Museums in Southern Scotland.

Edinburgh Castle Perched high on an extinct volcanic outcrop, Edinburgh Castle dominates the capital's skyline with stunning views across the World Heritage listed Old and New Towns, and out to the Firth of Forth.

Abbot House The volunteer-run Abbot House Heritage Centre - dubbed 'The People's Tardis' - propels the traveller through time from the days of the Picts...a time warp peopled by a veritable Who's Who of characters from Dunfermline's past.

Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum In the cottage where the millionaire benefactor was born in 1835 is told the family's story prior to their emigration to the United States.

Auchindrain Museum Auchindrain Museum is an extraordinary attraction, which brings an original Township or "farming village" back to life.

Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway The Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway is home to an exciting collection of railway buildings, locomotives, equipment, carriages and wagons.

Brass Rubbing Centre In the centre you will find a fascinating collection of replicas moulded from ancient Pictish Stones, rare Scottish brasses and medieval church brasses.

British Golf Museum Where better to find out about the history of golf than at St Andrews, the home of golf?

Burns House It was in this simple sandstone house in a quiet Dumfries street that Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, spent the last years of his brilliant life.

Burrell Collection In the heart of Pollok Country Park, this award-winning building contains a unique collection of art in a beautiful woodland setting.

Callendar House Callendar House encapsulates 600 years of Scotland's history from medieval times to the twentieth century. Great historical figures like Mary Queen of Scots, Cromwell and Bonnie Prince Charlie have visited the house.

Camera Obscura & World Of Illusions Visit Edinburgh Camera Obscura and World of Illusions where seeing is not believing! There are five great attractions in one visit.

Clydebuilt Scottish Maritime Museum The story of Glasgow and the River Clyde is brought vividly to life at Clydebuilt, the Scottish Maritime Museum at Braehead.

Coats Observatory At the 1880 Annual General Meeting of the Paisley Philosophical Institution, it was proposed that the Society should purchase an astronomical telescope.

Creetown Gem and Rock Museum The Creetown Gemrock Museum houses one of the finest privately owned collections of gemstones, crystals, minerals, gemstone objet d'art and fossils in Britain.

Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank A visit to the Denny Ship Model Experiment Tank is a unique chance to step back into the world of the Victorian ship designer. Built in 1882 the Denny Tank was the first commercial ship model testing tank built in the world.

Dynamic Earth Our Dynamic Earth is the most amazing adventure of all time. It's a fantastic journey of discovery that will take you from the very beginning of time to the unknown future of the planet we call home.

Easdale Island Folk Museum The Easdale Folk Museum aims to show a snapshot of life on Easdale Island as it was in the 19th Century, when the Island was the centre of the Scottish slate industry.

Fife Folk Museum The Fife Folk Museum invites you to discover the history of everyday rural life in this area.

Fossil Grove Fossil Grove is Glasgow's most ancient attraction. Its fossil trees provide an insight into the world of 330 million years ago.

Gladstone Court Victorian Street Museum Children of all ages can stroll along the 'real' Victorian street and visit the small shops or perhaps sit in the schoolroom to recall the not so good old days.

Glasgow Museum of Transport Visit the Glasgow Museum of Transport and the first impression is of gleaming metalwork and bright paint. All around you are cars, caravans, carriages & carts, bicycles & buses, fire engines, steam locomotives, prams & trams.

Glasgow Museums Resource Centre This is the first publicly accessible store for the Glasgow City's museum service.

Glasgow Police Museum At the Glasgow Police Museum you have the unique opportunity to step into the compelling and dramatic history of the United Kingdom's oldest police force.

Glasgow School of Art The history of the Glasgow School of Art is inextricably linked to Charles Rennie Mackintosh. A graduate of the School, Mackintosh's 1896 design for a new School of Art building heralded the birth of a new style in 20th century European architecture.

Glasgow Science Centre Glasgow Science Centre (GSC) is one of Scotland's must-see visitor attractions. GSC encapsulates the world of science and technology in new, fun and exciting ways.

