National Museums Scotland – The NEN

National Museums Scotland: Listings

Exhibitions & displays

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

Giants
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Until 14 Sep
Tickets from £13

Giants showcases the colossal prehistoric creatures that lived after the extinction of the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago. Discover life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, and fossils in this immersive, family-friendly exhibition. The Giants exhibition is designed and produced by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.

Book your ticket now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/giants

Scotland’s First Warriors
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Until 16 May 2027
Entrance into the museum and exhibition is free

Explore archaeological evidence for the origins of organised conflict, from the Neolithic (late Stone Age) to the Romans, through over 250 objects. Scotland’s First Warriors explores how and why people fought, the impact of war, and the legacy of prehistoric conflict. Internationally significant discoveries from Scotland will be on display for the first time, including the Carnoustie Hoard.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/scotlands-first-warriors

Events

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

Museum Late: Festival Ceilidh
7 & 14 Aug
Tickets from £26

The sell out Festival Ceilidh makes a stomping return this August. Grab your pals for a night of reels and revelry and join the party in Scottish style. The fantastic Jacobites Ceilidh Band will get you twirling and birling through Strip the Willow, Dashing White Sergeant and other traditional dances in one of Scotland’s biggest ceilidhs.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/museum-late-festival-ceilidh

Deaf Families Museum Takeover
7 Aug
11:00–15:00
Free, booking required

As part of Edinburgh Deaf Festival and in partnership with Deaf Action, join us for a day of activities for deaf families throughout the museum. Designed for families with children ages 0 – 11, the day will feature a range of free activities for different age groups, including sensory play, crafts, BSL storytelling, object handling, creative activities and family-friendly experiences inspired by the museum’s collections.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/deaf-families-museum-takeover

BSL Tour: Giants
Exhibition Gallery 1
13 Aug
14:00
Tickets from £13, concessions available

Meet the colossal creatures that lived after the dinosaurs on a Deaf-led tour of ‘Giants’. Through life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, fossils and hands-on experiences, discover ten enormous prehistoric giants with tour guide, Babs Brown.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/bsl-tour-giants

Creative Workshop: Egyptian Ceramics
22 Aug
Tickets from £30, Members and concessions available

Explore Egyptian pottery with writer and ceramicist Mohamed Tonsy. Create your own decorative piece, inspired by historical objects from the National Collection. Mohamed will be joined by one of our Curators of the Ancient Mediterranean, who will share their knowledge about Egyptian objects in the collection.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/creative-workshop-egyptian-ceramics

Magic Carpet
Sep 7, 14, 21
10:30 – 11:15 or 11:45 – 12:30
Tickets from £4 per session

Our Magic Carpet sessions introduce you and your little one to some of the fascinating objects and themes in the museum in a fun and interactive way. Each month we will explore a different theme using song, rhyme, movement, play and handling objects. This will help you and your little one discover more about our topic.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/magic-carpet

Creative Workshop: Drawing the Earth
12 Sep
12:30–16:30
Tickets from £30, Members and concessions available

In this workshop, led by geologist and illustrator Vojta Hybl, you will explore the rock cycle – the process by which rocks change from one type to another.

2026 marks 300 years since James Hutton’s birth. Often credited as the father of modern geology, Hutton’s ideas about deep time changed how understood the age of the Earth.

Vojta will combine scientific knowledge of geology with a range of creative approaches to demonstrate just how dynamic rocks can be.

You will visit some of our collections inspired by James Hutton, to encourage your drawing as a new way into understanding geology.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/creative-workshop-drawing-the-earth

The Sunday Sketch
20 Sep & 25 Oct
14:00 – 16:00
Tickets from £13

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. All abilities are welcome at this relaxed and informal session. Each month we will explore a different theme, and all materials are supplied.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/the-sunday-sketch

Creative Workshop: Drop Spinning
26 Sep
10:30-12:30
Tickets from £50, Members and concessions available

Join Nic DeRushie, researcher and living educator, for this inspirational and practical workshop around traditional spinning techniques. There will be the opportunity to make spindles and learn the basics of spinning using Scottish heritage breed fleeces. Learn about yarn plying and explore projects that can be done using a small amount of hand-spun yarn.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/creative-workshop-drop-spinning

In Conversation: Understanding Prehistoric Lives Beyond Conflict
26 Sep
14:30-16:00
Tickets from £10

The exhibition curator of ‘Scotland’s First Warriors’, Dr Matthew Knight, is joined by Tristan Hughes, television presenter, author and history podcast host, and Nicole DeRushie, historian and author of ‘Bog Fashion’, to discuss the archaeological evidence that tells us about life beyond conflict in prehistoric Scotland.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/understanding-prehistoric-lives-beyond-conflict

Music at the Museum
27 Oct – 2 Mar 2027
11:30 – 12:15 and 13:30 – 14:15
Free, drop-in

In collaboration with Live Music Now Scotland, we are bringing live music into the heart of the museum on Tuesdays. With experienced performers and rising stars of live music, each week features a different soloist, duo or ensemble.

Find out more, nms.ac.uk/events/music-at-the-museum

Find out Fridays
4 Sep – 26 Feb 2027, Friday afternoon during term time
13:30 – 16:00
Free, drop-in

Explore a different theme each week on Friday afternoons with our Learning team. Find out fascinating facts and hear surprising stories about our collections and get hands on with some of our favourite objects.

Find out more, nms.ac.uk/events/find-out-fridays

Museum Socials
Learning Centre Seminar Room, Level 4
Third Friday of the month
10:30–12:00
Free, booking required

Museum Socials events are designed for people living with dementia, their relatives, friends, carers, and supporters. Relaxed and informal, each session explores a different museum theme through various interactive activities, including curator talks, object handling, and creative crafts. Tea, cake and a warm welcome are always provided.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/museum-socials

National Museums Collection Centre
242 W Granton Rd, Edinburgh EH5 1JA

Collection Centre Tours
25 Aug, 10:30 – 12:00 or 13:00 – 14:30
Tickets from £10, advance booking required

Discover the secrets of how we store and research our collections. Find out how our collections are used in international research and see objects rarely on public display.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/collection-centre-tours

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

Adult Workshop: Willow Basket Making
22 & Sun 23 Aug
Tickets from £95

Choose from two full-day basket making workshops at the National Museum of Rural Life. Each workshop led by willow artist and forager Max Johnson features a different style of basket to make and take home. In the Saturday workshop make a traditional berry picking basket. In the Sunday workshop, make a beautiful Zarzo flower gathering basket.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/adult-workshop-willow-basket-making

Working Animal Day
12 Sep
10:30-16:00
Free with museum admission

Join us for a fun-filled celebration of working animals at the National Museum of Rural Life.
See amazing outdoor displays from sheepdog training experts Glen and Jan Welsh, and specialist dog stunt team Les Amis d’Onno. Then head inside the museum for themed crafts and family storytelling.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/working-animal-day

