National Museum of Flight’s Red Arrows Hawk and Scotland’s Concorde mark major anniversaries

As the National Museum of Flight commences seven day opening for the new season this week, the East Lothian attraction is encouraging the public to come and see two of its most iconic aircraft as they mark significant milestones. 

This year marks 60 years since the formation of the Red Arrows Display Team. The National Museum of Flight’s 1980 Red Arrows Hawk T.1A, the only Hawk on display in Scotland, has its own special anniversary, with 2024 marking 25 years since it flew in Red 1 position over Edinburgh in celebration of the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. 

Scotland’s Concorde is also marking a major milestone, having arrived at the National Museum of Flight 20 years ago on 19 April 2004 following an epic, 16-day journey across the UK.  The British Airways aircraft was welcomed by cheering crowds and an RAF Tornado flypast and the supersonic superstar has since been seen by over 1.5 million people.

The National Museum of Flight has also announced a programme of events and activities for the new season. Family activities over the Easter holidays are supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Flying into the Future is runninguntil 5 April and includes technical challenges and Civil Aviation Hangar tours as part of the Edinburgh Science Festival programme. 

The year ahead also sees the return of the attraction’s popular Awesome Bricks LEGO® event from 15-16 June where families will be able to celebrate Father’s Day weekend with hands-on building activities and challenges. On 31 August a new all-day festival, 360 Fest, will feature cycle stunt team, The Clan, circus displays and STEM science activities.

The new season includes the chance to hear about the work of the Museum’s conservation team in a series of behind the scenes talks in the Conservation hangar.  Outdoors, original Second World War features of the site are also being conserved, including an Air Raid Shelter and a Blast Shelter, which can be explored by visitors later in the year.

Steve McLean, General Manager at the National Museum of Flight, said: “The aircraft in our Museum have some amazing stories to tell, including our Red Arrows Hawk which allows people to see this much-loved icon on the ground and to learn about its history as an advanced training aircraft and its involvement in some of the country’s most significant celebrations.

“Scotland’s Concorde is probably our most famous exhibit and twenty years on, is still enthralling visitors who can step on board to see how celebrities such as Sir Elton John and Victoria Beckham used to travel and can learn about the science behind the aircraft’s development.  

“Combined with some fantastic family events and the chance to enjoy our full Museum experience, we hope as many visitors as possible will visit this year for a great day out.”

The National Museum of Flight is located on one of the UK’s best-preserved Second World War airfields and includes two historic wartime aircraft hangars which are packed with exciting displays telling the stories of military and civil aviation over the past century. Other aircraft on display include a 1963 Avro Vulcan bomber, the 1952 de Havilland Comet plus an example of the iconic Spitfire that played such an important role in the Second World War.

The attraction houses the family-friendly Fantastic Flight gallery with its interactive exhibits where visitors can explore the science of aviation and discover how aeroplanes fly. They are also able to learn about East Fortune’s wartime heritage in the Museum’s Fortunes of War exhibition.

The National Museum of Flight is now open seven days a week from 10am until 5pm.

Book in advance to save.

Adult tickets from £13.50. National Museums Scotland Members free.

15% off when you book as a family.

Tickets can be booked online at nms.ac.uk/flight

Enjoy free entry to the National Museum of Flight

The National Lottery Open Week returns for Spring 2024

  • As a recipient of National Lottery funding, the National Museum of Flight in East Fortune is inviting players to visit for free on 16 and 17 March.

This March, The National Lottery, in its 30th year, will once again be saying thank you to players for the £30 million they raise for good causes every week with National Lottery Open Week.

The focus this year is on encouraging the nation to try something new, by offering an array of free entry and special offers at hundreds of National Lottery funded venues across the UK. 

From Saturday 9 – Sunday 17 March 2024, anyone with a valid online or retail National Lottery ticket, Scratchcard or Instant Win Game can enjoy a low-cost day out thanks to special offers at hundreds of National Lottery-funded venues and attractions.  

There is something to excite everyone this year. Whether you fancy delving into the past at historical houses, castles and museums, embracing nature in all its glory at wildlife hotspots reliving iconic moments at famous sports venues or enjoying a culture fix at an array of art galleries, theatres and other creative spaces. 

On Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 March the National Museum of Flight is offering free entry to National Lottery players. Visitors to the Museum must book a ticket online in advance of their visit and bring along both their admission ticket and lottery ticket or scratch card.  

