Paisley Museum
8 minute walk from Paisley Gilmour Street station · Glasgow and West Central
Paisley Museum is a historic institution in Scotland gifted to the town by industrialist Sir Peter Coats in 1871. Designed by architect John Honeyman, the building is currently undergoing a major transformation to become an international-class destination centered on Paisley's unique heritage.
The museum is home to one of Scotland’s largest municipal art collections, featuring works by the Glasgow School and contemporary local artists. It is also famous for the Arbuthnott Missal, a rare pre-Reformation liturgical book. Visitors can explore a diverse range of displays, from Ancient Egyptian archaeology to extensive natural history collections.
Upon reopening, you can discover the town’s significant textile history, including the famous luxury shawl industry. You can even see a traditional hand loom in action, recreating the historic weaving process on site. The museum is due to reopen its doors to the public at the start of 2027.
Visitor information
- Place type
- Museum
- Good for
- Art & galleries, Museums, Science & discovery, Textile art
- Characteristics
- Nationally significant, Victorian
- Admission
- Free
- Region
- Glasgow and West Central
Stations within walking distance
- Paisley Gilmour Street station — 8 min walk, 0.6 km
- Paisley Canal station — 12 min walk, 1.0 km
- Paisley St James station — 18 min walk, 1.5 km
- Hawkhead station — 27 min walk, 2.2 km
Other places near Paisley Gilmour Street
- Paisley Central Library — 4 min walk from the station
- Paisley Abbey — 5 min walk from the station
- Fountain Gardens — 7 min walk from the station
- Sma' Shot Cottages — 8 min walk from the station
- Thomas Coats Memorial Church — 9 min walk from the station
- Paisly Thread Mill Museum — 15 min walk from the station