Free Edinburgh museums

The first of its kind, the Museum of Childhood is one of the most popular museums in Edinburgh. It’s a great way for all ages to gain an insight into the different ways childhood has been experienced over the years, with artefacts on display dating as far back as the 1800s. As well as displays of vintage toys, books and games, there’s also an interactive gallery and more modern toys added to the display – think Buzz Lightyear and Xbox. Browsing Edinburgh holidays? Go for a stroll down the Royal Mile, where this museum is located, which is the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town and leads onto Edinburgh Castle.

Located on the iconic Royal Mile, the Museum of Edinburgh tells you all you need to know about the Scottish capital and its wide-spanning history. Among the highlights include the collar and bowl of a dog who was so devoted to his master that it inspired books and films. You can also see the National Covenant of 1638 (the script that led to civil war), intricate silverware and 18th century Scottish porcelain.

Of all the free museums in Edinburgh, the National Museum of Scotland is undisputedly the best. There are a range of galleries to wind your way around, from the Natural World and Science and Technology to Art and Fashion and World Cultures. That’s not all of it; there are fascinating Scottish history and archaeology galleries, too. To soak up as much as possible, it’s worth booking onto a free guided tour of the museum, which takes place three times a day. Need one more reason to visit? Also on display is Dolly the Sheep, the first ever animal to be successfully cloned.

Get to know the people of Edinburgh at the People’s Story Museum , which allows you to scratch beneath the surface and learn about the realities of the working class people of Edinburgh between the 18th and 20th centuries. The collection includes information about the history, culture, trades and crafts of the city – but also as a space to discuss more modern issues.

Learn about all things to do with money and banking at the Museum on the Mound . Located in the former Bank of Scotland Head Office, there’s a range of interesting artefacts and displays, all telling the story of money, from technology and design to crime and security. Take a look at Scotland’s oldest banknote, a million pounds (on display only, not in the gift shop), an 18th-century iron money chest, the Bank’s original 1695 Founding Act and more.

Set in an Neo Gothic building, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery was the world’s first purpose-built portrait gallery of its kind when it opened in 1889. If you can tear yourself away from admiring the elaborate interior and exterior decor, the portraits on display themselves are just as mesmerizing. The portraits include Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Burns and pioneers in science, sports and the arts. There are also paintings by the iconic likes of JMW Turner.

Just down the road from the Peoples’ Museum is the Writers’ Museum , which celebrates the three greats of Scottish literature: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. You don’t have to be a hardcore fan of the authors or their works to enjoy this museum. Among the range of interesting items on display include the printing press where Scott’s novels were produced, Stevenson’s riding boots and even a plaster cast of Burns’ skull, among many other interesting artefacts and displays.