History Museums in Edinburgh

The National Museum of Scotland is housed in a Romanesque Revival building. The collection of the museum includes a wide variety of objects that are displayed on seven floors, including artifacts from the age of dinosaurs up to current technology and science. It takes visitors on a journey through t

This most famous of Scottish castles has a complex building history. The oldest part, St Margaret’s Chapel, dates from the 12th century; the Great Hall was erected by James IV around 1510; the Half Moon Battery by the Regent Morton in the late 16th century; and the Scottish National War Memorial aft

Underneath the Royal Mile lies a warren of underground streets and houses that has remained frozen in time since the 17th century. In the company of an expert guide, visitors can explore the site and experience what it was like for people who lived, worked and died here. It is a journey through tim

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is a museum in Edinburgh. The museum features exhibits related to: fine art, architecture and decorative and applied art. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: the royal collection includes paintings, drawings and watercolours, furniture, ceramics, clocks

The National War Museum Scotland is dedicated to the 400 years of wars and battles. Visitors can see military equipment and weapons, but there are also uniforms, kilts, medals and silverware on display. Besides that, the museum features a special exhibition devoted to Highland soldiers who rebelled

The museums are home to one of the largest and most historic pathology collections in the United Kingdom. As one of the oldest Museums in Scotland, the collections grew from 1699 after 'natural and artificial curiosities' were publically sought, with the Playfair Building opening in 1832 to house th

The Museum of Edinburgh is housed in a historical building from the late 16th century and tells the story of the city's history, guiding visitors through Edinburgh's past to reveal its origins and legends. Among all the objects in its collection is ​a copy of the National Covenant, an artifact from

Craigmillar Castle is a museum in Edinburgh. The museum features exhibits related to Social History and Architecture.

Holyrood Abbey is a museum in Edinburgh. The museum features exhibits related to: archaeology, architecture and social history.

The Museum of Childhood houses a collection that ranges from the 18th to the 21st century, that includes dolls and other toys, spread across four floors. Children will enjoy the toys and adults can learn about what the childhood looked like in the past.

The Museum on the Mound exhibits treasures from the HBOS collections. Located in the historic Bank of Scotland Head Office, the museum takes a look at the story of money which features art & design, technology, crime, trade and security.

The Peoples' Story Museum is a museum in Edinburgh that aims to cover the ordinary lives of Edinburgh's common folk.

A Royal residence for over 40 years, The Royal Yacht Britannia sailed over 1,000,000 nautical miles on 968 state visits with the Royal Family. Now a five-star visitor attraction in Edinburgh, you can tour five decks of the last Royal Yacht and discover stories of life at sea for both the Royal Famil

Lauriston Castle is a 16th-century tower house with 19th-century extensions. The museum lets visitors step back in time to experience what life was like in an Edinburgh middle-class home at the beginning of the 20th century. The collections at Lauriston Castle were assembled by Lauriston’s last resi

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum is a museum in Edinburgh. The museum features exhibits related to: social history, costume and textiles and weapons and war. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: objects used by the scots greys at the battle of waterloo, eagle and standard of t

Royal Scots Regimental Museum is a museum in Edinburgh that tells the story of the Regiment in chronological order on pictorial wall panels supported by maps, display cases, tableaux and dioramas. Its medal collection is partly on display. Besides this, the museum features weapons, pictures, collect

The South Side Museum is located in the Gray Room and displays artefacts from the South Side's industrial past, school mementoes and old local photographs.

The Museum Collections Centre houses objects spanning a wide range of subjects. Visitors can view the reserve collections of the social history, Museum of Childhood and applied art collections when the items are not on display in the museums.