Family Day Out Review: Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Ayr

We recently spent a week in Scotland, visiting family as well as spending time with friends in Ayr,  a town situated in Ayshire on the Southwest Coast of Scotland.

We enjoyed our time in the caravan park as there was so much to do there, but we still wanted to do a little bit of sightseeing in Ayr.  We found out that National Trust Members (in England) are able to use their membership card when visiting National Trust for Scotland properties (and vice versa) due to a special arrangement so we decided to visit Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

Robert Burns (or Rabbie Burns) is a famous Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and you would have read his poems or sang his songs. One of the famous works would have to be ‘Auld Lang Syne’ which is  still sung on New Year’s Eve. 

Cared for by the National Trust for Scotland , The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is a great family friendly place to visit where you would get the chance to visit the humble cottage in Alloway where Robert Burns was born and spent the first years of his life, explore the museum which houses more than 5,000 Burns artefacts including his handwritten manuscripts, follow in Tam o’ Shanter’s footsteps to atmospheric Alloway Auld Kirk and over the Brig o’ Doon, visit the Monument where Burns tourism began back in 1823 as well as enjoy the children’s play area and café.

So keep on reading to discover more about our day out to this wonderful location.

We could not have picked a better week to visit Ayshire as the weather was just stunning! We arrived early at the museum and the first thing our children did was to run to the Burns-themed play area, Scots Wa-Hey.

Situation next to the cafe, it is the perfect place for kids to relax and play in the mini Burns Cottage, Tam o’ Shanter zip wire, Witches’ Cauldron roundabout and Auld Kirk climbing wall.  There are lots of creative use of Scots language throughout so a great way for little ones to pick up the language as well.

The museum is a self-guided space where visitor’s can take a leisurely walk as they explore the work, life and legacy of Burns.  Our children were also kept entertained by various interactive games, quizzes as well as hands-on activities. My favourite was when I had the opportunity to hear Robert Burns’s iconic songs sung so beautifully via the audio aid.

Fans of Robert Burns will get the opportunity to see the collection of Burns artefacts and works in their interactive museum, and visit the humble cottage where he was born and raised.

There are more than 5,000 Burns artefacts including his handwritten manuscripts which you can see (above). Do note to preserve these original manuscripts, the museum is kept in the dark to protect it from light and stop the ink on the manuscripts fading.  So you may find the museum a little dark and underlit.

What did we think of Robert Burns Birthplace Museum?

We often visit museums when we travel as we would like our children to learn a bit of history of the place or famous person from the area.

Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is very family-friendly as it kept my children interested, thanks to its various hands-on and interactive activities which held their attention as they learnt more about Robert Burns.  

We spent a few good hours at the museum but I think you could easily spend a whole day there, there is just so much to see and do there from looking at Burns’s portable writing kit, to finding a lock of his hair. After our visit to the museum, we continued on foot to admire the flowers in the garden before we made our way to the monument.

We did not have the opportunity to visit Burns Cottage where Robert was born in 1759 or the Alloway Auld Kirk (old church) but we did get the chance to visit Burns Monument, Alloway’s classically styled tribute to Robert, set in beautiful commemorative garden.

The monument was set up 20 years after Burns’s death and the result is this 21m (70ft) high Grecian-style temple, designed by Sir Thomas Hamilton Junior and complete with nine pillars representing muses from Greek mythology.

We climbed up the monument staircase to enjoy the lovely views of Alloway. Our children then continued to Brig o’ Doon which has been immortalised in Burns’s poem Tam o’ Shanter.

We were lucky to have been able to use our National Trust membership card so did not have to pay any additional fees. We could have easily spent a day here if we were not short of time.

A splendid place to head to for adults who have always admired Robert Burns or for those with young children.  Their café serves delicious hot food and cakes and you have a choice to sit inside or outside when the weather is nice. Dogs on leads are also welcomed in the garden area.

How much are the tickets?

Tickets give access to the museum and Burns Cottage. Adult Tickets cost £11.50 while a family ticket costs £27. Concession tickets cost £8.50. Members of National Trust (England) and National Trust for Scotland go FREE.  You can buy tickets at Burns Cottage and at the main museum on Murdoch’s Lone. The two sites are connected by a pedestrian walkway called the Poet’s Path.

What are their Opening Hours?

Where is Robert Burns Birthplace Museum?

Alloway
Ayr
KA7 4PQ
01292 443700
burns@nts.org.uk

FAQ

• The two main sites (Burns Cottage and the museum) are connected by the Poet’s Path, a 500m pedestrian walkway. On busier days, volunteers run a regular electric shuttle along it.

• They offer accessible openings on the first Tuesday of every month from 3–5pm. Robert Burns Birthplace Museum’s  interactive screens and sound effects will be switched off and cleaning lights will be switched on. The sound effects at Burns Cottage will also be switched off.

About Robert Burns

Robert Burns, also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide.

About National Trust for Scotland

They are an independent charity that protects and shares some of the country’s most precious historic places and natural landscapes on behalf of the people of Scotland. With over 300,000 members they’re also the largest membership organisation in Scotland.

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