National Museum of Scotland

"A popular attraction in Edinburgh where visitors can explore a variety of exhibits spanning Scottish history, technology, and culture."

"History buffs shouldn’t miss this sprawling museum housed in adjacent modern sandstone and classic Victorian buildings—the latter of which features a magnificent atrium with soaring pillars and high windows. The diverse collections here take visitors through the history of Scotland and around the world, covering everything from nature, science, and technology to art, design, and fashion. Start in the Grand Gallery, where you’ll find a giant deer skeleton, a massive whale skull, and machinery used to smash atoms, then watch the Millennium Clock chime the hour. Also worth exploring are the Celtic, Roman, and Viking artifacts, including the famous Lewis chess pieces; Mary Queen of Scots’ exquisite jewelry collection; Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal ever; twists on classic tartan by top designers like Jean Paul Gaultier; and the miniature Arthur’s Seat coffins."

"If you want to learn about Scottish history and identity, the National Museum of Scotland is your one-stop-shop. It’s in the beating heart of central Edinburgh, and therefore easy to access, and you can’t miss it—it’s one of the few contemporary buildings in this UNESCO-listed part of the city. Inside, you can view the famed Lewis Chessmen, carved in ornate detail from walrus ivory in the 12th century, as well as historic clothing, plus furniture from Scotland’s most acclaimed designers (most notably, Charles Rennie Mackintosh). Don't miss the macabre Miniature Coffins: tiny wooden figures inside little pine coffins that were discovered on Arthur’s Seat in 1836 and have been bound with tales of witchcraft and voodoo ever since. Kids will go nuts for the dinosaur exhibits. Entry is free, and you can take one of the free guided tours, but the labeling throughout is so good throughout that you'll probably be fine going it solo." - Freya Herring

"Situated slap-bang in the center of Edinburgh, the National Museum of Scotland is sprawling, highly informative, and very easy to access. It’s also a massively popular museum, thanks in part to the fact that it's free. Collections range from artifacts from ancient Egypt and local archaeological finds, to the remains of the first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep." - Freya Herring