National Museum of Scotland
With thousands of amazing objects across multiple galleries, the Museum offers you a world of discovery all under one roof
Visitor information for National Museum of Scotland
Admission details:
Free entry
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
- Event
Summer Family Fun
Every Monday and Friday in July, 10:30 - 16:00Get crafty, get curious, get up-close with our free summer holiday activities.Free - Event
Edinburgh Science Festival 2026
Daily from Sat 4 - Sun 19 Apr, 10:00 - 17:00Join us as we host two weeks of science-filled discovery, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult discussions. - Event
Makkin it!
Mon 06 April – Sun 19 April , 10:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 15:00Discover some of the weird and wonderful things invented in Scotland with free, drop-in activities as part of Edinburgh Science Festival.Free
Stories from the collections
- Discover
What is the Peebles Hoard?
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… - Discover
A 1000-year-old star catcher
Written by Dr Rebekah HiggittThis 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… - Discover
6 highlights from our library
Written by Morven DonaldFounded 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… - Discover
'I am yours': 11 Scottish posy rings
Written by Dr Georgia VullinghsPosy rings are some of the most evocative objects of love in National Museums Scotland's collections. These finger rings are named for the short inscriptions engraved on the inside of their band.
