Living in Scotland really is one of life’s greatest gifts. The scenery is spectacular, the history is colourful, and the food and drink is second to none.
There are also loads of museums, galleries and attractions in Scotland just waiting to be explored, so we’ve found a few that are well worth a visit.
Some are even free to enter, so if you’re on a budget, you’ll find something to do on the run-up to, during and beyond the Easter school holidays.
Highlands and Islands
Museum nan Eilean, Lews Castle
The Museum nan Eilean is in a modern purpose-built extension on Lews Castle and features exciting galleries that open up the stories of islands and islanders.
Visitors can learn more about the Outer Hebrides, hear stories of what it’s like to live on an island, and find out how people lived and worked from the earliest times to the present day.
Entry to the museum is by donation – suggested £5 per person.
Inverness Botanic Garden
You don’t need to spend a penny to visit Inverness Botanic Garden, Nursery and Secret Garden as entry is free.
It offers a tranquil break from the hustle and bustle of the city centre and you can be in a place of beautiful nature as soon as you step inside.
Wander round beautiful formal gardens, ponds, tropical house, cactus house, a wildflower meadow and much more.
Highland Folk Museum
Visit the Highland Folk Museum and learn how our Highland ancestors lived, built their homes, tilled the soil and dressed.
Set in a one-mile long, 80-acre site, live actors and restored buildings help bring Highland history to life. With the smells and scenery, you’ll be transported back in time.
The museum is open from March 29 to October 31 - and is free to enter.
North east
Peterhead Prison Museum
Peterhead Prison Museum is dedicated to the staff that worked there between 1888 and 2013.
Set within the former prison walls at Peterhead, you’ll get the chance to witness how life was for staff serving in the prison. Hear staff members speak of their experiences as you make your way through the halls, reception, shower block, court room segregation wing, silent cell and hospital.
Adult tickets are £12, senior tickets are £10, tickets for kids aged 6-16 are £7.50, and under 5s go free.
Aberdeen Art Gallery
Aberdeen Art Gallery is home to one of the finest collections in not just Scotland, but across the whole of the UK.
Spanning over 700 years, the collection includes works by important Scottish artists, designers and makers such as Henry Raeburn, Joan Eardley, Samuel Peploe, Rachel McLean, Bill Gibb and James Cromar Watt, as well as nationally and internationally acclaimed artists including Barbara Hepworth, Francis Bacon, Tracey Emin and Claude Monet.
The museum is free to enter.
Dundee and Angus
Arbroath Signal Tower Museum & Lighthouse
Next to Arbroath's picturesque and historic harbour, within the original shore station for the Bell Rock Lighthouse, Signal Tower Museum tells the story of the lighthouse and local fishing and maritime industries.
You can climb the spiral staircase up to the 200-year old tower room to get a feel for what it was like when keepers communicated to the lighthouse.
Arbroath Signal Tower Museum & Lighthouse is free to enter.
Broughty Castle Museum
The amazing 15th century coastal fort of Broughty Castle Museum houses a fascinating museum that displays the life and times of Broughty Ferry, its people, environment and the wildlife that lives close by.
Free to enter, the castle celebrated its 50th anniversary as a museum back in 2019, and it’s only getting better.
McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum
The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum is an award-winning Victorian, Gothic building, and home to Dundee's main collection spanning 400 million years.
Eight open gallery spaces house exhibitions of art, history and the environment, giving an insight into Dundee.
The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery & Museum is free to enter.
V&A Dundee
The first-ever dedicated design museum in Scotland and the only other V&A museum anywhere in the world outside London, V&A Dundee provides a place of inspiration, discovery and learning through its mission to enrich lives through design.
The museum is free to enter, however some temporary exhibitions may charge a fee.
Edinburgh
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland showcases diverse collections that take you on a journey of discovery through the colourful history of Scotland and the wonders of nature and world cultures.
The Natural World galleries tell the story of planet Earth, while the World Cultures galleries link people and possessions across the globe.
The National Museum of Scotland is completely free to enter. Some temporary exhibitions may have a fee.
Glasgow
Burrell Collection
The Burrell Collection sits in the heart of Pollok Country Park and showcases a collection of art, including work by Degas, Rodin and Cézanne, as well as ancient and medieval artefacts.
It's completely free to visit. There’s even an electric bus that’ll pick you up and drop you off at key stops around Pollok Country Park.
Ayrshire
Dundonald Castle & Visitor Centre
Built in 1371, Dundonald Castle is a perfect example of a medieval tower house. Hop off the train at Kilmarnock and board the bus to the visitor centre where you’ll be able to access the exterior of the monument, the Laigh Hall, first floor gallery, Great Hall, Visitor Centre, shop and tearoom.
The castle was built on the site of earlier castles belonging to the High Stewards of Scotland and can be regarded as the cradle of the Stewart Dynasty.
Adult tickets are £9, concession tickets are £8, tickets for kids aged 5-16 are £6, and under 5s go free.
Central
The Kelpies
Celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, The Kelpies are famous for their beauty and charm.
The visitor centre at The Kelpies has a gift shop, café and more information on The Kelpies themselves. You can also take a tour from there with one of the guides who will tell you about the story of The Kelpies and take you inside for an exclusive look at their engineering and ingenuity.
Tour tickets start at £7.50 for adults, £6.50 for concessions, £3.50 for kids, and under 5s go free.
Dunfermline Abbey Nave
Take a trip through history at one of Scotland’s most impressive medieval interiors. You may not be able to wander round the whole abbey at the moment, but you can visit the Dunfermline Abbey Nave.
The foundations of Queen Margaret’s church are under the present superb nave, built in the 12th century in the Romanesque style.
To be able to visit somewhere that dates back to 1080 is just breathtaking. Visits to the nave are free, but you must book a slot online.
Perthshire
Perth Museum
Opening from March 31 after a £26.5 million redevelopment project, Perth Museum is a world-class cultural and heritage attraction that will highlight the fascinating objects and stories that put Perth and Kinross at the centre of Scotland’s story.
At its heart will sit the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone - one of Scotland and the UK’s most significant historical objects. Returning to Perthshire for the first time in over 700 years, the Stone will be the centrepiece of the new museum and will be free for all to view.
Entry to the museum is free. Temporary exhibits require a fee.
Scottish Crannog Centre
Opening from April 1, the Scottish Crannog Centre will open again after a fire destroyed the incredible replica Iron Age crannog that stood in Loch Tay.
Your visit will include a guided tour and a unique opportunity to see the construction of a Crannog and Iron Age village. It’s also dog-friendly so feel free to bring your pup along.
Adult tickets are £15, concession tickets are £12.50 and kids tickets are £10.
