City Guide

Museums, art galleries and exhibitions in Scotland

Craigievar Castle

Craigievar Castle

© Evelyn Young

Home Explore City Guides Museums, art galleries and exhibitions in Scotland

Looking for art galleries, museums, and other attractions in Scotland?

Explore art and culture against Scotland’s rugged landscape, from fascinating artefacts at the National Museum of Scotland, mesmerising sculpture at Jupiter Artland, and hidden gem Timespan in the heart of the remote Highlands.

Start planning the perfect Scotland trip by finding the right museum for you.

Must-see Scottish museums

Places to visit in Scotland with your National Art Pass

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National Mining Museum Scotlan...

10% off in shop and café

Summerlee Museum of Scottish I...

10% off in shop

20% off in café

University of Glasgow Library...

St Andrews Museum

National War Museum

Newhailes

Inveraray Castle & Gardens

10% off in shop

Kirkcaldy Galleries

10% off in shop

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Barbara Rae, Peat Bank, South Erradale (West Highland Landscape), 1987 (detail).

© the artist. City Art Centre, Museums & Galleries Edinburgh.

Popular Scottish exhibitions

Visit these exhibitions in Scotland with your National Art Pass

01

Out of Chaos: Post-War Scottis...

17 May - 12 October 2025

City Art Centre

02

Fire on the Mountain, Light on...

20 June - 7 September 2025

10% off in shop and café

03

Jonathan Baldock

10 May - 28 September 2025

Jupiter Artland

04

Andy Goldsworthy: Fifty Years

26 July - 2 November 2025

National Galleries Scotland: National

50% off exhibitions

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Upcoming events

Make, play and learn at events across Scotland

Lego Stairs Challenge

1 - 2 August 2025

We give you a selection of Lego 4 x 2 blocks and you have 30 minutes to build the tallest...

North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre

Bubble Soccer Bonanza

Grab your friends and get ready for a hilarious, action-packed session of Bubble Soccer!

National Mining Museum Scotland

Meet The Romans

4 - 21 July 2025

Learn about the Romans in Lanarkshire

North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre

Get inspired

Recommendations for your next day out

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Top five contemporary art galleries in Scotland

The best places to discover cutting-edge contemporary art in Scotland.

Exterior of the Burrell Collection

The story behind Glasgow’s Burrell Collection

David Trigg explores the Burrell Collection, home to one of the most significant personal collections ever gifted to the public, which is reopening...

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Five country castles for family days out

Discover five countryside castles across the UK for fun family days out.

Pilon-like structures topped with metal hexagons, in amongst trees

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Where to see art outdoors: Sculpture parks and art gardens to visit now

Art and the great outdoors – have you ever known a better pairing? Head to these venues to see art in the open air, in dramatic gardens and parks.

National Museum of Scotland

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An insider's guide to Edinburgh

From the Scottish National Gallery to Dovecot Studios, explore the best museums to visit in Edinburgh, thanks to a city local.

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Places to visit in Dundee

The unveiling of the magnificent new V&A Dundee reflects both the vibrancy of the city’s cultural life and its broader renaissance. Christiana...

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Five maritime museums that explore Britain's history at sea

Nautical but nice! From battleships to research vessels, rope makers to admirals these five museums explore our island's relationship with the sea.

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Places to remember the First World War

We've picked our favourite venues and works of art that commemorate the First World War.

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Animal encounters: Museums with farms, butterfly houses, aviaries and more

Majestic horses, rare birds and even live beehives – explore the animal kingdom at these museums and historic houses this spring.

Wangechi Mutu, Histology of the Different Classes of Uterine Tumors

Wangechi Mutu and the revelation of inequities

Marcus Field discovers a work at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art that raises questions about colonialism, race and gender.

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The exhibitions you must see in 2025

Discover some of the biggest exhibitions opening in 2025.

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Explore idyllic gardens at historic houses for springtime

Landscaped gardens, cascading countryside and perfect spots for a picnic – here’s our pick of the best grounds and gardens to visit for spring.

A young woman looks up in an immersive installation of kalaeodoscopic blue lights

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Get some headspace inside your favourite museum

Discover our top tips for mindful museum visits and our favourite spots where you can unwind and recharge with an Art Pass.

