Edinburgh museums
Opening Times
Visit the website for opening times
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Cost
Adult £22.95
Child £17.95
Under 5 years free
slightly cheaper if you book online
What they say
With five floors and over 100 interactive, hands-on exhibits, we have something fun to entertain all ages. Tour Edinburgh’s streets without moving. Test your brain against mind-bending illusions. Take spectacular cityscape photographs from our Rooftop Terrace. It’s all part of the Camera Obscura & World of Illusions experience.
The Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage
1A Dryden Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 4NB
Opening times
Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm
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Cost
Free
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What they say
We are a 5-Star museum located in Edinburgh City Centre that tells the story of Scottish firefighting from its inception to present day. Our museum is compact and great to leisurely explore antique fire engines, engaging interactives, artefacts and more.
MoSFH focuses on five themes: Heritage, On the Run, Being a Firefighter, Your Safety and World Wars. Our galleries explore almost 30 different stories through your journey, with interactives for the entire family.
Dynamic Earth
Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh, EH8 8AS
Opening Times
Visit the website for opening times
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Cost
Adult £19.50
Child Age 4-15 £12.00
Under 4 years free
What they say
At the foot of a volcano in the historic city of Edinburgh lies Dynamic Earth, the UK’s leading earth science centre.
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Our immersive, interactive and impactful visitor experience takes you on a journey through the story of our extraordinary planet, from beginning to end.
Be there at the moment of the Big Bang, rocket through the universe billions of times faster than the speed of light, feel the effects of a real volcano, get closer to understanding the polar ice caps by touching our iceberg, stare in wonder at the Aurora Borealis, watch powerful glaciers carve out entire continents, dive to the dark depths of the ocean, and avoid rainstorms in our tropical rainforest. All of this, plus our incredible planetarium, and an ever-changing schedule of activities and events makes Dynamic Earth Edinburgh’s must-visit attraction.
Water of Leith Visitor Centre
24 Lanark Road, Edinburgh
EH14 1TQ
Opening times
Open every day from 10am till 4pm
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Cost
Free
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What they say
The Water of Leith Visitor Centre is situated in a renovated schoolhouse by the Water of Leith. It combines a free exhibition together with a cafe selling teas, coffees and snacks. There’s also a gift shop selling books and souvenirs.
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Visit the exhibition to explore information panels describing the walkway, the river’s past, its bridges, its industry, and its people. Take part in the interactive zone, where the experience comes alive. Cause a flood, try to stop the giant waterwheel turning, control the sluices as you splash around these large stainless steel interactive models. On the unique ‘Call of the Wild Wall‘ listen for the sights and sounds of the river bank. Finally, get up close to the river’s creepy crawlies through the video ‘Bioscope‘.
​National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Opening times
Open every day from 10am till 5pm
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Cost
Free
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What they say
Fire your imagination at the National Museum of Scotland, one of the UK’s top 10 visitor attractions.
Our diverse collections take you on a journey of discovery through the history of Scotland, the wonders of nature, art and design, science and technology, and world cultures – all under one roof.
Museum of Edinburgh
142-146 Canongate, Edinburgh,
EH8 8DD
Opening times
Open every day from 10am till 5pm
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Cost
Free
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What they say
Discover Edinburgh’s fascinating history through the Museum of Edinburgh’s wide and varied collections. In exploring the Museum’s maze of 16th century buildings, you will see iconic items, beautiful objects and learn fascinating facts and gruesome tales.
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This free museum is easy to locate on the historic Royal Mile and with a wide range of stories and objects, this museum has something for young and old, locals and visitors. In addition to the permanent collections, there is a regular programme of special exhibitions hosted at the museum.
The Writers' Museum
Lawnmarket, Lady Stair's Cl, Edinburgh, EH1 2PA
Opening times
Open every day from 10am till 5pm
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Cost
Free
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What they say
The Writers’ Museum celebrates the lives of three giants of Scottish Literature – Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
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Home to portraits, rare books and personal objects including Burns’ writing desk, the printing press on which Scott’s Waverley Novels were first produced, and the rocking horse he used as a child. We have Robert Louis Stevenson’s riding boots and the ring given to him by a Samoan chief, engraved with the name ‘Tusitala’, meaning ‘teller of tales’. There is also a plaster cast of Robert Burns' skull, one of only three ever made.
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With a wide range of stories and objects this museum has something for everyone to enjoy, whether young or old, local resident or visitor. You don’t need to have read these writers’ works to enjoy the fascinating life stories told in the Writers’ Museum.
Makars' Court
Lawnmarket, Lady Stair's Cl, Edinburgh EH1 2PA
Opening times
Open every day from 10am till 5pm
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Cost
Free
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What they say
Makars’ Court is an evolving national literary monument where you can see some of the famous words of great Scottish writers inscribed in the flagstones.
The Scots word Makar means ‘one who fashions, constructs, produces, prepares, etc.’ (Dictionary of the Scots Language), and in a literary context it is the role of the poet or author as a skilled and versatile worker in the craft of writing.
We have many such folk living in Scotland, and to celebrate the importance of writers in our lives, in this City of Literature, Edinburgh has adopted its own version of the Poet Laureate: the Edinburgh Makar.
Surgeons' Hall Museums
Nicolson Street
Edinburgh, EH8 9DW
Opening times
Open every day from 10am till 5pm
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Cost
Adults £9.50
Child (5-17)- £5.00
Under 5s - Free
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What they say
Surgeons' Hall Museums is an award winning Museum that is home to one of the largest and most historic pathology collections in the United Kingdom.
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Uncover centuries of surgical development with a reconstructed anatomy theatre as a centrepiece. Hear the story of Scotland’s first public dissection and find out the true story about Burke and Hare in our History of Surgery Museum. Learn the story of Joseph Lister and the breakthrough discovery of antiseptic and James Young Simpson and the discovery of chloroform as an anaesthetic. Find out more about the real life inspiration for Sherlock Holmes and his connection to the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.