The National Museum of Scotland has exhibits and collections on topics ranging from Scottish antiquities, anthropology, history, science, and technology, as also world culture. Created after the merger of two museums, the National Museum of Scotland is massive, divided between two connected buildings.
With thousands of amazing objects across multiple galleries, the Museum offers you a world of discovery all under one roof.
Museum trails
Explore the museum in a whole new light with the self-guided trails.
The giant Benandonner has found his way into the museum! Can you help get him out again?
Discover some fascinating dino facts as you follow Rory the Stegosaurus through our Natural Sciences galleries.
Join baby King Penguin to get ready for a winter celebration!
This trail is to help you ‘reset’ and find some moments of mindfulness and well-being in the Museum.
Follow our trail and get animal spotting in our Natural World galleries!
Discover striking architectural details and hidden histories on your next visit to our Museum.
Explore the Galleries
The Grand Gallery is one of Scotland’s most beautiful spaces and provides a spectacular start to your museum visit. Take a photo with the noble Giant Deer skeleton, say hello to the massive skull of Moby the whale , and marvel at the machinery used to smash atoms.
Rising through the four stories, the Window on the World is the largest single museum installation in the UK. The display celebrates the variety and scope of the Museum, showcasing a spectacular array of over 800 objects drawn from a wide range of cultures and disciplines, from tiny glass sculptures to a girder from the original Tay Bridge, and whalebone scrimshaw to Art Nouveau design.
Walk through the Grand Gallery and you’ll find the extraordinary Millennium clock, which comes to life on the hour with whirling figures, stirring music, and dancing lights.
Here you’ll meet the Scots whose ideas, innovations, and leadership took them across the world. Inventors, diplomats, military leaders, adventurers, or the celebrities of their time: intriguing objects reveal the stories of their lives and achievements.
Situated next to the Balcony Café, this gallery offers a fascinating insight into the breadth of our outstanding ceramic collections, celebrating the creativity that is reflected in pieces from around the world.
Walk your catwalk and spot gems by Vivienne Westwood, Zandra Rhodes, Jean Muir, and Pringle of Scotland, and try your hand at fashion design in our digital game.
Art lovers will find much to delight in our Making and Creating gallery on Level 3, which explores the techniques and inspirations behind the work of artists, makers, and designers.
Hundreds of fascinating animals are brought together in our Natural World galleries to illustrate the extraordinary variety of life on earth.
The dramatic Animal World gallery introduces the main themes of behaviour and interaction with the environment. Here you can explore the lives of animals from around the world, from the Arctic to Australia. From cooler climes meet a polar bear and Arctic fox, from Africa get acquainted with a family of lions and stretch your neck to see our giraffe, and go back in time to walk in the shadow of a giant T.rex skeleton cast.
Come face to face with iconic historic artifacts, learn how Scottish innovation has helped shape the modern world and see how the lives of everyday Scots have changed through the centuries.
Explore the first three billion years of Scotland’s history and uncovers the origins and evolution of our landscape, flora, and fauna in Beginnings, on Level -1.
There are a few must-see objects like:
Explore the history of innovation in Scotland and across the world through interactive games and thought-provoking displays.
Check Out Mini Museum
Explore the museum in miniature created by brick artist Warren Elsmore. This Lego brick model perfectly recreates the museum from the imposing Victorian façade to the spectacular Grand Gallery.
Exhibitions and Events
Catch up on different events and exhibitions that take place from time to time. Few of them are mentioned here
From trails to storytelling, origami to film screenings, all sorts are going on this summer at the National Museum of Scotland as part of the Year of Scotland’s Stories!
Enjoy this 2012 Disney Pixar classic on the big screen and then go and explore our Scotland galleries with a specially themed trail.
Relax and Refuel
Grab lunch or a snack at our Balcony Café (Level 3) with a great view over the Grand Gallery. Great for all the family with freshly prepared soups, sandwiches and salads, children’s lunch boxes, and some fine home baking.
The museum is truly a fantastic place to visit. It is well set up to trace the history of Scotland from prehistoric times through the present day.
https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland