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Scotland's Museums & Galleries
Find out what’s happening in the sector around you in our directory of Scotland’s Museums and Galleries.
Abbotsford
Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, chronicles the life of Scotland’s most famous author. Abbotsford House and Gardens paint an intimate portrait of Scott’s life and interests. The permanent exhibition in the visitor centre follows the life of Sir Walter Scott from his birth in 1771 to his death in 1832.
Aberdeen Art Gallery
Winner of the Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2020, Aberdeen Art Gallery has steadily grown its collection since its opening in 1885. The Gallery holds works by important Scottish artists such as Henry Raeburn, William Dyce and Joan Eardley, and a growing contemporary collection including sculptures by Kenny Hunter and Barbara Hepworth.
Aberdeen Maritime Museum
Located near the harbour in in the historic Shiprow, Aberdeen Maritime Museum tells the story of the city’s connection with the sea. From early fishing, trade, and shipbuilding, through to the discovery of North Sea oil and the transition to green energy, the collection includes highlights such as ship models, a complete lighthouse lens assembly and the entire deck of a historic steamer.
Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Aberdeen Treasure Hub is the collection store of Aberdeen Archives, Gallery and Museums. Over 100,000 items are stored in the hub when not on display.
Aberdeenshire Farming Museum
Situated within Aden Country Park, Aberdeenshire Farming Museum recreates the experience of farming and agriculture in North East Scotland. Telling the history of the land and the people who farmed it.
Admiral Ramsay Museum
Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay commanded the Dunkirk Evacuation in 1940 and the naval part of the D-Day Landings in 1944. Admiral Ramsay Museum opened in 2023, in memory of him and all who served at Dunkirk, D-Day, and World War 2.
Alford Heritage Museum
Located within a former agricultural auction market building, Alford Heritage Museum.
Almond Valley Heritage Centre
Almond Valley offers a huge variety of fun and informative activity for people of all ages. The fields, woods and green spaces of the Almond Valley site extend for nearly a mile either side of the river Almond. At its heart lies the old buildings of Livingston Mill and the nearby Mill Farm which is home to all manner of animals. The shale oil museum, a collection which has been Recognised as being of national significance to Scotland, contains fascinating interactive displays.
Alness Heritage Centre
Alness Heritage Centre preserves and exhibits the social history of the local area.
An lodhlann/Tiree Historical Centre
An Iodhlann, the Historical Centre on the island of Tiree, collects and preserves the stories of the island, it’s people and the wider diaspora. Its name, pronounced ‘an-ee-lun’, is Gaelic for the stackyard where the harvest is stored.
Anatomical Museum, University of Edinburgh
The Anatomical Museum at University of Edinburgh is part of the School of Biomedical Sciences within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. The collection includes dissection specimens, skeletons and teaching models as well as a significant collection of archive material and rare books. The collections contribute to the story of Edinburgh’s role in the teaching and practice of medicine, which directly influenced the understanding and practice of medicine across the world.
Anatomy Museum, University of Aberdeen
The Anatomy Museum at the University of Aberdeen contains a wide-ranging collection, with specimens that can be traced back to the 1870s. The collection has been driven by the research and teaching activities of University staff since the late 19th century, which excellent collections of skeletal material, human tissue specimens, modern and historical anatomical models, and anatomical works on paper, including anatomical watercolours. Due to legal constraints, access to the collection is restricted to medical students and researchers.
Anatomy Museum, University of Glasgow
Located in the Thomson Building, the Anatomy Museum at The Hunterian showcases a selection of William Hunter’s Pathology collection, which was formerly housed in Glasgow Royal Infirmary (other specimens are not on display but can be accessed for research at request). These collections have considerable importance in the history and development of medicine, an include a range of remarkable specimens which reflect Hunter’s successful career as a pioneering anatomist and obstetrician.
Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish born Industrialist and Philanthropist whose life was a true “rags-to-riches” story. The Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum chronicles his life story from the weaver’s cottage in which he was born, to the present-day charitable trusts and foundations that he established. The wider museum collection also contains objects relating to the life of Carnegie and his family.
Annan Museum
Annan Museum houses a permanent exhibition on the history of Annan and the local area. The museum covers the prehistoric period up to the post World War II era. The museum also displays archelogy items are part of the Recognised Collection cared for by Dumfries and Galloway Museum Service.
Applecross Heritage Centre
Located within a former manse and glebe, Applecross Heritage Centre is a museum and research centre committed to preserving and promoting the history of the local area. The Centre is run by volunteers from the Applecross Historical Society.
Arbroath Abbey
Located in the medieval ruins of the abbey, founded by William the Lion in 1178, the museum exhibits carved stones that once formed part of the monastic buildings and archaeology discovered across the site.
Arbroath Art Gallery
Located within Arbroath Library, the Corsar and Brothock Galleries display artworks from the collection held by Angus Council. Notable artists within the collection include William Lamb, David Waterson, and James Watterson. The collection also includes artwork by Peter Bruegel the younger.
Arbroath Signal Tower Museum
The Signal Tower Museum details the history of the Bell Rock Lighthouse, the world’s oldest working sea-washed lighthouse. The museum outlines how the lighthouse was designed and built by notable engineer, Robert Stevenson, and shares experiences of the lives of lighthouse keepers living and working on Bell Rock. The collection provides an insight in to Arbroath’s fishing and maritime activities.
