ONE MUSEUM. A WORLD OF STORIES.

A little curiosity.
A world to discover.

Your personal walk through the National Museum of Scotland.
Eight stops, extraordinary objects, and stories worth slowing down for.

01 — 08

From a single cell to a city skyline.

◷ 90–120 min · ♧ Self-paced

EXPLORE BY LEVEL

Level 1 · The highlights

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From the Main Entrance on Level 0, take stairs or a lift to Level 1. Start in the Grand Gallery.

Tap a number to find a stop

Tour stops · Map © National Museums Scotland ↗Markers show galleries, not display cases. No indoor positioning.

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Take a closer look

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A LITTLE PREPARATION

Room for discovery.

Settle in, take your time, and make the museum your own.

Your day at the museum

General admission is free; some special exhibitions charge. The museum is on Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF. Standard hours are 10 am–5 pm daily; it is closed on 25 December, and opens noon–5 pm on 26 December and 1 January.

This selected-highlights walk takes around 90–120 minutes. Check current opening information and gallery availability before you set off.

Plan your visit ↗

Your stories, spoken

Tap Play at any stop to hear original narration using your device’s installed English voices. Headphones are ideal; keep the volume low and pause in a clear space before listening.

Speech availability and offline playback depend on your browser and installed voices. Every story has a full transcript. Keep the app open while listening.

Finding your way

The route starts in the Grand Gallery on Level 1. The first six stops are on that level, followed by Ancient Egypt on Level 5 and the optional Roof Terrace on Level 7. The integrated floor plan shows each stop’s gallery. Markers indicate gallery areas rather than exact display cases; use the exhibit names and labels to find the objects inside.

Lifts serve all floors. Ask staff which lift reaches your next gallery; use the Terrace Lift for the rooftop. Seating and portable stools are available. Displays and lift access can change.

Access, seating & sensory information ↗

A clock, and a view

The Millennium Clock normally performs on the hour from 11 am, with music, lights and moving figures. Check with staff, and rearrange the Level 1 stops if you want to catch it.

The Roof Terrace normally opens 10 am–4:45 pm, earlier closing than the museum. It is optional: skip it if closed or weather makes it unsuitable. From Level 5 use the Terrace Lift or the signed stairs from Industry and Empire.

Roof Terrace visitor information ↗

An independent guide, unaffiliated with National Museums Scotland. Original stories researched from the museum’s official collection and visitor pages, checked 23 October 2026. Source links appear with each transcript. Floor plans adapted from the official museum map © National Museums Scotland. No live object availability or indoor positioning. The museum also offers its own free Smartify highlights audio tour; see its official map for details.