NATIONAL MUSEUMS SCOTLAND – WHAT’S ON
Exhibitions & displays
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Monkeys: Our Primate Family
Until 30 Nov
10:00-17:00
Ticketed
See some of the rarest and most endangered primates on Earth in Monkeys: Our Primate Family at the National Museum of Scotland. This exhibition explores the remarkable lives of our primate relatives and demonstrates how they have adapted to survive in different habitats. The exhibition brings together more than 50 species of monkeys, apes, lemurs and lorises.
Book your ticket now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/monkeys-our-primate-family
Cold War Scotland
Until 4 Jan 2026
10:00 – 17:00
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
Museum Late: Festival Ceilidh
1 & 8 Aug
19:30-22:30
Tickets from £24
Our sell out museum ceilidh makes its festival debut. Grab your pals for a night of reels and revelry and join the party in Scottish style. Set in the museum’s majestic Grand Gallery, all dances are suitable for beginners with no previous experience necessary – our caller will guide you through the steps on the night. Between dances enjoy drinks, food, activities and explore a selection of the museum galleries at night.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/museum-late-festival-ceilidh
Summer Family Fun
1 Aug
10:30-15:30
Free, drop-in
Join us on Mondays and Fridays for a range of exciting, drop-in activities for the whole family. Each week, we will be exploring a new theme – from Scottish stories to around-the-world adventures, there will be something new to discover.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/summer-family-fun
Relaxed Morning
3 Aug
10:00-12:00 (quiet space open until 12:30)
Free admission, drop-in
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with autistic children; autistic young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers. Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore some areas of the museum without noisy interactives and videos to give a more relaxed environment.
Find out more nms.ac.uknms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-morning
Morning Curator Tour: Monkeys: Our Primate Family
13 & 15 Aug
09:15-10:00
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
£15, £13 Members & Concessions
Join us before normal opening hours to explore this special exhibition with its curator, Dr Andrew Kitchener. The tour will bring you face to face with some of the rarest and most endangered primate species on Earth. Explore their remarkable lives and discover how primates have adapted to survive in different habitats.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/morning-curator-tour-monkeys
Okolo: Artwork by Nkem Okwechime
13-22 Aug
11:00-16:00
Learning Centre Foyer, Level 4
Free
Informed by his research of the museum’s African collection, ‘Okolo’ by Scottish-Nigerian artist and printmaker Nkem Okwechime explores the intersection of European and West African identity.
This installation features artwork based on observations and inspiration from visits to the National Museums Collection Centre. This installation is featured as part of the Edinburgh Art Festival.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/okolo-artwork-by-nkem-okwechime
BSL Tour of Monkeys: Our Primate Family
14 Aug
15:00-16:00
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
£10
Join BSL guide Babs Brown for a guided tour of our exhibition, Monkeys: Our Primate Family.
The tour will last approximately one hour with the chance to explore the exhibition independently afterwards. This event is aimed at D/deaf community BSL visitors, and is most suitable for those ages 14+.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/bsl-tour-of-monkeys-our-primate-family
Barkcloth Making from Niue – An ancient practice from the South Pacific
16-17 Aug
10:00 and 14:00
Learning Centre, Level 4
Free, booking required
Join artist Cora-Allan to learn about hiapo (barkcloth) from the island of Niue in the South Pacific, and hear how her work bridges historic and contemporary art practice.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/barkcloth-making
Jacobites Curator Tour
20 Aug
10:30 – 11:30, 12:00 – 13:00, and 14:30 – 15:30
Scotland galleries
£12, £10 Members and Concessions
Join Georgia Vullinghs, Curator of Renaissance and Early Modern History, for a gallery tour to explore the history and legacy of the Jacobite risings in Scotland.
View a century of objects relating to the overthrow of James VII and the subsequent effort of his descendants to reclaim their crowns.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/jacobites-curator-tour
Audio Descriptive Tour: Monkeys: Our Primate Family
3 September
Special Exhibition Gallery, Level 3
17:30-19:00
Join our tour guide for an audio descriptive tour of Monkeys: Our Primate Family, with accompanying sensory resources and a chance to explore the exhibition after hours.
This tour is aimed at blind, partially sighted and visually impaired visitors. It is most suitable for those ages 14+.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/audio-descriptive-tour-monkeys-our-primate-family
National Museum of Rural Life
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
Nature Track Packs
Until 31 Aug
10:00-17:00
Free with museum admission
Our free Nature Track Packs are great tools for children on the walk to the farm. Each Nature Track Pack contains fun ideas, activities and challenges to inspire and engage all of the senses.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/nature-track-packs
Dog and Duck Day
13 Sep
10:30 –15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Join us for a fun-filled day of working dog displays, crafts and family storytelling at the National Museum of Rural Life. See clever canines at work in outdoor displays from the Drakes of Hazard sheepdog and duck team and specialist dog trainers, Mordor Gundogs.
Booking available soon nms.ac.uk/events/dog-and-duck-day
Adult Workshop: Eco Printing
27 Sep
10:15-16:00
Learning Centre
£70, £65 Concessions
This full-day workshop with natural dyer and textile artist Elisabeth Viguie-Culshaw is suitable for both beginners and those with some natural dyeing or eco printing experience.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/adult-workshop-eco-printing
Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life
30 Sep
14:30-17:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Afternoon for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with neurodivergent children; neurodivergent young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.
Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-afternoon-national-museum-of-rural-life
National Museum of Flight
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
Open Weekends only, 10:00–16:00
Lunchtime Talks
8 Aug
13:00-13:20
Free with museum admission
Hear experts speak about the history of East Fortune Airfield, the museum’s collections and more in our series of free lunchtime talks.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/lunchtime-talks
Second World War Puzzle Room
Until 15 Aug
12:00-15:00
Free with museum admission
Work together as a family in our puzzle room and see if you can come up with the answers. Only by solving four different challenges will you know if you’ve got what it takes to decipher codes, diffuse a bomb and work out flight paths.
Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/second-world-war-puzzle-room
Second World War Satchels
Until 17 Aug
10:00-16:00
Free with museum admission
Pick up one of our summer activity satchels and delve deeper into the history of the Second World War.
Separate satchels are available for adult and family visitors.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/second-world-war-satchels
360 Fest
6 Sept
10:00-17:00
Tickets from £13.50, book in advance to save
Go full circle at our big family event at the National Museum of Flight. You’ll be on a roll this September with our all round family fun event. From stunt shows and pedal-powered activities to interactive sessions and STEM science, there’s something to set everyone’s head spinning.
Book your ticket nms.ac.uk/events/360-fest
Conservation Hangar Talks
Until 29 Mar 2026
14:00-15:00
Free and available as an add-on to your general admission ticket. Booking required.
Join a member of our Visitor Experience team for a behind-the-scenes look in our Conservation hangar on a free daily talk at 14:00. Find out about objects from the collection that aren’t normally on display and have the chance to see conservators at work.
Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/conservation-hangar-talks
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For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789
