Museums and galleries

Natural History Collections

The Natural History Collections have been home to a rich collection of specimens and objects for over 300 years, representing the entire invertebrate phyla and vertebrate classes.

Reptile exhibit
Reptile specimen on display in the Manning Gallery

Although most of the current exhibits are from the 1920s, the University has been amassing zoological specimens since 1692, when the first exhibits were displayed in Old College.

The specimens are displayed within a taxonomic framework to illustrate the diversity of the animal kingdom.

The highlight of the collections is the Aubrey Manning Gallery, named in honour of the Professor of Natural History from 1973 - 1997.

Opening times

The exhibits are open to visitors throughout the year only by arrangement with the curators, Mark Blaxter or Graham Stone.

Access

The Natural History Collections are housed in the University's Ashworth Laboratories at King's Buildings.

Please contact the Museum directly with any accessibility enquiries.

Contact details

Natural History Museum

  • (Aubrey Manning Gallery)

Contact details

Address

Street

Ashworth Laboratories
Charlotte Auerbach Road
King's Buildings
Edinburgh
EH9 3FL