The National Museum of Scotland is the essential museum for understanding Rome’s campaigns, frontiers and encounters with the peoples of Scotland. Its national collection brings together objects from the Antonine Wall, Trimontium, Newstead, Carpow, Cramond and many other sites.
The galleries place Roman military objects beside evidence for contemporary Iron Age communities. Displays include sculpture, inscriptions, weapons, tools, jewellery, pottery and personal possessions. Because objects are sometimes moved for loans or temporary exhibitions, check the museum’s website if you hope to see a particular piece.
Plan your visit
Location: Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
Roman focus: The national collection of Roman and Iron Age Scotland
Admission and opening: Check current arrangements before travelling
Official website: Visit the museum’s official website
Map: Open in Google Maps
What can you see?
Highlights include:
- monumental sculpture and inscriptions from Roman sites across Scotland
- military equipment and objects belonging to soldiers and civilians
- Iron Age metalwork showing the communities Rome encountered
- nationally important finds from forts, camps and frontier settlements
Why does it matter?
No other museum offers such a broad view of the Roman presence in Scotland. The collection makes it possible to compare the army’s official monuments with the ordinary objects that reveal work, belief, trade and daily life.
Combine your visit with
Before travelling: Displays, opening arrangements and admission charges can change. Check the museum’s official website for current information.
Official information
Edinburgh – National Museum of Scotland: visitor information
