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List of museums in Scotland facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Welcome to the amazing world of museums in Scotland! This guide will help you discover many cool places where you can learn about history, art, science, and more. Museums are special buildings that collect and take care of interesting objects. They share these collections with everyone. You'll find all sorts of museums, from art galleries to historic castles and even places that show how people lived long ago.

To use the sortable table, click on the icons at the top of each column to sort that column in alphabetical order; click again for reverse alphabetical order.

Awesome Museums to Explore

Scotland has so many fantastic museums! Here's a list of some of the best ones, organized by where they are. Get ready to discover some incredible stories and artifacts!

Aberdeen City & Shire Museums

  • Aberdeen Art Gallery
    • Location: Aberdeen
    • What's inside: This gallery opened in 1885. It shows off beautiful paintings by famous Scottish artists like Joan Eardley and Henry Raeburn. You can also see modern art and cool sculptures.
Aberdeen Art Gallery
The grand Aberdeen Art Gallery building.
ArtsCentre-271096-Colin Smith
The Aberdeen Arts Centre.
  • Aberdeen Maritime Museum
    • Location: Aberdeen
    • What's inside: Learn all about Aberdeen's strong connection to the sea! Discover stories from early fishing days to modern green energy. See ship models, a real lighthouse lens, and even the deck of an old steamer.
RossHouse-117156-Richard Slessor
The Aberdeen Maritime Museum, telling tales of the sea.
  • Gordon Highlanders Museum
    • Location: Aberdeen
    • What's inside: This museum shares the brave stories of the Gordon Highlanders regiment over 200 years. You can see uniforms, medals, and even explore a recreated trench from World War I.
GordonHighlanders-18288-Lizzie
The Gordon Highlanders Museum.
King's Museum
The King's Museum at the University of Aberdeen.
  • Provost Skene's House
    • Location: Aberdeen
    • What's inside: Built in 1545, this is Aberdeen's oldest surviving townhouse! It celebrates the lives of over 100 important people from Aberdeen and the North-East, including scientists and writers.
Provost Skene
Provost Skene's House, a historic Aberdeen townhouse.
Tolbooth-124798-Colin Smith
The historic Tolbooth Museum.
  • Aberdeenshire Farming Museum
    • Location: Mintlaw
    • What's inside: Located in Aden Country Park, this museum shows what farming was like in North East Scotland. It tells the stories of the land and the people who worked on it.
Aden Country Park, Museum
The Aberdeenshire Farming Museum.
  • Alford Heritage Museum
    • Location: Alford
    • What's inside: See displays of old rural tools, household items, and farm equipment. Learn about local history and famous people like the Doric poet Charles Murray.
Alford Heritage Centre - geograph.org.uk - 1240446
The Alford Heritage Museum.
  • Arbuthnot Museum
    • Location: Peterhead
    • What's inside: Discover the history of Peterhead's fishing boats, local stories, and amazing artifacts from the Inuit people and the Arctic. There are also changing exhibits and fun hands-on activities.
  • Balmoral Castle
    • Location: Crathie
    • What's inside: This is a royal residence and was a summer home for Queen Elizabeth II. You can see displays of art, carriages, and royal souvenirs. Explore the beautiful gardens and grounds.
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle, a royal summer retreat.
Braemar Castle 1
Braemar Castle.
  • Corgarff Castle
    • Location: Corgarff
    • What's inside: This 16th-century castle was later used as a military base. You can see reconstructed barracks from the 1750s. It's run by Historic Scotland.
Corgarff Castle 13
Corgarff Castle.
Craigievar castle 1991
Craigievar Castle.
Crathes Castle
Crathes Castle with its famous pink walls.
Drum Castle
Drum Castle.
  • Duff House
    • Location: Banff
    • What's inside: This 18th-century country house has paintings and furniture cared for by the National Galleries of Scotland.
Duff House
Duff House.
  • Grampian Transport Museum
    • Location: Alford
    • What's inside: See a fantastic collection of vehicles that show the history of transportation. Highlights include 19th-century chariots and a 1980s police car!
Grampian Transport Museum - geograph.org.uk - 595614
The Grampian Transport Museum.
  • Haddo House
    • Location: Tarves
    • What's inside: This Georgian Palladian house, run by the National Trust for Scotland, has a late Victorian interior, a painting collection, and lovely gardens.
Haddohousefromrear
Haddo House.
Huntly Castle
The ruins of Huntly Castle.
Kinnaird Head Lighthouse
Kinnaird Head Lighthouse, home to the museum.
  • Peterhead Prison Museum
    • Location: Peterhead
    • What's inside: Discover the history of Peterhead Prison.
  • Stonehaven Tolbooth
    • Location: Stonehaven
    • What's inside: This 16th-century stone building was once a courthouse and prison. Now it has exhibits about local history.
Stonehaven Tolbooth (museum and restaurant) - geograph.org.uk - 1371995
The Stonehaven Tolbooth.
Tolquhon Castle, entrance detail
The entrance to Tolquhon Castle.

Angus & Dundee Museums

Arbroath Abbey2
The impressive Arbroath Abbey.
  • Arbroath Art Gallery
    • Location: Arbroath
    • What's inside: See artwork from the Angus collections and special touring exhibitions.
  • J M Barrie's Birthplace
    • Location: Kirriemuir
    • What's inside: Visit the birthplace home of Peter Pan playwright J M Barrie. There's also a cottage nearby with Peter Pan souvenirs.
Barry Mill2
Barry Mill.
Brechin Town House Museum - geograph.org.uk - 2295658
Brechin Town House Museum.
  • Edzell Castle
    • Location: Edzell
    • What's inside: Explore the ruined 16th-century castle and its early 17th-century walled garden, operated by Historic Scotland.
Edzell Castle
Edzell Castle and its garden.
GlamisWide
Glamis Castle.
  • Glenesk Folk Museum
    • Location: Tarfside
    • What's inside: See period costumes, furniture, and room settings that show how people lived long ago.
The Retreat, Folk Museum and Tearoom, Glenesk - geograph.org.uk - 116255
The Glenesk Folk Museum.
  • Hospitalfield
    • Location: Arbroath
    • What's inside: This former art school has an art collection and an archive from Patrick Allan Fraser.
Hospitalfield House - view from SE
Hospitalfield House.
  • Kirriemuir Gateway to the Glens Museum
    • Location: Kirriemuir
    • What's inside: Discover local history, culture, nature, and archaeology.
Once the Town House (geograph 5049135)
Kirriemuir Gateway to the Glens Museum.
Meffan Institute - geograph.org.uk - 1291301
Meffan Museum and Art Gallery.
MASHC
Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre.
  • Montrose Museum
    • Location: Montrose
    • What's inside: Explore local history, archaeology, nature, art, and artifacts from different cultures.
Montrose Museum
Montrose Museum.
  • Signal Tower Museum
    • Location: Arbroath
    • What's inside: Learn about local history, lighthouses, fishing, maritime heritage, and the textile industry.
Arbroath signal tower
The Signal Tower Museum.
  • St Vigeans Sculpture Stones
    • Location: St Vigeans
    • What's inside: Operated by Historic Scotland, this site has over 30 amazing Pictish stones with ancient carvings.
St Vigeans Museum 20090616
St Vigeans Sculpture Stones.
Broughty Castle
Broughty Castle.
  • Discovery Point
    • Location: Dundee
    • What's inside: Visit the famous RRS Discovery ship, which was used for polar explorations! The museum tells its incredible story.
RRS Discovery
The RRS Discovery at Discovery Point.
Dundee Contemporary Arts
Dundee Contemporary Arts building.
  • HMS  Unicorn
    • Location: Dundee
    • What's inside: Step aboard this sailing frigate, which is now a museum ship!
HMS Unicorn
HMS Unicorn, a historic sailing frigate.
  • McManus Galleries
    • Location: Dundee
    • What's inside: This gallery has fine and decorative art, natural history, local history, and artifacts from different cultures.
McManus Galleries
The McManus Galleries.
  • Mills Observatory
    • Location: Dundee
    • What's inside: Explore scientific instruments and learn about astronomy at this observatory.
Mills
Mills Observatory.
  • V&A Dundee
    • Location: Dundee
    • What's inside: This museum focuses on decorative arts and design. It's a very modern and cool building!
The RRS Discovery & the V&A Museum, Dundee
The V&A Dundee and RRS Discovery.
  • Verdant Works
    • Location: Dundee
    • What's inside: Discover the history of the textile industry, especially jute and linen, in Dundee.
Verdant
Verdant Works, a textile museum.

Edinburgh and Lothians Museums

  • City Art Centre
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: This center has changing exhibits of Scottish and international art, design, and photography.
City Art Centre Edinburgh
The City Art Centre in Edinburgh.
  • Craigmillar Castle
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: Explore the remains of this medieval castle, cared for by Historic Environment Scotland.
Craigmillar Castle - geograph.org.uk - 9488
Craigmillar Castle.
  • Edinburgh Castle
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: A must-see! Tour this historic medieval fortress. See the Honours of Scotland (crown jewels), learn about prisoners of war, visit the Royal Palace rooms, and explore military museums like the Royal Scots Regimental Museum.
Holiday043
Edinburgh Castle, a famous landmark.
  • Fruitmarket Gallery
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: A contemporary art gallery with exciting modern art.
Fruitmarket Gallery Edinburgh
The Fruitmarket Gallery.
Glasdstone's Land
Gladstone's Land.
  • Holyrood Palace
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: This is the official home of the monarch in Scotland. You can tour parts of this historic palace.
Wfm holyrood palace
Holyrood Palace.
Lufe God Abufe Al - John Knox House 200411
John Knox House.
  • Jupiter Artland
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: A cool contemporary sculpture park spread across 100 acres of meadows and woodlands, with five indoor galleries.
CellsofLife CharlesJencks 2005 Photo AllanPollokMorris CourtesyJupiterArtland 12
A sculpture at Jupiter Artland.
  • Lauriston Castle
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: This 19th-century mansion has Edwardian interiors, furniture, art, and a Japanese garden.
LauristonCastleSouth
Lauriston Castle.
Museum of Childhood, Edinburg
The Museum of Childhood.
  • Museum of Edinburgh
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: Learn about the history and culture of Edinburgh, including silver and porcelain collections.
Museum of Edinburgh
The Museum of Edinburgh.
  • Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: This museum is all about the history of firefighting in Scotland. See old fire engines, safety gear, and uniforms.
Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage, Edinburgh
The Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage.
  • Museum on the Mound
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: Discover the history of money, currency, and banking through art, design, technology, and even crime stories!
EdinburghMuseumOnTheMound-pjt
The Museum on the Mound.
  • Scottish National Gallery
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: Part of the National Galleries of Scotland, this gallery features art from the early Renaissance to 1900, including a national collection of Scottish art.
Wfm national gallery scotland
The Scottish National Gallery.
Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland.
National War Museum of Scotland
The National War Museum of Scotland.
  • People's Story Museum
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: Learn about the lives, work, and fun times of ordinary people in Edinburgh from 1750 to the late 20th century.
Canongate Tolbooth - geograph.org.uk - 1336771
The People's Story Museum.
Queen's Gallery - Edinburgh
The Queen's Gallery.
  • Royal Yacht Britannia
    • Location: Leith
    • What's inside: Step aboard this famous museum ship, which was once the Royal Yacht of the British royal family!
HMY Britannia
The Royal Yacht Britannia.
  • Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: Part of National Galleries of Scotland, this gallery showcases modern and contemporary art.
Wfm scot nat art gallery
The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
  • Scottish National Portrait Gallery
    • Location: Edinburgh
    • What's inside: See portraits of important figures in Scottish history and photography.
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh, by Jim Barton, Geograph 4253114
St Cecilia's Hall.
Surgeons Hall Édimbourg 3
Surgeons' Hall Museum.
Scottish Writers' Museum
The Writers' Museum.
Dunbar - John Muir's Birthplace 20100919
John Muir's Birthplace.
National Museum of Flight, Scotland
The National Museum of Flight.
  • Newhailes House
Newhailes, near Musselburgh
Newhailes House.
PrestonMill wheel
Preston Mill.
Cornish Beam Engine1
A Cornish Beam Engine at Prestongrange.
Tantallon Castle
Tantallon Castle.

Kingdom of Fife Museums

East Range of Aberdour Castle
Aberdour Castle.
Birthplace of Andrew Carnegie, Dunfermline
The birthplace of Andrew Carnegie.
Bute Medical Building, University of St Andrews Medical School - geograph.org.uk - 217945
The Bell Pettigrew Museum.
Culross Palace
Culross Palace.
Dunfermline Abbey 20080503 Pends Gate
Dunfermline Abbey.
Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Museum
Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries.
Dunfermline Palace 20080503 from north west
Dunfermline Palace.
Falkland Palace
Falkland Palace.
  • Fife Folk Museum
    • Location: Ceres
    • What's inside: Learn about local history, rural life, and agriculture in Fife.
Fife Folk Museum, Ceres (geograph 5493633)
The Fife Folk Museum.
Tarvit 1
Hill of Tarvit.
Inchcolm Abbey, Inchcolm, Firth of Forth, Scotland-9April2011
Inchcolm Abbey.
  • Jim Matthew Camera Collection
    • Location: St Monans
    • What's inside: See over 3,000 cameras and lots of other photography equipment!
Jim Matthew Camera Collection
A display at the Jim Matthew Camera Collection.
Kellie Castle 2
Kellie Castle.
  • Kirkcaldy Galleries
    • Location: Kirkcaldy
    • What's inside: This gallery has fine and decorative arts, including the largest collection of paintings by William McTaggart and Scottish Colourist Samuel Peploe outside of the National Galleries of Scotland.
Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery
Kirkcaldy Galleries.
  • Museum of Communication, Scotland
    • Location: Burntisland
    • What's inside: Explore old communication technology, including early electronic devices, telephones, radio, and television.
Museum of Communication, Burntisland
The Museum of Communication, Scotland.
The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews with a full view of the building
The R&A World Golf Museum.
  • Scotland's Secret Bunker
    • Location: Anstruther
    • What's inside: Go underground into a real Cold War-era bunker! It was built for the government in case of a nuclear attack.
Secret Bunker Image 2
Inside Scotland's Secret Bunker.
Scottish Fisheries Museum
The Scottish Fisheries Museum.
Bus Museum. - geograph.org.uk - 82573
The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum.
St andrews cathedral ojk
St Andrew's Cathedral.
St Andrews Castle Ruins 2007
St Andrews Castle ruins.
St Andrews museum - geograph.org.uk - 423565
St Andrews Museum.
  • St Monans Windmill
    • Location: St Monans
    • What's inside: See a late 18th-century windmill and old saltpans.
St Monans windmill
St Monans Windmill.