Tractor Tots
18 & 21 Sep, 2 and 5 Oct
Learning Centre
£25 per child for block of 3, £20 per Member child for block of 3

Running in blocks of three sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for younger visitors, introducing them to rural life through interactive creative play. Each session will feature handling objects from learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions, and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/tractor-tots

Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life
Last Tuesday of every month
14:30-17:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Relaxed Afternoon is for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. This session is primarily for, but not limited to, families with neurodivergent children; neurodivergent young people and adults; adults living with dementia; adults and children with mental health problems; and any other visitors with sensory needs or who may prefer a more relaxed experience, plus their families, friends and carers.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-afternoon-national-museum-of-rural-life

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

Expert Talks
Concorde Theatre
7 Aug & 11 Sep
11:00-11:20
Free with museum admission

From April to October, learn more about the collections and history of East Fortune Airfield with a series of free expert talks at the museum. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of each talk. In August, Eilidh MacKenzie will discuss ‘The Work of Poppy Scotland’ and in September, Elaine Edwards will discuss ‘The Work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.’

Find out nms.ac.uk/events/expert-talks

Escape From France Puzzle Room
Until 7 Aug (weekdays only)
11:30-16:00
Free with museum admission, drop-in

Work together as a family in the puzzle room and see if you’ve got what it takes to escape from France. Can you disguise yourself, speak French well enough to fool a German and find the right money to pay your rail fare to the coast?

Book your visit, nms.ac.uk/events/escape-from-france-puzzle-room

Sensory Sunday: National Museum of Flight
9 Aug
11:00-12:00
Free with museum admission

Children with additional support needs and disabilities and their families can explore the museum’s collections, get creative and meet other families.

Sensory Sunday sessions are relaxed, fun, hands-on, and respond to the needs of the families participating. You are welcome to come and go at any point during the session. Attendees can take their time exploring the museum as a family before and after the session.

Book your visit, nms.ac.uk/events/sensory-sunday-national-museum-of-flight

360 Fest
29 Aug
10:00-17:00
Tickets from £17

From stunt shows and pedal-powered activities to interactive sessions and STEM science, there’s something to set everyone’s head spinning. See amazing 360° stunts and bike parkour from cycling experts, The Extreme Mountain Bike Show, get involved with hands-on activities in the aircraft hangars and have a go at some cycling fun.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/360-fest

Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Flight
Every second Sunday of the month, 10:00-12:00
Free with museum admission

Relaxed Morning at the National Museum of Flight is for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore the museum without noisy interactives and videos to create a more relaxed environment.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-morning-national-museum-of-flight

Doors Open Days
26 & 27 Sep
10:00-17:00
Free, booking essential

Visit the museum for free over Doors Open Days East Lothian weekend and learn about the history of aviation from the First World War to the present day. Immerse yourself in interactive galleries, supersonic experiences and our historic hangars and airfield.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/doors-open-days

For booking, opening times and location details: Home | National Museums Scotland 

Major digitisation project to document Scotland’s biodiversity

A major international digitisation project will begin this summer which aims to create approximately 700,000 digital records of specimens held in Scotland’s natural science collections.

National Museums Scotland and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh will jointly lead the creation of a network to add Scotland to the Distributed System of Scientific Collections UK (DiSSCo UK) project, thanks to over £1.8 million in funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

The project in Scotland will initially run for two years and will see more than 250,000 insects from National Museums Scotland and 388,000 herbarium specimens from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh become digitally accessible to all.

In addition, four further partners are already engaged in the project, namely Glasgow Life, The Hunterian, Shetland Museum & Archives and The James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen, with more collecting institutions expected to be involved in due course.

Professor Olwen Grace, Deputy Director of Science (Collections), Curator of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Herbarium and project co-lead, said: “This project brings together Scotland’s exceptionally rich natural science collections in a united effort to mobilise the biodiversity records they hold.

“Drawing on the leading Herbarium digitisation approaches at RBGE, the project will boost digital heritage in Scotland and help to ensure the broadest diversity of the UK’s collections are made accessible online. “ 

The Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is an exceptional collection of preserved specimens of the plant and fungal kingdoms used by researchers from around the world. From the flowering plants of coastal shores, moorland, and cities, to a tiny lichen from the brooding slopes of Ben Nevis, all specimens will be digitised.

Professor Grace added: “DiSSCo UK presents an unequalled opportunity to reveal the British and Irish species in our collections. Digitising brings recent and historic records of the country’s biodiversity together in a new way, making important information available for looking after nature in future.”

Dr Nick Fraser, Keeper of Natural Sciences at the National Museums of Scotland and project co-lead, said: “This is a really exciting undertaking. It will really activate collections which have been amassed across Scotland for over 200 years.

“Having these records digitally available will allow us to unlock the critical information that these collections hold about changes in biodiversity over time and the impact of climate change on diverse ecosystems both here in Scotland and across the world.”

Among the significant collections to be digitised is the Pelham-Clinton moth collection held at the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh.

Edward Pelham-Clinton spent decades travelling Britain and Ireland, collecting over 35,000 moths and butterflies, and filling 64 meticulous field diaries with observations on 2,169 species, building what is almost certainly the most detailed personal record of British moths ever compiled.

His collection and diaries, which contain around 250,000 entries in total, cover precisely the decades before moth populations began their dramatic modern decline, making them an irreplaceable before-and-after record of what Britain’s moths looked like when they were still thriving.

Dr Fraser added: “Unlocking the full power of this archive means digitising every page of those diaries and every specimen label.

“That means that anyone, anywhere, can ask what was flying in a Scottish meadow in the 1950s, and compare it to what is flying there now which, in some cases, may be very little due to expanded human inhabitation and activity”.

DiSSCo UK [https://dissco-uk.org/] (Distributed System of Scientific Collections UK) is a £155 million, 10-year national programme to digitise and connect the UK’s natural science collections. The programme is funded through the UKRI Infrastructure Fund and delivered by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) in partnership with the Natural History Museum and over 100 partners across the UK.

AHRC Executive Chair Professor Christopher Smith said: “For hundreds of years the UK has gathered and grown one of the world’s most comprehensive and diverse collections of scientific material in museums across the UK. It has been a long-held ambition to bring this collection together – and now this dream can come true.

“Over ten years, DiSSCo UK will deliver progress that would otherwise have taken over a century, including the creation of millions of newly digitised records and a network of around 100 collections from national museums and gardens, and universities to local collections that would never have had such access without it. And the outcomes of this £155m investment will offer exciting new opportunities for science as well as society.

“AHRC is proud to have led UKRI’s largest ever investment in the GLAM sector, yet another contribution to our leadership of the creative and cultural economy.”

