Museum of Edinburgh

No day out on the Royal Mile is complete without a visit to the Museum of Edinburgh, where the City’s past is brought vividly to life.

About Museum of Edinburgh

	142 Canongate Royal Mile, High Street, Edinburgh Old Town EH8 8DD
	01315294143
	Museum of Edinburgh Website

Listed Under Attractions - Museums

Visit the Museum’s newest attraction, Foundation – the Story of a City, for a unique journey through Edinburgh’s history. Watch the city grow beneath your feet in the Museum’s new blacked-out theatre.

Decipher the signatures on the National Covenant and imagine the Royal Mile as the hub of Scottish society and politics.

Admire the silverware – work produced by metalworkers called hammermen whose craft guild owned part of this building in former times. Then there is the glassware, much of it made and engraved in the Canongate close by the Museum. There are long case clocks from Edinburgh and a wide range of Scottish pottery.

Look at our sedan chair, old town models and James Craig’s New Town plans - what a contrast between old and new. You can see Greyfriars Bobby’s collar and bowl, dress up in our replica costumes and get creative in our interactive space.

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Upcoming Events at Museum of Edinburgh

Exhibitions

Making a Statement: Craft & Activism in Edinburgh

17th September 2025 - 26th January 2026

Museum of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Old Town

This colourful and vibrant exhibition brings together historic objects and contemporary protest material to explore the recent explosion of 'Craftivism' in Edinburgh.

Museums

Museum of Childhood Edinburgh

42 High Street, Edinburgh Old Town EH1 1TG

The Museum of Childhood has a place in the hearts of millions. The first museum in the world dedicated to the history of childhood, it displays toys and...

Museums

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle Castlehill, Edinburgh Old Town EH1 2NG

Edinburgh Castle dominates Scotland's capital city from its great rock. Its story has helped shape the nation's story.

Museums

The Writers Museum

Lawnmarket Lady Stair's Close , Edinburgh Old Town EH1 2PA

The Writers’ Museum celebrates the lives of three great Scottish writers – Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Museums

Surgeons Hall Museums

Surgeons Hall Museums Nicolson Street, Edinburgh South EH8 9DW

Surgeons' Hall Museums is home to one of the largest and most historic collections of surgical pathology in the World, open to the public since 1832.

Museums

Linlithgow Canal Centre

Canal Basin Manse Rd, Linlithgow EH49 6AJ

Canal Cruises to Avon Aqueduct, Linlithgow Boat Trips, Tearoom, Canal Museum, Charters and Self-Drive Canal Boat Hire. Open from Easter until the end of September.

Museums

The Peoples Story Museum

163 Canongate , Edinburgh Old Town EH8 8BN

The People's Story gives an unique insight in to Edinburgh's working class people from the 18th century to the late 20th century.

Museums

Gladstones Land

477b Lawnmarket, Edinburgh Old Town EH1 2NT

Gladstone's Land, the house of wealthy merchant and landlord Thomas Gledstanes showcases high-rise living, 17th-century style, at the beating heart of Edinburgh's historic Royal Mile!

Museums

John Gray Centre

15 Lodge Street, Haddington EH41 3DX

The John Gray Centre brings together East Lothian Council’s Archaeology, Museum, Archive and Local History Services, alongside Haddington’s branch library.

Museums

Prestongrange Museum

Prestongrange Museum Morrisons Haven, Prestonpans EH32 9RX

Prestongrange is a free open-air museum, that tells 700 years of industrial heritage history. Family friendly, with lots to see and do!

Museums

National War Museum

Edinburgh Castle Castlehill, Edinburgh Old Town EH1 2NG

Discover the story of Scotland at war within the walls of Edinburgh Castle with a visit to the National War Musuem.

Museums

Craigmillar Castle

Craigmillar Castle Craigmillar Castle Road, Edinburgh South EH16 4SY

Step inside Edinburgh's other castle, once a rural retreat from Scotland's capital!

Museums

Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage

1A Dryden Terrace, Edinburgh East EH7 4NB

The museum tells the story of Scottish firefighting from its inception to present day. Explore antique fire engines, engaging interactives, artefacts and more.

All Museums listings in Edinburgh