Arbuthnot Museum
The Arbuthnot Museum is named after local collector and philanthropist Adam Arbuthnot, who donated his private collection to form the museum. The displays cover Peterhead's history and its connections with the fishing and whaling industries. The collections include a significant coin collection and ethnographic artefacts which are of international interest.
Arctic Convoy Museum
The Arctic Convoy Museum is dedicated to preserving the memory of the WW2 Arctic Convoys on Loch Ewe, as this was a point of departure for many of the convoys bound for Russia. The museum houses an extensive collection of artefacts, photographs, and documents related to the Arctic Convoys. Visitors can also take part in interactive exhibits and activities, such as learning about the wartime experience of those who served on the convoys.
Ardnamurchan Lighthouse Visitor Centre
Built on the most westerly point of mainland Great Britain, The Ardnamurchan Lighthouse Visitor Centre has permanent exhibitions on the history of the lighthouse, local geology, and the flora and fauna of the area. The lighthouse itself is now fully automated but the lighthouse building is open to visitors to climb the stairs and ladders to the top.
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum
Located within the Kings Old Building in Stirling Castle, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Museum covers the history of the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders and the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders who amalgamated in 1881 to form the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders regiment. The collections include paintings, uniforms, weapons, silver, regimental colours, pipe banners, and medals.
Armadale Community Museum
Armadale Community Museum exhibits historical objects significant to the local area.
Art Collection, University of Stirling
The University of Stirling Art Collection comprises of 20th and 21st century Scottish contemporary paintings, prints, tapestries and sculptures. The collection was founded by Professor Tom Cottrell, the University’s first Principal, in 1967. He believed that art should be on display across the campus as “part of the everyday life” of staff and students. The Collection is displayed in the Pathfoot Building gallery space, and large outdoor sculptures are visible in the grounds of the campus.
Art in Healthcare
Art in Healthcare facilitate the display of artworks in healthcare venues across Scotland, believing in the positive health and wellbeing benefits of the visual arts.
Atholl Country Life Museum
In the former village school of Blair Atholl, the museum encourages visitors to explore the characters of the area, experience a reconstruction of a 1930s post office, and learn about the area's agricultural past.
Atlantic Islands Centre
The Atlantic Islands Centre on the Isle of Luing has permanent exhibitions on the local history of the area and the slate industry that was prevailant on the islands.
Auchindrain
The best-preserved example of a Scottish Highland farm township, the museum offers the opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the settlements and see how ordinary people worked and lived.
Auld Kirk Museum
The Auld Kirk Museum, based in one of the oldest buildings in Kirkintilloch, features displays on the local history of the area and artwork by notable local artists.
Baird Institute Museum
The Baird Institute is home to a local museum, holding collections of Mauchline Ware and other items of Cumnock Pottery as well as a wide range of resources relating to the history of Cumnock and the Doon Valley area. It also has a changing programme of contemporary art exhibitions, events and workshops.
Ballogie Soutar’s Shop
Ballogie Soutar’s (shoe-maker’s) Shop, is the only intact rural soutar shop in Scotland. Built originally in 1896, the museum holds a collection of original shoe boxes, tools, and other related materials.
Banchory Museum
Banchory Museum features local history displays, including the life of Banchory-born musician and composer James Scott Skinner, and the town's connection to Royal Deeside.
Barnton Bunker
Barnton Bunker is a 1940s RAF and Cold War era nuclear bunker under Barnton Quarry in Edinburgh.
Barra Heritage and Cultural Centre / Dualchas
Barra Heritage Centre displays artefacts, documents, photographs, archives and collections on the history and culture of Barra & Vatersay.
Battle Of Prestonpans Museum and Jacobite Heritage Centre
The Battle of Prestonpans Jacobite Museum tells the story of the battle through a three-dimensional replica of the battlefield landscape, alongside historical and archaeological artefacts. It also displays sections of the famous Prestonpans Tapestry.
Beith Cultural and Heritage Society
Run by volunteers, the Beith Cultural and Heritage Society was formed to preserve memories and artefacts from the town of Beith and nearby villages and hamlets. Occupying an historic Townhouse, regular exhibitions and fundraising events are held for the local community. The Garnock Valley Family History Group are also based here providing monthly talks.
Bell Pettigrew Museum
Part of the University of St Andrews, the museum dates from 1912 and has a fantastic display of fossils, skeletons, taxidermy, and spirit collections housed in original display cases.
Bennie Museum
The Bennie Museum, located in Bathgate, is a museum of local history and life. It is run entirely by volunteers under the management of a Charitable Trust. The Museum offers special exhibitions on a regular basis, covering subjects as diverse as the annual Newlands Day Procession, local anniversaries, and subjects of general interest, such as toys, as well as public lectures and school visits.
Bernera Museum
Bernera Museum tells the story of Bernera’s history, with a collection that includes artifacts from the Iron Age Village dig at Bosta Beach, stories of events within local history, and equipment and artifacts form local industries, including fishing. The genealogy of local families and crofts are collected and shared in the Museum’s archive, and they welcome visitors looking to explore their ancestry. The Museum also contains Bernera Community Café, which is run by volunteers and offers home made soup, hot and cold snacks, and home baking.
Biggar and Upper Clydesdale Museum
Biggar and Upper Clydesdale Museum sits in the heart of Biggar and has large collections of local natural and social history. It contains numerous faithful reconstructions of historic shops in its Gladstone Court Streetscape, including an apothecary’s shop, grocer, bookmaker/printer, and ironmonger. Recently refurbished, the museum has a shop and community space that is used by schools, art groups, and local history researchers.
