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Find out everything you need to know about visiting the National Museum of Rural Life.
The National Museum of Rural Life is open and tickets are available for online booking.
Book now
Philipshill Road,
East Kilbride,
G76 9HR
Tel: 0300 123 6789
Adult Annual Pass £9
Concession Annual Pass £8*
Child Annual Pass (5–15) £6 (under 5s free)
Family Annual Pass (2 adults and 2 children) £25
Find out more about the Annual Pass
Museum open
Open daily, 10:00 - 17:00
Please book a timed entry ticket online for every member of your group in advance of your visit. This includes National Museums Scotland Members, National Museum of Rural Life Annual Pass holders and National Trust for Scotland Members.
A range of safety measures are in place in line with Scottish Government guidelines such as enhanced cleaning, sneeze screens and hand sanitising stations.
From Monday 18 April, there is no longer a legal requirement to wear face coverings but we still strongly recommend that visitors wear them in our indoor spaces to help protect themselves and our staff.
We want you to have a safe and enjoyable visit. During your visit, we ask you to:
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Please keep your distance from others. |  |
We recommend wearing face coverings in our indoor spaces. |
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Use the hand sanitiser provided. |  |
Please note card payments only. |
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Wash your hands often. |
Please do not visit the museum if you or anyone in your household has any symptoms of Coronavirus.
The legal requirement to wear face coverings in our museums has lifted. However, we still strongly recommend that all visitors over the age of 12 wear them in our indoor spaces to help protect themselves and our staff.
We have developed a new museum map to show which parts of the site are open and what can be enjoyed during your visit.
Garden Detectives gallery in the museum building and the Farmhouse are now open! We ask that visitors do not pet the animals at the farm, including our farm cats. The farmhouse is open until 17:00 each day.
Farm Explorer tractor-trailer ride tickets are available at the museum ticket desk. Tickets are on a first-come first-served basis with limited availability each day. The last tractor to the farm departs at 16:00.
Shielings Café is open, serving a full sit-in menu and takeaway options. The café takes card and cash, with card being the preferred method of payment.
National Museums Scotland Members receive a 20% discount in the café.
You are welcome to bring your own picnic to eat in our outdoor play and picnic area. Please dispose of your rubbish responsibly in the bins provided. Barbecues and gas stoves are not permitted.
The museum shop is open, accepting card payments only.
National Museums Scotland Members receive a 10% discount on all shop purchases.
Our outdoor play and picnic area is open with new equipment to enjoy. There are picnic tables and hand sanitiser nearby.
Families and children of all ages are welcome at the National Museum of Rural Life.
For the safety of our visitors and staff, no birthday parties will be offered during this period.
Assistance dogs are welcome in the museum buildings and on the outdoor site.
Non-assistance dogs are welcome outdoors, but must be on a lead. They are not allowed in the museum buildings.
We are happy for you to take photographs, including flash photography, in the galleries and the outdoor site.
No prior permission is needed for photography intended for personal use. However, anyone wishing to use additional photography equipment (eg a tripod) should contact the information desk to obtain a photo pass.
All photographers wishing to take photographs for commercial use are asked to contact Maggie Wilson at the Picture Library on 0131 247 4026 or at m.wilson@nms.ac.uk.
We want all our visitors and staff to be safe at the National Museum of Rural Life. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to a member of our Visitor Experience team. You can also help us keep the museum safe by reporting anything that looks out of place or suspicious to our Visitor Experience Assistants.
Toilets
Toilets are available. There are accessible toilets with an adult changing bench.
Baby changing
Baby changing facilities and a breastfeeding room are available.
Access
The museum is accessible via lifts and ramps. See our Accessibility page for more information.
Café
Open daily from 10:00–17:00, accepting card payments only.
Picnic area
Our outdoor play and picnic area is open.
Information
Our information and ticket desk is at the entrance to our museum on the first floor.
Parking
Free parking available. There are 12 designated Blue Badge parking bays within the car park.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome in museum buildings and in public areas outdoors on a lead.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome outdoors, but must be on a lead. They are not allowed in the museum buildings.
Farm Explorer
Farm Explorer tractor-trailer ride tickets are available at the museum ticket desk on a first come, first serve basis.
Shop
The museum shop sells a range of rural-themed gifts and books. Please note we are accepting card payments only.
Contactless payment
Please note we are accepting card payments only.
Plan your visit to the National Museum of Rural Life with our map to view online or print at home.
View and download the map
Inspired by the wildlife often spotted around the museum site and the animal residents at our farm, willow artist Anna Cross has created a beautiful collection of willow sculptures for you to discover as you explore outdoors.
Find out moreWe want everyone who comes to the National Museum of Rural Life to enjoy their time with us and make the most of their visit. We've compiled all our accessibility information in one place.
AccessibilityThe museum is 200m from the bus stop on Stewartfield Way.
The First Glasgow 31 service runs between Glasgow to Carmunnock. The JMB Travel 31b service runs from Carmunnock to East Kilbride.
Plan your journey with the Traveline website or get directions from Google Maps.
There are three train stations within a few miles of the museum: East Kilbride, Hairmyres and Thorntonhall.
Plan your journey with the Traveline website or get directions from Google Maps.
It is about a 20-minute cycle from the centre of East Kilbride and there is a secure cycle rack available to park your bike.
10% bicycle discount: The National Museum of Rural Life is a member of the Green Tourism Business Scheme and supports sustainable tourism. On presentation of your cycle helmet at the ticket desk receive a 10% discount on one adult, concession or child admission. For validity on Family tickets, all family members must have travelled by bicycle. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer and not valid during special events.
Get directions from Google Maps.
Free parking is available, with four designated spaces for disabled visitors. There are signposts for the museum before you reach East Kilbride.
Plan your journey with the Traveline website or get directions from Google Maps.
Enjoy a meal in our award-winning Shielings Café, which offers home baking, hot and cold dishes, children’s meals, freshly brewed teas and coffees and takeaway options.
As a charity, we rely on your donations to care for our animals and our special landscape. Please donate today to support our work.
Thank you.
Due to essential maintenance on Monday 23 May, the café will only be serving soup, sandwiches, tea, coffee, cakes and refreshments.