Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture

The RSA runs a year-round programme of exhibitions, artist opportunities and related educational talks and events which support artists at all stages of their careers. The Academy’s distinguished history is reflected in its extensive collections and archives and has been awarded Recognised Collection status by Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government for being a collection of National Significance to Scotland.

Led by eminent artists and architects, the RSA embodies a wealth of professional experience in Fine Art and Architecture with many of its Members taking a leading role in higher education and in many of Scotland’s leading cultural institutions.

Over the last decade, every aspect of the RSA has been interrogated to ensure that the Academy remains relevant to the needs of today’s artists and architects. Importantly, the Academy continues to evolve, electing new Members, exhibiting new work, developing its collections and supporting and promoting excellence in contemporary Scottish art and architecture.

Paxton House

Paxton House tour: 

• The tour will give guests an insight into the lives of those who have lived in Paxton House from the date it was created in 1763.
• Enjoy seeing the different rooms, including the dining room, drawing room, picture gallery, costume room and the upstairs bedrooms.
• Beautiful decorative schemes designed by Robert Adam.
• Highly interesting family history with the house being described as one of the best in the country’

Furniture and Art Collections on display:

• Rare and nationally important furniture including Scotland’s largest collection of Thomas Chippendale furniture and an outstanding collection by Scotland’s leading 19^th century cabinet maker, William Trotter. The collection of Chippendale and Trotter furniture, and their associated archives, have recently been recognised by Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.
• The impressive Picture Gallery displays over seventy Scottish related paintings dating from the 18^th century to 1960 lent by our partner The National Galleries of Scotland including work by Sir David Wilkie, Sir John Everett Millias, William McTaggart, the Scottish colourists, and Anne Redpath.
• Paintings by Scottish Masters including Allan Ramsay, Sir Henry Raeburn, Alexander Nasmyth and David Martin can be viewed in the house alongside European works by Francesco Fidanza, Rosalba Carriera, and Antonio del Massaro da Viterbo.
• The small but important 18^th century costume collection is displayed occasionally for conservation reasons.

There is also fun for the kids with our teddy trail throughout the house which will keep them busy spotting bears as they go around.

Nelson Museum and Local History Centre

Find out about the life, loves, death and commemoration of the famous admiral through displays of weapons, pictures, fine ceramics, silver and glass, ships models and letters.

Horatio Nelson was born in Norfolk, died at sea, and is buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral – yet Monmouth is home to a magnificent collection of Nelson material. Find out about the origins of the collection, and about the life, loves, death and commemoration of the famous admiral through displays of weapons, pictures, fine ceramics, silver and glass, ships models and letters.

The history of the ancient Wye Valley market town is illustrated in displays in the same building. Charles Stuart Rolls, co-founder of Rolls-Royce, lived near Monmouth and his exploits in balloons, early motor cars and aeroplanes are also seen in the History Center.

Bell Pettigrew Museum, University of St Andrews

The Bell Pettigrew Museum is the University’s zoology museum.  It is a rare survival of a Victorian teaching museum, and wonderfully atmospheric.

The displays, which include examples of several extinct species, are arranged to allow the evolutionary and taxonomic relationships between animals to be clearly understood.

Caldicot Castle

Welcome to the website for Caldicot Castle and Country Park, we look forward to seeing you!

Visit Caldicot Castle in its beautiful setting of tranquil gardens and a wooded country park. Founded by the Normans, developed in royal hands as a stronghold in the Middle Ages and restored as a Victorian family home, the castle has a romantic and colourful history.

Museum of The Isles

Welcome to our magnificent Highland estate, the spiritual home of Clan Donald, on the magical island of Skye. Explore the historic gardens and woodland trails around the romantic ruins of Armadale Castle. Discover 1500 years of Highland history in our award-winning Museum of the Isles.

In our award-winning Museum of the Isles you can discover the history of the Highlands and Islands through the story of Clan Donald, its most powerful clan. Six interconnecting galleries take you through 1500 years of history and culture in the area once known as the Kingdom of the Isles. A seventh gallery is dedicated to an annual changing exhibition.  

Young visitors can enjoy exploring the Museum with our children’s trails – we have a range available suitable for different abilities and ages from pre-school upwards.

At Museum reception you can pick up a free audio guide, available in English, Gaelic, French, German, Italian and Spanish. We also have a guide specially designed for visually impaired visitors. There’s plenty to see and most visitors spend between 45 minutes and 1 hour in the Museum.

We are proud to be Skye’s only museum fully accredited by Museums Galleries Scotland. The Museum has received a number of awards including Museum of the Year Award and Museum of the Year Research Facility Award.

Aberdeen Art Gallery

The origins of Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums can be traced to 1873 when John Forbes White and a number of local art collectors decided to hold a public exhibition to display their collections. From this developed a plan to establish a public art gallery for the benefit of citizens, an objective that continues to drive the programmes of activity within the Museums and Galleries service today.

