Montrose Museum: What to See, Opening Hours and How to Visit
Looking for free things to do in Montrose? Montrose Museum and Art Gallery offers an introduction to the town’s history, from ancient carved stones to Scottish rebellions and its seafaring past. Add changing art exhibitions and a handsome historic building, and you have a rewarding stop on a day trip to this Angus coastal town.
Must-see sights at Montrose Museum
1. The Greek-inspired museum building
Start your visit outside. Opened in 1842, Montrose Museum is one of Scotland’s earliest purpose-built museums.
2. The Inchbrayock Pictish cross-slab
This carved sandstone stone is a highlight for anyone interested in Pictish stones in Angus. Discovered in the burial ground at nearby Inchbraoch, also known as Rossie Island, in 1849, it features carvings on both sides.
3. Bronze Age archaeology
The collection includes Bronze Age swords and Pictish stones, offering a glimpse of the area’s early inhabitants.
4. The Marquis of Montrose and maritime collections
Explore displays about the Marquis of Montrose, the Jacobite uprisings and the town’s seafaring heritage.
5. Natural history and changing exhibitions
Include the Natural History Gallery in your visit, then browse the current art exhibition. The gallery programme includes community exhibitions and works from Angus Council’s collections. What is displayed changes throughout the year. The Natural History Gallery is accessible only by stairs.
6. Napoleon death mask
Look for hollow-cast plaster copy of Napoleon Bonaparte’s death mask, considered one of the finest known casts.
It was presented to the Montrose Natural History and Antiquarian Society in 1839 (18 years after Napoleon’s death in 1821) and was authenticated in 2007 by Dr. Robert Prescott of St. Andrews University.
A special highlight for autumn 2026
Tartan & Turmoil: The Angus Jacobite Story runs from 17 July to 23 November 2026.
Look for a reunited pair of late-17th-century pistols made by Montrose gunmaker and goldsmith William Lyndsay the Elder. Their floral engraving and silver mounts reveal impressive craftsmanship. One pistol is on loan from National Museums Scotland.
The exhibition also includes letters, everyday objects and treasures once owned by Stuart kings, exploring Angus’s involvement in the Jacobite cause.
Montrose Museum address and contact details
Address: Montrose Museum, Panmure Place, Montrose, Angus, DD10 8HF
Telephone: 01674 907447
Email: MontroseMuseum@angusalive.scot
The museum is in the Mid Links area, behind the High Street and opposite Montrose Academy.
Opening hours and admission
Admission is free.
1 April–31 October
Wednesday–Monday; closed Tuesday
10.30am–4pm
1 November–31 March
Friday–Monday; closed Tuesday–Thursday
10.30am–4pm
Check public holiday arrangements before travelling.
How to get to Montrose Museum
By train:
Montrose station is on Basin View, on the Glasgow and Edinburgh–Dundee–Aberdeen timetable; check your journey for the travel date. The museum is approximately a ten-minute walk from the station. Plan your train journey
By bus:
The X7 Coastrider connects Dundee, Arbroath, Montrose, Stonehaven and Aberdeen. Get off on Montrose High Street and allow around five to ten minutes to walk to the museum. Check up to date travel information here.
By car:
Use postcode DD10 8HF. Baltic Street is the nearest car park; council off-street parking charges apply. A disabled parking space is outside on Museum Street.
Accessibility and planning your visit
There is an entrance ramp and a lift to the first-floor mezzanine. The stair-only Natural History Gallery has a large-print visual guide available. Accessible toilets and assisted hearing facilities are listed.
Be the first to comment