Museums & Galleries · Edinburgh
Cockburn Geological Museum
📍 EH9 3DL
Photo: marsupium photography (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Extensive collection of geological specimens and historical objects
- Minerals, rocks and fossils spanning earth science materials
- Archives of famous earth scientists dating to the 1700s
- Over 130,000 specimens held in total
- Attractive specimens displayed in cases along main corridors
The Cockburn Geological Museum, based at the Grant Institute of Earth Sciences in Edinburgh, houses a very extensive collection of geological specimens and historical objects, including minerals, rocks and fossils, alongside archives of earth scientists dating back to the late eighteenth century. The total holding exceeds 130,000 specimens, with attractive examples displayed in presentation cases along the main corridors, while other material is kept in locked cabinets or stored in basements and can be viewed by prior arrangement with the curator. It suits those with a genuine interest in geology and earth sciences. Visits run Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, by prior arrangement. Based in the City of Edinburgh, it's within easy reach of Edinburgh Waverley station, two miles away, and there are 171 bookable places to stay within five miles for those planning a longer visit.
Practical details
- Open
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, by prior arrangement
- Booking
- Contact the curator in advance to view stored material
- Accessibility
- Much material is readily accessible but kept in locked cabinets
From the attraction's own website on 14 Oct 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Disabled Access
Visitor reviews
No reviews yet — been here? Be the first to share what it's like.
Log in or create a free account to write a review.
Do you own or manage Cockburn Geological Museum?
Claim this listing to respond to reviews and keep your information up to date. Verification is free — see why owners claim their listing.
Create a free account to claimPlaces to stay near Cockburn Geological Museum
Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
0.4 mi
0.4 mi
0.4 mi
0.9 mi
0.9 mi
1 mi
🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to Cockburn Geological Museum into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
🚆 Or come by train
- Edinburgh Waverley 2 miles
- Haymarket 2.3 miles
- Slateford 2.7 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page