Aberdeen’s handsome granite Art Gallery, designed by A Marshall Mackenzie, one of the loveliest Victorian galleries in the UK, was opened in 1885. The displays combined industrial exhibitions with exhibitions of art, greatly enhanced by generous gifts, including Aberdeen granite merchant Alexander Macdonald’s private collection in 1900. Twenty years later the building was extended to accommodate the establishment of a plaster cast collection from which art students at the newly established Gray’s School of Art, at that time adjacent to the Art Gallery, could practice drawing. This light and clean central space is used today to exhibit works by leading contemporary artists.

In 1907 the Town Council assumed responsibility for the building and its growing collections. In the 1920s further development took place with the addition of the City’s War Memorial and the Cowdray Hall, opened by King George V and Queen Mary. The cost of the War Memorial was met by public subscription, and that of the Cowdray Hall, a unique recital venue, by Lord and Lady Cowdray “with a view to encouraging the taste for art and music in the City of Aberdeen”.

In 1937 the Regional Museum opened in the basement below the Cowdray Hall, with displays of local history, natural history and geology. The Regional Museum closed in the 1970s, with the opening of a new display space in James Dun’s House. Also in the 1930s, plans were made to restore and refurbish “Cumberland House” a fine 16th century town house in Guestrow. The building was opened in 1953 by HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother as Provost Skene’s House. The early 1960s saw further developments at the Art Gallery with the opening of the James McBey Print Room and Art Library in 1961. This fitting tribute to a famous local artist was thanks to the generosity of his widow, Marguerite, who left another substantial bequest when she died in the 1990s.

1985 saw the opening of Aberdeen Maritime Museum in Provost Ross’s House on the Shiprow by HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The museum was designed to tell the story of Aberdeen’s maritime history, including the impact of the newest industry – North Sea oil.

The Council continued to expand its museum provision when the Tolbooth opened in 1995. One of the oldest buildings in Aberdeen, which includes 17th century gaols, this museum traces Aberdeen’s civic history, including the history of crime and punishment.

Lapworth Museum of Geology

Enabling visitors to explore life over the past 3.5 billion years, the Lapworth Museum showcases exceptional objects from one of the UK’s most outstanding geological collections, with state-of-the-art galleries and a range of innovative and interactive exhibits – all completely free of charge.

From rocks and fossils to volcanoes, earthquakes, and even dinosaurs, the Museum captures the imagination of all ages.

Tenby Museum And Art Gallery

The Story of Tenby Gallery traces the history of the town from the 9th century through to the present day. The refurbished gallery features bilingual interpretive panels, photographs and artefacts from the museum’s collections as well as a Kid’s Corner where children can enjoy doing drawings and quiz sheets.

In the gallery you can learn about Henry Tudor’s legendary escape from the town, discover which Tenby born mathematician invented the equals (=) sign, read about the decline and growth of the town as a resort, uncover Tenby’s exciting involvement in the lead up to the D-Day landings during World War II, learn about the time when pigs roamed the streets and find out exactly what the dramatic building is on St Catherine’s Island. There is also the chance to see how the town has altered since 1586 from a painting by Eric Bradforth and model by John Horne and provides the history of St Mary’s Church, the Civil War and the plague and other fascinating tales from the ebb and flow of Tenby’s fortunes.

Highlights of the gallery include a 19th century Minton Monk’s Rock meat plate, a 19th century Penny Farthing high-wheeled bicycle, Mayoral robes, a chair from the Investiture of the Prince of Wales, a John Speed map of Pembrokeshire form the 17th century, a 19th century long-case clock and a Cap-a-Pie suit of armour.

A recently donated of a Town Crier’s outfit can also be seen in this gallery along with other civic memorabilia can also be seen in this gallery. The museum is grateful to Tenby Town Council in assisting with the purchase of the costume showcase.

A ten minute film in this gallery gives a fascinating insight into the growth of Tenby as a tourist resort and features moving image, postcards, photographs and reminiscence form the museum’s collection. There is a Youtube link to this film below.

The museum is also grateful to the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries in Wales for financial assistance with the interpretive panels in this gallery.

Museum of Scottish Railways

Follow the visitor trail or cross the historic footbridge at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway to find this hidden gem. Three large buildings full of wonders – from full size locomotives to old fashioned railway signs which once adorned the walls of busy railway stations each with a story to tell.

Get hands on and discover railway history through fun interactive displays. Climb on board our vintage Glasgow Subway car and feel the past surround you. Become a signalman and pull the levers on the authentic signal  lever frame and challenge your friends to work out how to operate the points. Get an insight into life aboard a travelling Post Office Coach by sorting the letters yourself and don’t miss the famous video of the Night Mail.

Brass Rubbing Trail – Help yourself to a free booklet  and follow the visitor trail from Bo’ness Station to the Museum  finding our eight new brass  rubbings on the way! Pop in to the Display Shed on the way which houses the last remaining “Glasgow Blue Train”, a recently restored Class 126 Diesel Multiple Unit and several other heritage items of rolling stock.