Steve McLean, General Manager at the National Museum of Flight said: “We’re delighted to be taking part in The National Lottery Open Week again this year. We’ve been fortunate to receive National Lottery funding, which has enabled us to redevelop two of our Second World War hangars.

“These spaces tell the stories of military and civil aviation, from the first use of air-to-air weapons in 1914 and drone warfare in the 21st century, to flying for fun and connecting distant communities. 

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity say thank you to everyone who has supported us by buying a National Lottery ticket and we’re looking forward to welcoming them at the National Museum of Flight.” 

To view all venues and offers that are available throughout The National Lottery Open Week, visit www.nationallotteryopenweek.com.  

Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England and Chair of the National Lottery Forum said: “In our 30th year, we’re delighted to mark the return of The National Lottery Open Week 2024.

“The UK is brimming with exciting things to see and do – from historical landmarks and cultural treasures to sports venues and natural landscapes. We want players to get out and experience something new by taking advantage of the low-cost and free days out at venues across the country during National Lottery Open Week.

“This is our way of saying thank you to the players who raise an incredible £30 million each week for Good Causes, supporting venues and projects across the arts, sports, community and heritage sectors.” 

Terms and conditions and booking instructions across special offers will vary, check the individual offer listing for details. 

Travel back in time this half term at the National Museum of Flight

Discover the fascinating Second World War history of East Fortune airfield at the National Museum of Flight this half-term.

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, families can travel back in time during a weekend of themed activities on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 February. 

Set on one of the best-preserved Second World War airfields in the UK, half-term activities will bring this extraordinary history to life with costumed interpreters and genuine military flying equipment from the period.

Families can also explore the site with the new Family Satchels containing puzzles and activities to enjoy together, before discovering the Museum’s historic hangars filled with fascinating aircraft and interactive displays. 

The support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery means that Second World War at East Fortune is free with Museum admission. 

Steve McLean, General Manager at the National Museum of Flight, said: “As one of Scotland’s best days out, the National Museum of Flight is the perfect destination for families this half-term.

“We are delighted to be able to offer these free activities thanks to the generous support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery and I hope our young visitors will enjoy learning about life at East Fortune during the Second World War.” 

Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “We hope families enjoy this captivating experience in the half-term, as they explore the rich history of the Second World War at the UK’s best-preserved airfield.

“Our players have raised over £4 million for National Museums Scotland, enabling the museums to offer many free and fascinating activities to families across Scotland.”

The National Museum of Flight is home to a world class collection of aircraft, from a Supermarine Spitfire to Scotland’s only Concorde.

The attraction houses the family-friendly Fantastic Flight gallery with its interactive exhibits where visitors can explore the science of aviation and discover how aeroplanes fly.

They are also able to learn more about East Fortune’s wartime heritage in the Museum’s Fortunes of War exhibition.   

Learn sea survival skills at National Museum of Flight this half term

Families can test their sea survival skills at the National Museum of Flight this half term. Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, special workshops and activities will take place at the museum in East Lothian on 15 & 16 and 22 & 23 October.

Sea Survival will offer visitors the opportunity to get hands-on and discover skills and equipment used by RAF’s Coastal Command.

Outdoor workshops will teach children aged 7 and up how to survive on a desert island, from safely lighting a fire to bushcraft.

Families can also climb aboard a real-life raft in the Concorde Hangar and handle equipment used by the RAF from the Second World War to the modern day, before exploring the historic airfield and hangars filled with fascinating aircraft and interactive displays.

The support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery means that Sea Survival is free with museum admission.

Steve Mclean, General Manager at the National Museum of Flight, said: “We are delighted to offer free family activities this half term, thanks to the generous support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

“We hope our young visitors will enjoy diving into the stories and skills of the RAF’s Coastal Command while exploring everything the National Museum of Flight has to offer.”

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “This Sea Survival event is a fascinating and fun way to learn about the history of the RAF’s Coastal Command.

“We are thrilled that players of People’s Postcode Lottery are supporting this brilliant programme of family activities at the Museum this half term. Player support has enabled many such initiatives. To date, players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised over £900 million for thousands of good causes”

Visitors to the National Museum of Flight this October can also take part in Operation Sabotage, Scotland’s only escape room experience on an historic airfield. Taking place on 29 and 30 October, the experience is suitable for those aged 14 and over.

For more information and to book, visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events

The Museum is home to Scotland’s only Concorde and visitors can see an example of the iconic Supermarine Spitfire that played such an important role in the Second World War.

The attraction houses the family-friendly Fantastic Flight gallery with its interactive exhibits where visitors can explore the science of aviation and discover how aeroplanes fly.

They are also able to learn about East Fortune’s wartime heritage in the Museum’s Fortunes of War exhibition.

Visit the National Museum of Flight for free this weekend

Visitors to the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian will be able to enjoy one of Scotland’s best days out for free this weekend. The museum is part of the Doors Open Days programme on the 24 and 25 of September.

The National Museum of Flight is located on the UK’s best-preserved Second World War airfield and includes two historic wartime aircraft hangars which are packed with exciting displays telling the stories of military and civil aviation over the past century.

The Museum is home to Scotland’s only Concorde and visitors can see an example of the iconic Supermarine Spitfire that played such an important role in the Second World War.

The attraction houses the family-friendly Fantastic Flight gallery with its interactive exhibits where visitors can explore the science of aviation and discover how aeroplanes fly. They are also able to learn about East Fortune’s wartime heritage in the Museum’s Fortunes of War exhibition.

SPITFIRE TAKES PRIDE OF PLACE IN THE NEW HANGER AT THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT, EAST FORTUNE.

Steve McLean, General Manager at the National Museum of Flight, said: “We’re delighted to open the National Museum of Flight for free this weekend.

“Doors Open Days offer a fantastic opportunity to discover some of Scotland’s finest heritage sites and hidden historic treasures, and we hope visitors old and new will enjoy exploring everything we have to offer in East Lothian.”

Doors Open Days is part of European Heritage Days and is supported by Historic Environment Scotland. The popular festival, which offers free access to buildings and events across Scotland, will return to Edinburgh and East Lothian on 24 and 25 September with an in-person and online programme.

Advance booking at the National Museum of Flight over the Doors Open Days weekend is recommended.

Find more information and to book your visit online at nms.ac.uk/flight 

National Museum of Flight launches new escape room experience

Scotland’s only escape room on an historic airfield launches this week at the National Museum of Flight in East Fortune. Operation Sabotage has been developed in collaboration with young people aged 16-25 as part of the Scotland 365 project and will take place from 5 -14 August.

Inspired by its location on the UK’s best-preserved Second World War airfield, Operation Sabotage will transport visitors back in time to 1942.

A series of fiendish puzzles have been created inside one of the original wartime outbuildings on the former RAF base. In a race against the clock, teams of 4-8 people will need to decipher the identity of a mysterious saboteur and prevent a devastating attack on the local town of North Berwick.

Claire Allan, Engagement Manager at National Museums Scotland, said: “I’m delighted to offer such an innovative way to connect with the remarkable history of East Fortune airfield.

“Thanks to the creativity of the young participants in the Scotland 365 project and the generosity of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, this experience will be brought to life for new audiences.” 

The National Lottery Heritage Fund supported Scotland 365 as part of the £10million Kick The Dust programme. Which, thanks to money raised by National Lottery Players, has invested in projects throughout the UK aimed at involving young people in exploring and delivering new ideas on how to engage future generations with our shared heritage.


Operation Sabotage

Friday 5 – Sunday 14 August 2022 (except Tuesday 9 August) 
Start times: 10:30, 12:00, 14:00, 15:30 
From £15 per person, including general admission to the museum 
Ages 14+ 

Tickets can be booked online at nms.ac.uk/operationsabotage 

National Museums Scotland: What’s On

EXHIBITIONS AND DISPLAYS  

National Museum of Scotland   
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF  
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

The Silver Casket
Until 1 Aug 2022
Hawthorden Court
Free entry

See an iconic piece of Scotland’s national heritage, the silver casket believed to have been owned by Mary, Queen of Scots. Made in Paris, probably between 1493 and 1510, the casket is a superb and extremely rare work of early French silver.  It is likely that its long-standing association with Mary and her downfall has kept it preserved for over 450 years. 

The silver casket is on display in Hawthornden Court at the National Museum of Scotland. From August 2022, it will be on permanent display in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery alongside other objects associated with Mary. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Silver-Casket  

E.Coli by Luke Jerram
3 Aug – 31 Aug 2022
Grand Gallery
Free entry

Part of the Edinburgh Art Festival programme, this 90ft long inflatable sculpture by Bristol-based Luke Jerram will be suspended from the ceiling of the National Museum of Scotland’s Grand Gallery. The E.coli is 5 million times bigger than the real bacteria. When standing next to it, does the bacteria alter our personal sense of scale? Does it look scary, beautiful, comical or alien? Will people be attracted or repelled by it?  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Ecoli  

Japanese Contemporary Design
Until 5 Mar 2023
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1
Free entry

From striking statement jewellery to prints and porcelain vases, this new free display considers how Japanese contemporary makers have combined innovative and traditional art, craft and design elements over the past five decades. 

The star object is Hitomi Hosono’s A Large Pine Tree Pool, a sculptural porcelain bowl with complex hand-carving made and acquired in 2019. Further highlights include Junko Mori’s intricate New Pinecone Silver Organism, and colourful body adornments by jeweller Suō Emiko’s adapted from metalworking and engraving techniques traditionally used in the making of Japanese sword fittings. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/JapaneseContemporaryDesign   

 
The Typewriter Revolution 
Until 11 Sep 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 
 

Inspiring Walter Scott
Until 8 Jan 2023
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1
Free entry

Following the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. In this small exhibition we show how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.  
 
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller and supporting Year of Stories 2022. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/WalterScottExhibition 
 

Book of Hours
Until 3 Aug 2022
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1)
Free entry

Explore the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots in this display. 

Written in Latin on vellum, the Book of Hours contains 40 exquisite illuminations by a 16th century Master artist. Used for private worship, it belonged to Mary’s great aunt Louise de Bourbon, Abbess of Fontevraud, who is believed to have gifted this precious volume to the young queen. 

The book will be exhibited in the Kingdom of the Scots gallery in a display alongside other objects associated with Mary, Queen of Scots. Six different pages within the book will be revealed, with a new page displayed every three weeks. A QR code will allow you to scroll through the vividly illustrated pages in detail. 
 
The Book of Hours is on loan to National Museums Scotland from The Pininski Foundation, Liechtenstein. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/book-of-hours 

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life 
2 Jul – 13 Nov 2022 
Member Preview Day 1 Jul 
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 
Ticketed 

Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.   
This exhibition will look at the social and medical history surrounding the practice of dissection. It will trace the relationship between anatomy, its teaching and cultural context and the bodies that were dissected. Looking at Edinburgh’s role as an international centre for medical study, the exhibition will offer insight into the links between science and crime in the early 19th century. 

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy 

Bernat Klein: Design in Colour
5 Nov 2022 – 23 Apr 2023
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free entry

Marking the centenary of his birth, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour will celebrate the work of the influential émigré textile designer.  

 Visitors will be able to explore Klein’s creative process and varied career, from providing couture fabrics for fashion designers to his influence on modernist architecture and interior design in the UK and Scandinavia  

Visit nms.ac.uk/BernatKlein   

 
EVENTS 

National Museum of Scotland  
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

How The Nose Got Its Sneeze
11 – 12 Jun 2022
10:00-16:45
Event Space, Level 2
Free sign up on the day

In this fun and immersive play adventure, children will explore what happens inside the nose when things like smoke, dust and pollen get inside and how the nose defends our precious lungs against these invaders. 

Play will start with a story to set the scene, followed by a journey through a giant nose and then continue with lots of loose-part-play within two large lung-shaped domes. A gentle soundscape of music and breathing will surround the hands-on activity. OKIDO play rangers and lung researchers will be on hand to help with questions and fun! 

Sign up on the day for a 45 minute session, starting each hour from 10am until (last session) 4pm. 

This event is for under-fives but parents, carers, grandparents and older siblings are encouraged to join in too! 
 
In partnership with OKIDO Studio. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

Concert for a Summer’s Night
21 Jun 2022
19:15 doors open, 20:00 concert starts
Grand Gallery
Ticketed

Mark the summer solstice with string collective Scottish Ensemble. Be taken on an atmospheric journey through an eclectic mix of musical styles, including Mozart’s scampering, energetic ‘Magic Flute Overture’, Vask’s shimmering ‘Musica Serena’ and Dvorak’s ‘American Quartet’, evoking expansive, wide-open vistas. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events  

Spotlight On: Anatomy
13 Jul 2022
14:00 – 15:00
Auditorium, Level 1
Free, with optional donation

Join exhibition curators Tacye Phillipson and Sophie Goggins as they discuss our major exhibition Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life. Dig deeper into the themes explored in our summer exhibition in this free curator talk to kick off our Anatomy events programme. Revisit your favourite stories from the exhibition or find out more before your visit.    

Find out more nms.ac.uk/spotlightanatomy  

National Museum of Rural Life  
Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR 
Open 10:00–17:00 daily 

Bird Bingo 
Until 31 Aug 2022  
10:00-17:00 
A trail around the museum 
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass 

Come and play Bird Bingo at the National Museum of Rural Life!  

Can you find all the birds hiding around the museum? Using the clues on our family trail sheet, see if you can spot different birds in our museum galleries and learn fun facts about them on your journey. 

This family event is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/birdbingo 

National Museum of Flight   
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF 
Open daily 10:00 – 16:00 

Awesome Bricks
18 Jun –19 Jun 2022
10:00-17:00
Ticketed

Join us for one of Scotland’s biggest LEGO events. See a host of unique and inspiring LEGO constructions, including a 3D hot air balloon festival, and get hands-on in our blue brick build zone. 

Awesome Bricks is produced in partnership with Warren Elsmore. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/awesomebricks 

Behind the Scenes Tours
25 May – 26 Oct 2022
11:00–12:00 & 14:00–15:00
Object Store
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. Join Aviation Curator Ian Brown for one of our regular guided tours of the museum’s Object Store. Explore some of the collections not normally on public view and discover the fascinating stories behind them. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/behind-the-scenes-tours  

Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789 

National Museums Scotland: What’s On?

Exhibitions & Displays 

National Museum of Scotland 

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–16:30 daily 


The Typewriter Revolution 

24 Jul 2021–17 Apr 2022 
10:00–16:30 
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free entry 

The typewriter’s social and technological influence is revealed in this new exhibition and looks at its role in society, arts, and popular culture. It traces the effect and evolution of typewriters across more than 100 years, from weighty early machines to modern style icons. 

The impact of the typewriter has been much wider than simply speeding up the way we write. It helped revolutionise the world of work and change the lives of working women in particular. Typewriters helped them launch their own businesses at a time when female employers were rare and became a vital weapon in the fight for the vote.   

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters 

Inspiring Walter Scott 

6 Aug 2021–9 Jan 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 4, Level 1 
Free entry 


 On the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott’s birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him. In this small exhibition we show how Scott drew upon real historical objects for inspiration, placing objects alongside Scott’s words, and the stories in which they feature. While you view these fascinating objects, you can listen to an actor reading extracts from these tales.  
 
In association with Walter Scott 250: Celebrating 250 Years of Scotland’s Greatest Storyteller. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition 

Scotland’s Climate Challenge 

24 Sep 2021 – 27 Mar 2022 
Exhibition Gallery 3, Level 1 
Free entry 

This small exhibition highlights the exciting work being carried out in Scotland to fight against climate change. It brings together just some of the technological responses that have been developed in Scotland or that are being used here in the effort to cut carbon dioxide emissions. On show are a range of leading-edge equipment, much of it newly collected, alongside samples of natural material. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/ClimateChallenge 

Extinction Bell 

24 Sep 2021 – 9 Jan 2022 
The Grand Gallery 
Free entry 

The Extinction Bell is a work by Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram that aims to raise awareness of biodiversity loss. A fire engine bell from National Museums Scotland’s collection has been adapted to toll at random intervals 150-200 times per day. Each ring of the bell symbolises the extinction of a species, representing the number being lost every 24 hours (according to a 2007 report from the UN). 
 
Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.  

Visit nms.ac.uk/ExtinctionBell 

National Museum of Flight 
 
East Fortune Airfield, B1347, North Berwick EH39 5LF 
Open 10:00-17:00 daily 

LEGO® Concorde Mode
28 Jun – 31 Oct 2021 
10:00 – 17:00 
Free with entry to the museum 
 
Master builder Warren Elsmore and his team have created a LEGO® Big Build of Concorde. Six metres long and made of over 60,000 bricks, the model took five days to build and is now on display under the wings of the real Concorde at the National Museum of Flight. 

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.  

Visit nms.as.uk/concordemodel  

 
Events 

On-line  
 
The Glenmorangie Annual Lecture: Rediscovering Viking-age Scotland with Michael Wood 

26 Oct 2021 
18:00—19:00 
Watch online 
Free, with option to add a donation 

Join historian and broadcaster Michael Wood and Dr Adrián Maldonado, Glenmorangie Research Fellow, as they take a fresh look at some of the iconic objects on display in the National Museum of Scotland and discuss new research on objects in the museum’s stores. The event celebrates the launch of Adrián’s new book, Crucible of Nations: Viking Age to Medieval Scotland, which reassesses the museum’s 9—12th century collections, uncovering an exciting new vision of Scotland’s diverse and creative past. 

The event includes a live Q&A chaired by writer and broadcaster, Sally Magnusson.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/vikingagescotland 

Art and Science – Communicating the Climate Emergency 

4 Nov 2021 
19:30 – 20:30 
Watch online 
Free, with optional donation 

As the eyes of the world turn to Scotland for the UN Climate Conference in November, join artists Luke Jerram and Philip Pinsky, along with National Museums Scotland curators, for a discussion about the urgency of the climate and biodiversity crisis. Explore how the research and technology being used to tackle these issues can be shared with the wider public, and consider how art can help communicate these critical messages and inspire change. 

Supported by players of the Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 
 

National Museum of Scotland 

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF 
Open 10:00–16:30 daily 

For families 

October Half Term 

18 Oct – 25 Oct 2021 
10:00 – 12:00 & 14:00 – 16:00 
Free, drop-in and online 

Reduce, Reuse, and Rewild this October Half Term with activities to do at home or visit us in the museum to learn more. Take a walk on the wild side with our Rewilding Trail, make musical instruments from things you can find on a walk outside, or “go green” this Halloween and raid your recycling bin to craft a bat rocket and make some monster feet to wear! 

 
Visit nms.ac.uk/OctoberHalfTerm 

For everyone 

And If Not Now, When? 
1 Nov – 14 Nov 2021 
10:30 – 16:30 
Event Space, Level 2 
Free entry, sign up on the day in the Grand Gallery  

And If Not Now, When? is an immersive, reactive, sound and film installation by Edinburgh artists Philip Pinsky and Karen Lamond which invites you to experience a transformed urban reality to inspire hope and possibility.  
 
Confronted with a heightened version of a busy urban junction; heavy traffic, pollution and noise, you will walk through a sound and film installation, guided by a lighted path. As you do so, notice how your position in the room directly impacts the environment around you. Watch and listen as your actions transform one environment into another and end the experience with a vivid and tranquil re-imagining of how we could all live peacefully in our cities. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events 

 
National Museum of Flight  
East Fortune Airfield, B1347, North Berwick EH39 5LF 
Open daily 10:00 – 17:00 

For families 

Survival Skills 

19 Oct – 22 Oct 2021 
11:30 – 16:00 
Free with pre-booked museum entry 

Take part in survival skills training for all the family at the National Museum of Flight this October half term. Learn how to set up a ‘leave no trace’ camp in the Concorde Hangar and sign up for our family bushcraft workshop.  

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/SurvivalSkills 

Flying into the Future Trail 

26 Jun – 31 Oct 2021 
10:00 – 17:00 
Self-guided activity recommended for families with children aged 7-11 
Free with pre-booked museum entry 

Discover how engineers are working to make air travel less damaging to the environment. Download or pick up your trail to explore the museum while you learn about the challenges faced by the aviation industry and discover some of the innovative solutions that could be used. 

Visit nms.ac.uk/flyingintothefuture 

Follow us on Twitter…twitter.com/NtlMuseumsScot 

Follow us on Facebook…facebook.com/NationalMuseumsScotland 

Follow us on Instagram…instagram.com/nationalmuseumsscotland/ 

For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0300 123 6789

December Fun at the National Museum of Flight Thanks to The National Lottery

nms.ac.uk/freeflightentry

#ThanksToYou

The National Museum of Flight will be throwing open its doors for free to National Lottery players on 8 and 9 December. The Museum is one of hundreds of participating National Lottery-funded visitor attractions across the UK saying ‘thanks’ to people who have raised money for good causes by buying a lottery ticket. 

The idea is simple: any visitor who presents a National Lottery ticket or scratchcard on 8 or 9 December gets free entry in return. 

The National Museum of Flight has received £1.3 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  The money has helped to pay for the redevelopment of two nationally significant Second World War hangars, devoted to military and civil aviation.

Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: “December is a wonderful time to experience the UK’s rich, diverse and exciting heritage, which has been transformed by more than £7.8bn National Lottery funding since 1994.  This is a small gesture of thanks and a way of giving something back to the people who buy tickets.”

Steve McLean, General Manager at the National Museum of Flight said: “Thanks to National Lottery players we’ve been able to redevelop two of our nationally significant Second World War hangars. Devoted to military and civil aircraft, they explore a century of aviation and present the incredible stories of some of the people behind the planes.”

 nms.ac.uk/freeflightentry

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