Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine

About this place

Harbourside museum of historic Scottish vessels, housed in a Victorian engine shed.

Housed partly within a preserved Victorian engine shed on Irvine's harbourside, this museum brings together a collection of historic Scottish vessels, from small fishing boats to larger engineering exhibits, telling the story of Scotland's shipbuilding heritage along the way. Visitors can go aboard some of the vessels moored at the harbour, giving children a much more hands-on sense of maritime history than looking at models in a case. Its harbourside setting adds some extra interest even before stepping inside the museum itself. There's an admission charge, and while most of the museum is accessible, some vessels involve steps to board.

Make a day of it — within 5km