#MuseumsAreGo

Explore, imagine, play, create! Scotland’s museums and galleries have something for everyone. Set out on a new adventure or connect with your local community at these fun, friendly, and affordable spaces.

🔎 Find nearby museums and galleries on this interactive map

🗺️ Plan a visit with family and friends

💎 Discover unique treasures and incredible stories

📸 Share special moments in stunning locations

Thinking of visiting a museum or gallery, but not sure what to expect? Check out the visitor stories below to get some #MuseumsAreGo inspiration. 👇

Three adults pose for a selfie in front of rolling hills, green trees, and a long red stone viaduct. The adult on the left has light skin, brown hair in a ponytail, and a beard. The adult in the middle has medium-tone skin and shoulder length dark brown hair. The adult on the right has dark skin, glasses, and long dark brown braided hair.

Two adults with light skin stand in a large gallery with a high ceiling, arched walls, and a marble floor. One of the adults has a black guide dog. They are holding the elbow of the other adult, who is pointing towards the ceiling.

Two paintings of light-skinned adults on display at Edinburgh’s City Art Centre. In the foreground, a light-skinned adult with brown hair tied into a bun views the paintings. They are photographed in soft focus.

An adult with dark skin, an adult with medium dark skin, and a child with medium-dark skin laugh and wave as they lean out of the side of an old red and yellow tram.

An adult with light skin and short, spiky brown hair smiles while holding a young child with light skin. An adult with light skin and red hair and an older adult with light skin and white hair stand together nearby. All four are standing next to a large wooden wheel on the deck of a ship.

⛄Winter events and activities (whatever the weather)⛄

Find fun activities for all ages in museums this winter.

Festive events

Visit The Black Watch Castle and Museum for Afternoon Tea with Santa on the 20th of December.
Meet Santa and the owls who deliver your wish list to the North Pole at Burns Cottage on the 7th of December.
Visit Verdant works for their Mischief in the mill Grinch experience, 7th – 22nd December. A family friendly event within one of Dundee’s most beautiful historic settings.
Visit Perth Art Gallery on the 7th of December for a family event celebrating the Fergus and Meg exhibition. Enjoy activities and crafts inspired by Fergusson’s painting “Christmas in the South of France”.
Aberdeen Art Gallery will be joined by a local choir every Saturday afternoon in the lead-up to Christmas, performing both traditional Christmas carols and all your festive favourites!

A room full of children and adults are gathered around a person dressed as Santa Claus.

Winter exhibitions

Visit The Hunterian Art Gallery between 2nd November to 4th May to see Digging in Another Time: Derek Jarman’s Modern Nature. An exhibition of works by internationally renowned filmmaker, artist, stage designer and diarist Derek Jarman, shown alongside commissioned responses from contemporary artists.
Dovecot Studio’s exhibition Stitched: Scotland’s Embroidered Art is on until 18th January. The exhibition is in collaboration with the National Trust for Scotland and brings together an extraordinary collection of their embroidered textiles, many of which are being showcased for the very first time. Children under 12 and carers go free.
Mary, Queen of Scots’ silver casket is on display at Kirkcudbright Galleries until 27th April. The exhibition is free.
Learn more about Fair Isle knitwear and the lives of Shetland islanders by visiting Shetland Museum & Archives’ exhibition Chris Morphet, ALLOVER. The exhibition is on until 29th December and is free to visit.
Times and Places is on at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery until 18th January. The exhibition delves into how Barbara Rae has perceived and interpreted the land throughout her career, often visiting specific locations frequently to view and capture the ever-evolving environment.

The gallery at Dovecot Studios. Colourful tapestries are displayed along the wall of a wide balcony. In the hall below are rows of weaving looms and shelves of colourful wool. Long white arches reach above the balcony, supporting a high white ceiling.

Expect the unexpected!

There’s more to museums than meets the eye. They share hidden histories, hold action-packed events, and work closely with their communities to create safe, creative spaces.

A large stone neoclassical building with rows of ornate columns, a pediment, and a small cylindrical tower. In front of the building is a metal statue of a man on horseback. A traffic cone has been placed on the statue's head.

Art and empowerment

GirlsAroundScotland share highlights from their visit to Glasgow Women's Library and the Gallery of Modern Art.

An adult with grey shoulder-length hair sits next to a small brown dog on a bench in an art gallery. On the wall behind them is a variety of colourful still-life paintings.

John's trip to the Stirling Smith

Quirky objects, pet-friendly spaces, and gorgeous works of art awaited photographer John Pow at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum.

An adult with long blonde hair and their back turned to the camera looks out from a first-floor balcony inside a long hall. The hall has a pointed wooden roof supported by slender white metal pillars.

Transported back in time

Dive into history with MyLittleWildlings as they discover all sorts of activities, interactives, and enormous machines at Dundee's Verdant Works.

Relax and recharge

Find a moment of calm in a quiet gallery. Lose yourself in stories of Scotland’s people and past. Take time to unwind with craft sessions, immersive experiences, talks, and tours.

An adult with light skin, long black hair, and a pink jumper sits in a wheelchair in front of a small stone building. Next to the adult is a sign with the text "Wardlaw Museum" and a poster with the text "What makes us human?"

Exploring museums along the Fife coast

In need of some relaxation Emma and Alan explored museums along the incredible Fife coastline. Check out Emma's Instagram to see their sunny day trip.

The entrance hall of Aberdeen Art Gallery. Two layers of balconies overlook a bright, open space with neo-classical pillars. Groups of visitors walk through the space.

"Being in a creative space gives me so much peace"

Hadia and Abdul hadn't been to many galleries before. Watch as they unwind and get inspired by the paintings at Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Three circular metal brooches displayed in a row. Two of the brooches have a gold colour, while the other has a copper colour. All three brooches are decorated with linear incisions.

Shawna visits Inverness Museum and Art Gallery

Shawna spent a relaxing weekend surrounded by rich history, lush landscapes, and delicious food in the capital of the Highlands.