Things to do in Aberdeenshire, Scotland: The Best History Museums

Delightful small heritage museum run by a dedicated group of volunteers. The Museum is open from the beginning of April to the end of October

This is one of the oldest museums in Scotland, and is filled with the history of a very historic tow. Look out for the Banff silver, and the display on the Deskford carnyx.

Step back in time and visit "Scotland's Toughest Jail". Opening in 1888 it closed in December 2013 and little changed within that period. Known as "Scotland's Alcatraz" you will walk through the halls, cells, former kitchen, shower block, booking in area, courtroom, segregation block, infamous silent cell and hospital complex and much more. This 6 acre site was Scotland's only true "Convict Prison" [to be sent here meant you had been sentenced to "penal servitude"] it was the home of the first state owned passenger carrying railway in Britain and in 1987 was the scene of the only time the Special Air Service [SAS] was used to end a domestic siege after an officer was held hostage on the roof for 4 days, ending in the early hours of the 5th morning with a daring raid. Hear former officers tell their stories at key points on the route in our award winning audio sets and enjoy the experience within our 5* multi award winning complex.

Located in the vibrant village of Alford, just 45 minutes from Aberdeen, the museum boasts an impressive range of transport exhibits, from travelling chariots, of the 1800's, to some of the fastest cars ever made. Every season the museum refreshes around one-third of its exhibits –this year's exhibition includes 'The Guy Martin Collection' and 'It's Electric' which gives an in-depth look at the past, present and future of electric vehicles. A few old favourites remain, including our MACK Snowplough, Billy Connolly's Boom Lowrider motortrike and one of our Curator's favourites, the ex-Grampian Police Rover SD1 Vitesse. Our Tea Room serves an array of hot drinks, light lunches and snacks. At the present time, we have in place comprehensive COVID 19 safety measures to keep our visitors as safe as possible. A clear signage system explains how it all works. To prevent overcrowding, we have moved to online bookings accessed through our website.

REOPENING ON SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 2020 Occupying part of the renovated Inverurie Loco Works, and under the watchful eye of one of the original 20 ton trains the Centre tells the story of life in the Garioch, from the early 20th century to the present day, shedding light on the working and domestic lives of the local people. There is a gift shop, cafe and activities to amuse younger visitors. Entry is free - but donations are gratefully accepted. Open 11 - 3 pm Thursday - Saturday

King's Museum lies at the heart of the University's Old Aberdeen campus. As well as being Scotland's newest museum, it may also be the oldest as its origins lie in a museum collection established in King's College in 1727. King's Museum has exhibitions changing every few months to display these collections, some involving students and academic staff collaborating with the museum to bring recent research to a wider audience. With evening lectures and other events, such as the annual 'Night at the Museum', the museum is a place where objects and ideas are explored in ways that would have been inconceivable to those who have collected and curated the collection over the past centuries. The museum is a friendly place, where passers-by, students, staff and tourists can drop in for a break; a place of stimulation and reflection in the middle of the busy campus.

Braemar Highland Games Centre explores a living tradition, the Highland games, focusing on the world-famous Braemar Gathering and its long-standing royal connections. Housed in The Duke of Rothesay Highland Games Pavilion, the stunning new building was unveiled by Her Majesty The Queen in September 2018.