Biggar Gasworks Museum
Biggar Gasworks is the only preserved gasworks left in Scotland. Between 1839 and 1973 the site made coal and gas for Biggar and the surrounding district. Alongside the visitor centre, many of the buildings and equipment remain and you can still see some of the steam-driven machines used for producing and distributing gas.
Black Watch Castle and Museum
The Black Watch Museum is located in the centre of Perth and offers an opportunity to for visitors to immerse themselves in the extraordinary history of the Black Watch Regiment, formed in 1739. The collection is wide-ranging, including uniforms, fine art, medals, photography, diaries, weapons and military equipment, alongside film and oral history records, from the establishment of the regiment up to present day conflicts. The museum offers quiet times (With reduced light and sound) for those who need a calmer space to explore the story of Scotland’s oldest Highland regiment on Thursdays and Sundays.
Blackridge Community Museum
Blackridge Community Museum shares physical and digital exhibitions that explore the stories of Blackridge’s rich past. The museum collection includes Blackridge’s digital mining memorial, as well as a mining exhibition which has been co-curated by pupils from Blackridge Primary School. The museum is open on Mondays and Tuesday evenings.
Blairs Museum: Scottish Catholic Heritage Collections
Blairs Museum is a museum of Scottish Catholic Heritage, and is managed by the Scottish Catholic Heritage Collection Trust. The museum was originally linked to and located in Blairs College near Aberdeen, which was a Catholic Seminary. Many of the objects are linked to the college and catholic heritage in North East Scotland, or connected to Catholic religious heritage in Scotland more widely. The museum is currently temporary closed in Aberdeenshire, and planning a relocation to Glasgow.
Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace
Dating from 1753, Bonawe is the most complete charcoal-fuelled ironworks left in Britain. Visitors can see how pig iron was made, including cannonballs used in the Napoleonic Wars. Surrounded by the Glen Nant National Nature Reserve and the oak woods that used to supply fuel for Bonawe.
Borders Textile Towerhouse
Borders Textile Towerhouse tells the story of the region’s knitwear and tweed industries in a beautiful restored 16 century towerhouse. Located in the heart of Hawick, Border Textile Towerhouse collections of garments, artifacts and photographs display bring to life over 200 years of tradition and innovation in the local woollen industries. The museum changing exhibitions of contemporary fashion, design, art, and craft continue to display the significance of Hawick in the global world of quality textiles. The building is a focal point of Hawick’s annual Common Ridings.
Bowhill House
At Bowhill House, the inspirational country home of the Buccleuch family, visitors can escape to a hidden haven in the heart of the Scottish Borders. Winding glens and enchanting forests surround a house full of history and art, where tours, activities, exhibitions, and an adventure playground offer an engaging experience for the whole family. The extensive estate offers a range of sporting and event opportunities, including self-catering accommodation on site.
Braemar Castle
Located close the village of Braemar, Braemar Castle belonged to the chief of Farquharson and is loaned to a local charity.
Braemar Highland Games Centre
The Highland Games Centre, Braemar, incorporates an exhibition hall, gallery, archive, café and shop. The exhibition explores the living traditions of the Highland games, focusing on the Braemar Gathering and its long-standing royal connections. The site is also home of the Braemar Royal Highland Society Archive, which tells the story of the Society and the Braemar Gathering, of key interest for researchers in the fields of Scottish traditional sports, piping, Highland dancing, the Royal Family and friendly/mutual benefit societies.
Brechin Town House Museum
Brechin Town House Museum is located in the centre of the Cathedral City of Brechin, and contains local history exhibitions, including a model of Brechin in miniature, based on the 1822 map created by cartographer John Wood. Brechin Town House Museum features a changing programme of contemporary exhibitions, including visual art as well as a variety of fascinating talks.
Bressay Heritage Centre
The Bressay Heritage Centre, situated at the Bressay ferry terminal, is a local exhibition space. Bressay has been inhabited for the past 6000 years and the burnt mounds, brochs and Neolithic remains in locations across the Island offer visitors a fascinating view into the distant past. The Centre houses an extensive archive of material relating to the island’s history through photographs, maps, and genealogy, and is open seasonally.
Bridgeton Bus Garage
The Bridgeton Bus Garage was established at the end of 2002 and has around 150 buses, coaches, commercial vehicles and fire appliances in their collection.
Brodick Castle
Brodick Castle, located on the Isle of Arran in Scotland, was originally built by the powerful Hamilton family and is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.
Brora Heritage Centre
Broughton House and Garden/ E A Hornel Art Gallery and Library
Situated on the banks of the River Dee in Kirkcudbright, Broughton House was the home of Scots impressionist artist E. A. Hornel between 1901 and 1933. The house contains a library of 15,000 books collected by Hornel, including a 2,500-volume collection relating to Robert Burns. The library also holds Hornel's archive of newspaper clippings, letters, and other material. The studio is maintained as it would have looked when the artist was at work. Paintings by Hornel and antiquities collected by him can also be seen here, as well as in Kirkcudbright Galleries and the Stewartry Museum.
Broughty Castle Museum
Broughty Castle, built in 1496, sits on a rocky promontory at the mouth of the River Tay. The Castle Museum houses displays on the people, environment and wildlife of the local area, with sweeping views over the river. Only minutes away from Broughty Ferry beach and esplanade, the Castle offers a changing programme of events, activities, and displays.
