Every visitor to Edinburgh has to take a walk down the Royal Mile. The Old Town is simply stunning and lots of fun to explore. As you make your way down this ancient thoroughfare don’t forget to stop off at the Museum of Edinburgh. This attraction is housed in an old craft guild building and it features collections of glassware and metalwork. You’ll learn how the city’s industry developed and find out about some of the most important movements and colorful characters that influenced Edinburgh.

Museum of Edinburgh — Photo courtesy of Nigel Chadwick

Their newest attraction is an unmissable journey into the past that will reveal how Edinburgh grew over the centuries. Foundation Edinburgh - The Story of a City is a 17 minute film that’s projected onto the floor of the blacked out theatre. You’ll see everything from the early volcanic eruptions that give Edinburgh its distinctive landscape, through to the building of the new Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.

Royal dynasties and religious tensions are an interesting part of Edinburgh’s history but you’ll also learn about the creepy body snatching murderers, Burke and Hare, and the most devoted dog of all time, Greyfriars Bobby. The Museum of Edinburgh offers something to capture the imagination of the whole family and it’s a good place for a quick visit if you have a spare hour.