In addition to material from the Scottish national collections, the project will also see digital records created for 85,000 plant specimens held by Glasgow Life, 1200 insects from The Hunterian, 2400 specimens from Shetland Museum & Archives including plants, algae and fungi as well as 1400 plant, lichen and moss specimens from The James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen.

It is hoped that future phases will encompass more of the collections of existing participants and also widen in scope to include more of Scotland’s natural science collecting institutions.

National Museums Scotland Listings

Exhibitions & displays

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

Giants
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Until 14 Sep
Tickets from £13

Book your ticket now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/giants

Scotland’s First Warriors
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Opening 27 June
Entrance into the museum and exhibition is free

Explore archaeological evidence for the origins of organised conflict, from the Neolithic (late Stone Age) to the Romans, through over 250 objects.

Scotland’s First Warriors explores how and why people fought, the impact of war, and the legacy of prehistoric conflict. Internationally significant discoveries from Scotland will be on display for the first time, including the Carnoustie Hoard.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/scotlands-first-warriors

Events

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

Summer Family Fun
Every Monday and Friday in July
10:00-16:00
Free, drop in

On Mondays and Fridays over the summer there will be a range of exciting, drop-in activities for the whole family at the National Museum of Scotland.

Each week, we’ll explore a new theme – from Scottish stories to around-the-world-adventures, there will be something new to discover.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/summer-family-fun

Dolly at 30: The Life and Legacy of a Cloned Sheep
16 Jul
18:30-20:30
Free, booking required

To coincide with her 30th birthday in July, join us for an evening exploring the history and legacy of Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal ever to be created from an adult cell.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/dolly-at-30

Creative Workshops for Kids: In the Footsteps of Giants
22 & 29 Jul, 09:30 – 12:00 or 13:30 – 16:30
Tickets from £25, Members and concessions available

Led by theatre-maker and arts educator Marion Geoffray, children will have the chance to uncover fossils and learn some of the key skills palaeontologists use. They will then embark on a guided exploration of our Giants exhibition.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/creative-workshops-for-kids-in-the-footsteps-of-giants

Creative Workshops for Kids: Storytelling Through Collage Animation
22 & 29 Jul, 09:30 – 12:00 or 13:30 – 16:30
Tickets from £25, Member and concessions prices available

Join animator and visual artist Dominika Jackowska for a creative workshop just for kids, inspired by our Giants exhibition. After a guided visit to the exhibition, children will get an introduction into stop-motion animation in our Learning Centre. They will have a chance to explore their own ideas and create their own short animation.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/creative-workshops-for-kids-storytelling-through-collage-animation

Museum Late: Festival Ceilidh
7 & 14 Aug
Tickets from £26

Museum Late: Festival Ceilidh makes a stomping return this August. Grab your pals for a night of reels and revelry and join the party in Scottish style. The fantastic Jacobites Ceilidh Band will get you twirling and birling through Strip the Willow, Dashing White Sergeant and other traditional dances in one of Scotland’s biggest ceilidhs.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/museum-late-festival-ceilidh

BSL Tour: Giants
13 Aug
14:00
Tickets from £13, concessions available

Meet the colossal creatures that lived after the dinosaurs on a Deaf-led tour of ‘Giants’.

Through life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, fossils and hands-on experiences, discover ten enormous prehistoric giants with tour guide, Babs Brown.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/bsl-tour-giants

Creative Workshop: Egyptian Ceramics
22 Aug
Tickets from £30, Members and concessions available

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/creative-workshop-egyptian-ceramics

Morning Curator Tour: Scotland’s First Warriors
26 Aug & 18 Sept
Tickets from £10

Join exhibition curator Dr Matthew Knight for an exclusive early morning tour of ‘Scotland’s First Warriors’.

Featuring the incredible Carnoustie Hoard, ‘Scotland’s First Warriors’ is a unique exhibition which will take you on a 4000-year journey to explore the origins and impact of conflict in prehistoric Scotland.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/morning-curator-tour-scotlands-first-warriors

Museum Socials
Third Friday of the month
10:30–12:00
Free, booking required

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/museum-socials

National Museums Collection Centre
242 W Granton Rd, Edinburgh EH5 1JA

Collection Centre Tours
25 Aug, 10:30 – 12:00 or 13:00 – 14:30
Tickets from £10, advance booking required

Discover the secrets of how we store and research our collections. Find out how our collections are used in international research and see objects rarely on public display.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/collection-centre-tours

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

Tractor Tots
3, 6 & 8 Jul
Learning Centre
£25 per child for block of 3, £20 per Member child for block of 3

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/tractor-tots

Archaeology Weekend
25 & 26 Jul
10:30-15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Take part in a family-friendly Archaeology Weekend at the National Museum of Rural Life. On Sat 25 Jul, meet the team from Treasure Trove Scotland and find out about their work investigating and assessing new archaeological discoveries.

Find out more, nms.ac.uk/events/archaeology-weekend

Adult Workshop: Willow Basket Making
22 & 23 Aug
Prices from £95

Choose from two full-day basket making workshops at the National Museum of Rural Life.

Each workshop led by willow artist and forager Max Johnson features a different style of basket to make and take home. In the Saturday workshop make a traditional berry picking basket. In the Sunday workshop, make a beautiful Zarzo flower gathering basket.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/adult-workshop-willow-basket-making

Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life
Last Tuesday of every month
14:30-17:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-afternoon-national-museum-of-rural-life

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

Expert Talks
Concorde Theatre
10 Jul & 7 Aug
11:00-11:20
Free with museum admission

From April to October, learn more about the collections and history of East Fortune Airfield with a series of free expert talks at the museum. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of each talk. In July, join Ian Brow for ‘East Fortune Attacked’ and in August, Eilidh MacKenzie will discuss ‘The Work of Poppy Scotland.’

Find out nms.ac.uk/events/expert-talks

Escape From France Puzzle Room
13 Jul –7 Aug (weekdays only)
11:30-16:00
Free with museum admission, drop-in

Book your visit, nms.ac.uk/events/escape-from-france-puzzle-room

Moth Hunters
18 Jul
9:00 -12:00
Free with museum admission

Discover the variety of local moths in the National Museum of Flight grounds with an early walk with entomologist Katty Baird and enjoy moth-themed family friendly activities.

