What’s On at National Museums Scotland

Please find below the latest National Museums Scotland listings:   

 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

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

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 
Until 06 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 behavior, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world.

Book now nms.ac.uk/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year

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

Game On
29 Jun – 03 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 art form.

From Sonic the Hedgehog to Mario, explore gaming’s rich history through over 100 playable games from the last five decades.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/game-on

Cold War Scotland  
13 Jul 2024 – 26 Jan 2025 
10:00 – 17:00 
Special Exhibition Gallery 2, Level 3 
Free 

Exploring Scotland’s critical position on the frontline of the Cold War, a new exhibition will tell the stories of the Scots at the centre of this global conflict. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/ColdWarScotland

Events

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

Edinburgh Science Festival  
30 Mar – 14 Apr  
10:00 – 17:00, with some events after 17:00 
Book via Edinburgh Science’s website  

Join us as we host two weeks of science-fuelled exploration at the National Museum of Scotland, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks and events. 

Find out more nms.ac.uk/sciencefestival  

Audio-Described Access Evening: Wildlife Photographer of the Year  
16 Apr  
17:30–19:00 
Special Exhibition Gallery 1, Level 3  

Join us after hours for an audio-described tour of key exhibits in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. The tour will last around one hour with the option to explore the exhibition independently afterwards. This event is particularly aimed at those who are blind, partially sighted or visually impaired. Recommended age is 8+. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/AudioDescribedWPY 

Sensory Sunday: Exploring Ancient Egypt  
05 May  
14:00  
Level 4, Studio 2, Learning Centre 
Free, booking required  

Families with children with additional support needs and disabilities 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.

You are welcome to come and go at any point during a session.

These sessions are suitable for children with additional support needs, neurodivergent children or children with disabilities.

The content is aimed at ages 5-10 but is not set – we welcome all families who think they might enjoy these sessions. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/sensorysunday   

Magic Carpet Minis
Block 1 (08,15 and 22 May) 
10:30 & 14:00 on Wednesdays
£15.00 per child for block of 3
£13.50 per Member 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/MagicCarpetMinis

Magic Carpet Toddlers  
Block 1 (13, 20 & 27 May)  
10:30–11:15 or 14:00–14:45 
£15.00 per child for block of 3 
£13.50 per Member child for block of 3 

Magic Carpet Toddlers introduces you and your little one to some of the wonderful galleries, objects and themes in the museum in a fun and interactive way. Taking place in different spaces around the museum, you will explore subjects such as the natural world, science and technology, world cultures and Scottish history through songs, stories, rhymes, actions, objects and short activities. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/magiccarpettoddlers 

Wellbeing Wanders  
13-17 May  
11:30-12:00 
Meet at the Lighthouse Lens, Grand Gallery, Level 1  
Free, sign up on the day

Join us on a guided walk around the museum for Wellbeing Week. Explore the collections and take part in mini mindful sessions at each stop along the way with these short, free guided walks.   

Find out more nms.ac.uk/wellbeingwanders   

Curiosity Club: Ancient Egypt 
18 May 
10:30-12:00 
Level 4, Learning Centre  
£10 (Members and Concessions £9) 

Capturing some of the museum’s most exciting collections, this is a chance for kids to explore the museum through games, activities and gallery visits. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/curiosityclub 

Wellbeing Week: Mindful Art at the Museum  
19 May  
11:30-12:30 
Meet at the Tower Entrance, Level 1  
£10, £8 Members and Concession  

Join artist Kayleigh McCallum and mindfulness practitioner Charlene Duncan for mindful sketching in our galleries. This small group session in our galleries will start with a short introduction to mindfulness, followed by guided sketching and then some final mindfulness exercises. Suitable for all levels, including complete beginners. All materials will be provided. All ages welcome, but recommended age 8+. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/MindfulArt   

Slow Down Sunday for Families  
19 May  
10:30–11:15 & 13:00–13:45 
Event Space, Level 2 
Free, booking required 

Join author and mindfulness teacher Natasha Iregbu as she invites families to practice mindfulness in a fun and enjoyable way. Natasha and her excitable butterfly Amaya will take you on a journey of storytelling and mindfulness as they guide you and your children to use your senses and practice being in the moment. The session will include a book reading, mindfulness activities, yoga movement and a craft activity. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/SlowDownSunday   

Edinburgh International Children’s Festival: Family Encounters Day  
25 May  
10:00 – 16:30 
Grand Gallery, Level 1 
Free, drop-in 
Some activities may require sign-up on the day

At our Festival Family Encounters Day, enjoy exciting new performances and interactive experiences from local artists, pop-up theatre and dance shows, walk-about character actors and plenty of hands-on family activities. 

The full event programme will be published in early May.     

Find out more nms.ac.uk/FamilyEncounters   

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

Flying into the Future  
1 Apr – 5 Apr  
11:00 – 15:00 
Concorde Hangar 
Free with museum admission 

From airships to autogyros and electric to hydrogen-powered aircraft, discover how we might fly in the future with fun, family activities.

Activities include a family technical challenge where you will use craft materials to build something that flies, a staff-led tour of the Civil Aviation Hangar and a trail exploring the 50+ aircraft on display in the museum. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/IntotheFuture 

Behind the Scenes Tours 
24 Apr & 29 May  
Free with museum admission  
Booking required  

Find out about our collection of aero-engines and propellers on a curator-led tour of our Object Store. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/BehindtheScenes 


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

Spring Explorers
8 – 11 Apr 2024
10:30 – 15:30
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Our Spring Explorer school holiday activities are back, and this time they’re all to do with Scotland’s folklore and wildlife.

Find out more nms.ac.uk/Spring-Explorers

Tractor Tots 
Until May 2024
10:15 & 13:30
Various dates
Ticketed

Running in blocks of three Friday morning sessions, Tractor Tots offers a fun, focused experience for our younger visitors, introducing them to the museum and farm, and bringing it to life through interactive creative play.

Each session will take place in a different location at the museum and working farm, and 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/tractor-tots 

Woolly Weekend  
18 & 19 May  
11:00 –16:00 
Free with museum admission and Annual Pass

Join us for a weekend of all things woolly at the National Museum of Rural Life. 

Book now nms.ac.uk/WoollyWeekend 

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