Our programme for the 2024 - 2025 school year will be announced soon and bookings will open on 19 August 2024.  

There is so much to see and do - your class can plan to spend a full day visiting the National Museum of Scotland:

• Visit ten galleries dedicated to Art, Design and Fashion, and Science and Technology. 
• Travel the world in our fascinating World Cultures galleries, including our ancient Egypt gallery.
• Come face to face with birds and beasts from around the world and learn about extinction and survival in our new Natural World galleries.
• See Scotland's story from Pictish stones to the Industrial Revolution, William Wallace to Harry Potter.
• Discover our special exhibitions programme, which changes frequently.
• Older students have the opportunity for independent study in our research library.

Prepare your class for a visit by using our visual story PowerPoints in class:

• Visual Story self-guided visit
• Visual Story workshop visit
• Visual Story in Ukrainian

You can also find out more about the ASN resources available for your visit.

• ASN Resources 

We have a video which shows a school visit to National Museum of Scotland. We suggest you also read the general visit page for more information. You can also book a pre-visit to help you plan the day.

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

Workshop and tour prices

£100 UK local authority schools

£150 independent and non-UK schools

Free 20% of our workshops are available free of charge to schools in SIMD 1&2 areas and all special schools (Scotland only).  Offer is subject to availability.

Self-led visits

Self-led school visits and downloadable resources are free of charge.

National Museums Scotland does not currently offer travel subsidies.  Children and young people aged between 5 and 21 years living in Scotland are eligible for free bus travel.  Find out more at www.transport.gov.scot/concessionary-travel/young-persons-free-bus-travel-scheme/.

Booked Sessions

Please arrive promptly for booked sessions.  If you are running late, please phone the school’s team on 0131 247 4041 so we know when to expect you.

Self-led visits

Please arrive at the time stated on your booking. This is to stagger groups arriving in our Entrance Hall (Level 0, Chambers St entrance) and minimise noise levels.

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

We also have topic specific trails to help guide your class through the museum which you can download in advance. 

There is a coach drop-off point outside the museum on Chambers Street.

Pay and display parking is available on Chambers Street and at NCP Quartermile.  More parking info.

• Booked groups are allocated a storage tub in our school’s cloakroom for coats, and packed lunches (subject to availability). Please encourage pupils to bring with them only what they will need for the day.
   
• The tubs have lids, but are not lockable. Please note that the tubs are not located in a secure area. Belongings are left at the owner’s risk.
   
• Space is limited and we are unable to store large rucksacks or suitcases.
   
• Please note that bags can only be stored in the cloakroom while you are on the premises

School groups can eat in the museum lunchroom.  The lunchroom is the only designated space for school group lunches in the Museum and must be pre-booked.  Please note that use of the lunchroom is subject to availability and priority use is given to groups who have booked facilitated sessions.  If available, your 30-minute lunch slot is included in your booking information.

The packed lunch space will be very busy during your visit. Please help us to keep it running smoothly by sticking to your booked 30-minute time slot(s), sharing tables with other schools, and tidying up after your group.

The Learning Centre and galleries are fully accessible via lifts and we have accessible toilets on all levels. There is a Changing Places (U) toilet in the Entrance Hall on Level 0. 

Please read our information for visitors with access needs. 

We are happy for you to take photographs, including flash photography, in the general museum. Photography is not permitted in special exhibitions, unless otherwise stated. If you wish to take a photo of a member of museum staff, please ask their permission before doing so.  

We may also wish to take photographs of you and your group. We will always discuss with you in advance and will supply a photography permission form for you and your class to be completed prior to visiting. 

There is a Museum Shop in the Entrance Hall, Level 0 (please ensure there is a ratio of 1 adult to 10 children when in shop). 

There is a café on the Level 3 balcony, overlooking the Grand Gallery. Take-away food and tea/coffee/liquids are not permitted in the museum. 

Ensure everyone attending, including adults, are aware of our Visit Guidelines.  In addition, please read and follow any safety notices and instructions from Visitor Experience staff during your visit.

Teachers are encouraged to make a free pre-visit to carry out their own risk assessment. Download our safety guidelines to help you compile one.  Risk assessments for booked sessions are available on request (contact schools@nms.ac.uk).

We have developed an agreement which sets out what we aim to offer during your visit, and in return what we ask from you. We ask that pupils visiting in school groups are accompanied at all times during their visit at a ratio of: 

1 adult: 5 pupils (under the age of 5) 

1 adult: 10 pupils (primary school pupils) 

1 adult: 15 pupils (secondary school pupils) 

Where pupils require support on a 1:1 ratio, this adult should be included over and above these ratios.