Greater Glasgow and Clyde Valley Museums

  • Burrell Collection
    • Location: Glasgow
    • What's inside: This amazing collection includes French Impressionist paintings, medieval art, Chinese and Islamic art, and artifacts from ancient civilizations.
Wfm burrell collection
The Burrell Collection.
  • Fossil Grove
    • Location: Glasgow
    • What's inside: See a covered grove of fossilized prehistoric trees!
Fossil Tree Stumps at Fossil Grove Glasgow 1977
Fossil Tree Stumps at Fossil Grove.
  • Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
    • Location: Glasgow
    • What's inside: Located in a beautiful old merchant's home, this gallery has a collection of contemporary and modern art by artists like Niki de Saint Phalle.
Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow, angled view, 2018-06-27
The Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA).
  • Glasgow Police Museum
    • Location: Glasgow
    • What's inside: Learn about the history of policing in Glasgow.
  • Glasgow Women's Library
    • Location: Glasgow
    • What's inside: This is the only museum in the UK dedicated to women's lives, history, and achievements. It has a library and archive collections.
Glasgow Women's Library
The Glasgow Women's Library.
Holmwood
Holmwood House.
HouseForAnArtLover
House for an Art Lover.
Glasgowhunterianartgallery
The Hunterian Art Gallery.
Main Entrance of the Kelvingrove Art Meseum
The main entrance of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
Wfm mackintosh lighthouse
The Lighthouse Glasgow.
  • National Piping Center – Museum of Piping
    • Location: Glasgow
    • What's inside: Discover the history and collection of bagpipes and other traditional musical instruments.
National Piping Centre
The National Piping Centre.
  • People's Palace
    • Location: Glasgow
    • What's inside: Learn about the history of the people and city of Glasgow from 1750 to the end of the 20th century.
Wfm peoples palace front
The People's Palace.
Wfm pollok house
Pollok House.
Provand's Lordship, Glasgow
Provand's Lordship.
  • Riverside Museum
    • Location: Glasgow
    • What's inside: This museum, which opened in 2011, houses the amazing collections of the Glasgow Museum of Transport.
Class 15F Locomotive 3007 in George Square in 2007
A locomotive, part of the Riverside Museum collection.
Wfm scotland street
Scotland Street School Museum.
St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art Glasgow
St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art.
GlenLee
The Tall Ship Glenlee.
Tenementhouse
The Tenement House.
  • Mclean Museum and Art Gallery
    • Location: Greenock
    • What's inside: This museum has art, natural history, world cultures, local history, archaeology, and industry exhibits.
GreenockMcLeanMuseum
The McLean Museum and Art Gallery.
Newark Castle from sw
Newark Castle.
  • Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Museum and Heritage Centre
    • Location: Greenock
    • What's inside: This museum is dedicated to the history of Scotland's fire and rescue service. See artifacts and stories from its long history.
Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange - geograph.org.uk - 1342483
The National Mining Museum Scotland.
Brodie Castle
Brodie Castle.
Elgin museum Moray
Elgin Museum.
  • Moray Motor Museum
    • Location: Elgin
    • What's inside: See veteran, vintage, and classic cars, motorcycles, model cars, and motoring memorabilia.
Brodick Castle Main Building East 01
Brodick Castle.
  • Isle of Arran Heritage Museum
    • Location: Brodick
    • What's inside: This open-air museum on the Isle of Arran has buildings like a croft and smiddy, farmhouse, and cottage. Learn about island agriculture, social history, and archaeology.
Kilwinning Abbey Today
Kilwinning Abbey Tower.
Lodge Mother Kilwinning
Lodge Mother Kilwinning.
DalgarvenMillBuildings
Dalgarven Mill.
  • Scottish Maritime Museum
    • Location: Irvine
    • What's inside: Located in a Victorian building and by Irvine harborside, this museum has Scottish maritime collections and large ships like the MV Spartan.
Linthousebuilding2
The Linthouse building of the Scottish Maritime Museum.
  • Vikingar
    • Location: Largs
    • What's inside: Experience a multi-media and live presentation about Viking history in Scotland!
Motherwell Heritage Centre - geograph.org.uk - 103478
North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre.
Summerlee2
Summerlee, Museum of Scottish Industrial Life.
Bishop's Palace - Kirkwall
The Bishop's Palace in Kirkwall.
Broch of Gurness2
The Broch of Gurness.
  • Corrigall Farm Museum
    • Location: Harray
    • What's inside: This 19th-century farmhouse and outbuildings show what farm life was like, complete with a peat fire and horse-drawn equipment.
Corrigall Farm Museum 20110526
Corrigall Farm Museum.
Earl's palace
The Earl's Palace.
Hacknessmartello
Hackness Martello Tower.
