National War Museum of Scotland
National War Museum of Scotland
4.5
9:45 AM - 5:45 PM
Monday
9:45 AM - 5:45 PM
Tuesday
9:45 AM - 5:45 PM
Wednesday
9:45 AM - 5:45 PM
Thursday
9:45 AM - 5:45 PM
Friday
9:45 AM - 5:45 PM
Saturday
9:45 AM - 5:45 PM
Sunday
9:45 AM - 5:45 PM
About
Within the walls of Edinburgh Castle, discover the impact of war on Scotland's history, identity and reputation abroad. We have made some changes to make your visit as safe and enjoyable as possible. As the National War Museum is located within Edinburgh Castle, please refer to the Edinburgh Castle website to buy your tickets and plan a visit.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Old Town
Few Edinburghers live in the Old Town, but its labyrinth of dank alleys and steep streets suggests this was not always the case. Today, it’s mostly visitors, tartan-flavoured souvenir shops, and pipers that you’ll find on its cobbled streets. This is the place to get a feel for Auld Reekie (Old Smelly), as the town was once nicknamed, and stroll the Royal Mile, the thoroughfare that links the castle with the royal palace – two of Edinburgh’s great set-piece attractions. But there’s lots more exploring to do here down dozens of little alleys, or wynds, while at night the city’s busiest clubs erupt along the Cowgate which is closed to traffic for this purpose.
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4.5
845 reviews
Excellent
431
Very good
300
Average
100
Poor
11
Terrible
3
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Baskerfield
Milton Keynes, UK89 contributions
May 2022
Before visiting Edinburgh Castle I didn't appreciate that the museum was on the premises, which is a shame because it requires more time than we were able to give it. The video introduction was very useful. Given the volume of visitors and exhibits it would be better if there was more space, but there is obviously a hard limitation based on the historic buildings in which it is housed. All in all an excellent and fascination museum.
Written 15 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
spedubec
Bologna, Italy5,361 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Anyone who enters the castle immediately rushes to see the crown jewels hoping not to find the queue and then heads back down towards the exit, gradually visiting the attractions along the way. Inevitably you end up visiting this museum, the largest inside the castle, at the end, when you are already tired of seeing things and therefore the visit is rushed and distracted. But it's a shame, because the museum is interesting and full of artefacts displayed in good order. Fans of the genre will find something to satisfy themselves here.
Written 24 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TwixUK
Aberdeen, UK411 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
For anyone interested in war, and Scottish history - the war museum is found within the castle grounds.
Free entry, however you pay to enter the castle - initially we only wanted to see the war museum and found it unfair to have to pay castle entry - but overall the combined visit is well worth it.
Any war buff would be delighted to visit, we traced battles through time. The museum is well laid out and presented.
Free entry, however you pay to enter the castle - initially we only wanted to see the war museum and found it unfair to have to pay castle entry - but overall the combined visit is well worth it.
Any war buff would be delighted to visit, we traced battles through time. The museum is well laid out and presented.
Written 26 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
claudio d
Viterbo, Italy41,740 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
In a building on the southern side of the Hospital Square, inside Edinburgh Castle, is the access to the National Military Museum of Scotland. It tells the military history of Scotland and the wars of the last 400 years. The events are documented with scale reconstructions, uniforms of the time, weapons and medals from all illustrated eras. But don’t expect much to see: of the three museums present at the Castle, this is the largest, but still the objects on display are not so many, especially when compared to the Collections of our military museums.
Automatically translated
Written 10 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joerg-Ulrichr
Obernkirchen, Germany637 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
The Military Museum is a museum well worth seeing. You can find this museum right in the castle. Visitors can see a variety of weapons (pistols, rifles). A cannon can also be admired at the entrance. There are also various medals, certificates, uniforms and numerous paintings on display. The Scottish uniforms with the famous kilt are also well worth seeing. Various old musical instruments such as bagpipes can also be found there. An entrance fee is only charged for access to the castle. I have to say that I did not receive a discount even when I presented my severely handicapped pass. However, people accompanying severely handicapped people can enter the castle free of charge. The museum is very lovingly decorated and should not be missed on a visit to the castle. A highlight in Edinburgh!
Written 19 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
0TBC
Norwich, UK282 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
This was the first thing I decided I wanted to do in Edinburgh. Entry is part of the castle fee which is good. Active military get in free.
The exhibition is very good and as a military enthusiast this is among the best.
However we were told we weren’t allowed to leave our stroller in a very clear empty corner of the lobby and this was highly annoying. Having pushed the thing all day, it would have been gracious to allow it to be left in a quiet corner where it obstructed nothing.
The exhibition is very good and as a military enthusiast this is among the best.
