All ethnology museums to visit in Scotland

Explore the cultural diversity and heritage at 42 ethnology museums in Scotland. These museums offer insights into the traditions, customs, and ways of life of various communities.

Are you interested in learning about different cultures and their histories? Here are the ethnology museums to visit in Scotland:

  1. The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery1

    The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery

     Glasgow
    The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery is the oldest museum in Scotland. The museum features objects relating to William Hunter and his collections from Roman Scotland, geology (he Begg Collection of fossils donated by James Livingstone Begg), ethnography, ancient Egypt, scientific instruments (from L
  2. West Highland Museum2

    West Highland Museum

     Fort William
    The West Highland Museum is situated in the heart of Fort William. It is dedicated to narrating the rich history of the Scottish Highlands and the Islands. The museum covers a wide range of topics related to West Highland history, making it a comprehensive source of information for those interested in learning about the region's past.
  3. Chatelherault Country Park3

    Chatelherault Country Park

     Ferniegair
    Chatelherault Country Park is a museum in Hamilton. The museum features exhibits related to Land Transport, Social History, Personalities, Natural Sciences, Archaeology, World Cultures, Fine Art, Costume and Textiles, Decorative and Applied Art, Weapons and War, Archives and Science and Technology.
  4. Peoples' Story Museum4

    Peoples' Story Museum

     Edinburgh
    The Museum of Edinburgh, previously known as Huntly House and the historic Bank of Scotland Head Office, is situated at 142-146 Canongate. This location is in the heart of Edinburgh, making it easily accessible for both locals and tourists. The museum is housed in a unique yellow, three-story building that dates back to the late 16th century.
  5. Arran Heritage Museum5

    Arran Heritage Museum

     Brodick
    Arran Heritage Museum is a museum in Brodick, Isle of Arran. The museum features exhibits related to: archaeology, archives, social history and natural sciences.
  6. Perth Museum and Art Gallery6

    Perth Museum and Art Gallery

     Perth
    Perth Museum and Art Gallery is a museum in Perth. The museum features exhibits related to Fine Art, Music, Archaeology, Coins and Medals, Social History, Archives, Weapons and War, Decorative and Applied Art, Land Transport, Natural Sciences, Science and Technology, World Cultures and Costume and T
  7. Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum7

    Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum

     Stirling
    Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum is a museum in Stirling. The museum features exhibits related to: trade and commerce, costume and textiles, literature, land transport, agriculture, natural sciences, industry, decorative and applied art, religion, toys and hobbies, personalities, science and te
  8. Stewartry Museum8

    Stewartry Museum

     Kirkcudbright
    The Stewartry Museum, located in Kirkcudbright, Scotland, provides a comprehensive overview of the history of Galloway. This local museum offers visitors an opportunity to delve into the past and understand the rich cultural and historical heritage of the region.
  9. Hawick Museum and the Scott Art Gallery9

    Hawick Museum and the Scott Art Gallery

     Hawick
    Hawick Museum and the Scott Art Gallery is a museum in Hawick. The museum features exhibits related to Weapons and War, Science and Technology, World Cultures, Fine Art, Natural Sciences, Personalities, Land Transport, Costume and Textiles, Decorative and Applied Art, Coins and Medals, Archaeology,
  10. The Watt Institution10

    The Watt Institution

     Greenock
    The Watt Institution, formerly known as the McLean Museum and Art Gallery, is situated in Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland. It is the primary museum in the Inverclyde area, offering a rich cultural experience to its visitors. The museum is easily accessible and is a significant cultural landmark in the region.
  11. Tarbat Discovery Centre11

    Tarbat Discovery Centre

     Portmahomack
    Tarbat Discovery Centre is a museum in Tain. The museum features exhibits related to: social history and archaeology. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include: picts and pictish history and history of tarbat.
  12. Bute Museum12

    Bute Museum

     Rothesay
    Bute Museum is a museum in Isle of Bute. The museum features exhibits related to Social History, Personalities, Natural Sciences, Weapons and War, Costume and Textiles, Maritime, Archives, Archaeology, Science and Technology, Fine Art, Coins and Medals and Land Transport. Key themes, people and exhi
  13. Glasgow Museums Resource Centre13