Broxburn Community Museum
Broxburn Community Museum, located in Broxburn, located in Broxburn Library, explores the social and industrial history of the local area. Current exhibitions showcase what life was like in the Broxburn miners' rows and explore leisure activities in the 1940s and 1950s.
Buckhaven Museum
Buckhaven Museum, adjacent to Buckhaven Library, celebrates the industrial and social history of the local area, from fishing village to mining town. Social and culinary history is explored in a replica 1920s kitchen, which looks at changes to cooking habits over the past century.
Buckie and District Heritage Centre
Buckie Museum seeks to preserve the character, history, and traditions of the fishing and boatbuilding industries in the Buckie district. Run by volunteers, the Museum has a substantial database of the history of locally built boats, dating from the late 19th century to the present day.
Burns House Museum
The Burns House Museum in Mauchline, East Ayrshire, is based at a farm in Mossgiel, where Burns and his wife Jean Armour lodged whilst preparing for their move to Ellisland Farm in Dumfriesshire. Through the display of original manuscripts, objects, and contemporary commissions, the Museum interprets Burns’ time in Mauchline and his relations with many of its residents, who influenced his most prolific period of work. The museum’s Robert Burns Collection is officially recognised as being of national significance as part of the wider collections cared for by the Museums of the Burns Scotland Partnership.
Burntisland Library and Museum
Burrell Collection, The
Housing the vast and varied collections of Sir William and Constance Burrell, The Burrell Collection is situated in a purpose-built museum in the heart of Pollok Country Park, Glasgow. The collection of over 9000 objects ranges from Qing Dynasty vases to paintings by Edouard Manet.
Bute Museum
Located in a purpose-built building gifted by the 4th Marquess of Bute in 1926, the museum explores the history of Bute and the area's natural history. The collection includes the "Queen of the Inch" jet necklace.
Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverock Castle, one of the most iconic castles in Scotland, is triangular in plan with a wide moat, twin-towered gatehouse and lofty battlements. It was in the possession of the Maxwell family from the 13th to 17th centuries and was besieged by the English during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The site has a café and exhibition space looking at the role of the Castle across the centuries. It is situated close to an RSPB site.
Callendar House
Set within Callendar Park, featuring a section of Roman Antonine Wall, Callendar House has a changing programme of contemporary and visual art exhibitions.
Campbeltown Heritage Centre
Campbeltown Heritage Centre is home to over 300 years of social history, spanning from the creation of Campbeltown to the present day. The Centre sits on the site of the Gaelic Free Church, built in 1868 and is the main holder of social history for the Kintyre Peninsula.
Campbeltown Museum
Campbeltown Museum presents the story of Kintyre. It's collection includes pieces of archaeology, fine art, natural sciences and social history.
Carsphairn Heritage Centre
Carsphairn Heritage Centre was purpose built in 1992 to house Carsphairn Heritage Group's collection of local artefacts and to provide a space for exhibitions. The Centre also provides resources and a focus point for visitors carrying out family research. Located in the village of Carsphairn near the Galloway Ayrshire border, it is a base to explore the evocative surrounding landscape including the Rhinns of Kells (mountain ridge) and the Green Well of Scotland. The local area of Knockengorroch also hosts an annual world ceilidh festival.
Castle Douglas Art Gallery
In 1938 a talented artist called Ethel Bristowe gifted Castle Douglas Art Gallery to the town. The gallery was developed in 1996 and now forms a venue for contemporary art and craft exhibitions. The programme runs from March to Christmas showcasing both group and individual works from across the region.
Castle House Museum
Castle of Mey
Castle of St John Heritage Centre
The Castle of St. John sits at the heart of Stranraer. It was built by one of the most powerful Lairds of Wigtownshire, Ninian Adair of Kilhurst, and dates to around 1500. Through its history, the Castle was a tower house, a lodging for government troops during the ‘Killing Times’ when the Covenanters were persecuted by the Crown, as well as Victorian prison. All these periods are covered in a museum exhibition within. Original architectural features include a garderobe and pit prison, and fine views can be had from the tower roof. It also has interactive displays on each floor for children.
Castlehill Heritage Centre
Centre for Research Collections and Art Collection
City Art Centre
City Art Centre is located in the middle of Edinburgh, directly opposite Waverley Station. It is managed by Museums & Galleries Edinburgh, and contains the internationally renowned art collection of the City of Edinburgh. The Scottish Art Collection of City of Edinburgh Museums and Galleries is a Recognised Collection of National Significance which is displayed largely at the City Art Centre.
Clan Cameron Museum
Clan Gunn Museum
Clan Macpherson House and Museum
The Clan Macpherson Museum holds objects relating to the history of the Clan Macpherson, and is located in Newtonmore, Highland – the centre of ‘Macpherson Country’.
Cleadale Crofting Museum
Clydebank Heritage Centre
Clydebank Museum
Clydebank Museum celebrates the town’s history of engineering and industry, and contains a wide range of objects related to these industries. Of particular note is the museum’s collection of Singer Sewing Machines, which were manufactured in the town from 1884 until 1981. The museum collection includes examples of both domestic and industrial machines, and is displayed alongside other artifacts related to the Singer company and the people who worked in the factory.
Coastal Communities Museum
The Coastal Communities Museum is located above the library in North Berwick, East Lothian. The museum tells to story of North Berwick as well as several other coastal communities in the area, including Aberlady, Gullane and Dirleton. A major object is a reconstructed light from the local lighthouse.
