosion on the surface.

    What is the Peebles Hoard?

    Archaeology, Scotland

    The Peebles Hoard is a spectacular collection of bronze, leather and wooden material. Dating to the Late Bronze Age (c.1000-800 BCE), it contains several hundred elements from a complex set of objects. A complete sword in a wooden scabbard…
    Short read
  2. The Holy Loch near Dunoon. A large loch with mountains in the distance. A white ferry travels across the loch.

    'The world opened up to us’: Collecting American-Scottish Cold War experiences in Dunoon, Scotland

    History and cultures, Scotland

    Written by Dr Sarah Harper & Dr Mhairi Maxwell
    The Cold War in Scotland forged new bonds between Scottish and American communities. As testimonies of veterans and Dunoon locals tell us, the conflict brought different cultures together and had a lasting impact on the town and its…
    Long read
  3. Bronze clock-looking model with ornate dials and decoration to represent the motions of the Sun and stars.

    A 1000-year-old star catcher

    Science and technology

    Written by Dr Rebekah Higgitt
    This astrolabe was made by Muhammad ibn al-Ṣaffār in Córdoba in Al-Andalus (now Spain) during the period of Umayyad rule. It dates to the year 417 in the Islamic lunar calendar, which equates to 22 February 1026 to 10 February 1027 CE.This…
    Long read
  4. An open book, with the left hand page showing an illustration of a peacock, and the right showing scrolled text.

    6 highlights from our library

    Art and design, History and cultures

    Written by Morven Donald
    Founded by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, the library at National Museum Scotland received its first book in 1781 – which is still on our shelves. Over the past 234 years, the library has gathered a wide-ranging and often…
    Listicle
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