    Glasgow Museums Resource Centre

     Glasgow
    The Open Museum, located in Glasgow, Scotland, is a unique community museum that operates from the Glasgow Museums Resource Centre. This innovative museum concept aims to bring museum collections beyond the traditional confines of museum walls and into the wider Glasgow community. It is part of a larger network of ten museums under the umbrella of Glasgow Museums.
  14. National Piping Centre and Museum14

    National Piping Centre and Museum

     Glasgow
    The National Piping Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, is an institution dedicated to the playing of various types of bagpipes and other traditional musical instruments. This includes the Great Highland Bagpipes, Scottish smallpipes, and Irish uileann pipes. The centre serves as a hub for those interested in learning about and experiencing the rich tradition of bagpipe music.
  15. Kirriemuir Gateway to the Glens Museum15

    Kirriemuir Gateway to the Glens Museum

     Kirriemuir
    Kirriemuir Gateway to the Glens Museum is a museum in Kirriemuir. The museum features exhibits related to Archaeology and Social History.
  16. Glenesk Folk Museum16

    Glenesk Folk Museum

     Glenesk
    Glenesk Folk Museum is an independent museum set in the midst of Glenesk, one of the five Angus Glens. Opened in 1955 by its creator and original curator, local schoolteacher Greta Michie, the museum existed in a building called The Retreat. This was built for Captain Wemyss in the 1840s as a huntin
  17. Newton Stewart Museum17

    Newton Stewart Museum

     Newton Stewart
    Newton Stewart Museum is a museum in Newton Stewart. The museum features exhibits related to Social History, Costume and Textiles, Science and Technology and Archives.
  18. Colzium House18

    Colzium House

     Kilsyth
    Colzium House is a museum in Kilsyth. The museum features exhibits related to: fine art, weapons and war, costume and textiles, world cultures, natural sciences, archaeology, decorative and applied art, social history, archives and coins and medals.
  19. 19

    Dunollie Museum

     Oban
    Dunollie Museum is a museum in Oban. The museum features exhibits related to: decorative and applied art, social history, fine art, costume and textiles, coins and medals and world cultures.
  20. Dunbeath Heritage Centre20

    Dunbeath Heritage Centre

     Dunbeath
    The Centre provides a focus for the work of Dunbeath Preservation Trust: Registered museum; archaeological exhibition, Neil M Gunn literary landscape, engaging approach to landscape interpretation through art installations, photography and unique floor map. Repository for research data, manuscripts,
  21. Renfrew Community Museum21

    Renfrew Community Museum

     Paisley
    Renfrew Community Museum is a museum in Paisley. The museum features exhibits related to Social History.
  22. Anatomical museum22

    Anatomical museum

     Edinburgh
    Anatomical museum is a museum in Edinburgh which holds a collection of around 12,000 objects and specimens that tell the story of 300 years of anatomical teaching at the University of Edinburgh. The collection is partly related to pathology, anatomy and zoology with anatomical teaching models, human
  23. Largs Museum23

    Largs Museum

     Largs
    Largs Museum is a museum in Largs. The museum features exhibits related to Costume and Textiles, Social History, Decorative and Applied Art, Fine Art and Archives.
  24. Museum of the Cumbraes24

    Museum of the Cumbraes

     Millport
    Museum of the Cumbraes is a museum in Isle of Cumbrae. The museum features exhibits related to Personalities, Fine Art, Social History, Natural Sciences, World Cultures, Archives, Costume and Textiles, Archaeology, Weapons and War and Decorative and Applied Art.
  25. Blackridge Community Museum25

    Blackridge Community Museum

     Blackridge
    Blackridge Community Museum is a museum in Blackridge. The museum features exhibits related to Social History.
  26. Scottish Tartans Museum26

    Scottish Tartans Museum

     Keith
    Scottish Tartans Museum is a museum in Keith. The museum features exhibits related to Trade and Commerce, Costume and Textiles, Social History, World Cultures and Industry. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include Christina Young's Arisaid, The Falkirk Tartan, Queen Victoria, William Wi
  27. 27

