DK Travel : Scotland : History & Culture

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Melrose Abbey

The tall lancet windows of this impressive ruin must have appeared miraculous to medieval worshippers. And today, it’s hard to believe that such monuments could have been built as early as 1136. Over the centuries, the abbey succumbed to pillage and war damage, and now stands as a beleaguered but romantic spot for the ghost of Robert the Bruce (see North and West of Glasgow) , whose heart is believed to reside within these grounds.
Museum of Transport

Bicycles, cars, lorries, buses, trains, fire engines … hundreds and hundreds of everything on wheels in acres of gleaming metal-work. You can walk through or climb into the larger vehicles, or sit in an original Glasgow tram. Upstairs are 250 model ships illustrating the story of Clyde shipbuilding. Watch out for the penny on the cobbles of the re-created 1938 shopping street – but don’t try to pick it up, or you could be there all day.
National Gallery of Scotland

Scotland’s leading gallery includes masterpieces by the great Scottish artists, such as Raeburn and Ramsay, but is best known for its 15th- to 18th-century British and European paintings. In these collections, you’ll find works by Botticelli, Velazquez, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian and many more besides (see National Gallery of Scotland) .
New Lanark

In 1820, at the height of the Industrial Revolution, factory owner Robert Owen recognized the need for safe and efficient working conditions, matched by good quality housing for his workers. New Lanark was the result, a modern industrial town that also boasted an education system (including the world’s first nursery school) and free healthcare. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this living museum is still pioneering.
New Town

The New Town was the first daring adventure into planned architecture at a time of sordid living conditions for the masses. Begun in 1776, these beautifully proportioned buildings, set out in wide streets, crescents and squares, have lost none of their grandeur. The best place to start your walking tour is at the Georgian House, a restored mansion in Charlotte Square. Otherwise just wander wherever your eye is drawn.
Our Dynamic Earth

Every bit as exciting and illuminating for adults as it is for kids, Our Dynamic Earth takes you on a journey through time from the Big Bang to the present. Amid this rapid evolution, environmental concerns are brought to the fore (see Our Dynamic Earth) .
Penicillin: Alexander Fleming (1881–1955)

In 1928, a chance observation of a mould culture redirected Fleming’s experimentation with antibiotics and led to his discovery of penicillin.
People’s Palace

Typically Glaswegian, this is a museum of ordinary life. Nothing fancy or outstandingly old, but a fascinating insight into how the average family lived, worked and played in the not-so-distant past. The Winter Gardens are connected to the museum and make a tranquil spot to rearrange your thoughts.
Perth

The “Fair City”, as it is known, is attractively situated on the tree-lined River Tay. Despite a complicated oneway system, its streets are a delight of smalltime shops, and it is one of Scotland’s prime spots for browsing and buying. Though it does not boast any notable historical buildings itself, Perth makes a great centre for touring many others found within a short drive. A lovely walk takes you up to a folly on Kinnoull Hill and from here the views are stupendous.
Pitlochry

This tartan-and-tweed town has a long history of serving visitors. Its proximity to Perthshire’s beauty spots and sporting estates was the original draw, but now it boasts a fine theatre, as well as a fish ladder, where salmon leap up a series of pools to reach their spawning grounds. A perfect introduction to the joys of Scotland.