Advertisement
National Museum of Scotland

National Museum of Scotland

National Museum of Scotland
4.5
Speciality MuseumsNatural History Museums
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Explore the diversity of the natural world, world cultures, science and technology, art, design and fashion, and Scottish history, all under one roof.
Duration: More than 3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience National Museum of Scotland

The area

Address
Reach out directly

See what travelers are saying

  • CornwallBee
    Callington, United Kingdom77 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best museum
    So far, my favourite museum. Huge variety or exhibits and so much to see! It was a rainy Saturday, so extremely busy. I have never seen a museum so full! I would love to visit again on a weekday sometime to be able to take it all in properly.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written October 8, 2023
  • rebecca c
    116 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Egyptians, dinisaurs, giant sloths, Mary queen of Scotts & king Arthurs seat coffins were the highlights. Fab museum.
    Really amazing museum, packed with so many interesting and diverse artifacts. We had a time critical visit and selected the things we wanted to see ahead of our visit. On arrival we asked a member of staff to help us find: the egyptian section, the dinosaurs and the king arthur seat (burke and hare) coffins. En-route to those exhibits we came across so many more fascinating artifacts such as the Mary queen of Scotts section - it was just a shame we didn't have unlimited time as we could have whiled away hours here. Locating the coffins was tricky & we couldn't seem to find a lift or stairs to get to level 3 (they don't access every floor) . A really kind member of staff actually walked us to the exhibit in the end, which was really kind as without their help we never would have found it. Really enjoyed this fascinating museum & whole heartedly recommend. We only spent an hour here but could easily have spent half a day or more. Worth a visit no mater how limited your time is.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 9, 2023
  • YoohooWales
    Llanelli, United Kingdom328 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Wide Ranging Exhibits and Fun Exhibits For the Kids
    Great wide ranging exhibits as well as fun exhibits for the kids. Plenty to see on several floors with helpful staff throughout. Entry free but cafe prices ridiculously high.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 21, 2023
  • u2fan56
    London, United Kingdom900 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Outstanding museum plus free admission
    My wife and I went to National Museum of Scotland while spending weekend in Edinburgh. We were supposed to go to Edinburgh Castle but they closed it due to inclement weather. This was an outstanding back-up option. The admission is free. It is very large including multiple levels. The museum goes back to the origin and original people of Scotland up to current times. It covers industry, fashion, sports, culture and animals. It gives lot of detail on Scotland and very well put together. Highly recommend.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 21, 2023
  • Daniel B
    7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worthy of it’s name
    Our second visit after a gap of 7 years, and didn’t disappoint. Well laid out with lots to do for kids, really relaxed atmosphere and significantly quieter than other National museums. The view from the roof terrace is amazing and all for free. If it’s raining this is a great afternoon out.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 25, 2023
  • Liz
    London, United Kingdom104 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Go up on the roof terrace
    An amazing set of spaces filled with planes, lighthouse lamps, whale jawbones, cycles, and early trains. You can just about escape crowds in the niches in the new extension, or enjoy the Balcony Cafe where you overlook several spaces. But for me the highlight was the views out from the roof terrace...well worth a visit. Beware the lockers expect to be bemused and to need lots of change and patience = it is quite bemusing to book and manage them.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 30, 2023
  • Paula
    Newcastle West, Ireland25 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A lovely day out. Put a few hours away
    Absolutely amazing! Well worth a visit when it's raining outside. The place is massive so you could spend nearly the whole day there. Loads of history and good for kids. A lot of interactive activities and very informative.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 3, 2023
  • Laura G
    Surrey, United Kingdom62 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The perfect activity on a rainy day
    I had a great time at the National Museum of Scotland. The exhibits were diverse and interesting, and the interactive activities added to the experience. The animal section was a highlight for me, as I felt there was a lot to learn. We ended up spending a few hours in the museum without really noticing, there was so much to look at and read time really flew? It's definitely a good choice for a rainy day.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 5, 2023
  • star557799
    Providence, Rhode Island100 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic museum
    I cannot speak highly enough of this museum. If I lived in Edinburgh, I'd go here every month for a couple of hours so I could focus on one gallery at a time. On this visit, I spent most of my time in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery, which was fascinating. The Millennium Clock Tower seemed odd to me, but try to see it in action!
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written November 17, 2023
  • Alex110578
    Nottingham, United Kingdom8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Fantastic Variety To See
    What a fantastic place! We barely scratched the surface as we had other things booked but will definitely be returning. We focused on the natural history section of the first floor and a little bit of world cultures and collecting stories. Everything's very accessible/engaging and doesn't overwhelm with text. Looking forward to seeing the rest.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 27, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles22,507 reviews
Excellent
16,812
Very good
4,536
Average
903
Poor
175
Terrible
83

