Business Details
Explore Money's History in Edinburgh
We are a unique cultural institution located in the historic Bank of Scotland Head Office, offering an immersive exploration of money's evolution and its impact on society. Our exhibitions blend art, design, technology, and security to present money as a cross-curricular topic, with interactive displays covering 4,000 years of monetary history. We provide free year-round access to permanent exhibits like 'A Tale of Two Banks' and 'Money Matters', alongside temporary displays and educational programs. Our team is dedicated to making financial history engaging through hands-on activities, school workshops, and outreach initiatives.Located in Edinburgh's city centre near Edinburgh Castle, we combine architectural heritage with modern interactive experiences. We offer group visit coordination, accessible facilities, and a programme of events including the annual Family Learning Festival. Our collections and exhibitions explore themes from Victorian building societies to 19th-century life assurance practices, presented through original artifacts and digital resources.
Services
Banking History Exhibits
Interactive Money Displays
School Workshops
Group Visits
Historic Building Tours
Highlights and features
- We offer free access to world-class financial history collections
- Our interactive exhibits combine 4,000 years of monetary history with modern technology
- We provide tailored educational programmes for schools and groups
- Our building is a historic Bank of Scotland headquarters with architectural significance
- We host annual family learning festivals with hands-on activities
Services
Banking History Exhibits
Explore three centuries of banking history through original artifacts and interactive exhibits. Discover the origins of Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland, their economic impact, and architectural evolution. Ideal for history enthusiasts and educational groups seeking insights into Britain's financial heritage.
Interactive Money Displays
Engage with immersive exhibits tracing money's evolution from ancient barter systems to digital currencies. Features include safe-cracking simulations, million-pound displays, and model-building activities. Designed for all ages to understand monetary systems through tactile experiences.
School Workshops
Curriculum-linked workshops explore money's role in history, economics, and technology. Sessions include Victorian banking practices, currency design, and financial security principles. Available for primary and secondary school groups with pre-booking arrangements through our learning department.
Group Visits
Tailored experiences for groups up to 25 people during standard hours. Larger groups and special requirements accommodated with advance notice. Includes guided tours of historic banking archives and interactive exhibit access, with dedicated support for educational institutions.
Historic Building Tours
Discover the Bank of Scotland's purpose-built headquarters with interactive maps showing Edinburgh's urban development. Learn how the Mound's geography shaped the city's growth and explore architectural features blending 17th-century design with modern museum facilities.
Questions
Is admission to Museum on The Mound free?
Yes, all our exhibitions and facilities are completely free to access.
What historical periods do your exhibits cover?
Our collections span 4,000 years of monetary history, from ancient barter systems to modern digital currencies.
Can I book a school visit?
Yes, we offer curriculum-linked workshops and guided tours for school groups. Please contact us through our Learning pages for arrangements.
Are group visits available outside opening hours?
We can accommodate special group bookings outside standard hours with advance notice via our contact details.
How accessible is the museum?
We provide accessible facilities and have information about accessibility on our website for visitors' convenience.
What transport options reach the museum?
We're a short walk from Edinburgh Waverley station, with nearby bus routes 8, 23, 27, 41 and car parks at Waverley and Castle Terrace.
Reviews (6)
Jo Dan
Dec 30, 2021
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Came in here while waiting to go to the castle. Free entry. Very interesting seeing the history and of course the specimen million pounds. Photo taking is allowed. Lovely views of Edinburgh.
Ebun Oluwole
Dec 18, 2021
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So much history packed in this tiny but informative museum. Time well spent learning about money and coinage.
Joe Hetherington
Dec 11, 2021
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Nice little 30 minute stop if you're walking past, it's free and the million pounds in cash is probably worth it alone, plus interesting facts and history about money and banking. I'd have to recommend it!
Manjesh V. Pai
Oct 31, 2021
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A place where u can see the detailed history of the evolution of scottish bank, coins and notes. There are also many activities for children as well. We can also see the 1 million pounds kept there. Please bring 1 penny with you as you can mould it to scottish penny.
John Pope
Oct 22, 2021
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Really interesting, small museum. Our grandson was impressed with seeing one million pounds in specimen notes and his 'life assurance policy' from 1824. Staff were friendly and helpful.
Vera Sheinman
Aug 20, 2021
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A rather small museum with an informative introduction about money for children and adults. You can spend 30 minutes to 1 hour here on a rainy day. There are nice interactive activities like medieval coin making and creating your own life insurance policy. The recent covid setup is that you don't need to prebook, but you do need to wait if there are more than 30 visitors inside.