Book your visit, nms.ac.uk/events/moth-hunters

360 Fest
29 Aug
10:00-17:00
Tickets from £17

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/360-fest

Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Flight
Every second Sunday of the month, 10:00-12:00
Free with museum admission

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-morning-national-museum-of-flight

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

National Museums Scotland Listings

Exhibitions & displays

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

Giants
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Until 14 Sep
Tickets from £13

Book your ticket now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/giants

COMING SOON Scotland’s First Warriors
Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Opening 27 June
Entrance into the museum and exhibition is free

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/scotlands-first-warriors

Events

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

Magic Carpet
Learning Centre Event Space, Level 2
1, 8 & 22 Jun
10:30-11:15 & 11:45-12:30
Tickets £4

Magic Carpet sessions introduce you and your little one to some of the fascinating objects and themes in the museum in a fun and interactive way. Each month we explore a different theme using song, rhyme, movement, play and handling objects. This will help you and your little one discover more about the session topic.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/magic-carpet

Curiosity Club
Learning Centre, Level 4
20 Jun
10:30-12:00
£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

Relaxed Curiosity Club
Learning Centre, Level 4
20 Jun
14:30-15:30
£10 (£9 Members and Concessions)

Relaxed Curiosity Club sessions are particularly aimed at children with additional support needs, neurodivergent children, and children with disabilities. Parents/carers (up to two per participating child) are invited to stay and either join in with the activities or enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the foyer of the activity area.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-curiosity-club

Festival Family Day
Grand Gallery
30 May
10:00-16:30
Free, drop in

Edinburgh International Children’s Festival Family Day returns for 2026. Experience exciting pop-up performances and creative encounters with local artists – from theatre and dance to walk-about characters – there is something for the whole family to enjoy.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/festival-family-day

James Hutton at 300: A Celebration of Geology
5 Jun
13:30-16:15
Free, drop in

Discover the legacy of James Hutton, the ‘father of modern geology’. Celebrate his tercentenary with free, drop-in short talks, mini tours and object handling.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/james-hutton-at-300-a-celebration-of-geology

Audio Descriptive Tour: Giants
Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
16 Jun
17:30-19:30
Tickets from £13, concessions available

Discover the Giants exhibition with an after-hours audio-described tour.Explore life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons and fossils in this immersive exhibition with audio descriptions and tactile opportunities.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/audio-descriptive-tour-giants

Summer Family Fun
Grand Gallery
Every Monday and Friday in July
10:00-16:00
Free, drop in

On Mondays and Fridays over the summer there will be range of exciting, drop-in activities for the whole family at the National Museum of Scotland.

Each week, we’ll explore a new theme – from Scottish stories to around-the-world-adventures, there will be something new to discover.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/summer-family-fun

Museum Late: Festival Ceilidh
Grand Gallery
7 & 14 Aug
Tickets from £26

The sell out Festival Ceilidh makes a stomping return this August. Grab your pals for a night of reels and revelry and join the party in Scottish style. The fantastic Jacobites Ceilidh Band will get you twirling and birling through Strip the Willow, Dashing White Sergeant and other traditional dances in one of Scotland’s biggest ceilidhs.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/museum-late-festival-ceilidh

BSL Tour: Giants
Exhibition Gallery 1
13 Aug
14:00
Tickets from £13, concessions available

Meet the colossal creatures that lived after the dinosaurs on a Deaf-led tour of ‘Giants’.

Through life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, fossils and hands-on experiences, discover ten enormous prehistoric giants with tour guide, Babs Brown.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/bsl-tour-giants

Museum Socials
Learning Centre Seminar Room, Level 4
Third Friday of the month
10:30–12:00
Free, booking required

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/museum-socials

National Museums Collection Centre
242 W Granton Rd, Edinburgh EH5 1JA

Collection Centre Tours
16 Jun & 21 Jul
10:30 – 12:00 or 13:00 – 14:30
Tickets from £10, advance booking required

Discover the secrets of the storing and research of National Museums Scotland’s collections. Find out how these collections are used in international research and see objects rarely on public display.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/collection-centre-tours

Swift Awareness Day
3 Jul
Timed sessions
Free, booking required

Join Dr Martin Stervander, Senior Curator of Birds, at the National Museums Collection Centre to discover the fast and fascinating world of the common swift. Explore swift specimens from the collections and check out some brand new swift nestboxes.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/swift-awareness-day

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

Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life
Last Tuesday of every month
14:30-17:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-afternoon-national-museum-of-rural-life

Tractor Tots
29 May 2026
Learning Centre
£25 per child for block of 3, £20 per Member child for block of 3

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/tractor-tots

Woolly Weekend
Museum and farm
23 & 24 May
10:30-16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Celebrate all things woolly with a weekend of family fun at the National Museum of Rural Life.

See woolly farm friends up close and take part in wool-themed crafts, storytelling, and activities in the museum. Then take a walk to the farm to watch YouTube sensation Cammy Wilson sheart the flock. Cammy will explain how, when, and why sheep are sheared, and will demonstrate traditional and modern shearing techniques.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/woolly-weekend

National Museum of Rural Life 25th Anniversary Day
4 Jul
10:00-17:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Come along to celebrate 25 years of the National Museum of Rural Life. Enjoy the special activities scheduled throughout the day that showcase the museum displays and life on a working farm.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/national-museum-of-rural-life-25th-anniversary-day

Archaeology Weekend
25 & 26 Jul
10:30-15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Take part in a family-friendly Archaeology Weekend at the National Museum of Rural Life. Meet the team from Treasure Trove Scotland and find out about their work investigating and assessing new archaeological discoveries.

Find out more, nms.ac.uk/events/archaeology-weekend

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

Expert Talks
Concorde Theatre
15 May & 12 Jun
11:00-11:20
Free with museum admission

From April to October, learn more about the collections and history of East Fortune Airfield with a series of free expert talks at the museum. There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of each talk. In April, join Matteo Randazzo who will discuss ‘Second World War Archaeology at East Fortune’.

Find out nms.ac.uk/events/expert-talks

BSL Tour: National Museum of Flight
16 May
14:00-15:30
Free add-on to general admission ticket

Discover amazing aircraft and explore the history of aviation in this Deaf-led tour delivered in British Sign Language. This event is Deaf-led and aimed at adult BSL users.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/bsl-tour-national-museum-of-flight

Awesome Bricks
20 & 21 Jun
10:00-17:00
Tickets from £17, concessions available

The hands-on celebration of LEGO® returns to the National Museum of Flight. Join in for a weekend packed full of LEGO® brick fun, with lots to see and do for all ages.  Get a close-up view of incredible LEGO® constructions created by talented AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO®), including an interactive train set, and make your own unique creations in the brick build zone. 

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/awesome-bricks

Escape From France Puzzle Room
13 Jul–7 Aug (weekdays only)
11:30-16:00
Free with museum admission, drop-in

Book your visit, nms.ac.uk/events/escape-from-france-puzzle-room

Moth Hunters
18 Jul
9:00-12:00
Free with museum admission

Discover the variety of local moths in the National Museum of Flight grounds with an early walk with entomologist Katty Baird and enjoy moth-themed family friendly activities.

