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Renfrewshire Community Plan 2008 - 2017 Paisley Museum
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Paisley Museum opened in 1871. The building was designed by the well-known Glasgow architect John Honeyman and was paid for by Sir Peter Coats of the famous Coats thread manufacturing family.
We house a wealth of treasures, from Ancient Egyptian artefacts to reminders of our industrial past and our natural heritage.
Among our treasures, pride of place goes to The Arbuthnott Missal and our unique textile collection. The Paisley Shawl Collection cared for by Renfrewshire Arts and Museums Service is a Recognised Collection of National Significance to Scotland.
We house a wealth of treasures, from Ancient Egyptian artefacts to reminders of our industrial past and our natural heritage.
Among our treasures, pride of place goes to The Arbuthnott Missal and our unique textile collection. The Paisley Shawl Collection cared for by Renfrewshire Arts and Museums Service is a Recognised Collection of National Significance to Scotland.
Admission to Paisley Museum is free.
More information about our collections. At Paisley Museum you'll also find the Art Galleries and the Coats Observatory, one of only four public observatories in the country.
Getting there
The venue is easily accessible via public transport, and is only a five minute walk from Paisley Gilmour Street Station, just ten minutes by regular rail service from Glasgow Central Station.
You can plan your journey simply by using the Traveline Scotland website
Exhibitions and displays
We organise a year-round programme of varied temporary exhibitions, please check the What's On section. Only a small proportion of our collections can be on display at any one time, if there is something you'd like to arrange to see please contact our curatorial team.
Collections
Renfrewshire Arts and Museums care for collections including a wealth of treasures, from Ancient Egyptian artefacts to reminders of our industrial past and our natural heritage. Among our collections, pride of place goes to The Arbuthnott Missal and our unique Textile Collection. Find out more about the collections.
Education and events
We regularly organise free lunchtime talks and talks from Paisley Natural History Society, and we have dedicated teams of arts professionals and museum education specialists working to enrich our community.
Venue hire
If you are looking for a unique, cultural setting for an event then nothing can compare to Paisley Museum. The Lecture Hall and The Studio are perfect for receptions and buffets. In our Main Gallery, Scotland's eighth largest collection provides an impressive backdrop for your event. Link to further information and hire costs.
Paisley Museum welcomes all visitors
As the museum building is listed there are restrictions on modifications which can be made to the building, both internally and externally.
- There is level access to the museum through the side entrance, located beside the car park
- A lift on the ground floor gives access to the main museum gallery
- Wheelchair access is available to the temporary exhibition gallery and shawl gallery through the rear entrance to the museum - please contact a member of staff to arrange this.
Opening hours
- Tuesday - Saturday (and public holidays) 11am - 4pm
- Sunday 2pm - 5pm
Contact us
- email: ram.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk
- phone: 0141 887 1010 (information and box office)
- phone: 0141 889 3151 (Curators, Outreach and Cultural Co-ordinators, and shop)
- visit: High Street, Paisley PA1 2BA
