Opening times
Sunday hours vary, and last entry can change, so check the venue's current visitor information before you go.
At a glance
Entry
Free admission.
Address
42 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TG.
Collection
Toys, games, dolls, fancy dress, books, magazines, comics, clothes and other childhood memorabilia from the 1800s to the present day.
Dressing-up
Younger visitors can use a small dressing-up area with a teepee for a simple activity.
Access
If you need buggy, lift, toilet or baby-changing details, check with the venue before travelling. It has not confirmed a step-free route through every gallery.
Historic Toy And Games Collection
Indoor Visit
Small Dressing-up Area
Why visit
Choose it for the unusual toy collection and central Royal Mile setting. Children can move between toys, games, dolls, books and clothes from different eras, then try the small dressing-up area. It works best as one part of an Old Town plan, with the collection setting the pace.
What children can see
The collection covers toys, games, dolls, fancy dress, books, magazines and comics, alongside objects linked to home, childcare, nursery and school. It stretches from the 1800s to today, so children can see how play and childhood have changed.
Younger visitors can use a small dressing-up area with a teepee for a change of pace. You spend most of the visit looking, noticing and talking, with the dressing-up area as a hands-on pause.
Best ages and family fit
Preschool and primary-age children can get different things from the same displays. Younger children may enjoy spotting familiar toys and trying the dressing-up area, while older children can compare games, fashions and school life across the collection.
Families who like a focused museum stop and adults who enjoy the memory-lane element will find a good fit here. If your children need constant movement, keep another nearby plan ready. Use the collection as one part of the outing.
Museum of Childhood or another free Edinburgh museum?
Choose Museum of Childhood for toy history, nostalgia and a central Royal Mile stop. National Museum of Scotland is the broader free indoor choice for mixed ages, while Museum on the Mound suits families who want a focused money theme and family activities.
Use the toy collection for a focused stop, the National Museum for broad galleries, or the Mound for one clear money theme.
Plan your visit
Map
Use the map to pair this Royal Mile museum stop with another central Edinburgh plan.
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