  • Kirbuster Farm Museum
    • Location: Birsay
    • What's inside: This 19th-century farmhouse has a peat-fired hearth, stone beds, and old farm tools.
Kirbuster Farm Museum 20110528 kiln
Kirbuster Farm Museum.
  • Longhope Lifeboat Museum
    • Location: Brims
    • What's inside: Learn about the history of the Longhope lifeboat station and its brave crew.
Longhope Lifeboat Museum - geograph.org.uk - 1032473
Longhope Lifeboat Museum.
MaesHoweEntrance
The entrance to Maeshowe.
  • Orkney Museum
    • Location: Kirkwall
    • What's inside: Also known as the Tankerness House Museum, it has period rooms, local history, archaeology, and exhibits on the Picts and Vikings.
Tankerness House Museum 20110526
The Orkney Museum.
  • Orkney Wireless Museum
    • Location: Kirkwall
    • What's inside: See a collection of old radios and wartime communication equipment. Learn about Orkney's important role in World War II.
Orkney Wireless Museum exterior2008
Orkney Wireless Museum.
  • Pier Arts Centre
    • Location: Stromness
    • What's inside: A contemporary art gallery and museum with a fine art collection from Margaret Gardiner.
The Pier Arts Centre - geograph.org.uk - 357978
The Pier Arts Centre.
  • Scapa Flow Museum
    • Location: Lyness
    • What's inside: Learn about the history of the naval anchorage in World Wars I and II, and the island's history.
ScapaFlowVisitorCentreRLH
The Scapa Flow Museum.
  • Skaill House
    • Location: Sandwick
    • What's inside: This 17th-century house has furnishings from the 1950s and is located on a site dating back to the Iron Age.
Scotland Orkney Skaill House
Skaill House.
Orkney Skara Brae
The ancient settlement of Skara Brae.
  • Stromness Museum
    • Location: Stromness
    • What's inside: Explore maritime and natural history, as well as local history.
Stromness museum - geograph.org.uk - 819532
Stromness Museum.
  • Museum nan Eilean
    • Location: Stornoway
    • What's inside: Learn about the archaeology, social, domestic, and economic history of the Western Isles.
  • Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre
    • Location: Lochmaddy
    • What's inside: This center has local history, culture, and art exhibits.
  • Kildonan Museum
    • Location: Kildonan, South Uist
    • What's inside: Discover local archaeology, social, domestic, and economic history of South Uist. It also has photo collections and craftwork.
Taigh-Tasgaish Chill Donnain - geograph.org.uk - 1362068
Kildonan Museum.
  • Black Watch Regimental Museum
    • Location: Perth
    • What's inside: Located in Balhousie Castle, this museum has regimental uniforms, weapons, medals, and artifacts from the Black Watch regiment.
Balhousie Castle (3) - geograph.org.uk - 548503
Balhousie Castle, home to the Black Watch Museum.
  • Birnam Arts
    • Location: Dunkeld
    • What's inside: This arts and community center has a permanent exhibit on author Beatrix Potter and changing exhibits of art and photography.
Birnam Institute ca 2003
Birnam Arts.
  • Blair Castle
    • Location: Blair Atholl
    • What's inside: This castle is the home of the Clan Murray family. See collections of fine pictures, furniture, arms, armor, and Jacobite relics.
Blair castle - facade
Blair Castle.
Castle Menzies
Castle Menzies.
  • Dunkeld Cathedral
    • Location: Dunkeld
    • What's inside: This medieval cathedral includes the Chapter House Museum with relics from ancient times and local history exhibits.
Dunkeld Cathedral
Dunkeld Cathedral.
Elcho castle
Elcho Castle.
Huntingtower Castle, near Perth
Huntingtower Castle.
Lochleven west wall
Lochleven Castle.
Meigle Museum
The Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum.
  • Perth Museum and Art Gallery
    • Location: Perth
    • What's inside: This museum has art, local history, natural history, and decorative arts, including Perthshire glass and silver.
Perth Museum and Art Gallery
Perth Museum and Art Gallery.
  • Scone Palace
    • Location: Scone
    • What's inside: This early 19th-century castle has state rooms with collections of furniture, ceramics, and clocks.
Scone Palace
Scone Palace.
  • Scottish Crannog Centre
    • Location: Kenmore
    • What's inside: See an accurate, full-size reconstruction of an Iron Age crannog (an ancient loch-dwelling) and its artifacts.
  • Coats Observatory
    • Location: Paisley
    • What's inside: Visit this observatory with astronomical equipment, displays, and earthquake recording equipment.
Coats Observatory
Coats Observatory.
  • Paisley Museum
    • Location: Paisley
    • What's inside: Learn about local history, fine and decorative art, natural history, ancient Egyptian artifacts, and textiles.
Paisley Museum and Art Galleries - geograph.org.uk - 387047
Paisley Museum and Art Galleries.
  • Sma Shot Cottages
    • Location: Paisley
    • What's inside: See two recreated weaver's workshops and cottages, showing life in the late 18th and mid-19th centuries.
