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Edinburgh · Museum
National Museum of Scotland
National Museum of Scotland is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with free general entry and charges only for some special exhibitions. For families, the best approach is to choose a few child-friendly galleries first—such as Imagine, Adventure Planet, Explore and Animal World—rather than trying to cover the entire museum in one visit.
- Best ages
- Preschoolers to teens
- Entry
- Free · some exhibitions cost extra
- Weather
- Indoor museum
- Allow
- Around 2 to 4 hours
Our family take
It combines free entry, central Edinburgh location, and genuinely hands-on family galleries, so it is easier to recommend than a museum that relies on reading-heavy displays.
- With younger children. Start with Imagine and the other family galleries rather than trying to see every floor.
- If noise is hard. The family galleries can be bright and noisy. The Tower Entrance avoids the busier Main Entrance, and staff can help you find quieter areas.
The practical details
Plan your visit
- Opening times
- Daily 10am–5pm. Closed 25 December; open noon–5pm on 26 December and 1 January.
- Entry
- General museum entry is free. Some special exhibitions charge.
- Where to go
- Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF.
- How long to allow
- Around 2 to 4 hours for a family visit; choose a few galleries if attention spans are short.
- Prams and access
- Lifts reach all floors. The Tower Entrance gives level access and avoids the busier Main Entrance. Buggy storage is on Level 1.
Café or restaurantAccessible toiletsToiletsBaby changingBuggy storagePacked lunch space
25 September 2026
Check current museum information (official)A little more detail
Make it work for your family
Where to start with children
Imagine on Level 1 is a good first stop for little ones, with dress-up, sound play, a story corner and space for cruising babies. Explore and Animal World are also on Level 1, so you can keep a younger child's visit fairly contained.
For children keen on dinosaurs and nature, look for the T. rex by Animal World on Level 1. Adventure Planet is a separate hands-on stop on Level 5. Older children can range more widely across the museum's science, history and natural-world collections. Choose a few interests together instead of trying to cover the whole building.
Official visitor information · Checked 2026-09-25
Prams, access and noise
The Tower Entrance on Chambers Street offers level access and avoids the busy Entrance Hall. Lifts and ramps take you around the galleries, and the buggy park is on Level 1 behind Kingdom of the Scots. There is room for buggies in the family galleries too.
The family galleries are bright and can be noisy. If that may be difficult, look at the museum's sensory map before you go. Sensory backpacks are available at both information desks, and staff can point you towards quieter areas. The four free disabled parking spaces on Chambers Street cannot be booked in advance.
Official visitor information · Checked 2026-09-25
Food, toilets and breaks
You can bring food and use the Lunch Space in the Entrance Hall, or buy something at one of the museum's cafés. Toilets are on all levels, baby changing is available on most floors, and there is a Changing Places toilet on Level 0.
Official visitor information · Checked 2026-09-25
When another Edinburgh visit fits better
Choose this museum when you want a free, flexible indoor visit with enough variety for different ages. If the family would rather follow one science theme, compare Dynamic Earth. Camera Obscura is a different, paid choice when illusions are the draw and you want to stay around the Old Town.
Plan the rest of your day
Comparison guide
Summer family days out in Scotland
Compare outdoor days, animal parks, castles and rainy-day backups by age, cost and travel effort.
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