Book your visit, nms.ac.uk/events/moth-hunters

360 Fest
29 Aug
10:00-17:00
Tickets from £17

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/360-fest

Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Flight
Every second Sunday of the month, 10:00-12:00
Free with museum admission

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-morning-national-museum-of-flight

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

National Museums Scotland Listings: 26 February 2026

Exhibitions & displays

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

Giants
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Opening 31 Jan
Tickets from £13

Book your ticket now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/giants

COMING SOON Scotland’s First Warriors
Special Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Opening 27 June
Entrance into the museum and exhibition is free

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/scotlands-first-warriors

Events

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

Museum Socials
Learning Centre Seminar Room, Level 4
20 Feb & 20 Mar
10:30–12:00
Free, booking required

Our Museum Socials events are designed for people living with dementia, their relatives, friends, carers, and supporters. Relaxed and informal, each session explores a different museum theme through various interactive activities, including curator talks, object handling, and creative crafts. And tea, cake and a warm welcome are always provided.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/museum-socials

The Amazing Mathemagic Show
Hawthornden Court, Level 1
21 Feb
10:30–13:00 and 13:30–16:00

Join students and staff from Edinburgh University as they use maths to transform into performers, musicians, and astonishing mind readers. Whether you are a maths enthusiast or number curious, there will be something for all ages at this interactive stall. Discover simple yet mind-boggling tricks that merge maths with magic.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/the-amazing-mathemagic-show

The Sunday Sketch
Various Galleries
22 Feb –22 Mar
14:00–16:00
Tickets 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

Sensory Sundays
Learning Centre, Studio 2, Level 4
1 Mar
14:00–15:00
Free, booking required

Children with additional support needs and disabilities and their families are invited to join our programme of sensory play sessions. Explore the museum’s collections, get creative, and meet other families.

Sensory Sunday sessions are relaxed, fun, hands-on, and respond to the needs of the families participating.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/sensory-sunday

Magic Carpet
Meet at Hawthornden Court
6, 13 & 20 Mar
10:30–11:15 and 11:45–12:30
From £4 per session

Our Magic Carpet sessions introduce you and your little one to some of the fascinating objects and themes in the museum in a fun and interactive way. Each month we will explore a different theme using song, rhyme, movement, play, and handling objects, to help you and your little one discover more about our topic.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/magic-carpet

Creative Workshop: Block Printing
Learning Centre Studios, Level 4, and Early People Gallery, Level -1
21 Mar
11:00–15:30
Tickets from £45

Join artist Georgie Fay to make unique paper and clay designs using woodcut printing techniques.

Explore our Early People gallery and discover the journeys made and the materials used by Scotland’s early people. Back in the Learning Centre, create a woodcut with a design inspired by our collections. You will make your own woodcut template, print on paper and clay.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/creative-workshop-block-printing

Doug Allan: Giants of the Sea
Auditorium, Level 3
22 Mar
11:30
Tickets from £12

Following his sold-out talk in April 2024, award-winning wildlife photographer Doug Allan is back at the National Museum of Scotland. This time, to talk about his experiences filming the great giants of the sea.

Featuring his own photographs and clips from well-known TV programmes, Doug will talk about the excitement and challenges he has faced when working in the world’s oceans.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/doug-allan-giants-of-the-sea

Curiosity Club
Learning Centre, Level 4
28 Feb & 28 Mar
10:30-12:00
£10 (Members and Concessions £9)

Inspired by some of the museum’s most exciting collections, our 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

Relaxed Curiosity Club
Learning Centre, Level 4
28 Feb & 28 Mar
14:30-15:30
£10 (£9 Members and Concessions)

Relaxed Curiosity Club sessions are particularly aimed at children with additional support needs, neurodivergent children, or children with disabilities. Parents/carers (up to two per participating child) are invited to stay and either join in with the activities or enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the foyer of the activity area.

Book now, nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-curiosity-club

Gather Around the Frame: A Celebration of Hand Quilting
Locations across the museum
29 Mar
10:15-16:45
Free drop-in activities, booking required for panel discussion

Join us for a hands-on stitching experience around replica historical quilting frames as enjoyed by previous generations as they sewed together. This event will feature talks, film screenings, hands-on crafts, and our very own quilting bee. All materials are provided.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/gather-around-the-frame-a-celebration-of-hand-quilting

Edinburgh Science Festival 2026
Locations across the museum
Daily from 4-19 Apr
10:00-17:00
All pricing and bookings through Science Festival website

Edinburgh Science Festival 2026 will highlight Scotland’s contribution to scientific advances through research, innovation, and its extraordinary people. The Grand Gallery will host family-friendly activities and artwork by award-winning artist, Gayle Chong Kwan.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/edinburgh-science-festival-2026

Morning Curator Tour: Giants
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
7-14 Apr
Tickets from £13

Join exhibition curator, Dr Sarah Stewart, for an exclusive early-morning tour of Giants.

Giants celebrates the colossal creatures that roamed the Earth 66 million years ago. Meet ten giant creatures from prehistory. Discover how they were able to grow so large, what advantages their size offered, and why they eventually faced extinction.

The Giants exhibition is designed and produced by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/morning-curator-tours-giants

Creative Workshop: Paper Creations
Learning Centre Studios, Level 4
23 May
10:30-13:00 and 14:00-16:30
Tickets from £45

Join paper folding artist Kate Colin for a bespoke workshop, inspired by our ‘Giants’ exhibition and fossil collections. You will learn paper folding techniques and create a collection of handcrafted paper sculptures inspired by spiral forms and fossil structures.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/creative-workshop-paper-creations

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

Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life
Last Tuesday of every month
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

Spring Explorers
14–17 Apr
10:30–15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Become a Spring Explorer this April at the National Museum of Rural Life. Join us as we dig into all things soil and explore the wiggly world beneath our feet. Take part in a planting activity to learn how bugs and worms keep soil healthy for plants to grow. Settle in for some lively, soil-inspired storytelling in the theatre, then get messy with some hands-on fun at our Soil Exploration Station.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/spring-explorers

Tractor Tots
24 Apr & 29 May 2026
Learning Centre
£25 per child for block of 3, £20 per Member child for block of 3

Running in blocks of three sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for our younger visitors, introducing them to rural life through interactive creative play. Each session will feature handling objects from our learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions, and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/tractor-tots

Woolly Weekend
Museum and farm
23 & 24 May
10:30-16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Celebrate all things woolly with a weekend of family fun at the National Museum of Rural Life.

See woolly farm friends up close and take part in wool-themed crafts, storytelling, and activities in the museum. Then take a walk to the farm to watch YouTube sensation Cammy Wilson shear our flock. Cammy will explain how, when, and why sheep are sheared, and will demonstrate traditional and modern shearing techniques.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/woolly-weekend

National Museum of Flight

East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
Open Weekends only, 10:00–16:00 

National Lottery Open Week
Sat 14 & Sun 15 Mar
Free admission for National Lottery players

On 14 and 15 March, the National Museum of Flight is taking part in the National Lottery Open Week.

As a recipient of National Lottery funding, we are inviting players to the museum for free to say thank you for their support.