Cockburn Museum University of Edinburgh
Cockburn Museum holds an extensive collection of geological specimens that reflect the whole spectrum of Earth science materials. This includes minerals, rocks, meteorites and fossils, as well as historical objects such as maps and photographs.
Coldstream Museum
Coldstream Museum covers the history and culture of this Scottish borders area, including the famous Coldstream Guards. The museum's Courtyard Gallery features temporary exhibitions promoting local artists and contemporary art.
Colonsay and Oronsay Heritage Centre
Colzium Museum
The displays in the Colzium House and Museum share the heritage of the surrounding area and include objects from the nearby castles of Colzium and Kilsyth as well as photographs and artefacts from the domestic and industrial settings of the locality.
Corrigall Farm Museum
Corrigall Farm Museum is a traditional ‘but and ben’ laid out as a typical Orkney farmhouse would have been in the late 19th century. The site has a working barn, grain kiln, horse-drawn machinery and livestock. A peat fire recreates the atmosphere of the farm.
Corstorphine Heritage Centre, The
Cousland Smiddy
Crail Museum & Heritage Centre
Crawfordjohn Heritage Venture
Crawfordjohn Heritage Venture is situated in the heard of Crawfordjohn – a predominantly rural community in the hills of South Lanarkshire, close to the border with Dumfriesshire. The museum is situated in a former church, and houses collections relating to the village and surrounding area. It also has a strong family history resource.
Creetown Heritage Museum
Creetown Heritage Museum preserves and displays the local history of the village – several hundred artefacts and photographies are on permanent display. Sections include natural history, the story of industrial Creetown (including the quarrying of granite), social history displays relating to villager exploits during WW1 and WW2. The Museum also holds information about and a work by celebrated stone-carver Hideo Furuta, as well as a 4 metre tall wooden recreation of a ‘Wicker Man’ commemorating the many local sites that used in the filming of the 1973 British horror classic. Activities for children are spread throughout.
Crieff and Strathearn Museum
Cromarty Courthouse Museum
Cromarty Courthouse Museum is an A-listed 18th century building dedicated to the history of Cromarty and its neighbouring parish of Resolis. The museum is free to enter and contains a courtroom, jail cells and a temporary exhibitions space, as well as permanent displays on local industry, trade, and traditions. Soundscapes and mannequins add to the immersion of the courtroom and cells.
Cruck Cottage
Cruck Cottage was originally constructed in the 18th century and is maintained and run by Cruck Cottage Heritage. The cottage is unique to the area and is the only remaining example of this type of construction which would be common in the 18th and 19th centuries. Visitors are welcome to the cottage to enjoy their open days, craft demonstrations, school visits, and musical and storytelling evenings.
Culloden Visitor Centre
Culross Palace, Town House and Study
Run by the National Trust for Scotland, Culross is a rare example of a 17th/18th century burgh. In the centre of its cobbled streets is the palace, with its original painted woodwork and restored interiors.
Cultybraggan Camp Museum
Cumbernauld Museum
Cupar Heritage Centre
D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum
The D’Arcy Thompson Zoology Museum is part of the University of Dundee, located in the Carnelley Building, just behind the main University Tower Building in the city centre. Founded based on the collection of D’Arcy Wentworth Thompson, a professor of biology at University of Dundee, in the 1880s. The Museum has many thousands of specimens, aiming to keep the feel of the original Victorian museum, while also updating the interpretive approaches to allow 21st century visitors to explore a range of stories, including those of Antarctic exploration, zoological extinction, and the development of Dundee’s 19th and 20th century industries.
Dalbeattie Museum
A trust-run museum that cares displays a range of local memorabilia, art, and historical artefacts. The museum recreates a world from yesteryear, with reconstructed war bunker, old iron stove and a mug reputedly owned by Jean Armour. The museum is strongly connected to the community, and was founded by a local man and initially built up by community volunteers.
Dalgarven Mill/ Museum of Ayrshire Country Life and Costume
Housed in a working Victorian granary mill, Dalgaven Mill showcases the industry and rural life of the surrounding area. A dedicated costume collection is housed on the ground floor.
Dalkeith Museum
Dalkeith Museum is located in Dalkeith’s A-Listed Victorian Corn Exchange in Midlothian. Run by Dalkeith History Society, the Museum explores the rich history and heritage of Dalkeith. The oldest artifact in the Museum is a whinstone head, believed to be Roman, while the Museum also tells the exciting stories of the town’s social, industrial, and cultural past through the 19th and 20th centuries.
David Livingstone Birthplace
Set within parkland on the banks of the river Clyde the David Livingstone Birthplace Museum explores Livingstone's life. The collection includes many of Livingstone's personal belongings as well as items collected by Livingstone during his international expeditions. The museum has a legacy space which is intended to give a balanced view of Livingstone and the contradictory nature of his work.
Dean Castle
Dean Castle was the home and of the Boyd family for over 400 years, it tells the story of medieval life and displays East Ayrshire’s stunning collection of arms, armour and early musical instruments.
Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank
The Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank, located in Dumbarton, highlights how William Denny and Brothers’ innovative and experimental approach to shipbuilding made waves in the shipbuilding industry from the 1800s to 1963. At this family-friendly museum, you can see see the world’s first commercial ship model experiment tank, the length of a football pitch, learn about the builders of the famous Cutty Sark, and enjoy interactive games, trails, and activities.
