Museum of Edinburgh — Attraction in City of Edinburgh

I’m a local resident so decided to go a look one day as I’d heard it was quite a good attraction about the City itself.

It’s free so take advantage of this and go and have a look as it has some really interesting sections in it. It has a kids bit in it as they definitely will not find the exhibits interesting

There are a few amazing parts but unfortunately some not so amazing parts to it too. I loved the information on the ground floor, the video about Edinburgh is the main reason to go to this place, I absolutely loved it. It tells the story of Edinburgh right from when it was first inhabited by hunter gatherers along the Water of Leith until how it is today. It does this by touching on each significant part in the City’s history throughout this time with a quick splattering of historic details as it goes along. It almost brought a tear to my eye at one point.

Also on the ground floor is a bit about Edinburgh town planning and how the City has changed over time, for a local it was interesting reading, maybe not so much for tourists.

Upstairs there are exhibits from different stories and folklore about Edinburgh and a wee interactive bit on the Covenanters and Edinburgh at that time which I found absolutely fascinating. After that there is a wee bit more historic information alongside exhibits but after that it turned very uninteresting for me.

There were loads of Silver and Crystal exhibits and other exhibits that I had no interest in so I just whizzed through the rest. I know this may be of interest to some but it wasn’t to me so I didn’t enjoy any of the rest of the museum.

I really think that so much more could be made of this museum. Edinburgh has a great story to tell and a modern one too but I didn’t see that in the later half of the visit. I guess it all takes funding and that’s something that’s maybe not available.

For an Edinburgh resident it’s highly recommended (for the first section), for a tourist it gives a flavour of what Edinburgh is like so probably worth a look.

I’d recommend 2 to 3 hours to get an in-depth look at the ground floor information and initial sections upstairs. If you don’t like reading everything then you’ll whizz round this in just...

Located on the Royal Mile this museum is bigger than it looks. The collections and artifacts are well procured and spread out across several 16th century buildings with original floorboards and painted ceilings in areas. The museum features permanent collections as well as special exhibitions. We were able to see the featured “Four Seasons of Faith” showcase when we visited.

The museum is smaller than most, so you can get through the rooms and displays fairly quickly and at your own pace. The staff are friendly, helpful and informative, there is a visitor’s log book where you can record your visit, and an interactive children’s area with a variety of different activities for them to participate in.

Once you get to the end of the collections, you must backtrack all the way through the entire museum to exit. A downside for some but, an advantage for others as you may discover something on your way out that you missed on your way in. Don’t forget to take a look through the cute gift shop located at the entrance/exit as it has a variety of souvenirs and items for purchase.

Access is free but donations are appreciated. The museum is not wheelchair accessible as it showcases items on multiple levels of 16th century buildings with steps and changes in...

The Museum of Edinburgh may be old, but it’s absolutely worth a visit. Tucked away on the Royal Mile, it has a charming, historic feel and is full of interesting artifacts that tell the story of the city. There’s a lot to see, from everyday objects to important historical pieces, but the highlight for me was definitely the silver collection.

One of the staff members was kind enough to explain how they keep the silver items looking so bright and polished. They told me that the silver shines because it’s carefully cleaned and kept in glass display cases to protect it from dust. Apparently, once it’s cleaned, it can stay that way for several years as long as it’s well-sealed, and I also learned that the collection is very valuable! It’s those little behind-the-scenes stories that make the visit even more special. Definitely a hidden gem for anyone interested in Edinburgh’s...