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 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

Contact:

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 adult helping a child with a science experiment
    Event

    Find Out Fridays

    10 Jan – 27 Jun 2025, every Friday afternoon during term time 13:30 – 16:00
    Taking a different theme and activity each week, our Engagement team will share some of the fascinating facts and surprising stories behind our collections.
    Free

    National Museum of Scotland

    Find out more
  2. Child looks towards the right through a brass telescope.
    Event

    Curiosity Club

    Sat 29 Mar - Sat 21 Jun, 10:30 - 12:00
    Don’t miss our exciting, hands-on sessions for curious kids ages 7-11.

    National Museum of Scotland

    Find out more
  3. A child and adult looking at a geological specimen.
    Event

    Relaxed Curiosity Club

    Sat 29 Mar – Sat 21 Jun, 14:30 - 15:30
    Join us for our exciting series of hands-on sessions for curious ASN families.

    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.
    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…
    Keep reading
  2. A long, rectangular panel made of hundreds of intricately decorated, painted tiles. This image gives the overall impression of the illustration, which from a distance is of a garden scene with trees all around, and a fountain as the centrepiece. The colours painted are yellow, blue, green and brown.
    Discover

    Restoring a rare Iranian tile panel

    A rare ceramic wall panel illuminates the importance of gardens in 17th century Iran.
    Keep reading
  3. Closeup of a zigzag pattern forming bordered triangles on the flat surface of the hooked end of an iron cruik.
    Discover

    Scots words and superstitions in household objects

    Many of our objects speak to the rich heritage of the Scots language. Perhaps you came to see our ‘flauchters’ or were ‘conflummixt’ by our collection of ‘creepies’ or ‘crusies’. Many of these object names have a charming origin and…
    Keep reading
  4. Discover

    A 19th century guide to constellations

    How well do you know your stars? Learn how to identify constellations like an aspiring astronomer in the 1800s with help from Urania’s Mirror.
    Keep reading
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