



The world's first museum dedicated to childhood featuring toys, dolls, and games from the 1800s to today.
Free entry
Venue Type
Indoor
Typical visit duration
1-3 hours
Booking
Walk-in
Recommended ages
6 years – 12 years
Within 10 minutes walk
Free entry
We analysed 87 parent reviews from the past 12 months and distilled the key insights for you.
Updated 27 February 2026Join KiddyCompass™ Family to unlock 10 insight categories and age suitability data.
Become a Family MemberThe Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh is free to enter, though you can always leave a donation. It’s spread across several floors with different toys to see. The place is interesting not only for children but also for adults and older visitors. Little ones can not only look at the exhibits but also interact with some of them. There’s also a short film about childhood in the 1930s–1960s, offering glimpse into the past.
The toy collection from olden days is charming and nostalgic. It’s free to enter and sits right in the heart of the city. Lovely little museum for families or anyone who enjoys childhood memories!
I love coming to the Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh, it’s such a unique and nostalgic place. As someone from Indonesia, I was amazed to see so many toys and dolls I’ve never seen before. The collection is huge and full of charm, with items from different eras that really make you feel like you’re stepping into the past. It’s exciting to explore, and there’s so much to see, but I do feel like it’s a bit hidden, not many people seem to know about it. Even though the museum has a lot of fascinating displays, the way the items are arranged could be improved. Right now, everything feels a bit too packed or randomly placed, and I think a better layout could make the experience even more engaging. It’s such a shame that not many people come by, especially since the location is actually really good, right along the Royal Mile. Maybe using social media more actively could help attract more visitors, because this place definitely deserves more attention!
Small but a definitely enjoyful museum! The best part was surely the doll's room. I was surprised to see such different dolls together in one room haha The entrance with all those lovely messages about childhood times made me smile. You can definitely feel it is not just a combination of childhood related objects inside but an effort to make the experience the fullest with fine details considered in each corner. I really liked how some parts of the museum was so interactive, I can definitely see people can rekindle their childhood here. The entrance is also free, you should definitely take a visit!
This museum is an absolute gem for a free visit, starting with info about the early stages of life that children experience! Details are taken in from the different eras of time for them, artefacts and culture of old schools are demonstrated even. Plenty of board and card games, alongside toys throughout periods of time are shown in a fascinating collection! Appreciate how they have small notable things like train sets, the doll room collection is really interesting in itself too.
Reviews last updated: 6 December 2025
No events currently scheduled
Free entry
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This venue was last updated on 4 December 2025