  • Paisley Thread Mill Museum
    • Location: Paisley
    • What's inside: Discover the local textile industry and see textile collections.
  • Weaver's Cottage, Renfrewshire
    • Location: Kilbarchan
    • What's inside: Operated by the National Trust for Scotland, this 18th-century weaver's cottage has original working looms and spinning wheels.
  • Borders Textile Towerhouse
    • Location: Hawick
    • What's inside: See costumes and fashion, learn about local textile industries, and explore textile arts and heritage.
  • Eyemouth Museum
    • Location: Eyemouth
    • What's inside: Learn about local history, culture, and maritime heritage.
Eyemouthmuseum
Eyemouth Museum.
  • Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum
    • Location: Jedburgh
    • What's inside: Explore an 1820s period prison and see local history displays.
Castlewood Cemetery - geograph.org.uk - 371421
Jedburgh Castle Jail.
  • Jim Clark Motorsport Museum
    • Location: Duns
    • What's inside: Explore the life and career of motor racing champion Jim Clark.
  • Mary Queen of Scots' Visitor Centre
MelroseAbbey01
Melrose Abbey.
  • Abbotsford
    • Location: Galashiels
    • What's inside: This was the home of Sir Walter Scott, a famous Scottish author. Learn about his life and works.
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Abbotsford House.
  • Old Gala House
    • Location: Galashiels
    • What's inside: Discover local history, art, and the history of this house and culture.
Old-gala-house-by-night
Old Gala House.
  • Paxton House
    • Location: Paxton
    • What's inside: This 18th-century country house features a gallery of paintings from the National Galleries of Scotland.
Paxton House
Paxton House.
Robert Smail's Printing Works
Robert Smail's Printing Works.
  • Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom
    • Location: Selkirk
    • What's inside: Visit the 19th-century Sheriff Court where author Sir Walter Scott worked. See exhibits on his life, as well as local poets and explorers.
Scottscourtroom
Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom.
  • Thirlestane Castle
    • Location: Lauder
    • What's inside: This mansion castle has paintings, furniture, porcelain, historic toys, and a Victorian kitchen.
Thirlestane Castle
Thirlestane Castle.
  • Tweeddale Museum and Gallery
    • Location: Peebles
    • What's inside: See art and local history exhibits.
Peebles 1857
The Chambers Institution, home to the Tweeddale Museum.
  • Böd of Gremista
    • Location: Lerwick
    • What's inside: This restored 18th-century Shetland fishing booth shows fishing displays and information about local businessman Arthur Anderson. It also houses the Shetland Textile Working Museum.
Booth of Gremista, Lerwick - geograph.org.uk - 1762238
The Böd of Gremista.
  • Croft House Museum
    • Location: Boddam
    • What's inside: Visit this mid-19th-century croft cottage with original fixtures and furnishings.
Shetland crofthouse museum
The Shetland Croft House Museum.
Jarlshof 20080821 - aisled roundhouse and broch
Jarlshof, a prehistoric and Norse settlement.
  • Old Haa Museum
    • Location: Burravoe
    • What's inside: This museum, garden, and tearoom on the island of Yell has historic objects, an archive, and temporary art and craft exhibitions. It has a large collection of sounds and photos.
Oldhaamuseum
The Old Haa Museum.
  • Old Scatness
    • Location: Dunrossness
    • What's inside: Take guided tours with costumed guides through excavated medieval, Viking, Pictish, and Bronze Age remains. See replica Iron Age buildings and craft demonstrations.
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Old Scatness.
  • Quendale Water Mill
    • Location: Dunrossness
    • What's inside: This restored 19th-century water mill has exhibits on local history and agriculture.
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Quendale Water Mill.
  • Shetland Museum and Archives
    • Location: Lerwick
    • What's inside: Discover local history, maritime stories, social history, and a nationally important textile collection.
Shetlandmuseum Lerwick
The Shetland Museum and Archives.
  • Unst Boat Haven
    • Location: Unst
    • What's inside: See a collection of over 20 wooden boats, fishing gear, equipment, and photographs.
Unst Boat Haven - geograph.org.uk - 8668
The Unst Boat Haven.
  • Weisdale Mill
    • Location: Weisdale
    • What's inside: This 19th-century watermill is now an art gallery operated by Shetland Arts.
Weisdale Mill, Weisdale, Shetland - geograph.org.uk - 138066
Weisdale Mill.
  • Burns Cottage
    • Location: Alloway
    • What's inside: Visit the 18th-century birthplace of poet Robert Burns, part of the Burns National Heritage Park.
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Robert Burns' Birthplace Cottage.
  • Burns National Heritage Park