However we were told we weren’t allowed to leave our stroller in a very clear empty corner of the lobby and this was highly annoying. Having pushed the thing all day, it would have been gracious to allow it to be left in a quiet corner where it obstructed nothing.
Written 17 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sam3314
Derby, UK2,087 contributions
Oct 2020
Traces the history of the Scottish military. So much to see that several visits would be recommended. Well presented displays that allows you to see the development of warfare for Scottish troops. May need to queue to get in at present as numbers are controlled.
Written 7 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
587michaela1989
Bristol, UK4 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Had to leave as it was absolutely rammed and the heat! Made me and my family feel faint, it is not even cold outside today. This level of heating is completely excessive. We had to just leave. Maybe we will come in the summer when the heating isn't on...
Written 3 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Highlander40
Edinburgh, UK113 contributions
Feb 2012 • Solo
The Museum itself is somewhere I have visited on many occassions; the layout, the exhibits and the information are extremely well presented - and well deserving of a five-star rating across the board. The reason for my low rating is purely down to a glitch on my most recent visit, which I hope will spur the organisers into action in order that other people don't fall foul of the current failings.
I went into the shop and seeing there was no member of staff behind the counter, waited for the cashier to return. The layout of the counter is in an oval shape, with a till at either end; I chose a till and waited. A curator was wandering around looking busy, but must have seen me ... that's fine I thought, the sales assistant must be in the rest-room, or something. So I waited. In the mean time other customers had gathered at the other end of the oval counter, by the second till; there was no indication of which till to use. After a while, the young woman returned, walked behind the counter, and I told her the items that I was interested in purchasing, she looked at me, but then proceeded to deal with the other customers first. This wasn't particularly bad, except that when I pointed out that I had been there first she just said that I was in the wrong place. I explained that there were no signs to show where to queue, she said I should have asked the curator. This exchange continued for a while, with her being less than pleasant throughout which was my main objection - a simple "I'm sorry, I'll be with you in a second" would have diffused the situation immediately. She eventually apologised and I left (without buying my items).
So management - please make it clear which till is manned (particularly when the member of staff responsible isn't around), ask them to be a little more polite and let them know that a simple "I'm sorry" as soon as a mistake is made, would mean that your customers would be put at ease and not left feeling that they are in the wrong!
To any other potential visitors to the museum who may be reading this - don't worry, I'm sure you'll have a great time! It's worth an hour or so of anybody's time; go on, you'll enjoy it!!!
I went into the shop and seeing there was no member of staff behind the counter, waited for the cashier to return. The layout of the counter is in an oval shape, with a till at either end; I chose a till and waited. A curator was wandering around looking busy, but must have seen me ... that's fine I thought, the sales assistant must be in the rest-room, or something. So I waited. In the mean time other customers had gathered at the other end of the oval counter, by the second till; there was no indication of which till to use. After a while, the young woman returned, walked behind the counter, and I told her the items that I was interested in purchasing, she looked at me, but then proceeded to deal with the other customers first. This wasn't particularly bad, except that when I pointed out that I had been there first she just said that I was in the wrong place. I explained that there were no signs to show where to queue, she said I should have asked the curator. This exchange continued for a while, with her being less than pleasant throughout which was my main objection - a simple "I'm sorry, I'll be with you in a second" would have diffused the situation immediately. She eventually apologised and I left (without buying my items).
So management - please make it clear which till is manned (particularly when the member of staff responsible isn't around), ask them to be a little more polite and let them know that a simple "I'm sorry" as soon as a mistake is made, would mean that your customers would be put at ease and not left feeling that they are in the wrong!
To any other potential visitors to the museum who may be reading this - don't worry, I'm sure you'll have a great time! It's worth an hour or so of anybody's time; go on, you'll enjoy it!!!
Written 1 March 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
🥳 🎉 🥳 Keep Life Simple 🥳🎉🥳
Pittsburgh, PA127,223 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
The National War Museum is part of the Edinburgh Castle admission. The museum is very informative with lots of things to see and do.
Written 8 October 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What time period does this museum focus on? Medieval? WW1 & 2?
Written 28 July 2021
Hi I would like to know if it would be possible to see the book of rRemembrance. I do not know when my mothers brother was killed. He was a despatch rider in a Regiment called The Scottish Horse and was missing presumed killed in Africa. His body was never found.
Written 10 August 2018
Bonjour, quel est le tarif pour un adulte? Merci d'avance.
Written 11 May 2018
Sorry to be late, It's inside of the Edinburgh Castle so you have to buy a ticket only for the castle
Written 18 September 2018
Hello, where exactly is the War Museum located in reference to the Castle? We are looking forward to our visit.
Thank you!
Written 29 October 2017
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