Aberdeenshire Museums Service Discovery Centre

Aberdeenshire

Aberdeenshire Museums Service, part of Live Life Aberdeenshire, cares for and manages the historic and artistic collections owned by Aberdeenshire Council. The Service currently operates two museums in Aberdeenshire, Banchory Museum and the Aberdeenshire Farming Museum at Aden Country Park. The collections which are not currently on display at these venues are kept at this state-of-the-art museum storage facility. 

The building also houses the conservation labs, walk-in freezer, photo studio, and staff offices.  The Museum Service currently looks after more than 250,000 objects ranging from social history, natural history, archaeology, photographic collections and more. Our Doors Open Day tour will showcase this facility and give visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the work we do and the wonderful artefacts in our care.

Aberdeenshire Museums Service is currently working on developing a new museum of Aberdeenshire in Peterhead, opening 2027. Part of the successful “Cultural Tides” Levelling Up bid to UK government, the new museum will feature treasures from across Aberdeenshire and thematically tie together our area through the idea of Cultural Connections, both within Aberdeenshire and through Aberdeenshire’s connections to other parts of the world such as the Baltic, North America, and Africa. 

Visits by pre-booked guided tour only. Museum staff will take visitors on a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility. Please note all personal belongings and jackets must be left in our secure storage area before beginning the tour. Please leave valuables at home/in your vehicle.
Tours last 60 minutes starting every half hour. Tour times: 11am, 11:30am, 12pm, 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm, 2:30pm, 3pm, 3:30pm
To book email: museums@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or phone 01467 536544.

Facilities

• WC
• Disabled WC
• Disabled Access
• Parking