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Greater Glasgow & The Clyde Valley

National Museum of Rural Life

Explore life in the countryside at a historic working farm and museum
A brown and white cow stands right behind a red tractor in a grassy field.
Overview

  • Experience the combination of a museum and a historical working farm in a beautiful countryside setting.

  • Step back in time and explore the transition from farming with horses to motorised vehicles.

  • Get up close to an array of farm animals, including Clydesdale horses.

Today's Opening Hours

Museum
10.00–17.00
See full opening times

Entry prices

Adult
£10.00
Concession
£9.00
Child (under 5s free)
£7.00
See all entry prices

Membership

At all Trust places, admission is free for members.

Join from £5.20 / month
  • A young woman looks at a model of an old ploughing cart in a museum.

    Discover Scotland’s rural history in the museum | Image © Wattie Cheung

  • Man feeding Clydesdale horse

    The working farm is home to Clydesdale horses | Image © Ruth Armstrong Photography

  • A red tractor stands on a display board in front of the National Museum of Rural Life

    The museum houses Scotland’s largest collection of tractors, combine harvesters and other farming machinery | Image © Wattie Cheung

  • A mother sow and piglet

    See Tamworth pigs at the farm, as well as cows, sheep, horses and hens | Image © National Museums Scotland

  • A bird's-eye view of a Georgian-style farmhouse kitchen.

    Visit the Georgian farmhouse with rooms decorated as they would have been in the 1950s | Image © National Museums Scotland

  • A family walk across a farmyard towards the camera. Two young children in bright yellow coats run ahead.

    Explore the farm steading | Image © Ruth Armstrong Photography

About this place

On the working farm of Wester Kittochside you’ll find this living tribute to Scottish farming life.

Set amid rolling South Lanarkshire countryside, yet only 8 miles from Glasgow city centre and easily reached by car or bus, the award-winning National Museum of Rural Life is a popular family attraction.

Visit the working farm, home to Ayrshire, Aberdeen Angus and Highland cattle, Tamworth pigs, sheep, hens, and Clydesdale horses. Meet the animals, then visit the Georgian farmhouse where Lanarkshire’s Reid family lived for 10 generations. See rooms decorated as they would have been in the 1950s and explore the bothy, outbuildings and kitchen garden.

In the museum – just a short walk or tractor-trailer ride away from the farm – discover 300 years of Scottish rural history and see Scotland’s largest collection of tractors, combine harvesters and other farming machinery.

This property is a unique partnership between the National Trust for Scotland and National Museums Scotland.

National Trust for Scotland members are encouraged to book a free entry ticket online in advance of their visit.

For bookings and more information please visit nms.ac.uk/rural

Our accreditations and awards

  • 5 Star Visitor Attraction
  • Green Tourism Gold

Helpful links

National Museums Scotland

External

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