Cockburn Museum of Geology at the University of Edinburgh
Geology and Geophysics, King's Building, West Mains Road
Edinburgh EH9 3JF
The Cockburn Museum at King's Buildings holds a very extensive collection of geological specimens and historical objects which reflect Edinburgh's prominent position in geological sciences since the time of James Hutton (1726-1797) and its continuing activity today.
Georgian House
7 Charlotte Square
Edinburgh EH2 4DR
The Georgian House is part of Robert Adam's masterpiece of urban design, Charlotte Square. It dates from 1796, when those who could afford it began to escape from the cramped, squalid conditions of Edinburgh's Old Town to settle in the fashionable New Town.
Menzies Campbell Dental Museum
9 Hill Square
Edinburgh EH8 9RU
The Dental Museum incorporates the Menzies Campbell collection of dental instruments, artefacts and art. It is one of the largest dental collections in this country and demonstrates the development of dentistry from its early days to modern times.
Museum Collections Centre
10 Broughton Market
Edinburgh EH3 6NU
This centre houses the reserve collections of the city museums. There are many interesting objects on 'open storage' display, especially social history objects, decorative art and archaeology collections. Open for group and individual visits on the first Tuesday of the month at 2pm.
Museum of Childhood
42 High Street, Royal Mile
Edinburgh EH1 1TG
The museum of Childhood is a fun day out for the whole family. Young people can learn about the children of the past and see a fantastic range of toys and games, while adults enjoy a trip down memory lane.
Museum of Edinburgh
Huntly House, 142 Canongate
Edinburgh EH8 8DD
The museum of Edinburgh is the City's treasure box - a maze of historic rooms crammed full of iconic objects from the capital's past. Find out about the history of Edinburgh from the earliest times to the present day.
Museum of Fire
Lothian and Borders Fire Brigade, Brigade Headquarters, Lauriston Place
Edinburgh EH3 9DE
The museum of Fire tells the history of the oldest municipal fire brigade in the United Kingdom, formed in 1824. Housed in the historic Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters building at Lauriston, it shows the development of firefighting in an exciting and educational way. On display is a range of engines including manual, horse drawn, steam and motorised pumps dating from 1806, along with many other fire related items from as far back as 1426.
Museum on the Mound, The
HBOS plc, The Mound
Edinburgh EH1 1YZ
Treasures from the HBOS collections. Opened in 2006, this fascinating museum takes a fresh look at money - and much, much more. Art and design, technology, crime, trade and security - all feature in the story of money.
National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street
Edinburgh EH1 1JF
From the age of dinosaurs to the technology of the future, our galleries contain treasures from around the world. From meteorites to monsters from the deep, our Natural World galleries tell the story of our planet, while our World Cultures gallery links people and possessions across the globe. Follow the story of Scotland from prehistory to the present day in our Scottish galleries, marvel at a spectacular array of over 800 objects in our Window on the World and meet the Scots whose ideas, innovations and leadership took them across the world in our Discoveries gallery.
National War Museum Scotland
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh EH1 2NG
War and military service have touched the lives of countless Scots, leaving their mark on Scotland's history, image and reputation abroad. Here, in the magnificent setting of Edinburgh Castle, explore over 400 years of the Scottish military experience.
People's Story Museum
Canongate Tolbooth 163 Canongate
Edinburgh EH8 8BN
The People's Story explores the lives of Edinburgh's ordinary people at work and play from the late 18th century to today. Visitors can see displays showing a bookbinder's workshop, a wartime kitchen and much more, all packed with real objects.
Reid Concert Hall Museum of Instruments at the University of Edinburgh
Reid Concert Hall, Bristo Square
Edinburgh EH8 9AG
On display are 1000 items including stringed, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments from Britain, Europe and from distant lands. the instrumental history of the orchestra, the wind band, theatre, dance, popular music, parlour music, brass bands, etc.
Royal Observatory Visitor Centre
Blackford Hill
Edinburgh EH9 3HJ
Your window into the world of astronomy. The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh is housed in a bold Italianate building located on Blackford Hill two miles south of the city.
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum
The Castle
Edinburgh EH1 2YT
Visit the museum of the famous Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Edinburgh Castle. Experience over 300 years of history from Scotland's only cavalry regiment.
Royal Scots Regimental Museum
The Castle
Edinburgh EH1 2YT
The museum is situated in Edinburgh Castle. It is a private one and, as we do not receive any part of the admission charge to the castle, it is financially dependent on voluntary contributions.
Sir Jules Thorn Historical Exhibition
9 Hill Square
Edinburgh EH8 9RU
The Sir Jules Thorn Exhibition, adjacent to the Playfair Hall, is a display illustrating the scope of modern surgery. It includes examples of the surgical specialties.
South Side Museum
Nelson Hall Community Centre, 5 Spittalfield Crescent
Edinburgh EH8 9QZ
The legacy of Thomas Nelson Jnr built the hall in 1913 to be used as a place 'to which persons of the working class and others can go to sit, read, write, converse and otherwise occupy themselves'. 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.
St Cecilia's Hall Museum of Instruments at the University of Edinburgh
St Cecilia's Hall, Niddry Street, Cowgate
Edinburgh EH1 1LJ
On display are some 50 of the world's most important and best-preserved early keyboard instruments: harpsichords, virginals, spinets, organs and fortepianos from the period of their first construction to around 1840, many in playing order, and a new display of harps, lutes, citterns and guitars.
Surgeons' Hall Museum
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, 18 Nicolson Street
Edinburgh EH8 9DW
Surgeons' Hall houses one of the largest and most historic collections of surgical pathology in the world. Developed as a teaching museum for students of medicine, its fascinating collections, including bone and tissue specimens, artefacts and works of art, have also been open to the public since 1832, making it Scotland's oldest museum.
University of Edinburgh, Anatomy Museum
Teviot Place
Edinburgh EH8 9AG
The Anatomical Museum, founded and developed by the Monro dynasty, flourished under Sir William Turner, Professor of Anatomy from 1867 to 1903, and Principal of the University from 1903 to 1917. Turner had broad interests in evolution and comparative anatomy and built up the impressive collections displayed. The splendid museum hall was at the heart of the new Medical School designed by the architect Robert Rowand Anderson.
University of Edinburgh, Natural History Collections
The Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, West Mains Road
Edinburgh EH9 3JT
The University has been collecting zoological specimens for teaching and research for over three hundred years. The invertebrate and vertebrate specimens are displayed within a taxonomic framework to illustrate the diversity of the animal kingdom.
Water of Leith
Water of Leith Visitor Centre, 24 Lanark Road
Edinburgh EH14 1TQ
Explore Edinburgh's hidden natural asset, the Water of Leith, visit our fantastic interactive exhibition at the Visitor Centre and discover the river's wildlife and heritage. The information panels surrounding the unique video well describe the walkway, the river's past, its bridges, its industry, and its people.
Writers' Museum
Lady Stair's House, Lady Stair's Close, Lawnmarket
Edinburgh EH1 2PA
Visitors can see portraits, rare books and personal objects including Burns' writing desk, the printing press on which Scott's Waverley Novels were first produced, and Scott's own dining table and rocking horse. 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'.