Museum of Childhood

About the museum

Edinburgh's Museum of Childhood stands on the High Street section of the Royal Mile and presents itself as the first museum in the world devoted to the history of childhood. It opened to the public in 1957 to show a collection of toys and memorabilia, and it is owned and run by the City of Edinburgh Council.

Over the decades the collection has grown well beyond toys. It now covers British childhood from the middle of the nineteenth century to the present, with games, dolls, fancy dress, books, comics and magazines, as well as objects from the nursery, the classroom and the home. A large costume collection reflects children's fashions and lifestyles, and the museum also looks after a photographic archive.

Among the best-known items are a wooden fashion doll from around 1740, the oldest toy in the collection, and a Raleigh Chopper bicycle, a style icon of the 1970s. A tiny Steiff teddy bear that left Vienna on the last Kindertransport train in 1939 recalls the fate of refugee children, and Stanbrig Eorls, a dolls' house with nineteen rooms, electric light and running water, is the largest in the collection. A small dressing-up area with a tepee invites the youngest visitors to join in.

The museum is currently closed while its galleries are refreshed and its lighting is upgraded. It plans to reopen in January 2027.

Highlights

• Wooden fashion doll from around 1740, the oldest toy in the collection
• Raleigh Chopper bicycle of the 1970s
• Steiff teddy bear that travelled on the last Kindertransport train from Vienna
• Stanbrig Eorls, the largest dolls' house, with 19 rooms
• Steiff Peter Rabbit toy, an early example of children's merchandising
• Dressing-up area with a tepee

Permanent exhibition

• British childhood collections – Toys, games, dolls, fancy dress, books and comics, along with objects from nursery, school and home life and a costume collection, trace British childhood from the mid-nineteenth century to today.

Founded

1957

Operated by

City of Edinburgh Council (Culture Edinburgh)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main entrance has a ramp. Galleries 1 and 3 can be reached by lift, while galleries 4 and 5 are reached by stairs only. There is a limited number of accessible parking spaces and a drop-off point on the Royal Mile.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

The museum has a small dressing-up area with a tepee where even the youngest children can play. The toys and games on show appeal to several generations.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the High Street, on the right-hand side as you walk down the Royal Mile towards the Palace of Holyroodhouse, between Blackfriars Street and St Mary's Street. A sign hangs out over the street. The Royal Mile is cobbled, which matters for cyclists.

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is listed among the visitor facilities; the museum gives no details on access or cost.

Events & venue rental

The museum is closed until about January 2027.

Plan your visit