Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Aberdeen Maritime Museum
4.5
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Aberdeen has long prospered off of sea-based industries, from the boom of the city's fishing industry in the early 20th century to its oil industry today; this museum explores the historic developments behind the city's maritime industries.
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  • Jacqui C
    Inverness, United Kingdom651 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Maritime Museum!
    What a gem! Firstly, it was free, donations accepted. We took the lift to the top floor and worked our way around the museum and down the circular stairs! Learning about the very interesting history of Aberdeen, from fishing port to oil over the centuries, with many interactive features. Staff on each floor to assist with enquiries, we spent a very enjoyable 1.5 hours on a damp Thursday morning in March. Definitely worth a visit.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 16, 2024
  • Cara M
    Scotland, United Kingdom24 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fact-filled, friendly and free!
    Great for a free family outing. Overlooking the harbour and close to rail and bus station, it is situated on the history-steeped Shiprow. Well laid out, with masses of information about the history, importance and influence of Aberdeen's past, present and its gateway to the future. The staff were all so helpful and friendly. The shop is a treasure trove of all things sea-related and a challenge to resist, I loved it.
    Thank you for your brilliant review. The Maritime Shop is definitely hard to resist!
    Written April 1, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 24, 2024
  • Helen D
    161 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent maritime museum
    Excellent maritime museum. Brilliant museum that covers a huge range of maritime topics. It has an interesting layout that makes the experience feel more authentic. A great way to spend a few hours on a rainy day!
    Thank you for your great review, it's appreciated.
    Written May 29, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 27, 2024
  • ZoZo
    16 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Surprising gem of a museum - brilliant!
    Confess I originally only went as had some spare time, it was free to enter and out of the rain - well it was absolutely fascinating! So pleased I went, arranged over multiple floors using wide variety of media, with some separate exhibition rooms almost hidden away. There are v interesting exhibits covering topics on life boats & rescue, fishing industry, oil&gas, boat design, historical figures etc Brilliant. It doesn’t have a cafe.
    Thank you for your great review. We're glad you enjoyed your visit.
    Written August 1, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written July 24, 2024
  • Andrew B
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent Museum
    Having visited Aberdeen many times this was my first visit to this museum. What a great place! The history of Aberdeen and the sea is well-known and this builds on that and covers all aspects including fishing and oil. The layout is good and the information given fascinating. A must see!
    Thank you for your positive review. We hope you'll visit us again soon.
    Written September 2, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written August 31, 2024
  • Sharon M
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Maritime Museum a Key to Understanding Aberdeen as a Seaport
    The museum is an excellent start to a visit to Aberdeen. Its location allows a view of the busy harbor just outside and explains what type of ships are there. The 3story offshore oil rig and the video made by the workers both give visitors an in-depth look at the safe operations on a rig. This is an important first stop in understanding the importance of sea operations to the city.
    Thank you for your review, we're glad that you enjoyed your visit.
    Written October 2, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited September 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written September 27, 2024
  • ShineBright7
    Edinburgh, United Kingdom18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very pleasantly surprised at the superb curation and content of this Museum
    Genuinely enjoyed the visit and didn't expect to spend as much dwell time learning about Aberdeen's maritime history and people. The exhibits are mainly housed in the 16th-century Provost Ross’s House and also a sleek modern design link building. Worth a visit if you are ever in the area and it's FREE! Only suggestion for improvement would be to increase the sound level of the film in the Education Suite as it was too low and people dropping in/out drowned out the voice-over and maybe stock a book about Thomas Blake Glover in the Shop.
    Thank you for visiting Aberdeen Maritime Museum and for your great review. We're glad you enjoyed your time with us.
    Written November 7, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited October 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 31, 2024
  • Nica2510
    Rome, Italy38 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit
    A free museum, inside it presents an exhibition ranging from diving suits to the reconstruction of a cabin of a historic British ship on various finds of the time! Really a nice experience to get in touch with life then! I recommend it
    Thank you for your review. We really appreciate it.
    Written December 16, 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 10, 2024
  • Meghann J
    Montrose, United Kingdom297 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very interesting local history!
    A really interesting museum dedicated to Aberdeen’s most lucrative industry-all things maritime! The museum starts right back in the 12th century when Aberdeen was first made a royal burgh and travels right up to recent times, exploring the shipbuilding industry, the fishing/trawling industry, trade and of course, the oil and gas industry. It also discusses the development of the port/harbour and how it has changed and developed over the centuries to accommodate Aberdeen’s changing industries and ever increasing business. The museum also delivers some social history, touching on the lives of the people involved in these industries. I would say that the museum is a little heavy on the oil and gas side of things which although to me was unsurprising, does seem to have attracted some criticism in other reviews, so just a heads up. My husband and I spent a good couple of hours exploring the museum and the free entry and nice staff made it all the better! There’s also a nice wee gift shop. All in all I found the museum a very enjoyable experience and would recommend.
    Thank you for your great review of Aberdeen Maritime Museum. We're glad you enjoyed your visit.
    Written January 26, 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited January 2025
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 21, 2025
  • profjoypc
    Alnwick, United Kingdom4,636 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Extremely good museum with so much to learn about life at sea
    We were hugely impressed with this museum and learnt so much about life off-shore and the oil drilling industry as well as so many other aspects of life at sea. It is beautifully laid out and a must for anyone interested in such subjects. The amount of information provided is excellent and so well laid out. We were delighted with all we saw and learnt and no entry fee.
    Visited February 2025
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 10, 2025
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,903 reviews
Excellent
1,201
Very good
584
Average
100
Poor
12
Terrible
6