Book your visit, nms.ac.uk/events/national-lottery-open-week

Conservation Hangar Talks
Until 29 Mar 2026
14:00-15:00
Free and available as an add-on to your general admission ticket. Booking is 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 are not normally on display and have the chance to see conservators at work.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/conservation-hangar-talks

Flying High
Concorde Hangar
6-10 Apr
10:00-16:00
Free with museum admission

Learn about the Scottish engineering inventions that made international travel possible through fun family activities.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/flying-high

Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Flight
Every second Sunday of the month, 10:00-12:00
Free with museum admission

Join us for a Relaxed Morning at the National Museum of Flight, for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum. Friendly staff will be there to give you a warm welcome and support your visit, as you explore the museum without noisy interactives and videos to create a more relaxed environment.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-morning-national-museum-of-flight

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

National Museums Scotland Listings

Exhibitions & displays

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

Giants
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Opening 31 Jan
Tickets from £13

Book your ticket now nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/giants

COMING SOON Scotland’s First Warriors
Special Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
Opening 27 June
Entrance into the museum and exhibition is free

Find out more nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/scotlands-first-warriors

Events

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

Live Music Mondays
Hawthornden Court, Level 1
2, 9 & 16 Feb
12:45 – 13:30
Free, drop in

Come along to free live music performances, featuring folk, classical, traditional Scottish, and modern fusion styles. In collaboration with Live Music Now Scotland, we are bringing live music into the heart of our museum. With experienced performers and rising stars of live music, each week features a different soloist, duo, or ensemble.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/live-music-mondays

Manipulate Festival: Ocho the Octopus
Grand Gallery, Level 1
7 Feb
10:00–13:00
Free, drop-in

Ocho the Octopus, a giant puppet, stops off at the National Museum of Scotland for a morning of pop-up performances and audience interactions. Designed and created by Tim Davies, this incredible illuminated Octopus puppet will begin its journey with pop-up performances in the Grand Gallery before making its way to the Royal Mile. Join us for two walkabout non-verbal performances throughout the morning and take part in our ‘under the sea’ puppetry-inspired craft.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/manipulate-festival-parade-ocho-the-octopus

Manipulate Festival: Europe, Meine Liebe, Mon Amour
Grand Gallery, Level 1
8 Feb
10:30–16:00
Free, drop-in

Enjoy short pop-up theatre performances in the museum’s Grand Gallery, inspired by visual artist Bruno Gallagher’s travels around Europe. Europe, Meine Liebe, Mon Amour is a new work by Gallagher, told through four short performances. These non-verbal performances will transport you on a journey through imagination. Each performance is a celebration of creativity, combining physical theatre, costume, and dance.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/manipulate-festival-europe-meine-liebe-mon-amour

Giants: Half Term
Grand Gallery, Level 1
14–22 Feb
10:30–16:00
Free, drop-in

Join us for free family activities to celebrate our new exhibition, Giants. Use geometric shapes to complete our ’Giant’ outline as part of the Giant Geometry Challenge. Younger visitors can get building too, with foam blocks with Big Blocks for Wee People.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/giants-half-term

Giants: Half Term Big Build
Grand Gallery, Level 1
14–22 Feb
10:30–16:00
Booking required, tickets from £1

As part of Giants: Half Term, book a slot in our LEGO® building sessions and create your own ‘Giants’ inspired model.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/giants-half-term-big-build

Museum Socials
Learning Centre Seminar Room, Level 4
20 Feb & 20 Mar
10:30–12:00
Free, booking required

Our Museum Socials events are designed for people living with dementia, their relatives, friends, carers, and supporters. Relaxed and informal, each session explores a different museum theme through various interactive activities, including curator talks, object handling and creative crafts. And tea, cake and a warm welcome are always provided.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/museum-socials

The Amazing Mathemagic Show
Hawthornden Court, Level 1
21 Feb
10:30–13:00 and 13:30–16:00
Free, drop-in

Join students and staff from Edinburgh University as they use maths to transform into performers, musicians and astonishing mind readers. Whether you’re a maths enthusiast or number curious, there will be something for all ages at this interactive stall. Discover simple yet mind-boggling tricks that merge maths with magic.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/the-amazing-mathemagic-show

The Sunday Sketch
Various Galleries
22 Feb –22 Mar
14:00–16:00
Tickets from £13

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/the-sunday-sketch

Ceòl aig an Taigh Tasgaidh Music at the Museum
Hawthornden Court, Level 1
23 Feb
13:00–13:45
Free, drop-in

Celebrate World Gaelic Week 2026 at the National Museum of Scotland with a free concert. Join guitarist Innes White and singers Ceitlin Lilly and Ellen MacDonald to hear Gaelic songs in Hawthornden Court. You will also have the chance to learn some of the words and join in. All our musicians are members of the band ‘Sian’, known for their creative harmonies and imaginative musical arrangements.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/ceòl-aig-an-taigh-tasgaidh-music-at-the-museum

Magic Carpet: Gaelic Week Special / Seachdain na Gàidhlig
Kingdom of the Scots gallery, Level 1
25 Feb
10:30–11:15
Free, booking required

Come along to our Edinburgh Gaelic Week Magic Carpet special. This interactive session, suitable for under 5s and their accompanying adult, features songs, stories, rhymes, and play with no knowledge of Gaelic required. All children must be accompanied by an adult, with a maximum of two children per adult. We kindly ask that all attendees book a ticket.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/magic-carpet-gaelic-week-special

Sensory Sundays
Learning Centre, Studio 2, Level 4
1 Mar
11:00–12:00 and 14:00–15:00
Free, booking required

Sensory Sunday sessions are relaxed, fun, hands-on, and respond to the needs of the families participating.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/sensory-sunday

Magic Carpet
Meet at Hawthornden Court
6, 13 & 20 Mar
10:30–11:15 and 11:45–12:30
From £4 per session

Our Magic Carpet sessions introduce you and your little one to some of the fascinating objects and themes in the museum in a fun and interactive way. Each month we will explore a different theme using song, rhyme, movement, play and handling objects, to help you and your little one discover more about our topic.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/magic-carpet

Creative Workshop: Block Printing
Learning Centre Studios, Level 4, and Early People Gallery, Level -1
21 Mar
11:00–15:30
Tickets from £45

Join artist Georgie Fay to make unique paper and clay designs using woodcut printing techniques.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/creative-workshop-block-printing

Doug Allan: Giants of the Sea
Auditorium, Level 3
22 Mar
11:30
Tickets from £12

Featuring his own photographs and clips from well-known TV programmes, Doug will talk about the excitement and challenges he’s faced when working in the world’s oceans.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/doug-allan-giants-of-the-sea

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

Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life
Last Tuesday of every month
14:30-17:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-afternoon-national-museum-of-rural-life

Spring Explorers
14–17 Apr
10:30–15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/spring-explorers

Tractor Tots
24 Apr & 29 May 2026
Learning Centre
£25 per child for block of 3, £20 per Member child for block of 3

Running in blocks of three sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for our younger visitors, introducing them to rural life through interactive creative play. Each session will feature handling objects from our learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/tractor-tots

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

Pilot Training School
Concorde hangar
14–18 Feb
11:30–15:00
Free with museum admission

At the National Museum of Flight this half term, master the skills needed by pilots during the Second World War. Visitors of all ages are encouraged to step into the shoes of wartime aviators and test their abilities with a range of interactive activities. Participants can learn to read maps and use compasses for navigation, construct and fly steerable paper aeroplanes, and explore authentic pilot uniforms and flying gear.

