Top Things to do in Dumfries and Galloway
Top Hotels in Dumfries and Galloway
What to do and see in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland: The Best History Museums
Discover the best top things to do in Dumfries and Galloway, United Kingdom including Dunscore Heritage Centre, Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop, The Stewartry Museum, Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura, Whithorn Visitor Centre and Museum, Annan Museum, Moffat Museum, Creetown Heritage Museum.
Restaurants in Dumfries and Galloway
1. Dunscore Heritage Centre
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
Hear the inspirational story of Dunscore's Jane Haining who worked in Hungary in WWII and refused to leave her charges and died in Auschwitz. Learn the story of Dunscore Church stretching back to the 12th century and follow the church trail or Dunscore Detective trail. Stroll round the village on the Memory Trail and see the Hearse House and the location of the library created by Robert Burns.
Reviewed By EAW57 - Bradford, United Kingdom
Many thanks to the dedication of volunteer Pam for opening up the Heritage Centre especially for us and guiding us through the moving story of Jane Haining. This is a tiny museum about Dunscore village and church but primarily full of information about Jane Haining's life and death, incuding a wealth of audio-visual material in the form of documentaries, memories, songs and poems celebrating this ordinary but amazing woman. A reminder of the important things in life. Very inspiring.
2. Gretna Green Famous Blacksmiths Shop
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,515 reviews
Famous for runaway weddings since 1754 Gretna Green is a wonderful place to get married in and visit. The Famous Blacksmiths Shop is steeped in history and has been standing since 1713 making it the earliest venue in the area for weddings. The visitors attraction and shopping village is visited by over 1 million people per year and has a range of lovely shops on site which stock the best of Scottish menswear, ladieswear - including brands such as Joules, Barbour, Harris Tweed and Ness - Scottish gifts, Hampers and Homeware as well as a Foodhall selling local and traditional scottish produce.
Reviewed By Breaktaker - Maidstone, United Kingdom
There is a free car park, a maze, a children’s playground, the blacksmiths museum and wedding venue, plus a few shops and restaurant and bar. The museum is very interesting and explains the history of marriage and the laws associated with marriage in England and Scotland, thus explaining the reason why weddings were popular with underage couples. We pad £3 each to enter the museum. 14 weddings took place the day of our visit, so we saw many couples getting married. When they enter the wedding room a curtain is pulled for privacy but you can still hear the ceremony take place. A good range of goods in the shops from whisky, shortbread to clothes and jewellery. Glad we made the journey.
3. The Stewartry Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 150 reviews
The Stewartry Museum was founded in 1879, and first occupied part of the Kirkcudbright Town Hall. As the collection grew, the present purpose-built museum was planned and opened in 1893. The Museum has an old-world charm and exhibits a wealth of objects relating to the area known as The Stewartry of Kirkcudbrightshire.
Reviewed By DerekP169 - Great Malvern, United Kingdom
It is a little gem of a museum with a large array of exhibits including items such as communion tokens which we had never seen or heard of before. Also, we found out what the Stewartry is and the cup and ring carvings – bronze age rock art. There are some of these outside the museum.
4. Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 252 reviews
Reviewed By Craigmil1ar - Glasgow, United Kingdom
I could happily have come back several times to get around to seeing everything in this fantastic, free, museum! We had a very warm welcome, and spent a delightful few hours exploring. Everything from prehistoric to Romans, to Vikings, to victorian mill works. Wondrous artifacts and a fantastic array of historical everyday items. Don't forget to try on the dinosaur costumes or take a crayon rubbing of a fossil!
5. Whithorn Visitor Centre and Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 49 reviews
Reviewed By redhammer69 - Dumfries, United Kingdom
Visiting the Roundhouse offered a fascinating glimpse back in time, Ruaraidh the guide was extremely enthusiastic, and obviously really interested in his subject. A well spent hour of anybodys time
6. Annan Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By Ramsbottom1 - Bridlington, United Kingdom
Stop of in Annan for a look around and came across this place by chance very friendly folk , free to enter which is great and a good look in to local history got to be a big thumbs up from me ..
7. Moffat Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Come and see how Moffat evolved from a sandy desert 5000 miles from England , through the Roman occupation and Killing Times to the rise of the Victorian Spa town. Model railway, hands -on quizzes for children, video ,dressing up and popular old school desk and writing slates .
8. Creetown Heritage Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
A History of Creetown and Kirkmabreck Parish with a very large photo display plus many artefacts and documents including baptism records etc. The Museum has a model of the Wicker Man plus stills and stories from the making of the movie, filmed in the area. There is a War room, Social history displays, film screenings and Local Nature exhibits.
Reviewed By jkitkat - Kirkcudbright, United Kingdom
I visited the museum with my young nephew whilst the schools were off and we spent some happy time inside this excellent museum and information centre. There is just so much to see and read inside, all painstakingly put together by locals and volunteers. The museum is organised into sections filled with real life testimonials, photos, letters, equipment and recordings - I personally was so interested in all of the old letters and photographs particularly in the WW2 section. Such a great space to visit, conveniently close to the A75 and the Gem Rock museum - it’s a total no-brainer to swing by and take a look. Recommended.
