Museums, Galleries & Heritage Centres

From the Scotland Visitor Survey 2023, the top three reasons for choosing to visit Scotland was the scenery and landscape, the history and culture, and the outdoor activities available (VisitScotland, 2024). The East Grampian Coast boasts a number of museums and heritage centres. Amongst the top five attractions or activities undertaken/visited in Aberdeen in 2023:

• 52% visited a museum or art gallery
• 47% viewed architecture and buildings

Amongst the top five attractions or activities undertaken/visited in Aberdeenshire in 2023:

• 33% viewed architecture and buildings

North Aberdeenshire:

• Museum of Scottish Lighthouses
• Fraserburgh Heritage Centre (currently closed due to damage from Storm Arwen)
• Maggie's Hoosie
• Arbuthnot Museum, Peterhead (temporarily closed, reopening 2025/6)
• Peterhead Prison Museum

At the time of writing, there are no official visitor numbers publicly available for the North Aberdeenshire museums and heritage centres.

Aberdeen City:

• Aberdeen Science Centre  - over 50,000 visitors per year (Britton, 2023)
• Aberdeen Art Gallery
• Aberdeen Maritime Museum

At the time of writing, there are no official visitor numbers publicly available for Aberdeen Art Gallery and Maritime Museum.

South Aberdeenshire:

• Stonehaven Tolbooth Museum - 18,731 visitors in 2024 (Newton, 2025)
• Maggie Law Maritime Museum, Gourdon
• Benholm and Johnshaven Heritage Centre

At the time of writing, there are no official visitor numbers publicly available for Maggie Law Maritime Museum and Benholm and Johnshaven Heritage Centre.