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/pilot-training-school

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

Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Flight
Every second Sunday of the month, 10:00-12:00
Free with museum admission

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-morning-national-museum-of-flight

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

National Museums Scotland Listings

Exhibitions & displays

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

LAST CHANCE Cold War Scotland
Special Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3
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/cold-war-scotland

COMING SOON Giants
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3
Opening 31 Jan 2026
Tickets from £13

Giants showcases the colossal prehistoric creatures that lived after the extinction of the dinosaurs, 66 million years ago.

Discover life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, and fossils in this immersive, family friendly exhibition.The Giants exhibition is designed and produced by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.

Book your ticket now nms.ac.uk/giants

Events

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

Relaxed Morning
7 Dec
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

Ash Rise Afternoon
7 Dec
14:00-16:30
Auditorium, Level 1
£5, £4 Members & conc.

Join us for a special film screening and panel discussion to hear about the Ash Rise project. Learn more about Scotland’s native ash tree, the challenges of ash die-back and how the material is celebrated in contemporary furniture making.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/ash-rise-afternoon

Live Music Mondays
15 Dec
12:45 – 13:30
Free, drop in

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/live-music-mondays

Drawn Together at the Museum
27 – 30 Dec
10:30-16:00
Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free, drop-in

Join us in the National Museum of Scotland this festive period and be inspired to sketch some of the fascinating objects in our collection. Whether it’s an old favourite or something new to you, there will be plenty to catch your eye in our galleries.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/drawn-together-at-the-museum

Sprogmanay
1 Jan 2026
12:00-17:00
Free, drop-in

Shimmy, sparkle, and sing your way into the New Year as Sprogmanay returns for 2026. Enjoy an afternoon of fun for all ages with live music and performances. The full programme will be announced in December.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/sprogmanay

Conservation in action: Film showcase and panel
17 Jan 2026
13:30-15:00
Auditorium, Level 1
£5 adults, £4 conc.

From the wilds of Alaska to our very own National Museums Collection Centre in Granton, join us to explore inspiring conservation and environmental stories. In partnership with the Edinburgh Conservation Film Festival (ECFF) and Edinburgh Communities Climate Action Network (ECCAN), see a selection of short films and hear more from our panel of conservation champions.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/conservation-in-action-film-showcase-and-panel

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

Festive Weekend
6 & 7 Dec
11:00-16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Bring the family for a weekend of festive activities, and storytelling at the National Museum of Rural Life.

Get hands on with nature-inspired crafts in the Learning Centre, make some eco-friendly reindeer food to take home, then follow our festive trail around the museum galleries. Sign up on the day for panto-style storytelling in the theatre with the team from Macastory.

Book your visit now nms.ac.uk/events/festive-weekend

Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life
Last Tuesday of every month
14:30-17:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-afternoon-national-museum-of-rural-life

Tractor Tots
Jan & Feb 2026
Learning Centre
£25 per child for block of 3, £20 per Member child for block of 3

Running in blocks of three sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for our younger visitors, introducing them to rural life through interactive creative play. Each session will feature handling objects from our learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/tractor-tots

National Museum of Flight

East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian, EH39 5LF
Open Weekends only, 10:00–16:00 

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

Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Flight
Every second Sunday of the month, 10:00-12:00
Free with museum admission

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-morning-national-museum-of-flight

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

National Museums Scotland Listings

Exhibitions & displays

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

LAST CHANCE 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

Cold War Scotland is an output of Materialising the Cold War, a collaborative research project between National Museums Scotland and the University of Stirling.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/ColdWarScotland

NOW ON SALE Giants
Opens 31 Jan 2026
Ticketed

Tickets now on sale nms.ac.uk/exhibitions/giants

Events

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

Relaxed Morning: Monkeys: Our Primate Family
2 Nov
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
2 Nov & 7 Dec
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

Annual Open Evening
20 Nov
18:00-19:30
Auditorium, Level 1
Free, booking required

Join us for the Annual Open Evening to find out more about our collections and the work that we do across all our museums. The event will be hosted by Ian Russell, our Chair, and Dr Chris Breward, our Director. Dr Matthew Knight, Senior Curator of Prehistory will also present on Scotland’s First Warriors, a new exhibition opening at the National Museum of Scotland in 2026.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/annual-open-evening

Monkeys After Dark: Families
21 Nov
17:30-19:30
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 & Auditorium, Level 1
£18 adult, £13 conc. and £3 child

Enjoy after-hours access to Monkeys: Our Primate Family. This family session will include taster talks, hands-on activities and more.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/monkeys-after-dark-families

Monkeys After Dark: Adults
21 Nov
17:30-19:30
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3 & Auditorium, Level 1
£18 adult, £15 Members and conc.

This adults-only event features the opportunity to discover current research exploring the sex lives of our closest animal relatives and experience Monkeys: Our Primate Family exhibition afterhours.

See our primate handling collection with our museum experts including Principal Curator, Dr Andrew Kitchener. Explore 3D printed models and new digital software with our guest speakers to learn more about primate anatomy.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/monkeys-after-dark-adults

The Sunday Sketch
21-23 Nov
14:00-16:00
Ages 18+
Tickets from £13

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/the-sunday-sketch

Ash Rise Afternoon
7 Dec
14:00-16:30
Auditoirum, Level 1
£5, £4 Members & conc.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/ash-rise-afternoon

Drawn Together at the Museum
27 – 30 Dec
10:30-16:00
Grand Gallery, Level 1
Free, drop-in

Find out more nms.ac.uk/events/drawn-together-at-the-museum

Sprogmanay
1 Jan 2026
12:00-17:00
Free, drop-in

Find out more .nms.ac.uk/events/sprogmanay

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

Adult Workshop: Festive Willow Weaving
29 & 30 Nov
Learning Centre
£40, £35 Members and conc.

Led by artist and forager Max Johnson, choose from one or more workshops to make a willow wreath, willow star or willow reindeer and tree to take home. All workshops are suitable for beginners, with all materials and equipment provided.

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/adult-workshops-festive-willow-weaving

Festive Weekend
6 & & Dec
11:00-16:00
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Bring the family for a weekend of festive activities, and storytelling at the National Museum of Rural Life.