    Dalbeattie Museum

     Dalbeattie
    Dalbeattie Museum is a museum in Dalbeattie. The museum features exhibits related to Natural Sciences, Archives, Weapons and War, Medicine, Land Transport, Social History, Costume and Textiles and Fine Art.
  28. 28

    Biggar & Upper Clydesdale Museum

     Biggar
    The Biggar & Upper Clydesdale Museum explores 14,000 years of rural and small town life in Upper Clydesdale. It focuses on the people who have lived and worked here from prehistoric times up to the mid-20th century.
  29. 29

    John Gray Centre

     Haddington
    John Gray Centre is a museum in Haddington. The museum features exhibits related to Personalities, Design, Natural Sciences, Archives, Religion, Music, Literature, Agriculture, Trade and Commerce, Costume and Textiles, Aviation, World Cultures, Architecture, Social History, Archaeology, Decorative a
  30. 30

    Moirlanich Longhouse

     Killin
    Visit this perfectly preserved cruck frame cottage and get a glimpse of Scottish village life in the 19th century. Moirlanich was home to at least three generations of the Robertson family, with the last member leaving in 1968. The building has hardly been changed and retains many of its original fe
  31. 31

    Dufftown Museum

     Dufftown
    Dufftown Museum is a museum in Dufftown. The museum features exhibits related to: social history.
  32. 32

    Westray Heritage Centre

     Orkney
    We are situated in the centre of Pierowall village in Westray next door to the Pierowall Hotel. Inside we have an annual display plus permanent exhibition panels on walls, and GEO with model seabirds and sounds. There are also interactive displays which will attract youngsters, many records of the i
  33. 33

    Annan Museum

     Annan
    Annan Museum is a museum in Annan. The museum features exhibits related to: world cultures, science and technology, archaeology, social history, fine art, archives and decorative and applied art.
  34. 34

    Arbuthnot Museum and Gallery

     Peterhead
    Arbuthnot Museum and Gallery is a museum in Peterhead. The museum features exhibits related to Social History, Fine Art, Coins and Medals, Maritime, World Cultures, Archives and Land Transport. Key themes, people and exhibits in the museum include Northern Scotland's largest coin collections, Arctic
  35. 35

    Ness Heritage Centre

     Port of Ness
    Ness Heritage Centre.
  36. 36

    Raasay Heritage Trust Museum

     Kyle of Lochalsh
    Raasay Heritage Trust Museum is a museum in Isle of Raasay. The museum features exhibits related to: social history and archaeology.
  37. 37

    Burntisland Museum

     Burntisland
    Burntisland Museum is a museum in Burntisland. The museum features exhibits related to Social History.
  38. 38

    Musselburgh Museum

     Musselburgh
    Musselburgh Museum is a fascinating visit for all ages. Discover the long and remarkable history of the Honest Toun through the changing displays and exhibitions, and have fun with the activities for children and families. Musselburgh Museum is operated on behalf of the Council by Musselburgh Mu
  39. 39

    Baird Institute

     Cumnock
    Baird Institute is a museum in Cumnock. The museum features exhibits related to Social History, Coins and Medals, Science and Technology, World Cultures, Archives, Decorative and Applied Art, Natural Sciences, Costume and Textiles, Weapons and War, Archaeology, Fine Art and Personalities.
  40. 40

    Buckhaven Museum

     Buckhaven
    Buckhaven Museum is a museum in Buckhaven. The museum features exhibits related to Social History.
  41. 41

    Muthill Museum

     Muthill
    Muthill Museum is a museum in Muthill. The museum features exhibits related to Social History.
  42. 42

    George Waterston Memorial Centre and Museum

     Fair Isle
    George Waterston Memorial Centre and Museum is a museum in Fair Isle. The museum features exhibits related to: natural sciences, fine art, decorative and applied art, personalities, weapons and war, music, maritime, costume and textiles, land transport, archaeology, world cultures, archives, social