National Museum of Scotland Tour: Lewis Chessmen & Arthur's Seat

Walk through Scottish history with a guide who knows the stories behind the objects

A one-hour guided tour of the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, led by a certified Blue Badge Guide, covers Scottish history, science and world culture. You meet at the William Chambers Statue on Chambers Street, explore highlights including the Lewis chessmen and Arthur's Seat coffins with live commentary, then continue at your own pace using an audio tour app available in English, French and German. The museum itself is free to enter. This package includes the guide, the app, a donation to the museum and local discounts.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided tour of National Museum

• Meet guide at William Chambers Statue
• Explore Scottish history and culture
• See Lewis chessmen and Arthur’s Seat coffins
• Continue museum visit with audio tour

The experience

You'll meet your guide at the William Chambers Statue next to the museum entrance on Chambers Street. Arrive five minutes early and bring your own headphones. The guide holds a VoxCity sign and leads you straight into the National Museum of Scotland, where an hour of live commentary unpacks the objects and stories that shaped Scotland. You'll hear how Dolly the sheep became the first mammal cloned from an adult cell, examine the Lewis chessmen carved from walrus ivory, and learn the rumours of witchcraft and Satanism connected to the mysterious Arthur's Seat coffins. The Newcomen engine sits alongside these pieces, each one a window into a different moment of Scottish life.

After the guided portion ends, the day doesn't stop. You get access to an audio tour app that covers the entire museum: Ancient Egyptian relics, a tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, the Scottish maiden (an early guillotine), and dozens of other objects, so you can move through the galleries at whatever pace suits you. The app runs in English, French and German, which means you can revisit sections or dig deeper into anything the guide mentioned. A cloakroom with locker rentals from £3 holds small personal items while you move through the floors.

The museum sits in central Edinburgh with public transport nearby, and all areas are wheelchair accessible. Your guide is a certified Blue Badge professional, which means the commentary carries the weight of real expertise rather than a script. The package includes a donation to the National Museum of Scotland itself, so part of what you pay goes back into the collection and the building.

What’s included

• One-hour guided tour led by a certified Blue Badge Guide.
• live commentary in English.
• audio tour app of the National Museum of Scotland in English, French and German for self-guided exploration after the tour.
• donation to the National Museum of Scotland.
• exclusive local discounts.
• wheelchair-accessible facilities and all surfaces throughout the museum.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 2 Apr 2027

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Vox City International Ltd

Is this one for you?Small groups work best here: the guide leads a manageable number through the highlights, so you hear the stories without fighting through crowds. It's ideal if you want the context and the key objects without spending half the day in the museum, or if you're visiting Edinburgh for the first time and want a local expert to anchor what you're seeing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What are the Lewis chessmen and why are they in the museum?

The Lewis chessmen are medieval chess pieces carved from walrus ivory, discovered on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. The National Museum of Scotland holds them as some of the most significant medieval artifacts in the collection, and your guide explains their history and craftsmanship during the tour.

What's the story behind the Arthur's Seat coffins?

The Arthur's Seat coffins are small wooden coffins discovered on Arthur's Seat, the extinct volcano overlooking Edinburgh. The tour covers the mysterious and unsettling rumours of witchcraft and Satanism connected to them, though their true purpose remains unclear: your guide walks through what historians know and what remains speculation.

Can I explore the museum on my own after the guided tour ends?

Yes. After the one-hour guided section finishes, you're free to continue through the National Museum of Scotland at your own pace using the audio tour app, which covers the full collection including Egyptian relics, dinosaur skeletons and the Scottish maiden. The app works in English, French and German.

Do I need to bring anything or arrive early?

Bring your own headphones and arrive five minutes early to meet your guide at the William Chambers Statue on Chambers Street. Download the audio guide using the QR code on your voucher before you arrive, though you can also download it on-site if you prefer.

Is the National Museum of Scotland itself free to enter?

Yes, the museum is free for all to enter. This package adds the certified guide's one-hour tour, the audio app, a donation to the museum and exclusive local discounts on top of free admission.