AROUND TOWN | Museums & Attractions
GLASGOW BOTANIC GARDENS Perhaps you are someone who rushes to this West End grassy knoll on one of the handful of sunny days Glasgow gets each summer. Or maybe you just like doing early morning Pilates near nice-looking plants. Either way, you can vouch for the picturesque nature of the botanics. Programmed events include stargazing, gardening talks and the odd bit of theatre, with exhibitions taking place inside the glasshouse next to the veg, herb and flower collections. Lovely. ■ glasgow.gov.uk
the oldest fire brigade in the UK, formed in 1824. See genuine artefacts including horse-drawn fire engines and early motor models. ■ MUSEUM ON THE MOUND The Mound, 243 5464, museumonthemound.com Tue–Fri 10am–-5pm; Sat & Sun 1-–5pm; closed Mon. Free. Hosted inside the Bank of Scotland’s head office, this museum is all about money. Learn how money has evolved over the past 4000 years or try cracking a safe.
■ NATIONAL MINING MUSEUM SCOTLAND Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange, 663 7519, scottishminingmuseum.com Daily 10am–5pm. £7.50 (£5.50; children free). Nine miles south of Edinburgh, this museum is one of the best-preserved Victorian collieries in Europe. Learn about the life of a miner by taking a tour around the site. ■ NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789, nms. ac.uk Daily 10am–5pm. Free. Renovated in 2011, this national beacon of culture has exhibitions on natural history, science and technology, Scottish history, art and design and world cultures in galleries surrounding a beautiful naturally-lit atrium space. Dr Livingstone, I Presume? Until Sun 7 April 2013. Exhibition examining the life of the legendary missionary and explorer, created in partnership with the National Museums of Malawi. Vikings! Until May 2013. £9 (£7.50; children £6; under 12s free). A touring exhibition from the Historiska Museet in Stockholm, making its only UK stop in Edinburgh to enlighten us all as to the real nature of one of the most mythologised races in history. Through new archaeological finds and objects rarely seen outside of Scandinavia, Vikings explores death rituals, domestic lives, crafts, mythology and the
40 THE LIST 21 Mar–18 Apr 2013
Voyage into the Plant Cell Thu 21 Mar–Thu 18 Apr. Exhibition of photographs from Prof Steven Blackmore’s book Green Universe, showing in amazing detail the internal structure of plant cells. Jalan Jati (Teak Road) Fri 22 Mar– Thu 18 Apr. An exhibition tracing the imagined history of a teak bed found in a Singapore junk shop back to the tree from which it was made, incorporating photographs, prints, collages and an award-winning short film. Images of a Green Planet: International Garden Photographer of the Year Exhibition Fri 22 Mar–Thu 18 Apr. A selection of winning entries from the world’s leading garden photography competition.
■ ROYAL OBSERVATORY VISITOR CENTRE Blackford Hill, 668 8404, roe.ac.uk/ vc Entry by arrangement or at Public Astronomy evenings (weekly, Fri 6.30pm & 8pm). Public Astronomy evenings £4 (£3). See the stars through the research centre’s magnificent copper domes at weekly astronomy evenings.
symbolism of the Viking ships.
■ NATIONAL MUSEUMS COLLECTION CENTRE 242 West Granton Road, 247 4770, nms.ac.uk Visits by appointment only or with occasional tours. Following the redevelopment of the National Museum, two new collection buildings have also been added to the storage and conservation centre at Granton. From vintage motorbikes to whale and dinosaur bones – it’s all there. ■ OUR DYNAMIC EARTH Holyrood Road, 550 7800, dynamicearth. co.uk Wed–Sun 10am–5.30pm (last entry 4pm); closed Mon & Tue. £11.50 (£9.75; under 16s £7.20; under 3s free). Take an interactive journey through the history of the earth. Go to the tundra or the bottom of the ocean, never being more than a stone’s throw from the Scottish Parliament and Arthur’s Seat.
■ PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE Royal Mile, 556 5100, royalcollection. org.uk Daily 9.30am–4.30pm until Sun 31 Mar; from Mon 1 Apr 9.30am–6pm (last admission one hour before close). £11 (£10; under 17s £6.65; under 5s free). The official Scottish residence of the Queen, this baroque palace was once home to Mary Queen of Scots and now houses the great artworks and tapestries of its regal residents.
GREAT DAYS OUT IDEAS
■ ROYAL YACHT BRITANNIA Ocean Terminal, Leith, 555 5566, royalyachtbritannia. co.uk Daily 10am–3.30pm until Sun 31 Mar; from Mon 1 Apr 9.30am–4pm. £12 (£10.50; under 18s
■ ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN EDINBURGH Inverleith Row, 552 7171, rbge.org.uk Daily 10am–6pm. Free; glasshouse entry £4.50 (£3.50; children £1; family £9) (last admission 5pm). These gardens, founded in the 17th century, cover over 70 acres and are just one mile from the city centre. There are glasshouses and cafés within the grounds, as well as high- profile art exhibitions at Inverleith House. Green Universe: A Microscopic
£7.50; under 5s free; family £35). Take a guided tour of the ornate floating royal residence
(and the naval quarters below) and learn about life aboard the yacht which served the royal family for almost 50 years.
■ SCOTCH WHISKY EXPERIENCE 354 Castlehill, 220 0441, scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk Daily 10am–6pm; entry is as part of a tour. Tours £12.75–£52 (£10.25–£26; under
18s £6.50). Learn more about Scotland’s tastiest export with a tour and tasting session. There is also a bar and restaurant if you need a few more drams to help decide which is your favourite. ■ SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT Horse Wynd, 0800 092 7500, scottish. parliament.uk Opening hours vary according to whether Parliament is in session, see website for details. Free. See Spanish architect Enric Miralles’ magnificent (and controversial) Holyrood building, take a tour of the interior, sit in on a debate or look at the artwork on display.
■ SCOTT MONUMENT Princes Street Gardens East, 529 4068, edinburghmuseums.org.uk Mon–Sat 9am–4pm, Sun 10am–6pm until Sun 31 Mar; from Mon 1 Apr Mon–Sat 10am–7pm, Sun 10am–6pm. £3. Commemorating Sir Walter Scott, this is the largest monument of any writer in the world. Take all 287 steps to the top for a great view of the city, and occasional exhibitions.
■ SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE AND JOHN KNOX HOUSE 43–45 High Street, 556 9579, scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk. Mon–Sat 10am–6pm. Free entry to SSC; John Knox House £4.25 (£3.75; children £1; under 7s free). A stylish contemporary building appended to the 15th-century home of Protestant reformer John Knox, housing materials relating to Scotland’s rich oral culture.
■ SURGEONS’ HALL MUSEUM Nicolson Street, 527 1649, museum. rcsed.ac.uk Mon–Fri noon–4pm, closed Sat & Sun until Sun 31 Mar; from Mon 1 Apr daily 10am–5pm. £5 (£3). Home to permanent collections on pathological anatomy, the history of surgery and dentistry, as well as temporary exhibitions, talks and, occasionally, gruesome hands-on events.