  • Blairquhan Castle
    • Location: Maybole
    • What's inside: Explore this Regency-era castle and its beautiful gardens.
Crossraguel01
Crossraguel Abbey.
Culzean Castle
Culzean Castle.
Dundonald Castle
Dundonald Castle.
  • Tam O'Shanter Experience
    • Location: Alloway
    • What's inside: Part of the Burns National Heritage Park, this multimedia show brings Robert Burns' famous poem Tam o' Shanter to life!
Biggar Gasworks Museum 20100921 retort
Biggar Gasworks Museum.
Bothwell Castle 20080505 - south-east tower
Bothwell Castle.
David Livingstone Centre
The David Livingstone Birthplace Museum.
  • Biggar & Upper Clydesdale Museum
    • Location: Biggar
    • What's inside: Operated by the Biggar Museum Trust, this museum covers 14,000 years of history in Upper Clydesdale. See recreated late 19th and early 20th-century shops like a grocer and a printer.
Hunter House Museum, East Kilbride - geograph.org.uk - 60253
Hunter House Museum.
  • Leadhills Miners Library
    • Location: Leadhills
    • What's inside: This is the oldest subscription library in the British Isles! It includes objects from the local area and mines, along with its historic book collection.
  • Little Sparta
    • Location: Dunsyre
    • What's inside: This is the garden of artist and poet Ian Hamilton Finlay. It features over 275 artworks created in collaboration with many craftsmen and women.
Little Sparta - CLAUDI
An artwork at Little Sparta.
  • Low Parks Museum
    • Location: Hamilton
    • What's inside: Discover local history, culture, agriculture, textiles, mining, and a Victorian kitchen.
LowParksMuseum
Low Parks Museum.
  • National Museum of Rural Life
    • Location: East Kilbride
    • What's inside: This museum, formerly the Museum of Scottish Country Life, has a 1950s working farm, exhibits of rural room settings, and old agriculture machinery.
Lairds house
A house at the National Museum of Rural Life.
  • New Lanark
    • Location: New Lanark
    • What's inside: Explore this restored 19th-century textile mill village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Buildings at New Lanark.
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Argyll's Lodging.
Robert the Bruce statue, Bannockburn - geograph.org.uk - 1538090
Robert the Bruce statue at Bannockburn.
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Cambuskenneth Abbey.
Doune Castle - front
Doune Castle.
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Inchmahome Priory.
Moirlanich Longhouse - geograph.org.uk - 278876
Moirlanich Longhouse.
Wfm wallace monument
The National Wallace Monument.
Great Hall, Stirling Castle
The Great Hall at Stirling Castle.
  • Stirling Old Town Jail
    • Location: Stirling
    • What's inside: Take guided tours with costumed actors who show what life was like in this Victorian-era prison.
Stirling - The Smith Institute Museum 20120419
Stirling Smith Museum and Art Gallery.
  • Scottish Maritime Museum
    • Location: Dumbarton
    • What's inside: Located at the Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank, this museum has model ships and details about the Denny Brothers, who built famous ships like the Cutty-Sark.
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A puffer boat at the Scottish Maritime Museum.
  • Titan Clydebank
    • Location: Clydebank
    • What's inside: See this huge 150-foot (46 m) cantilever crane, which was used to lift heavy equipment for battleships and ocean liners.
Clydebank Titan Crane - geograph.org.uk - 1069892
The Titan Clydebank crane.
  • Bennie Museum
    • Location: Bathgate
    • What's inside: Learn about local history.
Bennie Museum
The Bennie Museum.
CairnpappleBurial
Cairnpapple Hill.
  • Hopetoun House
    • Location: near South Queensferry
    • What's inside: This grand Georgian home from the 18th century tells the story of the Hope family through its collections.
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Hopetoun House.
The Bins
The House of the Binns.
Linlithgow Canal Centre
Linlithgow Canal Centre.
  • Linlithgow Palace
    • Location: Linlithgow
    • What's inside: Operated by Historic Scotland, explore the ruins of this 15th-century royal palace, which was once a home for the Stewarts and the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.
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Linlithgow Palace.
  • Linlithgow Museum
    • Location: Linlithgow
    • What's inside: This new museum, opened in 2019, has three galleries and a community space, all about local history.
Linlithgow Partnership Centre
The Linlithgow Partnership Centre, home to the museum.

Museums That Are No Longer Open

Sometimes museums close, but their stories and collections often find new homes! Here are some museums that have closed:

More to See

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List of museums in Scotland Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.