Exhibitions & displays
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2024
Until 6 May 2024
Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3
Ticketed
In this world-renowned exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, see exceptional images which capture fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world.
Book now nms.ac.uk/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year
Uniquely Scottish Silver
Until 26 May 2024
Grand Gallery
Free
Uniquely Scottish Silver brings together five distinct Scottish silver object designs: mazers, quaichs, thistle cups, ovoid urns and heart brooches. Discover some of the earliest and rarest survivals within the Scottish silversmiths’ craft.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/Uniquely-Scottish-Silver
Game On
29 Jun – 3 Nov 2024
Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3
Tickets on sale spring 2024
Get set for Game On – the largest interactive exhibition of the history and the culture of video games. Game On, an exhibition conceived and curated by Barbican Immersive, examines the creative and technological advances that have established a new medium and artform.
From Sonic the Hedgehog to Mario, explore gaming’s rich history through over 100 playable games from the last five decades.
Find our more nms.ac.uk/game-on
Theravada Buddhism
Until 12 Jan 2025
Gallery 3, Level 1
Free
A thought-provoking display charts the history and influence of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition across the world, including its role in Scotland today. The display includes a Buddha on loan from The Dhammapadipa Temple in Edinburgh.
The Buddha was designed and made in Thailand in 2013, then later gifted to Temple where it is now used in their garden meditation room.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/theravadabuddhism
Cold War Scotland
13 Jul 2024 – 26 Jan 2025
10:00 – 17:00
Special Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free
Scotland’s unique geography and topography provided a useful base for Allied military preparations and research during the Cold War, a 40-year nuclear stand-off between the USA and the Soviet Union following the end of the Second World War. Cold War Scotland is an output of Materialising the Cold War, a collaborative research project between National Museums Scotland and the University of Stirling.
The project explores how the Cold War heritage is represented and how museums can adapt to tell this story in future. The exhibition will explore both the visible and invisible legacies of the war in Scotland.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/ColdWarScotland
Events
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Sensory Sunday: Exploring Ancient Egypt
05 May
14:00
Level 4, Studio 2, Learning Centre
Free, booking required
Families with children with additional support needs and disabilities are invited to join our programme of sensory play sessions.
Explore the museum’s collections, get creative and meet other families. Sensory Sunday sessions are relaxed, fun hands-on, and respond to the needs of the families participating. You are welcome to come and go at any point during a session.
These sessions are suitable for children with additional support needs, neurodivergent children or children with disabilities. The content is aimed at ages 5-10 but is not set – we welcome all families who think they might enjoy these sessions.
Book now nms.ac.uk/sensorysunday
Magic Carpet Minis
Block 1 (08,15 and 22 May)
10:30-11:15 or 14:00-14:45
£15.00 per child for block of 3
£13.50 per Member child for block of 3
Magic Carpet Minis introduces you and your little one to some of the wonderful galleries, objects and themes in the museum in a fun and gentle way. Taking place in different spaces around the museum, you will explore subjects such as the Natural World, Space, World Cultures and Scottish History through songs, stories, rhymes, actions, objects and sensory play.
Book now nms.ac.uk/magiccarpetminis
Magic Carpet Toddlers
Block 1 (13, 20 & 27 May)
10:30–11:15 or 14:00–14:45
£15.00 per child for block of 3
£13.50 per Member child for block of 3
Magic Carpet Toddlers introduces you and your little one to some of the wonderful galleries, objects and themes in the museum in a fun and interactive way. Taking place in different spaces around the museum, you will explore subjects such as the natural world, science and technology, world cultures and Scottish history through songs, stories, rhymes, actions, objects and short activities.
Book now nms.ac.uk/magiccarpettoddlers
Wellbeing Wanders
13-17 May
11:30-12:00
Meet at the Lighthouse Lens, Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free, sign up on the day
Join us on a guided walk around the museum for Wellbeing Week. Explore the collections and take part in mini mindful sessions at each stop along the way with these short, free guided walks.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/wellbeingwanders
Curiosity Club: Ancient Egypt
18 May
10:30-12:00
Level 4, Learning Centre
£10 (Members and Concessions £9)
Capturing some of the museum’s most exciting collections, this is a chance for kids to explore the museum through games, activities and gallery visits.
