Visitors taking one of our tours can view the reserve collections of the social history, Museum of Childhood and applied art collections. These items are not currently on display in the museum venues, and are held in store so that they can be accessed for research, lent to other museums for exhibitions, or used in our own temporary exhibition programme. Objects at the Collections Centre range from dolls' houses to wartime cooking, 18th century water pipes to teapots, and pantomime costumes to 2000 Queen Victoria clay pipes!

Tours of the Collections Centre will take you around the store where you will see some of the fascinating objects on open storage and find out about how the store and collections work. You can see the dates of upcoming tours on our booking page.

Researchers wanting to access specific parts of the collection can also call us on 0131 556 9536 or email MuseumCollectionsCentre@edinburgh.gov.uk to make arrangements for a visit.

Details

Opening times
Opening times
The Museum Collections Centre is open for public tours. Please see the tour page for dates and booking
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: Closed
- Thursday: Closed
- Friday: Closed
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
How to get here

How to get here

ON FOOT

Broughton Market is a small lane running between Barony Street and Dublin Street. From Broughton Street, turn into Barony Street. 10 Broughton Market is at the far end of Barony Street on your right. From Dublin Street take the exit signed Dublin St Lane North. Broughton Market starts almost immediately, follow the lane forward and round to the right to number 10.

BY BIKE

Follow NCR1 along George Street to merge with NCR75. At end of George Street cycle round North end of St Andrew Square to turn left onto North St Andrew Street. Cross over Queen Street and cycle down Dublin Street and take third right into Dublin St Lane North. Broughton Market starts almost immediately, follow the lane forward and round to the right to number 10

BY TRAIN

A ten minute walk from Waverley station. Exit via Princes St and choose the pedestrian crossing to your left. Cross Princes St, go straight ahead down South St Andrew St. Keep going straight ahead past St Andrew Square, across Queen St and down Dublin St. After Albany St take the next exit to your right, signed Dublin St Lane North. Broughton Market starts almost immediately, follow the lane forward and round to your right to number 10.

BY BUS/TRAM

Bus number 8 to Broughton Street. Get off at the first stop and walk downhill past Albany Street to Barony Street on your left. 10 Broughton Market is at the far end of Barony Street on your right. The tram terminates at York Place and many buses stop on York Place from where you walk down Broughton Street to Barony Street. 10 Broughton Market is at the far end of Barony Street on your right.

PARKING

On-street metered parking is usually available on Albany Street.
Contact the venue

Contact the venue

+44 (0) 131 556 9536 | MuseumCollectionsCentre@edinburgh.gov.uk
Facilities and access

Facilities and access

Access is only by arranged guided tour.

The Museum Collections Centre does not have its own café, but there are lots of cafés, restaurants and pubs nearby along Broughton Street.

Most parts are wheelchair accessible. Small ramp to front door, cobbled street outside.

Ground floor is accessible. Some items are stored upstairs. Items of special interest can be brought down for visitors or researchers as required. Let us know any requirements when you book and we can adapt tour to your needs.

Accessible toilets.
Groups

Groups

Guided tours, research and study visits of the Museum Collections Centre are available but must be booked in advance.

Please contact us 0131 556 9536 or email MuseumCollectionsCentre@edinburgh.gov.uk.
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Explore

Highlights What's on

Some groups of objects relate to communities such as Leith or Newhaven, who had quite specific local trades, or to businesses which once thrived along the coast, but have long since disappeared.

Together, these varied collections tell us so much about the lives of local people from the past.

Scottish manufacturing may be of specialist interest, but within Edinburgh it produced, among other things, items in pottery or glass which combine function and beauty and which are truly stunning to look at. There is something for everyone in the childhood section, from dolls houses, prams, bicycles and train sets.

All the objects have stories to tell us - who made them, who used them and what they were for, and taking a tour will open new windows into the past. Although the Centre is primarily a storage and research facility (and therefore many items are boxed for conservation purposes, or are stored in cabinets and racks), there is still much on open display to see.