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Edinburgh Museums (Edinburgh, Scotland, UK)



Edinburgh has an excellent range of museums, which are situated in and around central Edinburgh. These notable museums are home to some of Edinburgh's most extensive, historic collections. Exhibitions at Edinburgh's museums range from large to small, local to international and many are located in magnificent buildings, right in the heart of Edinburgh. Here are some of the top museums in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Museums: Museum of Edinburgh - Huntly House, 142-146 Canongate, Edinburgh, EH8, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 529 4143
This old-fashioned museum is one of the most important museums in Edinburgh and is housed in three original tenements opposite Edinburgh's Cannongate Tolbooth. Attractions at the Museum of Edinburgh include the National Covenant, Greyfriar's Bobby's collar and feeding bowl, and numerous museum artefacts - many of which date from Roman times. The museum's ancient buildings were connected in 1570 and the architecture of particular interest.
Museum open: September to July, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, August, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 14:00 to 17:00
Admission free




Edinburgh Museums: Museum of Scotland - Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 247 4422
Located in the Old Town area of Edinburgh, the Museum of Scotland is one of the most popular museums in the Edinburgh area and features many attractions for tourists and visitors to Edinburgh city. With a number of exhibitions explaining the history of Scotland, attractions at the Edinburgh Museum of Scotland include historic Scottish artefacts, fossils, ancient jewellery, geological exhibits and much more besides. Founded in 1998, Edinburgh's Museum of Scotland was designed by Bensin and Forsyth in 1998 and houses all of the Scottish artefacts owned by National Museums of Scotland, many of which were previously on display in the Portrait Gallery.
Museum open: Monday, Wednesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Tuesday - 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Museum admission: free

Edinburgh Museums: John Knox House Museum - 43 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 556 9579
It is believed that Edinburgh's 16th-century religious reformer John Knox died here in 1572 and this house is now home to a detailed museum, with extensive exhibitions about the Scottish Reformation. This is one of the oldest residences in the Edinburgh area and was built in 1450. Attractions at Edinburgh's John Knox House Museum include an audio re-enactment of Knox's debate with the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots,
Museum open: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 16:00 (July and August)
Museum admission: charge, discounts available for senior citizens and children aged between 7 to 15 years old, children under 7 years old are free

Edinburgh Museums: Newhaven Heritage Museum - Newhaven Harbour, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 4LP, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 551 4165
The Newhaven Heritage Museum, in the Leith dockland area of Edinburgh, celebrates the local history of this attractive Edinburgh fishing port. Attractions at Edinburgh's Newhaven Heritage Museum include numerous local artefacts, paintings, many temporary exhibitions throughout the year and there are often special events for children at Edinburgh's Newhaven Heritage Museum.
Museum open: daily - 12:00 to 16:45
Museum admission: free

Edinburgh Museums: Museum of Childhood - 42 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 529 4142
The Edinburgh Museum of Childhood is a museum for everyone visiting Edinburgh, not just children. Founded by local councillor Patrick Murray in 1955, the Edinburgh Museum of Childhood has many small, interesting rooms, crammed with historic toys, numerous dolls' houses, toy circuses, train sets and general children's paraphernalia. Other attractions at the Edinburgh Museum of Children include temporary themed-exhibitions and a museum gift shop.
Museum open: September to June, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, July and August, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Museum admission: free

Edinburgh Museums: Royal Museum - Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 225 7534
Edinburgh's Royal Museum , next to the Museum of Scotland, boasts a stunning atrium and lofty Victorian galleries. This grand Victorian museum is full of interesting and typical museum exhibits, including geology, anthropology, fossils, taxonomy, costumes, Chinese art, the oldest steam engine in the world, enormous whale skeletons and industrial artefacts. There are also a number of glass cases full of stuffed animals and Edinburgh's Royal Museum also features many temporary exhibitions throughout the year.
Museum open: Monday, Wednesday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Tuesday - 10:00 to 20:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Museum admission: free

Edinburgh Museums: Edinburgh Museum of Fire - Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9DE, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 228 2401
The Edinburgh Museum of Fire is one of the most striking Edinburgh museums, with an imposing red sandstone exterior and grand Victorian architecture. This interesting Edinburgh museum has many fascinating displays, which detail the history of the oldest fire brigade in the United Kingdom. Attractions at the Edinburgh Museum of Fire include historic fireman's uniforms, steam engines, fire equipment and fire engines, some of which are more than 200 years old. The museum is located in the Old Town area of Edinburgh and guided tours of the Edinburgh Museum of Fire are available.
Museum admission: free

Edinburgh Museums: National Library of Scotland - George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EW, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 226 4531
Edinburgh's National Library of Scotland can be found in the Old Town area of Edinburgh and houses Scotland's national collection of books and documents. With more than seven million books, manuscripts, maps, and historical papers, Edinburgh's National Library of Scotland features many temporary exhibitions throughout the year. Of particular interest is a 14th-century map of the world and an original letter written by Mary, Queen of Scots.
Museum open: Monday to Friday - 09:30 to 20:30, Saturday - 09:30 to 13:00
Museum admission: free

Edinburgh Museums: Edinburgh Queensferry Museum - 53 High Street, Queensferry, Edinburgh, EH30 9HP, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 331 5545
The Edinburgh Queensferry Museum can by found in the suburbs of Edinburgh and celebrates the growth and history of the area of Edinburgh. Attractions at the Edinburgh Queensferry Museum include memorabilia from the Royal family, displays about the Forth Estuary and a powerful telescope, which provides stunning views of the surrounding Edinburgh countryside.
Museum open: Monday, Thursday to Saturday - 10:00 to 13:00, 14:15 to 17:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Museum admission: free

Edinburgh Museums: Writers' Museum - Lady Stairs House, Lawnmarket, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2PA, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 529 4901
Edinburgh's Writers' Museum, in the Old Town area of Edinburgh, is set in a charming 17th-century house, which is full of history and character. With exhibits, displays and extensive memorabilia about many famous writers, such as Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson, Edinburgh's Writer's Museum also features many rare collections of interest.
Museum open: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 14:00 to 17:00 (during festival)
Museum admission: free

Edinburgh Museums: Scottish Agricultural Museum - Ingliston, Edinburgh, EH28 8NB, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 333 2674
The Scottish Agricultural Museum, located on the outskirts of Edinburgh, has many fascinating exhibits and displays relating to historic country life in Scotland and the Edinburgh area. Attractions at Edinburgh's Scottish Agricultural Museum include photographs, audio-visuals, books, tools, ancient farming machinery, a tearoom and a museum gift shop.
Museum open: April to September, daily - 10:00 to 17:00, October to March, Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 17:00
Museum admission: free

Edinburgh Museums: National War Museum of Scotland - Edinburgh Castle, Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG, Scotland, UK
Tel: +44 (0)131 225 7534
With extensive exhibits spanning more than 400 years of Scottish military history, Edinburgh's National War Museum of Scotland is one of the most historic museums in Edinburgh. Attractions at Edinburgh's National War Museum of Scotland includes six new spacious galleries, themed-exhibits, ancient soldier uniforms, swords and many other types of Edinburgh war paraphernalia. The National War Museum of Scotland is situated in the Old Town area of Edinburgh.
Museum open: daily, April to November - 09:45 to 17:30, December to March - 09:45 to 16:30
Museum admission: charge, discounts available for senior citizens and children

 
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