Devil’s Porridge Museum
Focussed on the HM Factory Gretna, the Devil’s Porridge Museum explores the intertwined stories of military and civilian life on the Solway Coast from the First World War onwards.
Dick Institute Museum and Art Gallery
Opened in 1901, the Dick Institute is a 4 star attraction which offers a programme of temporary exhibitions, permanent displays of the museum’s diverse collections and innovative work by contemporary artists, film makers and young people from the area.
The South Museum and Loom Room feature stories of the local and social history of the area. A recent refurbishment and the addition of a cafe make this a great place to visit.
Dingwall Museum
Located in Dingwall’s historic Town House, this museum charts the history of the area from Pictish tribes and Viking settlers through to the modern day. The museum has large displays on the town’s political, military, and commercial history.
Discovery Point
Dedicated to Dundee’s maritime heritage, Discovery Point's collection includes the RRS Discovery - a ship built for Antarctic exploration. Discovery Point is housed in a building with a unique Discovery Dome which offers an immersive experience of the city and the River Tay.
Dollar Museum
Dollar Museum is independent local museum dedicated to the history & heritage of the village of Dollar in the county of Clackmannanshire. Established in 1988, this museum has two floors of an early 19th century woollen mill with a broad Collection which depicts the history of Dollar.
Douglas Heritage Museum
Dovecot Studios
Dovecot Studios is a tapestry studio and a hub for contemporary artists, crafters, and weavers located in the heart of Edinburgh. Dovecot collaborates with leading international artists through commissioning from private and public collectors from across the world. Dovecot also runs an exciting programme of exhibitions and events on contemporary art, craft, and design.
Duff House
Housing a collection including paintings from the National Galleries Scotland, Duff House is located near the royal burgh of Banff in the North East of Scotland. Since its construction as a baroque-style country house in the 18th century, Duff house has been used variously as a family home, hotel, sanatorium and prisoner-of-war camp, finally opening for its current use in 1995.
Dumbarton Castle
Dumbarton Castle has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Scotland. It sits on a volcanic plug of basalt known as Dumbarton Rock which is 240 feet high and overlooks the Scottish town of Dumbarton.
Dumbarton Heritage Centre
Dumbarton Heritage Centre, located in Dumbarton, shares a unique collection of information on the history and culture of the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven area. The heritage centre houses numerous collections relating to Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven, and has a broad range of programming, including genealogical archives, a research facility, and local history librarians who can offer support. Regularly changing exhibitions reflect the history of Dumbarton and the surrounding area.
Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum
A small independent museum that covers the history of aviation in region. The museum has a collection of aircraft, including a Battle of Britain veteran Loch Doon Spitfire, a supersonic Lightning Fighter and a wartime assault glider collection. There are dedicated displays on the Home Front, RAF Dumfries and the Bomber War, and has the only dedicated Airborne Forces collection in Scotland.
Dumfries House
Dumfries House near Cumnock in East Ayrshire was built in the eighteenth-century and contains a large collection of period furniture - including fine examples of the work of Thomas Chippendale – as well as many fine art works. The estate encompasses a walled garden, maze, an education farm, dovecot, and arboretum; the estate also cares for community facilities such as the New Cumnock outdoor pool.
Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura
Dumfries Museum was founded in 1835 as an astronomical observatory and museum in an eighteenth-century windmill. A camera obscura was installed and opened to the public in 1836 and this is still in use and is regularly demonstrated to visitors. The museum tells the story of the land and people of the region; prehistoric fossilised footprints, natural history collections, tools and weapons from prehistory, stone carvings by Scotland’s first Christians and the everyday things of the Victorian farm, workshop and home. The museum also hosts a programme of special exhibitions, events and family activities throughout the year.
Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery
Dunbeath Heritage Museum
Dunblane Museum
Dundee Museum of Transport
Dundonald Castle
Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries
Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries is a mixed-use facility located in the centre of Dunfermline, Fife. The museum galleries explore topics such as Royal Dunfermline and the kings and queens buried in the grounds of the nearby Abbey, the local linen weaving and mining industries, and the city’s contributions to music focusing on artists such as Barbara Dickson, Big Country and Nazareth.
Dunkeld Cathedral Chapter House Museum
The Chapter House Museum is situated within the Chapter House of Dunkeld Cathedral. The Chapter House was built in 1457 and served as a Sacristy and meeting place for 100 years. After the Reformation it became the Atholl Mausoleum and contains some magnificent monuments and memorials. The Atholl coat of arms is mounted above the door and the former members of the family lie buried in an underfloor vault. The Museum holds a number of interesting artefacts and interpretative boards and an interactive digital screen telling the story of Dunkeld’s history. Their extensive archive is housed at 12 The Cross, Dunkeld.
Dunollie House Museum
Dunrobin Castle Museum
Easdale Island Folk Museum
Easdale Island Folk Museum on the Island of Easdale documents the history of life and community on the Island, including the significant slate quarrying that took place until the famous 1881 storm flooded the quarries. The museum contains objects on the role of the army, local education and public health.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle, situated on Castle Rock in the centre of the city, is one of the most famous castles in Scotland. The Castle has been both a royal residence and strategic military garrison throughout its history.
Edinburgh Printmakers
Edinburgh Printmakers is a centre for printmaking and the visual arts based in the Castle Mills building in Fountainbridge.
