WHAT’S ON AT NATIONAL MUSEUMS ACROSS SCOTLAND
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
Science Saturday
27 Sep
10:30-15:30
Hawthornden Court, Level 1 & Event Space, Level 2
Free, drop in
Celebrate Maths Week Scotland at the museum with crafts, games and puzzles. Unleash your creativity with our maths challenges. Build a Scottish wild animal with LEGO® or design and draw your own animals adapted to suit different climates.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/science-saturday
Legends, Myths and Maths: A Journey Through Scotland
28 Sep
11:00-12:00
Auditorium Level 1
Free, booking required
Join author David Macphail to explore the myths, legends, wildlife and landscapes of Scotland, with hidden maths. A fun and interactive talk for families presented by Maths Week Scotland.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/legends-myths-and-maths
In Conversation: Peter Ross and Fraser Hunter
28 Sep
15:00-16:00
Auditorium Level 1
Tickets from £7.50
Join author Peter Ross in conversation with Dr Fraser Hunter, Principal Curator of Prehistoric and Roman Archaeology, as they discuss Peter’s new book ‘Upon A White Horse: Journeys in Ancient Britain and Ireland‘, which explores the enduring mystery of ancient sites and objects and considers the ways in which they continue to hold significance for people now.
The book includes a number of items in National Museums Scotland’s collections, including the strange and fascinating Ballachulish Figure.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/in-conversation-peter-ross
Creative Workshop: An Introduction to Drawing Scottish Wildlife
4 Oct
11:00-16:00
Tickets from £45
Take a fresh look at our Scottish wildlife collections. These informal creative workshops will focus on helping you to better understand and engage with these fascinating animals in new ways.
Using pencils, artist Meg Buick will teach you how to create various textures and marks to depict the animal world.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/creative-workshop-drawing-wildlife
Relaxed Morning: Monkeys: Our Primate Family
5 Oct
10:00 – 12:00 (Quiet space open until 12:30)
Special Exhibition Gallery 1
Tickets from £13
Join us for our monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the exhibition. During this time some ambient sounds will be turned down and visitor numbers will be reduced.
A sensory backpack will also be available from the front desk to support your visit.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-morning-monkeys
Relaxed Morning
7 Sep
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
Printmaking workshop with Nkem Okwechime
5 Oct
14:00-16:00
Learning Centre
Free, booking required
Enjoy a practical printmaking workshop with Scottish-Nigerian artist Nkem Okwechime. Explore how the Museum’s collections have inspired his work and try screen printing techniques to create artwork to take home.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/printmaking-workshop-with-nkem-okwechime
Spotlight On: Monkeys: Our Primate Family
7 Oct
14:00-15:00
£3, £2 Members & Conc.
Join exhibition curator, Dr Andrew Kitchener, to learn how research into our primate collections is shaping our understanding of the biology and conservation of monkey species around the world today.
The first exhibition of its kind to show primates behaving as they would in the wild, ‘Monkeys: Our Primate Family’ brings together more than 50 taxidermy specimens, including monkeys, apes, lemurs and lorises.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/spotlight-on-monkeys-our-primate-family
Six Long Legs
15-17 Oct
10:30 – 11:30 and 14:00 – 15:00
Auditorium, Events Space, Level 2
Performance fee, workshop £2
Join us for three days of insect-themed family fun inspired by the National Museums Scotland’s entomology collection. Enjoy a colourful show featuring dressing up, puppetry and mischievous anarchy. Then get creative and build your own bug in a playful and collaborative workshop.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/six-long-legs
Wild Wings of Hope
15-17 Oct
10:30-16:00
Grand Gallery, Living Lands gallery
Free
Explore the extraordinary journeys of migratory birds and insects with storytelling and craft. This three-day event celebrates the biodiversity and cultural heritage of Scotland and Africa.
Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/wild-wings-of-hope
Curiosity Club: Wild Wings
25 Oct
10:30-12:00
Learning Centre, Level 4
£10 (Members and Concessions £9)
Inspired by some of the museum’s most exciting collections, Curiosity Clubs are a chance for kids to explore the museum without their adult helpers through games, activities and gallery visits.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/curiosity-club
The Sunday Sketch
26 Oct
14:00-16:00
From £13
Learn how to sketch, taking inspiration from the incredible collections on display in our museum galleries. Join artist Sheena Russell to take a new look at our collections and be guided through a range of drawing activities within the museum’s galleries.
Book now nms.ac.uk/events/the-sunday-sketch
National Museum of Rural Life
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR
Open 10:00–17:00 daily
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
Autumn Explorers
14 Oct – 17 Oct
10:30-15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Our Autumn Explorers family activities are back, and this time we’re going on a nocturnal nature adventure with storytelling and sustainable crafts.
Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/autumn-explorers
National Museum of Flight
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
Open Weekends only, 10:00–16:00
October Half Term: Make Do and Mend
11 Oct-19 Oct
Drop-in daily from 10:00-15:00
Try knitting, repairing and re-using clothes, following advice from a Second World War publication.
Make Do and Mend was a government campaign during the Second World War to teach people how to repair and reuse existing clothing to help them get through the clothing shortage. During October half term, take part in family activities that will introduce you to some of these skills.
Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/make-do-and-mend
Science Sunday
2 Nov
11:00-15:00
Free with museum admission.
Celebrate maths at the National Museum of Flight. Use objects from the collection to practice ‘subitizing’ – the ability to see the number of objects without counting. Find out about the museum collection with our Cryptography Challenges and explore the museum with our new maths trail.
Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/science-sunday
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
