National Museum of Scotland

Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF

Access information

The museum has two entrances on Chambers Street: the Tower Entrance and the Main Entrance. The Tower Entrance avoids the busy Entrance Hall and gives level access to the main part of the museum. All entrances have automatic doors. For out-of-hours events the Lothian Street entrance is used. There are four free designated disabled parking spaces on Chambers Street (not bookable in advance), and a coach drop-off point outside the Main Entrance. Information desks in the Entrance Hall (Level 0) and at the Tower Entrance (Level 1) offer museum maps, free wheelchair loans (not bookable in advance) and sensory backpacks. Induction loops are fitted at both information desks, the Auditorium and the Dunfermline Room lecture theatre. Lifts serve all floors, and there is seating and portable stools to borrow on every level. Assistance dogs are welcome. Some exhibits are noisy, including the Millennium Clock on the hour from 11am. The Scottish galleries and the Art and Design galleries are generally calmer, and staff can direct you to quieter areas. Visual stories for each entrance and a sensory map are available to download. Deaf BSL users can contact the museum free through ContactSCOTLAND-BSL. The full access guide is on AccessAble, and access information is also on Euan's Guide.

Facilities

Accessible toilets on every floor and a Changing Places toilet in the Entrance Hall on Level 0. Toilets and baby changing on all levels. Self-service lockers in the Entrance Hall (Level 0) in three sizes, from £3 for all-day storage; payment by smartphone or card, or buy a voucher in the shop to pay cash. Buggy storage on Level 1 of the Scotland Galleries, behind the Kingdom of the Scots gallery. Sensory backpacks with ear defenders, torches, sunglasses and fidget toys (adult ear defenders also available). Large print guides in most galleries, except Scottish History and Archaeology. Picture communication cards available to download. Breastfeeding welcome anywhere in the museum.

Access features

Communication

• Quiet space: Staff can direct you to quieter areas. The Scottish galleries and the Art and Design galleries are generally calmer; the sensory map identifies quieter spaces. A dedicated quiet space is provided during monthly Relaxed Mornings.

Facilities

• Changing places toilet: Changing Places (U) toilet. — Entrance Hall, Level 0
• Seating available: Seating throughout the museum on every level. Ask a member of the Visitor Experience team for the nearest seats.
• Folding chairs: Portable stools available to borrow on every level.
• Baby change: Baby changing facilities on all levels.

Hearing

• Hearing loop: Induction loops throughout the museum. Workshop leaders can wear microphones, and staff have hearing helpers for sessions. — Information desks at the Main Entrance and Tower Entrance, the Auditorium, and the Dunfermline Room lecture theatre
• Bsl support: BSL tours can be arranged on request (4 weeks' notice; info@nms.ac.uk or 0131 347 4313). Deaf BSL users can contact the museum free via ContactSCOTLAND-BSL.

Mobility

• Disabled parking: Four designated disabled parking spaces. Free of charge. — Chambers Street — Cannot be booked in advance.
• Automatic doors: Automatic doors at all entrances of the museum.
• Accessible toilet: Accessible toilets on all floors. Check the museum map for the nearest.
• Lift available: Lifts are available to all floors. Check the museum map or ask a member of staff for the nearest lift. Lift dimensions are on AccessAble.
• Buggy park: Buggy storage is available. — Level 1 of the Scotland Galleries, behind the Kingdom of the Scots gallery
• Wheelchair loan: Free wheelchair loan during your visit. — Information desks at the Main Entrance (Level 0) and Tower Entrance (Level 1) — Cannot be booked in advance; ask about availability on arrival.

Recognition

• Euans guide: Access information for the museum is available on Euan's Guide.

Sensory

• Ear defenders: Ear defenders in sensory backpacks; adult-sized ear defenders also available. — Information desks
• Sensory pack: Sensory backpacks with ear defenders, torches, sunglasses and fidget toys. — Information desks at the Main Entrance and Tower Entrance
• Fidget toys: Fidget toys included in the sensory backpacks. — Information desks
• Sensory maps: Downloadable sensory map showing the sensory experience in each part of the museum, including noisy, busy and quieter galleries.
• Low sensory times: Monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit, planned for the first Sunday of every month.

Services

• Assistance animals welcome: Assistance dogs are welcome in the museum.
• Customer help points: Information desks staffed by the Visitor Experience team, offering museum maps, wheelchair loans and sensory backpacks. — Entrance Hall (Level 0) and Tower Entrance (Level 1)

Vision

• Audio description: Audio-described tours can be arranged on request with 4 weeks' notice (info@nms.ac.uk or 0131 347 4313).
• Visual stories: Visual stories with pictures of the museum and what to expect, one for each entrance, available to download.
• Tactile exhibits: Object handling tours can be arranged on request with 4 weeks' notice.
• Large print: Large print guides in most galleries. Please return them after use. — Not available in the Scottish History and Archaeology galleries.