Sasha M
Sydney, Australia392 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
The museum is extensive with many floors. We stopped in here because it was raining ... SO glad we did! The artitecutre inside is unique in itself and there are many exhibits but if you are pressed for time I highly recommend you see the Scottish section. It starts from ancient times to present today in a timeline ... starting at the bottom floor and working your way up. The displays are exceptional and include precious and priceless artefacts from everyday to royals. It is hard to believe they are real. We thoroughly enjoyed the visit and nit let go back to see more. The museum is very large and so there are places to sit and rest amongst the displays but there are also two cafes.
Written January 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

coxmatthew12
Chester, UK4 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 • Couples
Extensive collections and interesting place to visit. Interesting exhibits of Scottish history including the Galloway silver hoard. Nice cafe overlooking the main hall. Covid regulations mean you have to book a (free) timed ticket and can't just turn up. They have one way systems but it's not always obvious which way to go. The roof terrace was closed when we went, some of the exhibits were completely closed for covid reasons and the shop has a long queue with only a small handful allowed in at a time. An interesting museum, would recommend a visit but they could perhaps look at some of the covid rules around the museum to make it easier for visitors.
Written July 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jason
Bristol, UK18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Solo
With so much to do and see this is certainly an attraction for the whole family. Entrance is free and if you're interested in history, or have inquisitive children, plan to be there for a good few hours.
The view from the 7th floor terrace is also well worth seeing!
Gives you a stunning view of the city without the tiresome journey up Calton Hill or Arthur's Seat.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

leonard m
Edinburgh, UK439 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
I have visited this museum many many times over the years and have a fondness for the building that arises mostly from an appreciation of the quite extraordinary main gallery hall. The hall itself is a museum piece and is simply beautiful, and, in my experience, unrivalled by any other museum building I have visited in Europe in terms of the structure and design. The museum houses an extensive and varied collection of which only a small portion is on display. For those interested in history, the Scottish culture section has a wealth of information and objects from which more can be learned than most other destinations in Scotland. The science section is interesting and accessible. The nature section is varied and includes a number of exhibits that now look somewhat dated but balanced by some contemporary displays. It is a stimulating playground for children with dedicated activity rooms on the ground and upper floors. The millennium clock on the ground floor also engages people of all ages with its amazing and sometimes sinister moving parts. Put shortly, there is something here for everyone. I share the concerns expressed by other reviewers that the signage is sometimes inadequate and the curating of the exhibits can be somewhat idiosyncratic. It isn't always easy to find what you are looking for. It is worth recording that these delights are free to enter. Having recently spent £80 on admission to two museums/galleries in Rome, Edinburgh is to be congratulated that it has managed to find a way to make culture free to all at the main galleries and museums. This museum is worth visiting just to admire the main hall. I still miss the fish ponds on the ground floor!
Written January 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

keencamper2018
Edinburgh, UK17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
We have been visiting this Museum on a regular basis over several years and still have not seen everything. Great for kids, there are lots of permanent interactive exhibits and often free drop in activities for families. An absolute godsend for local families when the weather is grim and you need to get the kids out the house and recommend for visitors too. Food wise, we have eaten in the Brasserie a couple of times and the cafe once, the Brasserie is good food but expensive and takes a while and the cafe is no bargain either, personally I'd nip out to a nearby a cafe, there are plenty.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marcin Walczak
Edinburgh, UK505 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
This museum cannot be missed when visiting Edinburgh. It has always so much on display, so it could easily be considered as a day trip, even when coming here with young children. The entry to museum is free but donations boxes are placed at all entrances and in many parts of the building. Every few months the main exhibition, that is a subject of an entry fee of roughly £10 per person, is replaced by different one. These are usually very well organized and informative. There is a cafe on first floor, bistro on the lower ground floor and restaurant on the top floor, and all of these have vert affordable prices. It's accessible for everyone and it should definitely be visited by everyone coming to the capital city of Scotland.
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dave E
West Mifflin, PA204 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
On a day when the weather closed the castle, I was looking for something to do and took a chance on this museum. Glad that I made this choice. The museum has no entry fee, but you can easily spend a couple of hours looking at all of the different exhibits. There are plenty of interactive areas for the kids to enjoy as well. It's located in the center of town, not far from the Royal Mile. Very enjoyable visit
Written March 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

gcervi2016
Tarragona, Spain31 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Even if you are not too interested in museums, you have to go and see this one for the beauty of the building which hosts it and how it has been arranged by the architects who improved this splendid museum. Furthermore, if you have children with you, they will want to stay in up to the last minute.The best way of learning is while having a nice time, and this result is achieved indeed in the National Museum of Scotland, for adults as well. A lot of the human sciences and of the nature’s miracles are represented in the museum. The fact that it is free - although a donation is recommended and I do recommend - is a relief in a city where the tendency is to put a heavy toll even for breathing
Written February 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bethanyweatherstone
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK316 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
We visited here during our edinburgh trip and were amazed at the amount of things to see in this musuem. There are different floors and rooms full of different items from around the world to look at. There are a lot of interactive parts to this musuem also which is great for people of all ages. We spent around 2.5 hours here in total. The musuem was free to enter. They also offer a cloak room to store bags or small suitcases for £1.50 per item which is a great idea. There are 2 cafes, toilets,lifts and a gift shop. Would highly recommend a visit!
Written February 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sarah
Tewkesbury, UK44 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Knew little about the museum prior to visit but this was something my husband wanted to do. Always a little concerned taking teenage children to a museum - how much complaining can one take!!! BUT we all had a fantastic time. Something for everyone - you could spend hours here. So much to see, a beautiful building which takes your breath away and even though it was busy as it was a wet half term it didn't feel crowded. After quite a few hours we felt we'd hardly scratched the surface and could easily return time and time again. We decided to pay £29 to attend the Tyrannosaurus exhibition and although we enjoyed it I don't think it was worth the money but don't regret paying it as the rest of the visit was brilliant and all FREE! Definitely worth a visit for all ages.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 18,018
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

National Museum of Scotland - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

All Edinburgh HotelsEdinburgh Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Edinburgh
All things to do in Edinburgh
Day Trips in Edinburgh
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars