National Museums of Scotland – The NEN

What’s On at National Museums of Scotland

Exhibitions & displays

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

Rising Tide: Art and Environment in Oceania
Until 14 Apr 2024
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Free

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

Wildlife Photographer of the Year
20 Jan – 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

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.

Events

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

Drawn Together at the Museum
27 – 29 Dec
10:30-16:30
Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free, drop-in

Escape to the museum during the holidays and enjoy sketching around our galleries. Join us for this calming, creative activity in the heart of the busy holiday season. Meet our artist-in-residence then pick up a pencil and paper and explore the galleries.

What’s On at National Museums of Scotland

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

The Declaration of Arbroath
3 Jun – 2 Jul 2023
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3       
Free entry       

The Declaration of Arbroath is a letter dated 6 April 1320 written by the barons and freeholders of the Kingdom of Scotland to Pope John XXII. The letter asked the pope to recognise Scotland’s independence and acknowledge Robert the Bruce as the country’s lawful king. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see one of the most famous documents in Scottish history – the Declaration of Arbroath.

Find our more nms.ac.uk/The-Declaration-of-Arbroath

Beyond the Little Black Dress 
1 Jul – 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
12 Aug 2023 – 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

Japanese Contemporary Design   
Until 30 Jul 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.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Japanese-Contemporary-Design

Events 

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

Edinburgh International Children’s Festival Family Encounters Day
27 May 2023
10:00 – 16:30
Grand Gallery (and beyond)
Free, some performances may require sign up on the day

Join us as we kick off the 2023 Edinburgh International Children’s Festival with Family Encounters – a day of free pop-up performances, artist interventions and activities for the whole family.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Edinburgh-International-Children’s-Festival-Family-Encounters-Day

Insect Week
19 – 24 Jun 2023
Various dates and times

Join us for a bug bonanza with a range of interesting insect activities and resources.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/insect-week

The Declaration of Arbroath: Insights from the Archives
20 Jun 2023
14:00 –15:00
Auditorium
Adult/Over 60: £3
Member/Student/Concession: £2

Inspired by a rare chance to see The Declaration of Arbroath, curator Dr Alice Blackwell and National Records Scotland conservator, Hazel de Vere, discuss its historical significance and material fragility.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Insights-from-the-archives

Discovering Decorative Arts at the National Museum of Scotland
Until 22 Jun 2023
11:00-13:00
In the museum galleries
£155 for 10 sessions (concessions available)

National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses including this ten-week course that will introduce the magnificent arts collections within the National Museum of Scotland. Exploring the historical developments of decorative arts and how they have influenced modern methods and techniques used to create many beautiful objects on display in the museum.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Decorative-Arts

Concert for a Summer’s Night
22 Jun 2023
20:00 – 21:15 (doors open 19:15)
£9-£19 (includes welcome drink)

The Scottish Ensemble’s Concert for a Summer’s Night series is back at the National Museum of Scotland after sell-out performances at venues around Scotland in 2022. Join us for a musical journey that takes in the well-loved (Debussy’s serene Clair de Lune) and the less expected (including music from jazz legend Chick Corea), introductions from the stage and a chance to chat to musicians afterwards. A perfect way to celebrate summer.

Book now nms.ac.uk/concert-for-a-summers-night

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

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

Operation Sabotage
3 & 4 Jun 2023
Age 14+ event   
Ticketed   

The year is 1942 and you are stationed at the RAF base at East Fortune. There has been an act of sabotage and one of the aircraft is unknowingly carrying live ordnance with instructions to bomb the town. Solve a series of fiendish puzzles to call off the flight and save North Berwick!

Operation Sabotage is an escape room experience for 4-8 people that lasts up to an hour. Working together as a team, you must race against the clock in two Second World War-themed rooms to decipher the identity of the saboteur before it’s too late.  

Book now nms.ac.uk/Operation-Sabotage

Awesome Bricks
17 & 18 Jun
10:00 – 17:00
Ticketed
Advance book required

Our hands-on celebration of all things LEGO is back with a wealth of things to see and do. Get a close-up view of incredible LEGO constructions, including an interactive train set, and make your own unique creations in our blue brick build zone.

Book now nms.ac.uk/Awesome-Bricks

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

Lewis’s Scottish Adventure Trail
27 May – 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

Nature Track Packs
24 Jun – 31 Aug
10:00 – 17:00
Borrow from the ticket desk
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Explore more at the National Museum of Rural Life this summer with our Nature Track Packs. Each pack contains fun ideas and activities to encourage children to engage all their senses to explore the countryside on a walk up to the farm.

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder opens this weekend

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
9 Dec 2022 – 1 May 2023
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh

nms.ac.uk/doctorwho
#DoctorWhoWoW

The Scottish premiere of the exhibition Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder opens at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh this weekend. In celebration of the television show’s Scottish connections, a suit worn by David Tennant to play the Fourteenth Doctor in special episodes airing next year, will also go on display in the museum.

This ground-breaking new exhibition, which runs from 9 December 2022 to 1 May 2023, explores the science behind the global hit television series Doctor Who and gives fans a chance to experience the Doctor’s adventures from a scientific perspective.

Produced by leading experiential design experts Sarner International under license from BBC Studios, the exhibition invites fans of all ages to explore the role science has played in the world’s longest running action-adventure show. The eight zones set within this educational exhibition cover a diverse selection of exciting scientific topics while drawing in content from across the full canon of Doctor Who.

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder offers a thrilling exploration of science for both established fans of the TV show and newcomers alike. Actor, director and author Mark Gatiss – writer of several episodes of Doctor Who – narrates the exhibition, guiding this journey through space and time.

Mark Gatiss said: “So many people who have gone on to work in science have had their interest piqued by watching Doctor Who, and one of the amazing things about the show is i2ts ability to make us wonder. I’m thrilled to be part of the exhibition and I do hope as many curiously minded people as possible take the opportunity to visit at the National Museum of Scotland.”

A range of hands-on immersive experiences and interactive features take visitors on a journey through Cosmic Curiosities, a TARDIS Tech room and the science behind time travel asking whether it really is possible. In the Monster Vault, visitors also come face to face with the Doctor’s most famous foes including Cybermen, Weeping Angels and Daleks.

Alison Cromarty, Head of Exhibitions & Design at National Museums Scotland, said: “We are tremendously excited that the premier of this exhibition opens at the National Museum of Scotland this weekend.

“From the wonder of the science fiction of the TV show to our present-day understanding of the big scientific topics it touches on, there is something for everyone.”

Ed Cookson, Projects Director, Sarner International: “For almost 60 years Doctor Who has been exploring mind-bending scientific developments. The iconic characters, monsters, stories, and settings of the television series provide a perfect guide through the wondrous worlds of space, time and science.”

Doctor Who has strong Scottish connections. To date three Scots have played the role of The Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, David Tennant and Peter Capaldi (the Seventh, Tenth and Fourteenth, and Twelfth Doctors respectively) with a fourth, Ncuti Gatwa, recently announced as the new Doctor.

A suit worn by David Tenant in a series of special episodes airing next year will be displayed alongside companion Catherine Tate’s costume by the entrance to the exhibition. Other notable Scottish cast members have included Companions Karen Gillan and Neve McIntosh as well as Michelle Gomez as Missy (The Master), with Alan Cumming having also appeared recently as King James VI & I. Another Scot, Steven Moffat, was showrunner from 2008 to 2017.

The show has featured several other Scottish icons. The Loch Ness Monster appears in 1975’s Terror of the Zygons with Tom Baker, while the Picts featured along with the 9th Legion of the Roman army in 2017’s The Eaters of Light (which starred Peter Capaldi and Michelle Gomez). Other episodes set in Scotland include 2006’s Tooth and Claw, set in the Highlands and Under the Lake/Before the Flood (2015), set in Caithness.

The National Museum of Scotland is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery in mounting the exhibition.

The exhibition is proving to be hotly anticipated with tickets for the opening weekend already sold out. Pre-booking is recommended, tickets are available from www.nms.ac.uk/doctorwho

National Museums Scotland Members free.

Book in advance to save, general admission: Adult £12-16.50, Over 60s £11-15.50, Student, Unemployed, Disabled, Young Scot £10-14.50, Child 5–15 £8-12.50, Under 5s Free

10% off family bookings*

Discounts available for groups of 10 or more

*10% off when you buy up to three Child 5–15 ticket alongside up to any two Adult, Over 60s, Student, Unemployed, Disabled, Young Scot tickets, with a maximum of five tickets in total. Cannot be used in conjunction with National Museums Scotland Member tickets or any other discount or promotional offer.

National Museum of Scotland listings

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

LAST CHANCE Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life    
Until 30 Oct 2022   

Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3  
Ticketed, £0-£10  
Explore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders. This exhibition looks 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. .

Book now nms.ac.uk/anatomy   

OPENING SOON 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.    

Find out more nms.ac.uk/BernatKlein     

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder
9 Dec 2022 – 1 May 2023

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder features eight zones filled with immersive, hands-on experiences.

Travel through the Time Vortex Corridor, discover Sonic Screwdrivers, teleportation technology and much more in a TARDIS Tech room, and get up close with some of the series’ weird and wonderful creatures in the Monster Vault.

Join us for the Scottish premiere of this ground-breaking exhibition. It’s bigger on the inside!

Book now nms.ac.uk/doctor-who

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.  

Find out more nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition  
  

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.     

Find out more nms.ac.uk/JapaneseContemporaryDesign       

  
Events

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

Relaxed Morning
6 Nov 2022
10:00 – 12:00 (quiet space open until 12:30)

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.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/relaxed-morning

Magic Carpet Minis
Until 14 Dec 2022
Various times and dates
£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

Friday Friend
Until 31 Dec 2022
14:00-16:00, selected Friday afternoons
Free, pre-booking required

Book now nms.ac.uk/friday-friends

MEMBERS ONLY  In Conversation with the Director: Earth in Space
1 Dec 2022
18:00 –19:00
Auditorium (enter via Lothian Street)
Free for Members, booking required

Join Director Dr Chris Breward, Senior Curator of Science Dr Tacye Philipson, and Senior Curator of Mineralogy Peter Davidson, as we discover how we’ve explored our place in the universe.

Book now nms.ac.uk/earth-in-space

NEW Spotlight On: Bernat Klein
8 Dec 2022
14:00 – 15:00
Auditorium, Level 1
Age 14 +
Free, booking required
Inspired by our exhibition, Bernat Klein: Design in Colour, curator Lisa Mason discusses Bernat Klein’s legacy and how his design philosophy can influence personal style, colour psychology and wellbeing today.

Book now nms.ac.uk/spotlight-on-bernat-klein

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

Bugs and Beasties Trail
Until 28 Nov 2022
10:00 – 17:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass
Pick up our new Bugs and Beasties Trail inside the museum, then see if you can spot the six eco-friendly cardboard bugs on your way up to the farm. You will discover fun facts about the bugs, but keep your eyes peeled for the slug, snail, slater, spider, beetle and worm!

Find out more nms.ac.uk/bugs-and-beasties  

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

LAST CHANCE Operation Sabotage  
29 & 30 Oct 2022  
Age 14+ event    
Ticketed    

The year is 1942 and you are stationed at the RAF base at East Fortune.

There has been an act of sabotage and one of the aircraft is unknowingly carrying live ordnance with instructions to bomb the town. Solve a series of fiendish puzzles to call off the flight and save North Berwick!

Book now nms.ac.uk/operation-sabotage    

Behind the Scenes Tours
Until 26 Oct 2022
11:00–12:00 & 14:00–15:00
Object Store
Free with museum admission
Booking required

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. Explore some of the collections not normally on public view and discover the fascinating stories behind them.

Book now nms.ac.uk/behind-the-scenes-tour

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

A selection of exhibition and event images are available to download here. For additional information and images visit media.nms.ac.uk or contact media@nms.ac.uk.  

What’s On at National Museums of Scotland

Exhibitions & Displays

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

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

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

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/exhibitions-events

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!

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

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

Bird Bingo
1 Apr – 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

Woolly Weekend
28 – 29 May 2022
11:00-16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Visit the National Museum of Rural life to celebrate the start of summer and all things woolly. Our petting zoo is open from 12:00 – 15:00 with a rabbit, guinea pig, duck and chicken. See our shearer at work with our Scottish Blackface sheep and enjoy wool-themed family crafts and activities.

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

Find out more nms.ac.uk/woollyweekend

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

Falklands 40 and the Vulcan at War

28 – 29 May 2022
10:00 – 17:00
Concorde Hangar and Vulcan Aircraft
Free with museum admission

Learn about the role of the Vulcan in the Falklands War, with talks, tours and displays to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the conflict.

The Vulcan aircraft on display at East Fortune, serial number XM597, took part in Black Buck missions, attacking Argentinian radar defences. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the conflict, some of the crew members and personnel involved in Operation Black Buck are visiting the museum to share their stories in a series of talks and tours.

In the Concorde Hangar, visitors will also be able to see a small photography display and some of Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum’s Airborne Forces Collection, and younger visitors will have the chance to make a paper Vulcan underneath Concorde.

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

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

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

What’s On at National Museums of Scotland

Exhibitions & Displays

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

LAST CHANCE TO SEE Audubon’s Birds of America

Until 8 May 2022
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Ticketed, £0-£10

Audubon’s Birds of America examines the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and largest books.

Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work that achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.

Audubon’s Birds of America showcases 46 unbound prints from National Museums Scotland’s collection, most of which have never been on display before, as well as a rare bound volume of the book, on loan from the Mitchell Library. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to see so much of Audubon’s work in one place.

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Book now nms.ac.uk/BirdsofAmerica

The Typewriter Revolution

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/Typewriters

Inspiring Walter Scott

Visit nms.ac.uk/walterscottexhibition

Book of Hours

31 Mar – 3 Aug 2022
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1)
Free

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

Visit nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life

2 Jul – 13 Nov 2022
Member Preview Day 1 Jul
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Ticketed

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life will exlplore the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers.

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy

Events

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

NEW Data After Dark

21 Apr 2022
19:00 – 22:00
Grand Gallery
£10 standard, £8 concessions
This is an 18+ event

Enjoy a special evening opening of Edinburgh Science Festival’s DataSphere exhibition that’s just for grown-ups, featuring bars, a DJ and exclusive activities.

Take the chance to have as much fun as the kids as you send, swipe and scroll through the data that drives our world in the Datasphere installation. Enjoy the National Museum of Scotland’s interactive galleries Explore and Making It after hours and get hands on with exciting activities including a photobooth, LEGO building and VR lightsabre duels.

Every ticket includes a welcome drink from Bellfield Brewery, with more bars and a food stall in the Grand Gallery.

To book or find out more, visit the Edinburgh Science Festival website.

Edinburgh Science Festival 2022

9 Apr – 24 Apr 2022
10:00 – 17:00

The Edinburgh Science Festival brings two weeks of science-fuelled exploration to the National Museum of Scotland, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks.

The Grand Gallery will be home to DataSphere, a multi-media exploration of the information driving our world. Elsewhere in the museum get-hands on with amazing drop-in experiments from the University of Edinburgh, and children’s workshops exploring everything from Creative Coding to Disease.

Adults can enjoy a series of fascinating talks and debates on topics from climatology and the philosophy of science to death, folklore and the cities of the future. Speakers include A.C. Grayling, Jim Al-Khalili, Alice Bell and Mary Roach. And join DataSphere After Dark, with bars, a DJ and exclusive activities just for grown-ups.

Take the chance to have as much fun as the kids as you send, swipe and scroll through the data that drives our world.

To book or find out more, visit the Edinburgh Science Festival website.

Relaxed Opening Hour

24 Apr 2022
10:00-11:00
Free entry

These monthly Relaxed Opening Hours are 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.

The Relaxed Opening Hour includes access to the entirety of the museum currently open to the public. At 11:00 sound will be switched back on, but visitors to this session are welcome to remain in the museum for as long as they like. This month the museum is hosting Edinburgh Science Festival events and may be busier than usual.

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

Centre for Open Learning: Victorian Scotland

21 Apr – 23 Jun 2022
11:00-13:00
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available)

National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore our collections and their wider history with experts.

This 10-week course uses selected items from the museum’s collections as the basis for studying Victorian Scotland. Using a different historical object each week, students will consider the political, economic, industrial, imperial, cultural and social history of Scotland in this period of enormous change and creativity.

The course will be led by Helen Rapport PGCE, M.A., PhD.

Book now nms.ac.uk/VictorianScotland

Centre for Open Learning: Georgian Scotland

21 Apr – 23 Jun 2022
14:00-16:00
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available)

National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore our collections and their wider history with experts.

This 10-week course explores Scotland’s great changes and developments from 1714–1815. Making extensive use of National Museums Scotland’s collections, the course covers the Enlightenment and the growth of universities, trade, transportation and industry, as well as the impact of Jacobite rebellions and events overseas, from France and Spain to the American colonies.

The course will be led by Helen Rapport PGCE, M.A., PhD.

Book now nms.ac.uk/GeorgianScotland

Centre for Open Learning: Discovering the National Collections:
Jewellery from Antiquity to Present Day

22 Apr – 20 May 2022
11:00-13:00
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4
£75 for 5 sessions (concessions available)

National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore our collections and their wider history with experts.

This course will use the museum collections to introduce the extraordinarily diverse world of jewellery. From antiquity to the present day, we will explore our fascination with adornment to discover how trade, culture and craftsmanship pushed the boundaries of jewellery making around the world.

This course is led by Karen A Clulow BA MA FSA Scot, and will be taught within a range of galleries in the National Museum of Scotland.

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events

Festival Family Encounters Day

7 May 2022
10:00-16:30
Grand Gallery
Free, drop-in. Some events may have timed slots and require sign-up on the day.

The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival opens on Saturday 7 May with Family Encounters at the National Museum of Scotland. Come along to get curious, creative and enjoy specially commissioned performances from Scottish based artists.

All events at Family Encounters on 7 May are free. Some may have timed slots and require sign-up on the day.

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

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

Bird Bingo

1 Apr – 30 Apr 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!

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

Find out more nms.ac.uk/birdbingo

Woolly Weekend
28 May – 29 May 2022
11:00-16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Visit the National Museum of Rural life to celebrate the start of summer and all things woolly. See our shearer at work with our Scottish Blackface sheep and enjoy wool-themed family crafts and activities.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/woollyweekend

National Museum of Flight
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
From 1 Apr, Open daily 10:00 – 16:00

Make Do and Mend

19 Apr – 22 Apr 2022
11:00-16:00
Concorde Hangar
Free with museum admission

Find out about the sustainability skills that people used during and after the Second World War with hands-on, family-friendly activities.

Discover original Second World War RAF items and find out how people reused these objects creatively in the times of austerity after the war. Visitors can also try “French” knitting or book tickets for the “Bundle and Steam” fabric printing workshops.

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

Find out more and book nms.ac.uk/makedoandmend

Dig for Victory

8 May 2022
11:00-16:00
Free with museum admission

Find out how people grew and cooked their own food during the Second World War with cooking demonstrations, talks, tours and hands-on family activities.

Discover the challenges of wartime cooking with food historian Nichola Fletcher and find out about the fruit and vegetables that were grown on the airfield. Families can also join drop-in workshops to create a wildflower seed bomb or make a paper pot to take home.

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

Find out more nms.ac.uk/digforvictory

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 of Scotland: What’s On in April

Exhibitions & Displays

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

Audubon’s Birds of America
Until 8 May 2022
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Ticketed, £0-£10

This exhibition examines the artistry and legacy of one of the world’s rarest, most coveted and largest books.

Published as a series between 1827 and 1838, Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851) was a landmark work which achieved international renown due to the epic scale of the project and the book’s spectacular, life-sized ornithological illustrations.

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Book now nms.ac.uk/BirdsofAmerica

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 examining 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.

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 discover 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

31 Mar – 3 Aug 2022
Kingdom of the Scots gallery (Level 1)
Free

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

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/exhibitions-events

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life
1 Jul – 13 Nov 2022
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.

Supported by Baillie Gifford Investment Managers.

Visit nms.ac.uk/Anatomy

Events

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

Edinburgh Science Festival 2022

9 Apr – 24 Apr 2022
10:00 – 17:00

The Edinburgh Science Festival brings two weeks of science-fuelled exploration to the National Museum of Scotland, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks.

The Grand Gallery will be home to DataSphere, a multi-media exploration of the information driving our world. Elsewhere in the museum get-hands on with amazing drop-in experiments from the University of Edinburgh, and children’s workshops exploring everything from Creative Coding to Disease.

The DataSphere will also be transformed after dark with bars, a DJ and exclusive activities just for grown-ups. Take the chance to have as much fun as the kids as you send, swipe and scroll through the data that drives our world.

To book or find out more, visit the Edinburgh Science Festival website.

*NEW* Centre for Open Learning: Victorian Scotland

21 Apr – 23 Jun 2022
11:00-13:00
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available)

National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore the national collections and their wider history with experts.

This 10-week course uses selected items from the museum’s collections as the basis for studying Victorian Scotland. Using a different historical object each week, students will consider the political, economic, industrial, imperial, cultural and social history of Scotland in this period of enormous change and creativity.

The course will be led by Helen Rapport PGCE, M.A., PhD.

Book now nms.ac.uk/VictorianScotland

*NEW* Centre for Open Learning: Georgian Scotland

21 Apr – 23 Jun 2022
14:00-16:00
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4
£175 for 10 sessions (concessions available)

National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore the national collections and their wider history with experts.