Greenhill Covenanters House Greenhill is a place where time has been made to stand still taking us back from the time when King James VI travelled south of the border to his new kingdom to the time over a century later when the two kingdoms were united.

Hawick Museum and Gallery Situated in the award winning Wilton Lodge Park, Hawick Museum and Gallery has a lively programme of art and museum exhibitions throughout the year.

Hidden Treasures Museum of Lead Mining Wanlockhead is Scotland's highest village, sitting over 1500 feet up in the dramatic scenery of the Lowther Hills. At the Museum of Lead Mining visitors can explore the rich culture and heritage of Wanlockhead and its people.

Hunter House Heritage Centre Hunter House was home to John and William Hunter, famous medical brothers who were born and raised here in the 18th century.

Hutchesons' Hall The present building was designed and built in 1802-5 by David Hamilton and major reconstruction work by John Baird in 1876 resulted in today's impressive interior, with its elegant hall and staircase.

John Hastie Museum The displays focus on the life of the area including its agriculture and weaving history and the character of the community which has bred fervent Covenanters in the 1600s and a Radical Revolt in the 1800s.

John McDouall Stuart Museum This house is the birthplace of John McDouall Stuart, the first European explorer to make a return journey across Australia in 1861-62.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum has welcomed over 6 million visitors since reopening in 2006.

Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery, set in the town's lovely War Memorial Gardens, houses a collection of fine and decorative arts of local and national importance.

Lanark Museum The Royal Burgh of Lanark Museum, situated near the centre of this busy market town, was established in 1990 and houses a collection of items which are used to illustrate the ancient and varied history of the town.

Linlithgow Story Linlithgow's Museum, The Linithgow Story, is situated in Annet House on the Royal Burgh's historic High Street. Annet House is, in itself, part of the town's history, being built in 1787 as home to one of the town's merchant families.

Moat Park Heritage Centre History in the Moat Park is interpreted in an unusual way; here the visitor can see a series of detailed scale models depicting archaeological sites as they would have been seen at the time of their use.

Motherwell Heritage Centre The main feature of the centre is the multi-media 'Technopolis' facility This takes the visitor from the arrival of the Romans in the area, through the rise and fall of heavy industry to the present day regeneration of the district.

Museum of Ayrshire Country Life And Costume There has been a mill on the site since the 14th century, set up by the monks of Killwinning Abbey. The Present mill was erected in 1640 and rebuilt in 1880 after being damaged by fire.

Museum of Childhood The Museum of Childhood in Edinburgh is a favourite with adults and children alike - it is a treasure house, crammed full of objects telling of childhood, past and present.

Museum of Edinburgh The Museum of Edinburgh traces the history of the capital from prehistoric times to the present day. It also houses extensive collections of Edinburgh-made silver and glass, Scottish pottery and other decorative objects.

Museum of Flight Man's fascination with flight comes to life at this protected First and Second World War airfield.

Museum of Islay Life This delightful Museum is situated in Port Charlotte in a former church. There are over 1600 items in the collection dating from 8000 BC to the 1950s.

Museum of Scotland The Museum of Scotland presents the history of the nation: its land, people and culture.

Myreton Motor Museum Myreton museum houses a large collection of cars , bicycles, motorcycles and commercial vehicles dating from 1899 to the 1970s.

National Museum of Rural Life Scotland Award winning exhibition building housing one of the most important rural collections in the UK.

National War Museum of Scotland The National War Museum of Scotland explores the Scottish experience of war and military service over the last 400 years.

New Lanark World Heritage Site Over 200 years ago the beautiful sandstone cotton mills of New Lanark were founded in a dramatic gorge in Southern Scotland. Soon the village became known all over the world because of the work of mill owner and social pioneer Robert Owen.

Newhaven Heritage Museum What was it like to live in a tightly-knit fishing community at Newhaven, and earn a living as a fishwife or a fisherman braving the sea? Find out at the lively and informative Newhaven Heritage Museum.

Newton Stewart Museum The exhibits in The Museum have been gifted or lent by local people and each year sees many additions to the collections and displays.

