Description
The National Museum of Rural Life is a unique 170-acre site in East Kilbride that combines a modern museum building with a real working farm. It is frequently cited as one of the best things to do with kids in East Kilbride, offering families a chance to see how people lived and worked the land in the past. Visitors can explore giant harvest machines, meet farm animals, and take a tractor-trailer ride up to the historic farmhouse.
Prices start from 9.50 for children and £12.50 for adults for standard museum entry. National Museums Scotland members and children under age five can enter for free. Tickets include access to the museum galleries, the tractor-trailer ride, and the working farm.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that offers an educational day out with plenty of fresh air, this is it. The mix of interactive exhibits in the main building and the outdoor farm experience provides a full day of varied activity for all ages.
Features
- Paid
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
What makes the National Museum of Rural Life unique? This museum stands out because it is a "living" museum where the exhibits actually breathe and grow. It isn't just a collection of old tools; it is a functioning 1950s-style farm.
- Tractor-Trailer Ride: The ride from the main museum building to the farm is a highlight for many children and provides a fun way to see the landscape.
- The 1950s Farmhouse: Step back in time to see a preserved home where the fire is often lit and the rooms look exactly as they did 70 years ago.
- Massive Machinery: The museum building houses an impressive collection of tractors and harvesters that demonstrate the scale of Scottish engineering.
Top Highlights for Families
- The Working Farm: The farm is home to Aberdeen Angus cattle, Tamworth pigs, and sheep. Depending on the season, kids can see newborn lambs or watch the cows being milked in the dairy.
- The Tractor-Trailer Ride: This regular service shuttles visitors between the modern museum and the farmhouse. It is a bumpy, exciting ride for little ones and saves tired legs on the uphill trek to the farm.
- Land, Life, and Legend Gallery: This indoor gallery uses interactive exhibits to show how the Scottish countryside has changed. Children can learn about the different seasons on a farm and the skills needed to survive in the past.
5.81 miles
