Scottish Maritime Museum

Scottish Maritime Museum Preserving, restoring and promoting Scotland's maritime past at our sites in Irvine and Dumbarton. Awarded 4**** by the Scottish Tourist Board.

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, including a variety of historic ships, artefacts, shipbuilding machinery and fascinating personal items. In Irvine, the museum is in the Linthouse Engine Shop, a unique Grade A listed, 19th century historic building k

nown as the ‘Cathedral of Engineering'. At Dumbarton, its home is the Denny Tank, the world’s first commercial ship model experiment tank.

☀️Customer reminder! ☀️If you are visiting the Museum this week, please remember the Linthouse Building can get very war...
23/06/2026

☀️Customer reminder! ☀️

If you are visiting the Museum this week, please remember the Linthouse Building can get very warm due to the glass roof!

☀️Please take plenty of breaks on the seating around the Museum
☀️Cool off in our air conditioned gallery
☀️We have a water cooler in the front foyer area
☀️Visit the outside vessels in between the indoor exhibits
☀️Enjoy a cold drink from the coffee bar!

Your ticket gets you in and out the Museum until 4pm each day, if you get warm you can take a walk down the harbour, enjoy the beautiful views of Arran or visit the giftshop and have a bite to eat at Puffers Café Bistro

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask a member of staff.

22/06/2026

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 we’re made in Scotland from girders 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Did you know that Irn bru was made for shipyard workers on the Clyde!

Our Museum building is held up by girders from 1872, from Alexander Stephen’s and Sons shipyard, originally in Govan.

Alexander Stephen’s was one of the longest running shipbuilders in Scotland. We are sure many of the workers enjoyed a drink of Irn Bru.

You can pick up a refreshing can of Irn Bru at our coffee bar open daily 10am until 4pm.

Song: “We're Made in Scotland from Girders” - IRN-BRU

𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮 - 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘆𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲Have you visited our traveling exhibition "Bound By the Sea" which is b...
21/06/2026

𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮 - 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝘆𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲

Have you visited our traveling exhibition "Bound By the Sea" which is being held at North Ayrshire Heritage and Cultural Services until 31st August.

This touring exhibition celebrates the rich maritime heritage of North Ayrshire’s Three Towns and their deep connections to the Merchant Navy.

The exhibition features a wide variety of objects and digital content for you to explore.

Entry is FREE, open Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday and the last Saturday of every month. 9:30am – 1pm & 2pm – 4:30pm.

Learn more about the exhibition here: https://www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org/exhibitions/bound-to-the-sea-three-towns-and-the-merchant-navy/

Learn more about North Ayrshire Heritage Centre here: https://naheritage.co.uk/bound-by-the-sea-new-exhibition-at-saltcoats-heritage-centre

19/06/2026

A day at the Museum!

Visit the Museum, explore maritime history and our THREE current exhibitions!

𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆- 𝗔 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗲𝗮, 𝗦𝗸𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 - Linthouse building

Christina Riley is a Scottish artist and photographer whose practice explores themes of place, memory, and the natural world. Based in Ayrshire, her work often focuses on the coastal landscape and the traces left by both nature and human activity.

The Beach Today exemplifies her sensitive approach to environmental storytelling and reflects a broader concern with our relationship to the natural world during times of uncertainty and change.

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 - Linthouse building

This is an exhibition that celebrate a cultural connection between Poland and Scotland, told through the lens of maritime heritage.

These two exhibition is included in the your admission price.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 - Boatshop Next to Puffers Café Bistro (FREE)

The Cost of Progress is an exhibition by emerging local artist Casey McCracken, exploring consumerism and environmental change in North Ayrshire.

15/06/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲

Linthouse was originally the engine shop for Alexander Stephen and Sons built in 1872 on their shipyard in Govan.

The whole building was moved 30 miles from Govan, Glasgow to Irvine between 1988 and 1991.

The building is now home to the Scottish Maritime Museum where people can come and explore maritime history.

Open from 10am until 4pm daily!

Up to Three Kids go FREE, with any paying adult or concession!

☀️𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽! ☀️Our popular glassblowing workshop are back for the Summer! Starting from 1st July ever...
14/06/2026

☀️𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽! ☀️

Our popular glassblowing workshop are back for the Summer! Starting from 1st July every Wednesday (1pm - 3pm) and Saturday (10am to 12pm)!

This popular workshop is open to everyone, whether you're an experienced glassblower looking for new ideas or a complete beginner wanting to try something exciting.

Never worked with glass before? No problem! These workshops are perfect for beginners who want to learn the basics in this hands-on 2-hour session. Glassblower Robert will teach you the essentials in a safe and welcoming environment.

These sessions also make a brilliant gift for someone special. Give them the chance to try something unique this summer and make beautiful glass pieces they'll keep forever.

☀️£60 per person per session, Tickets will sell out fast so book your space now!!

Tickets available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/summer-glassblowing-workshops-tickets-1991702692368

To celebrate Scotland getting into the World Cup we looked through our collection to find some old Football teams from d...
13/06/2026

To celebrate Scotland getting into the World Cup we looked through our collection to find some old Football teams from different shipyards.

Photo 1: Ayrshire Dockyard (Irvine) Football team (early 20th century)
Photo 2: William Denny and Brothers Ltd employees football team (1945)

We want to wish The Scotland Team the best of luck in their World Cup Opener! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

11/06/2026

ASMR 1920s style!

You can visit our 1920s flat and go back in time to see how they lived 100 years ago.

The tour is included in your admission ticket, at 11am and 2pm*

*subject to availability, speak to a member of staff for more information.

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀Have you visited our exhibition Scottish Maritime Impressions? This is an exhibition that c...
10/06/2026

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Have you visited our exhibition Scottish Maritime Impressions?

This is an exhibition that celebrate a cultural connection between Poland and Scotland, told through the lens of maritime heritage.

Both Poland and Scotland have deep connections to the sea. Polish sailors have long admired Scotland’s rugged coastlines, and Scottish shipbuilding has historical links with Polish maritime traditions. This exhibition highlights our shared heritage, as Scotland is home to a significant Polish community that supports the development of Scottish society while maintaining its cultural identity.

This exhibition is included in the your admission price.

08/06/2026

Did you know you can grab a Loyalty card at our coffee bar?

Pick one up and get a stamp each time you buy a drink, get your 5th one 50% off and your 10th one FREE!

If you haven’t got time to look around the Museum you can always pop in and grab a drink at the Coffee Bar without paying admission!

Do you have your own reusable cup? You get 10% off your drink if you bring it.

Address

The Linthouse, Harbour Road
Irvine
KA128BT

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

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