Discover Perth: history, art and nature

For a stay in Perth, you can choose from several distinct themes: Scottish history, art collections, gardens and woodland trails. Each place has a different focus. You can plan your visit around whether you would rather explore historical symbols and institutions, plants and landscapes, or an art collection and an art trail.

History and heritage

The Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, is housed at Perth Museum. It is an ancient symbol of the Scottish monarchy and kingdom. The museum also explores 10,000 years of Scottish and world history, placing Perth and Kinross at the heart of Scotland's story. Its historical focus therefore ranges from a specific symbol to a broad timespan and geographical scope. If you would also like to view Perth in the context of Scotland's history, the museum is a natural starting point.

The Black Watch Castle and Museum offers a different historical perspective. It explores more than 300 years of The Black Watch's military history, from its formation in 1739 to its amalgamation in 2006. These two dates give the subject a clear timeframe. Unlike the broad historical scope of Perth Museum, the focus here is explicitly on the military history of The Black Watch.

Art and a family area

Perth Art Gallery houses one of the oldest public art collections in the United Kingdom. For art-loving travellers, the emphasis is on a collection with a long history and a public character. It also has Hands on Art, a dedicated interactive and playful area for families with children. This offers a different way to engage than viewing a collection: families can include the area as a separate activity in their plans. As programmes may change, check the latest information about Hands on Art before your visit.

Woodland, trees and gardens

Trails on Kinnoull Hill wind through mature beech and pine forests. The trails are suitable for family outings and picnics. The hill is also home to an arboretum, or tree collection. Kinnoull Hill therefore offers both trails and woodland, as well as a collection of trees. This helps you choose the place according to your interests: as a destination for a family outing or as a spot with a botanical focus.

Branklyn Garden is home to several National Collections of plants, including collections of Meconopsis and Cassiope. The plant names offer a specific guide if you would like to choose a garden visit based on your botanical interests. Unlike the woodland and arboretum on Kinnoull Hill, the focus here is on designated plant collections.

Art trail in the city centre

The River Tay Public Art Trail offers another way to experience art in Perth. It starts and ends in the city centre and is wheelchair accessible. This sets it apart from a visit to Perth Art Gallery: here, you can explore public art along a route whose two endpoints are both in the city centre. Accessibility is also a practical consideration for your planning.

Perth Museum and The Black Watch Castle and Museum have different historical focuses; Perth Art Gallery and the River Tay Public Art Trail differ in their focus on a collection and a route. For plant-related interests, options range from the National Collections at Branklyn Garden to the arboretum and tree species on Kinnoull Hill. These differences can help you prioritise themes for your stay without treating the various places as equivalent offerings.

Discover more destinations: Kinross, Comrie, Kinfauns, Glendevon, Scone, Braco, Ochtertyre, Blairgowrie and Rattray

For the broader travel overview: Perth And Kinross.