Rafick E
Croydon, UK365 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021
Visited on a Sunday morning with a friend at the end of September 2021. The museum is easy to find, quite near the middle of Aberdeen overlooking part of the port. The museum is free which is very good, on arrival you have to check in with reception to complete Scotland's track and trace online form, this form is quick and easy to complete or done via the app if you are a Scottish resident. There is a café downstairs but it was closed and believe it has been for a while due to COVID. In the center of the museum and viewable form all floors is a model oil rig. I believe it is over around 3 floors, it does have a lift. There are a lot of exhibits big and small. Lots of models and loads of paintings. There are a few gallery rooms off from the main part of the museum. The museum goes in time from the beginning of Aberdeen's maritime history on the lower floors to modern maritime information on the top floor. There are lots of descriptions and information but it is not an overwhelming amount of information, there are a few interactive exhibits which were good as well. Some of the exhibits did have descriptions which had very small writing which could be difficult to view.
Overall a great place to visit to learn about the maritime history of Aberdeen and especially good as it is free.
Written October 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your feedback! We are so glad to hear you enjoyed your visit. We hope to see you again in the future!
Written November 9, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Roger G
Casuarina, Australia72 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022 • Solo
Great way to learn the history of Aberdeen. Easy to follow starting at the top and working Dow then the early days of the city thru it’s fishing history, shipbuilding , oil discovery and production to its modern day industries.
Worth taking the time to watch both the small film to the main film on the story of the area.
Written September 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your feedback. We hope you learned something new about Aberdeen's maritime history and we hope to 'sea' you again!
Written October 4, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jean W
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Solo
There is so much here to see and learn about ship building, fishing and the oil industry. The Aberdeen Maritime Museum is an amazing building with a wide variety of interesting exhibits. The model of an oil rig takes centre stage and is totally fascinating. You can easily enjoy an hour or two in the Museum.
Written November 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review, glad you enjoyed your visit!
Written May 5, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Leigh H
Glasgow, UK31 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2025 • Couples
Very disappointing visit, I understand it’s located in an old building but it’s not very disabled and wheelchair accessible, approx 70% of the museum is not disabled accessible. They could improve it by putting removal ramps into some of the rooms. Definitely would not recommend if you have any disabilities.
Written February 1, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. While we are able to provide access to our collections over three floors in the modern addition to Aberdeen Maritime Museum, we appreciate that access to sections of Provost Ross House, dating from 1593, are not accessible for wheelchairs.
Written February 3, 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

George K
Aberdeen, UK103 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021
A rather rambling, but interesting museum giving insight into the oil and fishing industries based in the city. Plenty models and plans of different ships for visitors with an interest in engineering. Fascinating display of modern diving equipment and an interactive model of a submersible vehicle in a tank. Great fun.

The museum overlooks part of the harbour and a useful display explains about the different oil rig support vessels that operate from there.

Like many places, you needed to 'sign in', mostly using a 'smart phone'. I don't possess a phone, and it almost seemed like a great inconvenience to the receptionist to have to check me in manually. Nevertheless, it was a worthwhile visit.
Written September 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your feedback! We hope to see you again in the future!
Written November 9, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Pritesh M
Leamington Spa, UK742 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Off set from the main road, and behind the main streets, this massive museum is a place to visit. But make sure you have time. We "popped" in twice over the week as we wanted to see all the elements. However, both times we were time restricted. There are two elements, the modern day in the modern side and the historic side shows the heritage.

Very informative, but could do with having maybe some more interactive items for the younger children. However, my two teenage daughters enjoyed and there are some interesting videos. I would like to finish the visit but unsure when I will get a chance.

Definitely worth a visit with the family.
Written August 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

empathology
Rotterdam, The Netherlands617 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
Aberdeens maritime history is extensive and this museum does it proud. From very early fishing to todays oil industry, it's all here with lots of well-described exhibits and plenty of kid-friendly stuff too. It's not as large as some maritime museums but it is in the city centre so easy to get too. And free!
Written August 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review, glad you enjoyed your visit!
Written September 1, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

celia n
Lyon, France90 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
We enjoy a lot this museum, especially the part about oil extracting, a very current issue. I have never seen those kind of explanations elsewhere apart in documentaries. Thus staff is friendly, building and spaces are beautiful and convenient. What a good moment!
Written August 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review, glad you enjoyed your visit!
Written September 1, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

GailSlocombe
Brisbane, Australia22 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
This is a stunning gallery and gives a very good overview of life on an oil rig. I learned a lot about the issues surrounding oil exploration and the decommissioning of rigs. The videos are really well done. Lots of other things to see and the special house next door is good to visit. They have combined the two parts very well.
Written July 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the great review, we are delighted to hear you enjoyed your visit.
Written July 14, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

James W
Glasgow, United Kingdom70 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
This was a "filler" while in Aberdeen for a few days. It is quite cramped but full of interest things especially the exhibits about North Sea Oil - a huge model of a rig (three floor high) and videos. Ask for a token if you are parked in the NCP car park over the road and you will get a very large reduction in parking charge.
The cafe is a good "pit stop" with fresh snacks and light meals.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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