ROYAL MUSEUM AND MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND

The landmark Museum of Scotland building is situated on Chambers Street (which links George IV Bridge and South Bridge) in the heart of the Old Town, just a few minutes walk from the Royal Mile.

The Royal Museum building, with its magnificent glass ceiling, houses international collections covering nature to art, culture to science tells the story of Scotland – the land, its people and culture.

The modern landmark building that houses the Scottish collections sits majestically alongside the magnificent Victorian Royal Museum building.

The Millennium Clock, a mechanical masterpiece, springs to life with movement and sound in the main hall. Don’t forget to check out for the popular Newcomen; Douglas and Grant; and Boulton and Watt engines.

The Royal Museum houses outstanding international collections of Decorative Arts, Science and Industry, Archaeology and the Natural World with thirty-six galleries presenting artifacts from around the world and natural history specimens.

The Museum of Scotland, a striking addition to Edinburgh's historic Old town, its stunning series of galleries take you from Scotland's geological beginnings through time to the twentieth century.

If you want to take a tea or coffee break stop at 'Café Delos', in the main hall of the Royal Museum its open from 10am to 4pm, serving great coffees, teas, home-baked cakes and other sweets and savories. Also open from 10am to 4.30pm is the 'Soupson' tea-room with a soup and salad bar as well as sandwiches, cakes, and other refreshments.

In the Museum of Scotland the Tower Restaurant is open daily from 10am to 11pm for both lunch and dinner.

NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM

War and military service has left its impact on Scotland's history, image and reputation. In the glorious setting of Edinburgh Castle you explore over 400 years of the Scottish military experience and how it shaped the nation.

The galleries have a fabulous display from uniforms, medals, insignia, decorations and equipment to weapons and ammunition, from firearms and swords to bullets and bayonets.

The National War Museum was created in 1930 to commemorate the sacrifice that was made by Scotland in the First World War. Discover fascinating documents and photographs, private and regimental photographs and personal diaries.

THE SCOTTISH MINING MUSEUM

Based at the Lady Victoria Colliery it is one of the finest surviving examples of a Victorian colliery in Europe, at Newtongrange, just nine miles from Edinburgh.

A tour of the museum includes two major exhibitions - 'The Story of Coal' and 'A Race Apart' , the pithead, where miners descended 500 metres down into the dark 'Lady Vic'. You can also see the largest winding engine in Scotland – and a massive mining machinery tour.

On your tour you will use our unique 'magic helmets' which are fitted with remote-controlled headphones to describe what you are looking at on site; you can of course choose the guides, all of whom are ex-miners!

THE MUSEUM OF EDINBURGH

If you want to witness the history of Edinburgh right from prehistoric times to this day visit The Museum of Edinburgh situated at Canongate, on Royal Mile.

The museum is housed in Huntly House, which dates from the 16th century and has been home to a wide variety of owners and tenants, ranging from aristocrats to merchants and working people.

Robert Chambers, a Victorian antiquarian, called Huntly House the ' speaking house ' because of the Latin inscriptions on its facade. The museum regularly mounts temporary exhibitions on local history and decorative art collections.

QUEENSFERRY MUSEUM

With magnificent views of the two great bridges spanning the Forth, the museum is situated in the historic former royal burgh of Queensferry.

Queensferry's unique history is highlighted by the ancient annual custom of the Burry Man. Clad from head to toe in a costume made from the burrs of the burdock plant, the Burry Man parades through the town for nine hours, on a Friday in early August.

While the origins of this custom are not know; could it have been to invoke good fortune in harvesting the land or sea, or to drive out evil spirits? You can see the full-size model in the museum with the rest of its collections tracing the history of the people of Queensferry and Dalmeny.

You can reach South Queensferry from the city centre, by taking the First Edinburgh bus service 43 from Waterloo Place.