Paisley Museum The Paisley Pattern is a design classic, you can see the beauty of the original shawls and discover the story of their intricate art at Paisley Museum and Art Galleries.

People's Palace and Winter Gardens The People's Palace is Glasgow's social history museum, set in historic Glasgow Green.

Provand's Lordship Step back in time and discover a piece of Glasgow's history with a visit to the only medieval house in Glasgow.

Queensferry Museum Situated in the historic former royal burgh of Queensferry, eight miles west of the city centre, the museum commands magnificent views of the two great bridges spanning the Forth.

Royal Museum The Royal Museum covers life, the universe and beyond. With international collections of decorative arts, science and industry, archaeology and the natural world, there really is something for everyone.

Rozelle House Galleries and Maclaurin Art Galleries Rozelle House is now a major display venue, currently showing the significant collection, 'Tam O' Shanter' - a series of 54 paintings, by Alexander Goudie. The Maclaurin collection includes paintings, drawings, sculptures and prints.

Savings Banks Museum In 1810 Dr Duncan opened the world's first commercial savings bank, paying interest of its investors' modest savings.

Scotland Street School Museum Glasgow's most celebrated architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928) designed Scotland Street School between 1903 and 1906 for the School Board of Glasgow.

Scottish Fisheries Museum The Museum researches and tells the story of the Scottish fishing industry and its people from the earliest times to the present.

Scottish Maritime Museum Irvine was once one of Glasgow's main trading ports. Now it is the home of the Scottish Maritime Museum. The Museum was set up in 1983 and continues to expand with new displays, exhibits and facilities.

Scottish Vintage Bus Museum The Scottish Vintage Bus Museum is now the acknowledged focal point of historic bus restoration and operation in Scotland.

Shambellie House Museum of Costume Shambellie House is a beautiful Victorian country house, set in attractive wooded grounds. It contains costume from the 1850's to the 1950's displayed in period room settings.

Smith Art Gallery & Museum Nestling beneath Stirling Castle, in the King's Park, the ancient hunting grounds of the Stuart monarchs, and now a suburb of opulent Victorian mansions, is the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum.

St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art The award-winning St Mungo Museum explores the importance of religion in people's lives and art across the world and across time. It aims to promote understanding and respect between people of different faiths and of none.

St. Andrews Preservation Trust Museum & Garden The Trust is a charitable organisation which aims to preserve the history and character of St Andrews

Summerlee Industrial Museum The Heritage Park's 22 acres are based around the site of the 19th Century Summerlee Ironworks, a fore-runner in the use of what was at the time the ground-breaking hot blast iron smelting process that led Coatbridge to become known as the Iron Burgh.

The Lighthouse The Lighthouse, Scotland's first, dedicated, national centre for architecture and design, was opened by HM Queen Elizabeth in 1999, a renamed, £13 million conversion of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's 1895 Glasgow Herald newspaper office.

The Museum of Piping Compiled over many years, the collection of piping photographs, instruments and other memorabilia is unrivalled.

The People's Story Situated in the Canongate Tolbooth this museum was opened in 1989. It tells of the life and work of Edinburgh's ordinary people from the late 18th century to the present day.

The Royal Yacht Britannia For over forty years The Royal Yacht Britannia served the Royal Family, travelling over one million miles to become the most famous ship in the world.

The Stewartry Museum The Stewartry Museum was founded in 1879, and first occupied part of Kirkcudbright Town Hall. As the collections grew, the present purpose-built museum was opened in 1893.

The World Famous Old Blacksmith's Shop Centre When people hear the name Gretna Green their thoughts often step back in time to the history of runaway marriages. The Old Blacksmith's Shop is at the heart of this fascinating tradition.

The Writers' Museum The Writers' Museum is dedicated to the lives and work of scotland's great literary figures.

Vikingar The award winning Vikingar! is situated in the beautiful coastal town of Largs, and has views over the Firth of Clyde, the Isles of Cumbrae and beyond.

Whithorn Priory & Museum Whithorn Priory is the cradle of Christianity in Scotland, founded in the 5th century.