Group visits
Plan your self-guided group visit to the National Museum of Scotland.
This page contains information for groups of 10 or more wishing to visit our special exhibitions or undertake self-guided tours of the museum.
Groups of 10 or more can receive discounts on our special exhibitions. Please note we do not allow guides in our special exhibition galleries.
For school visits please visit our dedicated schools pages.
Information for your visit
How much does a group visit cost?
Admission to the National Museum of Scotland is free.
Tickets to paid exhibitions are specially discounted for groups of 10 or more. Prices will be confirmed by email to all enquirers. Please note there are no group discounts for paid events.
Payments options available are cash or debit/credit card. Please note we do not invoice groups unless a historical agreement is in place.
What you book is what you pay for, and group numbers cannot be decreased after booking, unless a historical agreement is in place.
Refund policy
National Museums Scotland have a non-refundable and non-transferable ticketing policy. You will only be provided with a refund if your booking has been cancelled by the museum or museum closure has taken place due to circumstances out with our control. However in regard to group bookings National Museums Scotland will allow tickets to be transferred to a different day subject to availability.
Where can we be dropped off or park?
There is a coach drop-off point outside the Main Entrance to the museum on Chambers Street.
Pay and display parking is available on Chambers Street and off-street parking nearby at NCP Quartermile. Further information on parking can be found at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/parking.
Are there information desks?
There are information desks in the Entrance Hall on Level 0 near the Main Entrance and as you enter via the Tower Entrance on Level 1. Here you can access free museum maps, museum trails, and wheelchair loans.
Our Visitor Experience staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have upon arrival.
Where can we leave our jackets and bags?
Self-service lockers are located in the Entrance Hall on Level 0. The lockers come in three sizes which accommodate coats and small bags right up to small flight cases.
You will need a smart phone and mobile payment or credit card to access the lockers. If you’d rather pay cash just visit our shop to purchase a voucher. Charges for all day storage start from £3 and all profits made go towards the work of National Museums Scotland.
There is buggy storage available in the museum. It is located on Level 1 of the Scotland Galleries, behind the Kingdom of the Scots gallery.
Where can we eat?
Eating and drinking is prohibited within the galleries of the National Museum of Scotland.
We have two great café options for you to choose from. There is the Balcony Café overlooking the Grand Gallery on Level 3 and the Museum Kitchen in the Entrance Hall on Level 0.
Find out more on our eating and drinking page.
Is there a museum shop?
Your group may wish to visit the museum shops, which are located in the Entrance Hall, the Tower Entrance and outside Exhibition Gallery 1. The shops stock ‘pocket money’ items as well as more high valued pieces.
Visit our accessibility page for general access information for the National Museum of Scotland.
How to book
To make a booking for groups of 10 or more to visit the museum, please contact:
- Email: groups@nms.ac.uk
- Phone: 0131 247 4049
There is no requirement to book in advance: you can simply pop in on the day. However, by booking in advance we can help you get the most from your visit.
If your group consists of fewer than 10 people, there is no need to contact us before your visit.