After three years the newly-refurbished Victorian National Museum is reopening in Scotland since its formal opening in 1866, following a £47.4m refit.

Sixteen new galleries take visitors on a journey through the wonders of nature, the cultures of the world and through to science and discovery.

More than 8,000 objects will be on display in the new area, 80% for the first time in generations.

The three-year programme has seen the original interior restored and storage areas turned into public space, making it one of the UK's largest museums.

It means the whole museum, situated in Chambers Street in the Old Town, will have 20,000 objects across 36 galleries.

Exhibits range from a life-sized skeleton cast of a Tyrannosaurus rex which staff rebuilt, to specimens collected by Charles Darwin and 3,000-year-old mummies.

Sir Angus Grossart, chairman of the National Museums Scotland's board of trustees, said:

"Our collections tell great stories about the world, how Scots saw that world, and the disproportionate impact they had upon it.

Working with Scottish architect Gareth Hoskins and exhibition designer Ralph Appelbaum, National Museums Scotland has also restored Victorian architecture, created new galleries including a major gallery to host international exhibitions.

The redevelopment has been jointly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (£17.8 million), and the Scottish Government (£16 million), with a further £13.6 million from private sources.

Large crowds are expected to gather as the newly refurbished museum opens its doors in Edinburgh on Friday (29 July).