National Museum of Scotland

Discovery Scotland’s hidden treasures at The National Museum of Scotland! It is an essential stop on your tour of Edinburgh and is a wonderful escape from the dreary weather that Scotland is so famous for, as well as a great family day out. The National Museum of Scotland offers guests exhibitions on the ancient Egyptians, science and technology (featuring Dolly the sheep), as well as the rich history of Scotland, from the medieval period to the twenty-first century. The exterior of the museum itself is just as wonderful as the numerous exhibitions; the Grand Gallery is a fantastic start to your museum trip, offering pools of natural light and majestic high, glass ceilings.

The museum itself is situated on Chambers Street, in the heart of the Old Town. There is very limited parking nearby, so, we would suggest getting there by public transport. The number 23, 27 and 8 from Brandon Terrace, just a two-minute walk from our apartments, will drop you off just near the museum’s main entrance and takes around 20 minutes.

The National Museum of Scotland has a small, cosy café just below the Grand Gallery which offers hot and cold sandwiches and snacks. It also has a restaurant at the very top of the museum’s tower, the Tower Restaurant, which offers diners fantastic views of the surrounding area. Reservations are heavily encouraged. However, heed our warning! There is a pretty penny to pay for the exhibition and skyline views. We would suggest you check out one of the numerous cafes and bistro’s nearby, such as The Elephant House – famous for being the birthplace of Harry Potter.

The museum is open from 10:00 until 17:00 everyday and is free to explore! The museum also offers free guided tours which start at 11:00 everyday and meet at the Tour Meeting Point on level 0. Spots on the tour are allocated on a first-come first-serve basis.

For more information on The National Museum of Scotland and the exhibitions on display, visit their website https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/