Exhibitions & displays
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Beyond the Little Black Dress
Until 29 Oct 2023
Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3
Ticketed (concessions available)
From design classics to cutting-edge catwalk creations, this exhibition deconstructs the little black dress and examines the radical power of the colour black in fashion.
The exhibition will chart a century of fashion in a series of themed, immersive displays. Iconic early pieces by Yves Saint Laurent, Dior and Jean Muir will be juxtaposed with recent looks by ground-breaking contemporary designers and brands like Gareth Pugh, Simone Rocha and Off-White.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/Beyond-the-Little-Black-Dress
Rising Tide: Art and Environment in Oceania
Until 14 Apr 2024
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free
Delve into the most important and pressing issue of our time, humanity’s damaging relationship with planet Earth. This urgent issue is felt especially deeply in Australia and the Pacific Islands where sea levels are rising due to climate change and the oceans are filling with plastic.
Rising Tide considers our relationship to the natural environment through contemporary artistic responses to climate change and plastic waste by Indigenous Australian and Pacific Islander artists.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/Rising-Tide
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 silver smiths’ craft.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/Uniquely-Scottish-Silver
Theravada Buddhism
Until 09 Jun 2024
Grand Gallery
Free
This 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. The image takes inspiration from the Phra Phuttha Chinnarat (Great Victorious Buddha), one of the most revered Buddha images in Thailand.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/theravada-buddhism
Events
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Fashionably Late
06 Oct
19:30 – 22:30
£16 – £22 including exhibition entry
Strictly 18+
Our legendary Museum Lates return in October restyled for one night only as Fashionably Late. Join us for an evening of fun, frolics and fashion in the beautiful setting of the National Museum of Scotland at night.
Book now nms.ac.uk/Fashionably-Late
Cultural Connections
16 – 21 Oct
11:00 – 16:00
Around the museum
Free, drop in
Some workshops are paid, bookable
Join us this half term to share in a mixture of music, song, dance, storytelling and art connecting to Africa and the Caribbean.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/cultural-connections
Museum Socials
20 Oct – 15 Dec
Third Friday of the month
10:30 – 12:00
Free
Our Museum Socials events are created for anyone affected by Dementia and their relatives, friends and supporters. Museum Socials create a friendly environment where everyone is welcome and all contributions are valued.
Book now nms.ac.uk/museum-socials
Morning Curator Tour: Rising Tide
01 – 09 Nov
09:15 – 10:00 (doors open at 09:00)
Join curator Dr Ali Clark for an exclusive morning tour of our Rising Tide: Art and Environment in OCeania exhibition. Add a voucher to upgrade your experience with refreshments in one of our museum cafés.
Book now nms.ac.uk/morning-curator-tour
Curiosity Club
25 Nov – 24 Feb 2024
10:30 – 12:00
£10 (Members and Concessions £9)
Unleash your creativity and curiosity topic each month, we’ve captured some of the museum’s most exciting and child friendly collections and themes, for kids to explore through games, activities, and visits to some of our most interactive galleries.
Book now nms.ac.uk/curiosity-club
Magic Carpet Minis
Until 20 Dec
10:30 & 14:00 (Wednesdays)
£15 per 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/magic-carpet-minis
Collection Centre Tours
Until 20 Mar 2024
National Museums Collection Centre
Go behind the scenes on a tour of our state-of-the-art collections and research centre in Granton, Edinburgh. Discover the secrets of how we store our Natural Sciences, Science & Technology and Scottish History & Archaeology collections, and find out how these objects and specimens are used in international research.
Book now nms.ac.uk/collection-centre-tours
Friday Friends
Until 28 Jun 2024
Selected Friday afternoons
14:00 – 16:00
Free, pre-booking required
Our Friday Friends programme offers a welcoming space for visually impaired and D/deaf children and their families. The groups meet monthly and explore the themes of the museum through objects, music, art and activities.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/friday-friends
National Museum of Flight
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
Open daily 10:00 – 16:00
Half Term Bricks
Sat 14, Sun 15, Sat 21 and Sun 22 October
11:00–13:00 & 14:00–16:00
Concorde Hangar
Free with museum admission
Inspired by our current Brick History display, each day we will have a different build theme. Choose to make something inspired by the theme or build your own creation. For something a bit more energetic, take part in our speed build challenge and see if you can make it to the top of the champions’ board.
Book now nms.ac.uk/half-term-bricks
Behind the Scenes Tours
Until 26 Oct
12:00 – 13:00
Free with museum admission
National Museums Scotland has one of the most comprehensive collections of aircraft engines anywhere in the world, some of which are in the Object Store at the National Museum of Flight, not normally open to the public. Join Aviation Curator Ian Brown for one of our regular guided tours of the museum’s Object Store.
Book now nms.ac.uk/behind-the-scenes-tours
Brick History
Until 05 Nov
10:00 – 17:00
Free with museum admission
Journey through history in our latest LEGO display by brick artist Warren Elsmore and his team.
Book your visit nms.ac.uk/Brick-History
Conservation Hangar Tours
Until 31 Mar 2024
Free with museum admission
Booking required
See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with a guided tour and find out more about objects from the collection that aren’t normally on display.
Book now nms.ac.uk/Conservation-Hangar-Tours
National Museum of Rural Life
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Lewis’s Scottish Adventure Trail
Until 6 Oct 2023
Trail
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Go on an adventure around the museum with a new family trail at the National Museum of Rural Life.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/lewis-s-scottish-adventure-trail
Tractor Tots
Until 09 Oct
Tractor Tots is a bookable series of playful sensory singalong sessions for under-fives and their adults at the National Museum of Rural Life.
Book now nms.ac.uk/tractor-tots
Bugs and Beasties Trail
07 Oct – 17 Nov
Outdoors
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Find big bugs and beasties, and learn some fun bug facts, on your way to our working farm.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/bugs-and-beasties-trail
Autumn Explorers
17 – 20 Oct
10:30 – 15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Become an Autumn Explorer this October half term at the National Museum of Rural Life. Enjoy family storytelling, an outdoor trail and creative crafts as you learn all about Scotland’s bugs, beasties and creatures.
Find our more nms.ac.uk/autumn-explorers
Adult Workshops: Willow Crafting
28 Oct
Age 16+
Tickets £30 – £35
Advance booking required
Join Max Johnson from Seileach Basketry for a fun, relaxed introduction to willow weaving at the National Museum of Rural Life. Choose from two half-day workshops where you will create your own willow bird feeder or willow platter.
Book now nms.ac.uk/willow-crafting
Festive Weekend
09 – 10 Dec
10:30 – 15:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Celebrate the festive season at the National Museum of Rural Life with family-friendly crafts and live music.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/festive-weekend
Traditional Tunes for Tiny People
09 – 10 Dec
10:30 – 11:15 & 11:30-12:15
Theatre
Adult with one child (under 5) £5
Additional (under 5) £3
Get into the festive spirit with traditional live music sessions for under-fives and their adults at the National Museum of Rural Life.
Book now nms.ac.uk/traditional-tunes
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For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789
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