Book now nms.ac.uk/curiosityclub
Wellbeing Week: Mindful Art at the Museum
19 May
11:30-12:30
Meet at the Tower Entrance, Level 1
£10, £8 Members and Concession
Join artist Kayleigh McCallum and mindfulness practitioner Charlene Duncan for mindful sketching in our galleries. This small group session in our galleries will start with a short introduction to mindfulness, followed by guided sketching and then some final mindfulness exercises. Suitable for all levels, including complete beginners. All materials will be provided. All ages welcome, but recommended age 8+.
Book now nms.ac.uk/MindfulArt
Slow Down Sunday for Families
19 May
10:30–11:15 & 13:00–13:45
Event Space, Level 2
Free, booking required
Join author and mindfulness teacher Natasha Iregbu as she invites families to practice mindfulness in a fun and enjoyable way. Natasha and her excitable butterfly Amaya will take you on a journey of storytelling and mindfulness as they guide you and your children to use your senses and practice being in the moment. The session will include a book reading, mindfulness activities, yoga movement and a craft activity.
Book now nms.ac.uk/SlowDownSunday
Wellbeing Week: Musical Moments in the Museum
19 May
13:00-16:00
Free, drop in
Enjoy an afternoon of musical encounters, featuring two musicians from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. As part of our Wellbeing Week, experience musical soundscapes within some of our Scottish galleries.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/musical-moments-in-the-museum
Edinburgh International Children’s Festival: Family Encounters Day
25 May
10:00 – 16:30
Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free, drop-in
Some activities may require sign-up on the day
At our Festival Family Encounters Day, enjoy exciting new performances and interactive experiences from local artists, pop-up theatre and dance shows, walk-about character actors and plenty of hands-on family activities.
The full event programme will be published in early May.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/FamilyEncounters
Galloway Hoard: Where did the silver come from?
29 May
19:30 – 20:30
Online event
Free, with optional donation
In this live online event, National Museums Scotland Galloway Hoard Researcher Adrián Maldonado will join Jane Kershaw from the University of Oxford to explain how a collaboration between cutting-edge science and archaeology can reveal the sources of Viking-age silver in the Galloway Hoard.
Book now nms.ac.uk/vikingsilver
National Museum of Flight
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
Open daily 10:00 – 16:00
Conservation Hangar Talks
Daily
14:00-15:00
Free with museum admission
Booking required
See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with these free talks. Find out about objects from the collection that aren’t normally on display and have the chance to see conservators at work.
Book now nms.ac.uk/ConservationHangarTalks
Behind the Scenes Tours
29 May & 26 June
12:00-13:00
Free with museum admission
Booking required
Find out about our collection of aero-engines and propellers on a curator-led tour of our Object Store.
Book now nms.ac.uk/BehindtheScenes
Awesome Bricks
15 & 16 June
Advance booking required
Our hands-on celebration of LEGO returns to the National Museum of Flight. Join us for a lively weekend of LEGO brick fun, with lots to see and do for all ages. Get a close-up view of incredible LEGO constructions, including an interactive train set, and make your own unique creations in our white brick build zone.
Book now nms.ac.uk/awesomebricks
National Museum of Rural Life
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Tractor Tots
Until May 2024
10:15 & 13:30
Various dates
Ticketed
Running in blocks of three Friday morning sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for our younger visitors, introducing them to the museum and farm, and bringing it to life through interactive creative play. Each session will take place in a different location at the museum and working farm, and will feature handling objects from our learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside.
Book now nms.ac.uk/tractor-tots
Woolly Weekend
18 & 19 May
11:00 –16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Join us for a weekend of all things woolly at the National Museum of Rural Life.
Book now nms.ac.uk/WoollyWeekend
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For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789
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