Museum of Edinburgh
The capital city on itself
Despite the Museum of Edinburgh's slightly old-fashioned and ad-hoc approach, this treasure trove of curios – inside an atmospheric 16th-century townhouse – offers a neat perspective on city history.
The thousands of artifacts range from Neolithic axe heads and Roman coins to present day items, and all are beautifully presented thanks to an expensive recent refit.
One section is dedicated to the controversial Edinburgher Field Marshal Earl Haig, "the Butcher of the Somme", who commanded the British Army during World War I.
The rest is more child-friendly with many parts of the museum aimed specifically at kids, with interactive displays, audiovisual storytelling and the chance to dress up in costumes of yesteryear.
The People's Story lies opposite this musueum and is also free, so be sure to look in there too if you're interested in local history.