When the National Museum of Scotland first opened its doors in 1866 the aim was to show the entire world under one roof. Now, after much anticipation, the “under construction” signs have been taken down as the museum puts 8,000 new objects on display for the public.

The idea of housing the world under one roof is most striking in the galleries of the natural world, where the dinosaur bones that used to be displayed are finally on view again. The museum has suspended sharks, dolphins, a giant squid and other sea creatures (including fossilised skeletons) above a Tyrannosaurus Rex, an elephant and other land-dwelling creatures. An impressive and spectacular sight – the whole natural world, old and new, poised dramatically for our examination.

Not to mention the Mega Sloth – an absurdly large fossil of the sloth’s  early ancestor that can only make you laugh. That’s the fantastic thing about this display: having dinosaurs next to a full size elephant, or any other contemporary animal for that matter, we can truly see their gargantuan size.

For those still in touch with their inner child, the museum caters for the need to touch everything in sight. If you so wish, you can dress up as a scuba-diver, crawl through a tree and feel the skin of a snake, a lion and a llama. Just be careful not to carry this attitude with you to the more serious sections of the museum.

If you’re looking for a more enlightening experience, the world cultures galleries display beautiful and interesting artwork from all over the world alongside musical instruments and textiles in order to give a sense of how diverse we are as human beings. Jumping from continent to continent with a few steps, trying to squeeze the world into one day can be a little overwhelming; but it’s a lot cheaper than a gap year.

No matter what the museum has on display, it is fantastic to be able to see the building itself in its full glory. The brilliant views from the roof terrace, the glass ceilings, the staggering Victorian architecture – everywhere you walk there is something exciting to look at. The world under one roof indeed.