The Museum of Childhood on Edinburgh's Royal Mile has to be my favourite museum in that area which is full of museums.
Situated on High Street, don't be deceived by its small shop frontage or indeed from what you see when you immediately enter the building, this museum is quite extensive, covering several floors of two buildings. I thought the entire museum consisted of a smallish ground floor and first floor, it was only when I was leaving that staff pointed out I had only seen a small section of it, so I turned round and followed directions to the rest of the museum!.
At the back of the ground floor exhibition there is a door (I thought it was the entrance to perhaps the staff room) the door leads to stairs and lifts to further floors which are actually in the upper part of the adjoining building! –
As soon as visitors enter through the museum door, they are in the well stocked gift shop. Walk a little further and the museum begins.
This fascinating museum, shows over 5 galleries a magnificent display showing childhood from the 18th to 21st century.
There is the home life section where such items as cots, prams, christening shawls, baby clothes, medicines. food and drink are on display.
Then School and Sunday School life is shown, desks, satchels, slate boards, pencils chalks, inks, notebooks, School days are well illustrated. .
There is a huge soft toy and doll gallery where there several cabinets of dolls and teddy bears, dressed and displayed beautifully.
There are cabinets full of toy cars and , trains , Shelves of of children's books and comics including some fascinating 19c picture books, as well as books from my favourite childhood author – Enid Blyton.
Marbles, hoops board games, even more modern computer games are all there to be seen, as well as toys from just twenty years ago..
Gallery 5 has an old street you can walk down with a classroom and a shop, where you can hear children singing nursery rhymes and practising times tables which really brings the experience to life.
Children visiting can try out the hobbies such as needlework, they can dress up in some of the clothes of by gone days. There is a model garage, Rocking horse glover puppets with a mini stage all available for children to play with, as well as a Zoetrope where they can enjoy making still images move – I have to admit I found this toy fascinating and of course adults as well as children can play with the toys!
Entry to the museum is free but donations are always welcomed.
This lovely fascinating museum is well worth a visit, There is absolutely everything here. I do not think anyone could walk through this museum without some of its displays sparking childhood memories.
