Scottish Maritime Museum
Scottish Maritime Museum
Scottish Maritime Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Scottish Maritime Museum is based in the west of Scotland,with sites in Irvine and Dumbarton. At these two sites, the Museum holds an important nationally recognised collection, encompassing a variety of historic ships, artefacts, shipbuilding machinery, machine tools, and fascinating personal items.Many of these exhibits can be found inside the Linthouse Building in Irvine, a unique Grade A listed, 19th-century historic building known as the Linthouse Engine Shop 'Cathedral of Engineering and at the Denny Tank in Dumbarton, the world's first commercial ship model experiment tank.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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4.5
263 reviews
Excellent
158
Very good
80
Average
15
Poor
5
Terrible
5
Richard E
Egremont, UK218 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
This is a fascinating insight into Scotlands ship building industry and the people involved. The staff are very friendly and helpful.
Written 24 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CBR
171 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
A great museum in a new large building. Lots to see. Nice staff. A great cafe Puffers by the estuary with lovely tranquil views.
Written 22 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Norman M
Edinburgh, UK333 contributions
Jul 2023
My first visit here. To Irvine in fact, which is a prettier town than I'd thought. The museum occupies a large (transported from elsewhere) historic factory. Inside, there are many interesting exhibits of historical engineering artefacts, attesting to the ubiquity of Scottish maritime engineering.
There are also quite a number of intact smaller vessels.
Some of the captioning doesn't fit with the location of the exhibits, which can be confusing, although there are floor direction arrows to guide you along. The museum is all self guided, there are no audio guides either.
It's almost all on one level so suitable for those with wheelchairs.
Outside, there are some historic larger vessels, one of which you can enter the hold. Shades of Para Handy!
A walk of a couple of hundred metres takes you to the firth, where you have a good view over it, before you head to the excellent cafe.
Helpful staff abound.
There are also quite a number of intact smaller vessels.
Some of the captioning doesn't fit with the location of the exhibits, which can be confusing, although there are floor direction arrows to guide you along. The museum is all self guided, there are no audio guides either.
It's almost all on one level so suitable for those with wheelchairs.
Outside, there are some historic larger vessels, one of which you can enter the hold. Shades of Para Handy!
A walk of a couple of hundred metres takes you to the firth, where you have a good view over it, before you head to the excellent cafe.
Helpful staff abound.
Written 7 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James W
Belfast, UK18 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Excellent museum with sknething for everyone. Great for children and adults alike. Low ticket price for what is on show!
Written 14 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Scott8446
Glasgow, UK990 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Took my 3 year old here and she had a good time enjoyed seeing the boats and had a nice game where you had to find soft toys hidden around the museum.
Written 24 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob M
Troon, UK430 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
Top notch, well versed staff took us on the tour. With a group price of £6 per person it was excellent.
The museum is full of interesting artefacts showcasingClyde shipbuilding and is well worth a visit. Wander the outside space and visit the old tenement flat ( tour only). While our group did not go down to see the various vessels moored at the pontoons, there was plenty to see and occupy all ages.
The museum is full of interesting artefacts showcasingClyde shipbuilding and is well worth a visit. Wander the outside space and visit the old tenement flat ( tour only). While our group did not go down to see the various vessels moored at the pontoons, there was plenty to see and occupy all ages.
Written 10 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
George W
Abergele, UK14 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
Fascinating history of ship building and machinery, good for children perhaps not for ladies. Very nice cafe and shop for all types of food. Shopping centre very near.
Written 20 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fiona R
Stirlingshire, UK25 contributions
Mar 2023
An excellent resource hidden away in the town. On the day we visited it was very quiet. Staff were very friendly and helpful.
Lots of outdoor picnic tables available.
A map of the site on the website would be helpful to plan a visit.
Will definitely be returning for another visit.
Lots of outdoor picnic tables available.
A map of the site on the website would be helpful to plan a visit.
Will definitely be returning for another visit.
Written 24 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlene
4 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
Highly recommended, very interesting if you like boats its a must see. However even if you know nothing about boats it is an experience which is highly knowledgeable.
The Puffers cafe is friendly, exceptionally clean, and has a wide range of food. The soup was tasty and filling. The fish and chips was delicious. The panini and fries was also very tasty and well presented.
The Puffers cafe is friendly, exceptionally clean, and has a wide range of food. The soup was tasty and filling. The fish and chips was delicious. The panini and fries was also very tasty and well presented.
Written 16 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vessi80
North Lanarkshire, UK1,080 contributions
Jul 2022
Guaranteed to float your boat ! Welcoming Staff and plenty to keep all ages informed and entertained .
Irvine used to be the West of Scotland's busiest port. Inside the stylish hangar and out dockside there is a vast collection of vessels, engines, machinery and tools bringing the shipbuilding industry to life.
Loved the display about the Clyde Puffers and the stories about the individual crafts and crew were very moving. The Lifeboat History is also fascinating.
Great cafe with nautical theme of course.
Irvine used to be the West of Scotland's busiest port. Inside the stylish hangar and out dockside there is a vast collection of vessels, engines, machinery and tools bringing the shipbuilding industry to life.
Loved the display about the Clyde Puffers and the stories about the individual crafts and crew were very moving. The Lifeboat History is also fascinating.
Great cafe with nautical theme of course.
Written 30 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
is it free
Kate C
aberdeen19 contributions
kids get in free. adults 3.50 I think
wendy_mcla
Newmilns, UK96 contributions
Are dogs welcome within the museum?
John S
Irvine, UK30 contributions
I am not sure about pets, you would have to contact the site directly
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Frequently Asked Questions about Scottish Maritime Museum
- Scottish Maritime Museum is open:
- Sun - Sat 10:00 - 17:00
- Hotels near Scottish Maritime Museum:
- (0.07 mi) Irvine Bay Studios
- (0.11 mi) Harbourside Hotel
- (0.07 mi) Irvine Guest House
- (0.10 mi) Harbour Lights Accommodation
- (0.11 mi) Westshore Studio
- Restaurants near Scottish Maritime Museum:
- (0.08 mi) The Niche Restuarant
- (0.09 mi) Harbour Lights
- (0.12 mi) Vanilla Joe's
- (0.12 mi) Puffers Cafe
- (0.08 mi) The New Harbour Views