Book your visit now nms.ac.uk/events/festive-weekend

Relaxed Afternoon: National Museum of Rural Life
Last Tuesday of every month
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

Tractor Tots
Jan & Feb 2026
Learning Centre
£25 per child for block of 3, £20 per Member child for block of 3

Running in blocks of three sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for our younger visitors, introducing them to rural life through interactive creative play. Each session will feature handling objects from our learning boxes, singing, storytelling, rhymes, actions and sensory play to learn all about life in the countryside

Book now nms.ac.uk/events/tractor-tots

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

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

Relaxed Morning: National Museum of Flight
Every second Sunday of the month, 10:00-12:00
Free with museum admission

Book your visit nms.ac.uk/events/relaxed-morning-national-museum-of-flight

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

3000-year-old secret of the Peebles Hoard revealed

A year on from its acquisition by National Museums Scotland, initial conservation work has revealed exceptionally rare silver-coloured objects in one of the most significant hoards ever discovered in Scotland.

Dating to 1000–800 BCE, the Peebles Hoard comprises over 500 unusual bronze and organic objects and components, many without archaeological parallel anywhere in the world.

The defining technological characteristic of the Bronze Age is the widespread use and production of bronze, an alloy of copper and tin that is usually a deep golden colour. Conservation of the Peebles Hoard has revealed rare silver-coloured objects from an era when silver was unknown.

Analysis at the National Museums Collection Centre revealed the colour is the result of high levels of tin on the surface. This is thought to be the product of a deliberate enrichment technique by highly skilled craftspeople.

The hoard was discovered by a metal detectorist in the Scottish Borders in 2020 and allocated to National Museums Scotland through the Treasure Trove legal process in 2024. It was extracted from the ground in a single block and excavated under laboratory conditions at the National Museums Collection Centre in Edinburgh.

The bronze objects emerged encrusted with earth and green copper patina. After months of careful preparatory work to stabilise, assess and document the material in the hoard, conservators are painstakingly removing thousands of years of dirt and corrosion to reveal the spectacular lustre of the original surface.

It is estimated that it will take three years to complete the conservation of this exceptional Bronze Age discovery.

Bethan Bryan, Peebles Hoard Conservator at National Museums Scotland, said: “Working on the conservation of the Peebles Hoard is a rare privilege and definitely a career highpoint.

“As well as removing dirt and corrosion it is essential that we preserve as much precious organic material as possible for future research. Getting to this point has been a challenging and incredibly time-intensive process, but the moment the silvery surface began to emerge was magical, a secret revealed after 3000 years.”

The use of many of the objects in the hoard is yet to be discovered but it is believed that some may have adorned a horse or wooden vehicle. The tin-enriched decoration would have added to its impact, signifying high status and wealth through exquisite craft.

Efforts to secure funding for the continued research and conservation of the hoard are ongoing.

Dr Matthew Knight, Senior Curator of Prehistory at National Museums Scotland, said: “The Peebles Hoard is truly a one-of-a-kind discovery, and I have never seen anything like the stunning, silver-coloured finish of these Bronze Age objects. They almost glow.

Thanks to the generous support of our donors we are making significant progress. However, there is more to be done to prevent further deterioration of these fragile objects and continue our research to uncover more of the Hoard’s secrets.”

Conservation of the Peebles Hoard is supported by The Leche Trust, the Pilgrim Trust and a group of private trusts and individual donors.

Fossil discovery reveals new species of fanged reptile that once roamed Scotland

A fossil discovered on the Isle of Skye has revealed a new species and family of Jurassic reptile linked to the origins of lizards and snakes.

A study published in Nature today by an international team of researchers, led by the American Museum of Natural History and including National Museums Scotland, describes a previously unknown Jurassic reptile that lived around 167 million years ago. The species has been given the Gaelic name Breugnathair elgolensis meaning ‘false snake of Elgol’, referencing the area of southern Skye where it was discovered.

Breugnathair had snake-like jaws and highly recurved teeth, similar to those of modern-day pythons. Unlike living snakes, it had the proportions and limbs of a lizard. The fossil is among the oldest and most complete Jurassic lizards known to science.

Breugnathair was a squamate, the largest order of scaled reptiles, including lizards and snakes. The species has been placed in a new family Parviraptoridae, an enigmatic group of extinct, predatory squamates.

Previously known from very incomplete remains, parviraptorids were thought by some to be the first snakes. Breugnathair might therefore provide evidence of the lizard-like ancestors of snakes, but it also has primitive anatomical traits suggesting that parviraptorids were stem-squamates, the predecessors of all lizards and snakes.

Lead author Dr Roger Benson, Curator of Paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History, said: “Snakes are remarkable animals that evolved long, limbless bodies from lizard-like ancestors.

“Breugnathair has snake-like feature of the teeth and jaws, but in other ways is surprisingly primitive. This might be telling us that snake ancestors were very different to what we expected, or it could instead be evidence for evolution of predatory habits in a primitive, extinct group”

The fossil was discovered near Elgol by National Museums Scotland curator Dr Stig Walsh, and is now part of the Museum’s collection. Other recent Jurassic discoveries from Skye include the Elgol dinosaur, the most complete dinosaur skeleton found to date in Scotland; adult and juvenile Krusatodon, that revealed that these mammals grew more slowly during the Jurassic than mammals do today; and the world’s largest Jurassic pterosaur fossil, Dearc sgiathanach.

Dr Stig Walsh, Senior Curator of Vertebrate Palaeobiology at National Museums Scotland and co-author of the study, said: “The Isle of Skye is one of the most important Middle Jurassic sites in the world.

“Breugnathair elgolensis is a remarkable addition to the fossil record, helping to rewrite our understanding of the evolution of snakes and lizards. We’re delighted to add it to the other amazing finds in the National Collection that were discovered in Skye, truly Scotland’s Jurassic Isle.”

In addition to the American Museum of Natural History and National Museums Scotland, the study involved researchers from the University of Cambridge, University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and University College London.

The fossil was also analysed by the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble. A particle accelerator that produces high-power X-rays, was used to non-destructively scan the fossil and reveal their internal structure in unprecedented detail.

Professor Susan Evans of UCL, who co-led the study, said: “The Jurassic fossil deposits on the Isle of Skye are of world importance for our understanding of the early evolution of many living groups, including lizards which were beginning their diversification at around this time.

“I first described parviraptorids some 30 years ago based on more fragmentary material, so it’s a bit like finding the top of the jigsaw box many years after you puzzled out the original picture from a handful of pieces. The mosaic of primitive and specialised features we find in parviraptorids, as demonstrated by this new specimen, is an important reminder that evolutionary paths can be unpredictable.”

Mosaic anatomy in an early fossil squamate is published in Nature: npj Palaeoecosystems.

The paper will be available here, from 16:00 on Wednesday 1 October 2025