Elgin Cathedral
Elgin Cathedral, known as the "Lantern of the North", is a ruined medieval Cathedral. Permanent exhibitions tell the story of the Cathedral and the people who built it.
Elgin Museum
Elgin Museum is the oldest independent museum in Scotland, and is located in the centre of the town, near the cathedral. The museum cares for the renowned Fossil Collection of Elgin Museum, which is a Recognised Collection of National Significance.
Ellisland Museum and Farm
Ellisland Farm was built by Robert Burns in 1788, adjoining a fertile strip of land on the River Nith. Burns lived there with his young wife Jean Armour and their family until 1791. During this time, Burns farmed the land and wrote much of his best-known work, including Auld Lang Syne and Tam o Shanter, My Heart’s in the Highlands, The Banks of Doon, Killiecrankie and John Anderson. Two rooms of the farmhouse have been preserved – including the original parlour - and a collection of artefacts and manuscripts can also be viewed, as well as outbuildings and the wider site with walks along the river.
Eyemouth Museum
Fairfield Heritage
Located in the old headquarters of the Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Ltd, Fairfield Heritage tells the story of Govan’s place in shipbuilding history from the 1800s to present day. Many of the rooms retain their original Victorian features and house objects, model ships and AV displays.
Ferryhill Railway
Based in the former Ferryhill locomotive depot, the Heritage Trust and associated Men’s Shed work to restore the depot, creating opportunities for participation in transforming the depot into a working museum where visitors can observe the restoration in progress.
Fetlar Interpretive Centre
A community museum with objects and films exploring island life from folklore and music to nature and crofting. Of note is the section on Scottish surgeon and bacteriologist Sir William Watson Cheyne who retired to Fetlar after his career where he helped pioneer the use of antiseptics in surgery.
Fife Folk Museum
Located in the village of Ceres, and housed in a former tolbooth, weaver’s cottages and a contemporary visitor centre the Fife Folk Museum tells the story of the people of Fife through its social history collection.
Findhorn Heritage Centre and Ice House
The Findhorn Heritage Centre and Ice House explore the history of Findhorn from prehistoric times to present day. In the 150 year old underground icehouse you can see displays relating to the salmon fishing industry of the area.
Finlaggan Information Centre
The historic site at Finlaggan on Islay is an important part of Scottish Highland history, at one time the centre of the Lordship of the Isles. You can discover the remains of the buildings on the islands and explore the story in the visitor centre.
Fochabers Folk Museum and Dallachy Gallery
Fochabers Folk Museum has an eclectic social history collection on display, as well as a school room and a number of carriages.
Fort George
Built following the Jacobite Rising of 1745 Fort George is an impressive fortification on the Moray coast. You can explore soldier’s living quarters in the barracks, walk along the ramparts and visit the grand magazine which has a collection of weapons on display.
Forth Bridge Heritage Centre
Discover the history of North Queensferry in the former train station.
Forth Bridges Lighthouse Museum
Fyvie Castle
Set in picturesque grounds with loch and walled garden, Fyvie is an 800 year old fortress full of art, tapestries and antiques. It holds a large collection of portraits by Raeburn, Gainsborough and Romney amongst others. Look out for the death mask of a murderer in the library.
Gairloch Heritage Museum
Art Fund Museum of the Year 2020 winner, the museum includes permanent displays telling the history of the area and has an annual programme of exhibitions.
Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
Situated in a large, neoclassical, former merchant’s home in the heart of Glasgow, GoMA engages audiences through their vast modern art collection. Drawing on their building’s history of exchanging information and goods, GoMA centres the sharing of ideas and creativity through their evolving exhibitions and learning programmes.
Garioch Heritage Centre
Since 2017, Garioch Heritage Centre has been welcoming visitors to its home in the repurposed Inverurie Locomotive Works. The museum recounts life in Garioch all the way back to the earliest settlement in the area, through their displayed artefacts in the former Carriage and Waggon Workshop, and extensive photographic and archival materials, which can be accessed in a dedicated reading area.
George Waterston Memorial Museum
Located in the ‘Auld Skül’ on Fair Isle, George Waterston Memorial Centre & Museum tells the Island’s story through its intertwined social, natural and archaeological histories, including its world-famous knitting heritage.
Glasgow Museums Resource Centre
Containing the extensive collections of Glasgow Museums when they are not on display, Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GMRC) is housed in a large, purpose-built facility. The approximately 1.4 million objects in GMRC are spread across a vast array of subject areas – from natural history to technology – and are available to visit through pre-booked tours.
Glasgow Police Museum
The Glasgow Police Museum tells the story of Britain’s First Police Force, The City of Glasgow Police, from their inception in 1779 through to their standing down in 1975. A volunteer-run museum, they share the force’s history through a unique collection of uniforms, artefacts and photographs.
Glasgow Print Studio
Founded by artists in 1972, Glasgow Print Studio is committed to ensuring that the West Coast’s unique print-making heritage is represented through its print archive, which is accessible by appointment. Glasgow Print Studio also facilitate the transferral of traditional printmaking skills through its workshops and facilities.
Glasgow Royal Infirmary Museum
Opened in May 2022 this small medical museum is the only on in Scotland within a working hospital. It celebrates the 200 year history of Glasgow Royal Imfirmary, and sell honey made in the hospital's herbal garden.
Glasgow School of Art, The
Housed in The Whisky Bond, The Glasgow School of Art’s (GSA) Archives and Collections reflect GSA’s lifetime as a centre for teaching and learning and are viewable both online and by appointment in person. Annually expanded with new student work, The GSA Archives and Collections contain mostly physical objects such as drawings, paintings, sculptures, furniture, and archival materials. There is also a small, growing collection of additional born-digital material.
