The outside of the National Museum of Rural Life. It is a large wood-paneled building with a runway to the entrance.

National Museum of Rural Life

Explore life in the countryside at our museum, historic farmhouse, and working farm

Book tickets

Visitor information

Admission details:

Tickets from £12.50, concessions available. Members go free.

Find us:

Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR

Tel: 0300 123 6789

Opening hours:

Open daily, 10:00 - 17:00

Closed: 25 Dec, 26 Dec, and 1 Jan

What's on

  1. Two visitors walking through the entrance of the National Museum of Rural Life.
    Events

    Relaxed Afternoons: National Museum of Rural Life

    Last Tuesday of every month, 14:30 - 17:00
    Join us for our monthly Relaxed Afternoons for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum.

    National Museum of Rural Life

  2. A parent and child play with soft vegetable toys in a playroom. Another child is in the background pushing a wheelbarrow.
    Events

    Tractor Tots

    –
    Tractor Tots is a bookable series of playful sensory singalong sessions for under-fives and their adults at the National Museum of Rural Life.

    National Museum of Rural Life

  3. A star decoration made of willow branches, with a grey tile background.
    Events

    Adult Workshop: Festive Willow Weaving

    Sat 28 and Sun 29 November, 10:30 - 13:00 and 14:00 - 16:30
    Join willow artist Max Johnson for a variety of half day festive willow workshops for adults at the National Museum of Rural Life.

    National Museum of Rural Life

View more events
  • Two curators looking at a row of farming equipment hanging on the wall of the Tools gallery at the National Museum of Rural Life.

    See and do

    There's so much to see and do at the National Museum of Rural Life. Uncover centuries of Scottish rural history in the museum, explore the countryside and meet the animals on the farm!
  • A group of school children on a farm lean over a fence to talk to a farmer.

    School visits

    The farm, agriculture, traditional farming, food chains, rural life and Scottish History – whatever your topic, come on a visit to find out more.

Stories from the collections

  1. A black and white photograph of four farmers sitting against a haybale with cups in their hands on a farm.

    Over 400 years on the farm: The history of the National Museum of Rural Life

    Scotland

    The Reid family owned and ran the Wester Kittochside Farm for more than 400 years. Now part of the National Museum of Rural Life, we trace the history of the farm right up to the present day.
    Article
  2. A colour photograph of 4 different colour tractors: A blue Fordson, a green Wallis and a partial view of another yellow tractor in the background and a bright orange tractor on the right

    Tractors at the National Museum of Rural Life

    History and cultures

    There are a variety of tractors from most decades of the 20th century inside and out at the National Museum of Rural Life. Read on to discover seven tractors in our collection
    Listicle
  3. The curved end of a shepherd's crook, showing a thistle emblem at the very end.

    A tale of 3 sticks and their stories about rural Scotland

    Scotland

    Written by Oliver Taylor
    What connects three ordinary looking sticks at the National Museum of Rural Life?At first glance, you may disregard one, or even all of them. However, their unassuming nature hides their significance. A poacher's fishing rod 
    Long read
  4. Person sitting in a wooden boat filled with lobster traps on calm water, with another boat visible in the background.

    9 summer customs in rural Scotland

    History and cultures

    Explore stories of spring in rural Scotland through tools, machinery and photographs from the rural history collections.
    Listicle

Awards