National War Museum

To ensure your visit runs smoothly, all school visits to the National War Museum must be booked in advance.

The cost of your visit is detailed in your information pack.

State Schools should provide the Museum with a Purchase Order number in advance of chargeable visits. After the visit, we will invoice your Local Authority. Payment is due within 15 days of the invoice date.

Non-payment of invoices may lead to cancellations of any future bookings made by your school.

As the National War Museum is situated within Edinburgh Castle, a travel subsidy is available from Historic Environment Scotland. If applying for this subsidy please ensure you quote ‘visiting Edinburgh Castle/National War Museum’.

We understand that you may need to cancel or change your booking. Please contact us as soon as possible to let us know of any changes: 

• Facilitated sessions: schoolsnwm@nms.ac.uk.

We have a range of resources available to use in both the classroom and museum. You can find them in the Schools resources section.

You can help your class prepare for, and plan, their visit using our Visual Stories. 

• Visual Story (English)
• Visual Story (Ukrainian)

Please arrive at least 45 minutes before your start time (see Booking Information for detailed timings). This allows time to collect tickets from Edinburgh Castle Admissions, visit the toilets and to get to the area the session will take place. If you arrive late, your session may be reduced.

Edinburgh Castle will be busier by mid-afternoon so please ensure you leave 20 minutes to return to your bus at the end of the day.

If you are running late, please phone our learning team’s mobile so we know
when to expect you:

• Mobile: 07551 414819

If arriving by coach, please be aware that there is no large vehicle access to
Johnstone Terrace. Temporary coach drop off and pick up as been created in
Castle Terrace, with coach parking available in Regent Road and Inverleith
Place.

A limited number of accessible spaces on the Castle Esplanade are available
to Blue Badge holders on a first come first served basis. Should you require
the use of one of these spaces please let us know in advance.

• The National War Museum is located within Edinburgh Castle which is run by
  Historic Environment Scotland.
• You can download a map to help you find us. The National War Museum is location number 5. 
• Please present your booking confirmation to Castle staff on arrival. An adult
  should wait with the pupils on the Castle Esplanade until tickets have been
  issued. Once tickets have been issued make your way to the National War
  Museum and assemble by the Earl Haig statue on Hospital Square. A
  member of our learning team will greet you on arrival.
• A mobility vehicle is available for visitors who are unable to manage the steep slopes between the Castle Esplanade and Crown Square. Ask a member of Castle staff on arrival if you would like to make use of this facility.
• The Edinburgh Castle Access Guide contains further information on accessing the Castle and Castle Grounds.

During/after your visit we will invite you and your group to complete evaluation surveys. Your responses are extremely valuable and will help us to improve the service we provide.

Yes, your booking allows you to explore the rest of the Castle. For full details about which sections are currently open, please see the Edinburgh Castle Access Guide.

Teachers and groups leaders should familiarise themselves with Historic Environment Scotland's Planning a Visit information before visiting.

Photography is permitted in all areas of the castle apart from the Crown Room
and the Scottish National War Memorial. 

Please check special exhibitions and other areas around Edinburgh Castle as photography restrictions may apply.  

Our facilitated session Second World War Explorer takes place in the National War Museum’s Education Room.  The Education Room is located on the third floor with no lift access. Should your group have access requirements, please contact schools@nms.ac.uk.

You can find full information about access across the Castle in the Edinburgh Castle Access Guide.

We aim to make our facilitated sessions as inclusive as possible. Please share any information about your class that will help us prepare for your visit (e.g. autism stressors/triggers). We may contact you to discuss. 

School groups who have booked a facilitated session can store coats, bags and packed lunches on the coat pegs situated outside the Education Room. 

There is currently no indoor lunch area at Edinburgh Castle. Lunches can be eaten outside. Please ask Museum staff if you would like to borrow picnic blankets.

During the winter months, there may be an indoor space available for lunch within the Castle. Please approach a Castle Guide on arrival to enquire about using the space. This space cannot be pre-booked.

There is a small shop in the National War Museum. There is also a shop at the ticket point when you enter/exit the Castle. Please ensure there is a ratio of 1 adult to 10 children when in shop.

There are a number of cafés located around Edinburgh Castle. Packed lunches cannot be eaten within them.