Glasgow Women’s Library
Glencoe Folk Museum
Founded, run, and supported by women since its inception in the 1960s, Glencoe Folk Museum tells the story of its village through an eclectic collection of objects – from a replica of the Ballachulish Figure to a coffin boat. The museum is set within two refurbished 18th-century cottages with heather-thatched roofs.
Glenesk Folk Museum
Glenesk Folk Museum’s collection of over thirty thousand objects tells the story of rural Angus life from the Bronze Age through to the mid-twentieth century.
Glenfinnan Station Museum
Situated in a working railway station on the ‘Iron Road to the Isles’, Glenfinnan Station Museum tells the story of this scenic train route and the people who created it. The museum’s collection includes a restored 1901 signal box, the Jacobite steam train and a refurbished sleeping car.
Glenluce Abbey
Containing examples of architecture from the 13th and 16th centuries, Glenluce Abbey offers visitors an opportunity to learn about Cistercian monastic life across four centuries in the valley of the Water of Luce. The museum also contains a collection of objects found on-site during clearance work.
Gordon Highlanders Museum, The
The Gordon Highlanders Museum tells the stories of the variety of men who made up the regiment across its two-hundred-year history, through its collection of memorabilia, artefacts, and regimental silverware. The museum is located in the former home of a prominent Aberdonian artist, and a reconstructed Moffat Trench can be explored in the museum’s grounds.
Govan Stones, The
Under the care of the community-run Govan Heritage Trust, The Govan Stones contain a unique collection of medieval stones carved between the 9th and 11th centuries. The Govan Stones are housed in the A-listed building Govan Old Church – one of the earliest sites of Christian worship in Scotland, and a burial ground since at least the 6th century.
Govanhill Baths Archives and Exhibition Space
The Govanhill Baths Archives and Exhibition Space occupy a unique building in Govanhill, run by and for its surrounding community. Their archive tells the building and neighbouring area’s history, and is split into three main categories: Before Closure (1914-200); Save Our Pool (2001-2004); and Govanhill Baths Community Trust (2005 onward).
Gracefield Arts Centre
Based in Dumfries, Gracefield Arts Centre hosts a changing schedule of temporary exhibitions, both from its own archive and from local, national, and international artists. Gracefield Arts Centre’s collection houses over 600 examples of Scottish paintings, drawings, and original prints.
Grampian Transport Museum
Grampian Transport Museum is home to many interactive artefacts, from 19th-century travelling chariots to a 1980s Grampian Police Rover. The museum is based on and around the site of an old railway terminus in the village of Alford.
Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum
Situated in the centre of Edinburgh on George Street, The Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum houses a collection telling the material history of Scottish Freemasonry. The collection includes glassware, medals, silverware, ceramics, Masonic aprons, furniture, paintings, and more.
Grangemouth Heritage Trust
The Grangemouth Heritage Trust is dedicated to preserving and protecting the local area's history and culture. Established in 1999, the trust is based at the former Grangemouth Town Hall. It exhibitions include the town's history, from its industrial and social past to more recent developments.
Grantown Museum
Housed in Burnfield House, Grantown Museum cares for and exhibits the archive of Grantown Society, which illustrates the history of the local area, including as the traditional home of Clan Grant. Burnfield House began its life as the Grantown Female School in 1861, and became home to Grantown Museum and Heritage Trust in 1995, opening to the public in 1999.
Greyfriars Kirk Museum
Set below the organ in Edinburgh’s Greyfriars Kirk since 2012, The Kirk Museum displays a collection of objects which tell the story of the church’s role historically and contemporarily. Greyfriar’s Kirk was the first church built in Scotland following the Reformation, a history reflected in its collection, which includes an original copy of the National Covenant.
Grimsay Boat Haven and Grimsay Archive
From its location at Ceann na h-Àirigh on the site of the former Kenary Church and Manse, Grimsay Boat Haven shares the Uists’ boatbuilding and fishing histories. The only maritime history museum in the Western Isles, it has a collection of five Stewart boats, as well as an archive of collected photos, oral histories and recordings.
Groam House Museum
Groam House Museum houses a collection focused on three key areas: Pictish stones, local history, and the collection of Celtic Art teacher George Bain. Situated in the coastal village of Rosemarkie on the Black Isle, the museum moved in the 1970s into the 18th-century building from which it takes its name – Groam House.
Halliwell’s House Museum
Located on a row of some of the oldest houses remaining in Selkirk, Halliwell’s House is named after its wig-maker owner Walter Halliwell. The museum tells the story of this eighteenth-century building and the local town through a large collection of industrial heritage objects, as well as displays on the Selkirk Common Riding Festival.
Hawick Museum
Hawick Museum’s collection covers a broad range of subjects from the natural world to Ancient Egypt and their relation to the local town. The museum is housed in a historic 18th-century mansion, set in expansive grounds.
Heriot-Watt University Museum and Archive
Heriot-Watt University Museum and Archive’s collection documents the life of Heriot-Watt University, its surrounding community, as well as Southern Scottish textile Heritage. The museum is situated in the university’s Cameron Smail Library in Edinburgh.
Hibernian FC Historical Museum
Located at the Easter Road Stadium, the museum celebrates the Hibernian Football Club, the players, and the supporters.