Jack Lowden at the National Mu...

Actor Jack Lowden takes his friend and fellow actor Andrew Rothney to the National Museum...

National Museum of Scotland

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Top tips for exploring museums with children

From the V&A to Cardiff Castle, get top tips on how to make a great museum experience for kids with author Mary Richards.

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Family-friendly museums for kids

From enchanted libraries to adorable farm animals, museums have so much to offer for curious young minds.

Brian Cox at the Scottish Nati...

Actor Brian Cox shares some of his favourite works of art at the Scottish National Gallery...

National Galleries Scotland: National

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Discover somewhere new: Art and culture off the beaten track

In search of something out of the ordinary for your next museum visit? Here’s our pick of exciting, inspiring and unusual spaces to explore across...

In 1774 Josiah Wedgwood wrote to Thomas Bentley, a business partner at Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, proposing the creation of a collection that would save the company's works for posterity. The resulting collection was unique in its scope and depth, using ceramics, manuscripts, fine art, manufacturing equipment and more to tell the story of Britain's greatest porcelain manufacturer and the family that founded it.Today the collection is formed of more than 8,000 historical pieces, as well as 80,000 manuscripts, pattern books, works of art and photographs chronicling 250 years of Wedgwood pottery and the developments in taste, politics, society, science and art that shaped it. The ceramics in the collection range from Josiah's early experiments in jasper through to modern pieces. Highlights include Josiah Wedgwood's own first edition of the iconic jasper Portland Vase, and five plates from the 'Green Frog Service', a magnificent dinner set commissioned by Catherine the Great in 1773 for her palace at Kekerekeksinen.As well as pottery and personalia, the collection includes a number of fine works by artists with connections to Wedgwood, from John Flaxman to Peter Blake. Portraits of the Wedgwood family by George Stubbs, Joshua Reynolds and John Singer Sargent are among the collection's most precious works.

7 wild works of art acquired with Art Fund support

Inspired by The Wild Escape, Giovanni Aloi and Stephanie Holt explain the stories behind animals found in seven works acquired with Art Fund support.

Special episode: highlights fr...

In this special episode, we delve into the Meet Me at the Museum archive to pull out highl...

Michael Craig-Martin, Tricycle, 2016, The Foundling Museum, Art Funded 2017

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See art for free with your National Art Pass

Here’s our pick of the inspirational museums, galleries and historic houses you can visit for free with your National Art Pass.

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Perfect picnic spots

From Young V&A to Dumfries House, discover some of the best picnic spots across the UK for fun family days out with a National Art Pass.

A young woman kneels on the pavement, pointing at vibrant orange, yellow and pink flowers.

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Museums and galleries for a perfect bank holiday weekend

Experience something new and take a culture trip this bank holiday weekend. Here’s a museum of every shape and size to inspire you.

A museum case featuring four mannequins dressed in designer outfits

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Design your own fashion week at these museums and galleries

From gorgeous garments to intriguing materials, discover the stories behind the clothes we wear at these fashion and textile museums.

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Ten great days out for summer

This summer, explore our 10 suggestions of places with something for everyone – from animals by the seaside to museums exploring the sea and sky.

Hepworth Wakefield, Museum of the Year Winner, 2017. Photo: Marc Atkins / Art Fund 2017. MOTY 2017. CP0068

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Explore the most iconic museums the UK has to offer

Whether you love cutting-edge art, classical painting or artefacts from around the world, you’ll be able to see all your favourite things at these...

Kirsty Wark at V&A Dundee

Journalist and TV presenter Kirsty Wark takes illustrator Johanna Basford to V&A Dunde...

Kensington Palace aerial view front.

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Must-see venues with royal connections

To mark the coronation of King Charles III and the Queen Consort, we've rounded up a selection of must-see venues with royal connections.

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Animal art to inspire your Wild Escape creations

We've found these creatures hiding in museums across the UK. Pick your favourite to draw, send it in to The Wild Escape, and watch it come to life!

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Five spectacular castles by the sea

In a regal tour of Britain’s coastlines, we bring you our must-see list of coastal castles, perfect for historical days out by the sea.

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Top 10 Scottish treasures

From fantastical castles to Victorian country houses, Scotland is home to some spectacular architecture.

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