The course will be led by Helen Rapport PGCE, M.A., PhD.

Book now nms.ac.uk/GeorgianScotland

*NEW* Centre for Open Learning: Discovering the National Collections:
Jewellery from Antiquity to Present Day

22 Apr – 20 May 2022
11:00-13:00
Seminar Room, Learning Centre Level 4
£75 for 5 sessions (concessions available)

National Museums Scotland are delighted to host a new term of University of Edinburgh Short Courses – a great way to explore the national collections and their wider history with experts.

This course will use the museum collections to introduce the extraordinarily diverse world of jewellery. From antiquity to the present day, we will explore our fascination with adornment to discover how trade, culture and craftsmanship pushed the boundaries of jewellery making around the world.

This course is led by Karen A Clulow BA MA FSA Scot, and will be taught within a range of galleries in the National Museum of Scotland.

Book now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events

*NEW* Festival Family Encounters Day
7 May 2022
10:00-16:30
Grand Gallery

Free, drop-in. Some events may have timed slots and require sign-up on the day.

All events at Family Encounters on 7 May are free. Some may have timed slots and require sign-up on the day.

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

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

*NEW* Bird Bingo
1 Apr – 30 Apr 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

*NEW* Spring Explorers

11 Apr – 14 Apr 2022
10:30-15:30
Learning Centre and Theatre
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Become a Spring Explorer this school holiday with family storytelling and lots of sustainable crafts.

Hear a story about farm animals, and make a bird feeder, paper pot for planting or a beautiful egg box flower to take home.

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Find out more about the activities and their dates nms.ac.uk/springexplorers

*NEW* Woolly Weekend
28 May – 29 May 2022
11:00-16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Visit the National Museum of Rural life to celebrate our woolly wonders. See our shearer at work with the Scottish Blackface sheep and enjoy wool-themed family crafts and activities.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/woollyweekend

National Museum of Flight
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
From 1 Apr, Open daily 10:00 – 16:00

*NEW* Make Do and Mend

19 Apr – 22 Apr 2022
11:00-16:00
Concorde Hangar
Free with museum admission

Find out about the sustainability skills that people used during and after the Second World War with hands-on, family-friendly activities.

Discover original Second World War RAF items and find out how people reused these objects creatively in the times of austerity after the war.

Visitors can also try “French” knitting or book tickets for the “Bundle and Steam” fabric printing workshops.

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

Find out more and book nms.ac.uk/makedoandmend

*NEW* Dig for Victory

8 May 2022
11:00-16:00
Free with museum admission

Find out how people grew and cooked their own food during the Second World War with cooking demonstrations, talks, tours and hands-on family activities.

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

Find out more nms.ac.uk/digforvictory

Online

The Joy of Birds

31 Mar 2022
19:30-20:30
Online
Free, with optional donation

Join David Lindo and Duncan Orr-Ewing to celebrate the joy that birds bring us, the urgent threats they face, and the science and conservation work protecting them.

David Lindo, also known as The Urban Birder, is a wildlife broadcaster, nature writer and urban wildlife educationalist. He is Vice-President of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Honorary President of the Colombia Bird Fair, and was voted 7th most influential person in Wildlife by BBC Wildlife Magazine.

Duncan Orr-Ewing is Head of Species and Land Management for RSPB Scotland.

This event includes live Q&A.

Supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

Book Now nms.ac.uk/JoyofBirds

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

Three time in Trinity

Just a quick note about three things happening soon near or in Trinity that may be of interest (writes Trinity Community Council’s Bill Rodger)… Continue reading Three time in Trinity

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

LAST CHANCE TO SEE Audubon’s Birds of America

The Typewriter Revolution

Inspiring Walter Scott

Book of Hours

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life

Events

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

NEW Data After Dark

Edinburgh Science Festival 2022

Relaxed Opening Hour

Centre for Open Learning: Victorian Scotland

Centre for Open Learning: Georgian Scotland

Centre for Open Learning: Discovering the National Collections: Jewellery from Antiquity to Present Day

Festival Family Encounters Day

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

Bird Bingo

National Museum of Flight East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF From 1 Apr, Open daily 10:00 – 16:00

Make Do and Mend

Dig for Victory

Exhibitions & Displays

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

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

Centre for Open Learning: Discovering the National Collections:
Jewellery from Antiquity to Present Day

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

National Museum of Flight
East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
From 1 Apr, Open daily 10:00 – 16:00