The Museum of Childhood will be closed Monday 23rd December, Tuesday 24th December - Monday 30th December (inclusive) and Wednesday 1st January/Thursday 2nd January,

On Tuesday 31st December, the last entry to the venue is 3pm

On Friday 3rd January, we will open at 11am.

We would like to wish all our visitors a happy holiday period and we look forward to seeing you in 2025.

Visit the world’s first ever museum dedicated to the history of childhood. Amongst the displays you will find toys, games, clothes, books and dolls, dating from the 1800s to the present day.

Explore a child’s life at home, at school and at play. See blasts from the past like Muffin the Mule, the first star of children's television and Radio Rex – a 1920s voice activated toy. Favourite toys which last the test of time are also on display including a Buzz Lightyear, the action figure from 2000 and a Fisher-Price Chatter Telephone from 1979. And don't miss the dressing-up area and tee-pee in the imaginary play area which offers families the chance to play together.

Opened in 1955, the Museum boasts an impressive collection of toys, games and artefacts relating to British childhoods. See fascinating and rare objects as well as toys you may recognise from your own childhood.

'It takes Granny back to when she was the same age as our wee girl, and lets us all see how much and how little has changed'. Scott family

'It’s the one place where all the generations can share their stories, for young to be interested in old, for old to feel they have something in common with the young'. Willis family

*Please note Gallery 2 is closed due to maintenance and we apologise for any inconvenience caused*

Details

Opening times
Opening times
Galleries 2 is currently closed due to maintenance
- Monday: 10 am - 5 pm
- Tuesday: 10 am - 5 pm
- Wednesday: 10 am - 5 pm
- Thursday: 10 am - 5 pm
- Friday: 10 am - 5 pm
- Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm
- Sunday: 10 am - 5 pm
How to get here

How to get here

On foot

Walk down the Royal Mile towards the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Pass Blackfriars Street on your right and The Museum of Childhood is on the right hand side of the road.

By bike

From Princes Street area turn up The Mound to the Royal Mile. Turn left onto the Royal Mile and cycle down towards the Palace of Holyroodhouse, over the junction with North/South Bridges and pass Blackfriars Street on your right. The Museum of Childhood is on the right hand side of the road. Please note, the Royal Mile is cobbled.

By train

Exit Waverley Station onto Waverley Bridge and turn left. Cross near the roundabout and go up Cockburn Street. (Alternatively exit the station onto Market Street and turn right. Cockburn Street is the first street on the left.) At the top of Cockburn Street, turn left, cross over North Bridge and continue down the High Street. The Museum of Childhood is on the right hand side of road as you head towards Holyrood Palace, between Blackfriars Street and St Mary’s Street. The Museum’s sign overhangs the street above your head.

By bus

The Lothian bus No. 6 can be picked up on Hanover Street or the Mound. You can get off either at Jeffrey Street or St Mary's Street. Once you are on the Royal Mile, turn up the hill towards Edinburgh Castle. The Museum of Childhood is on the left hand side of the road, between Blackfriars Street and St Mary’s Street. Alternatively the No. 300 Skylink bus goes up and down the Royal Mile and stops close by. There are also lots of buses going down North Bridge which cross the Royal Mile.

Parking

There are no parking facilities at the Museum of Childhood. On-street ‘Pay and Display’ parking is available near the Museum.
Contact the venue

Contact the venue

+44 (0) 131 529 4142 | museumsandgalleries@edinburgh.gov.uk | Museum of Childhood, 42 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TG
Facilities and access
Facilities and access
- Ramped access to main entrance. Galleries 1 to 3 accessible by lift, galleries 4 to 5 accessible by stairs only.
- Wifi
- Limited accessible parking and drop-off point on the Royal Mile
Groups

Groups

For groups of 10 or more, please book in advance where possible.

To make a group booking please email museumsandgalleries.visitorservices@edinburgh.gov.uk or call 0131 529 4142.

There is no charge for group visits but donations are welcome.
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Explore

Highlights What's on

The collection at the Museum of Childhood explores all aspects of British childhood from the mid 19th century to the present day. Play and entertainment are represented by toys, games, dolls, fancy dress, items relating to hobbies and pastimes, books, magazines and comics. Childcare and life at home, nursery and school also feature, along with a substantial costume collection reflecting children’s fashions and lifestyles. The museum also has a photographic archive.

Highlights of the collection include:

Queen Anne Doll The oldest toy in the collection, a rare wooden fashion doll dating from c1740
Raleigh Chopper bicycle A style icon of the 1970s
Kindertransport bear A tiny Steiff teddy bear which travelled out of Vienna on the last Kindertransport train to rescue Jewish children from Nazi Germany in 1939
Stanbrig Eorls The largest dolls house in the museum’s collection. Begun by Lena Graham Montgomery in 1894, she continued to collect for it and extend it throughout her life. Eventually, it had 19 rooms with electric light and running water. It was exhibited to raise funds for charity before being donated to the museum on the 1960s
Peter Rabbit soft toy A Steiff toy from the early 20th century representing the character from Beatrix Potter’s much-loved and perennially popular story. One of the first examples of merchandising for children.

Childhood in the past

Lyn Stevens, one of our curators at the Museum of Childhood, has made two videos, covering the periods 1880 - 1945 and 1945 - 2000, in which she talks about childhood in years gone by, and explores some of the oldest toys in the museum.