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Surgeons' Hall, The History of Surgery & Dental Museum. You'll love your dentist after a visit here!

The People's Story, Edinburgh Royal Mile

Greyfriars Churchyard, Resting Place for Greyfriars Bobby

Learn About What it was like to live in a Tenement House like Gladstone's Land at the People's Story, Edinburgh Royal Mile

Museum of Edinburgh, Royal Mile. Canongate Tolbooth in the Background

Dental Museum Edinburgh, History of Surgery Edinburgh, Scotland UK

Edinburgh's huge choice of museums are all tightly packed in the central Old Town and New Town areas, with a large chunk positioned along Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

A visit to Edinburgh's Surgeons Hall Museum, exploring Edinburgh's longterm links with medicine and dentistry is not to be missed. At the Holyrood end of the Royal Mile there's a host of superb Edinburgh Museums including the People's Story, Museum of Childhood and the Edinburgh Museum which leans towards local Edinburgh History.

Surgeons' Hall Medical Museum Edinburgh & Dental Museum Edinburgh

Scotland's place in medicine since the 18th century is world renowned, so it's apt that there are a selection of Medicine Museums across Scotland, with the central focus being here at Surgeons' Hall in Edinburgh.

Surgeons Hall is one of Edinburgh's best museums, with the Dental Museum a particular hightlight. See everything from old tongue scrapers, to ivory false teeth in here, and exhibits detailing how dentistry developed from backstreet botch job (grusome) to professional practice.

A recent exhibition exploring Joseph Bell, the Edinburgh Surgeon who Arthur Conan Doyle based the character Sherlock Holmes on was fascinating. If you're only visiting a few of Edinburgh's museums, then put this one on your list. Other medicine museums can be found in Aberdeen and Dundee. One of the best worldwide collections of medical archive equipment is here at Surgeons' Hall Edinburgh, and includes the fascinating William Playfair Pathology Museum with pathological and human specimens dating back to the 18th century. The dental collection here was bequeathed by the Glasgow dentist and dental historian Menzies Campbell in the 1960s. Historic dental equipment and the history of dentistry all make for fascinating viewing. Find Surgeons' Hall just to the south of the Royal Mile, and appropriately near the Royal Infirmary and Edinburgh University.

Surgeons' Hall Museums, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DW. Tel. 44(0)131 527 1649/678. (weblink right for details).

The Museum of Edinburgh

The Museum of Edinburgh, as its name suggests, homes in on the history of the city of Edinburgh and sits on Canongate (part of the Royal Mile). Take a journey through Edinburgh's history from the prehistoric to the contemporary. The building housing the museum dates from the 16th century. (see the City of Edinburgh Museums weblink right for more details).

For quirky Edinburgh stories, including that of Greyfriars Bobby - the dog who in the 1800s watched over his dead owner's grave for 14 years until his own death, only leaving the grave for meals from the local cafe owner is referenced here. Bobby's collar and feeding bowl plus original bronze statue which stood on Candlemaker Row is on display.

Also here is the National Covenant which was signed by Scotland's presbyterian leaders in 1638. If you're into local history you'll find the Edinburgh Museum particularly pleasing.

The Museum of Edinburgh, 142 Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh. Tel. 0131 529 4143.

The People's Story, Edinburgh's Royal Mile

Staying with the museum rich Royal Mile in Edinburgh, The People's Story situated within the Canongate Tolbooth on Canongate is highly recommended. Bottom up history of everyday Scots is explore here, with its focus on oral history and the working and day to day lives of Edinburgh people.

The huge collection of photographs and magnficent display of Trade Union and Friendly Society banners are particular highlights here. Again, this Edinburgh Museum is free to enter, and a 20 minute video presentation is inclusive.

The People's Story, Canongate Tolbooth, 163 Canongate, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland. Tel. 0131 529 4057.

Museum of Childhood, Royal Mile Edinburgh

A perfect Edinburgh Museum for families, checkout the Museum of Childhood on High Street (part of Edinburgh's Royal Mile). It's a historical toy museum first opened in 1955, so it's been building its toy archive for a number of years.

Admission is free, and you can expect to see a host of historic toys and games including street games played by Edinburgh children during the 1950s. Listen too to the chants of 1930s school kids reciting their multiplication tables and guaranteed to put kids off maths for life!

Exhibitions of toys and games change constantly. See the City of Edinburgh Museums website right for details and opening times.

Museum of Childhood, 42 High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh. Tel. 0131 529 4142.

The Writers' Museum, Royal Mile Edinburgh

It's a little museum feast along Edinburgh's Royal Mile, with the Writers Museum on Lawnmarket well worth a look. See in here particularly good collections on Scottish poet Robert Bruns and Scottish literary figures Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Burns fans can revel in the viewing of his writing desk housed here in the Writers' Museum whilst Scott memorabilia includes his chessboard, printing press and dining table.

The Writers' Museum, Lady Stair's Close, Lawnmarket, Royal Mile, Edinburgh. Tel. 0131 529 4901. Free admission. (see City of Edinburgh Museums weblink right for details).

Museum on the Mound, Edinburgh

Museum on the Mound, HBOS Headquarters, The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 1YZ.

Tel. 0131 243 5464. (weblink right)

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