The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

This may seem like a small museum for many, but I spent two hours here and could have doubled that time. There is so much history and so many artifacts that are worth viewing. The entry was free, but I recommend dropping a bit into the donation box. This museum is chock full of Scottish history, I loved that the casket (small silver box for letters) belonging to my ancestor, Mary, Queen of Scots, was on display during my visit. The dollhouse was also a big plus for me. The Scottish history, of course, is heartbreaking. The bravery of those who stepped up deserve to have their stories told. The cafe and gift shop are charming. The staff? Just pure Scottish sweetness! If you exit the museum and turn right, you will walk upon a beautiful view of Stirling castle. I definitely recommend visiting this museum. ❤️

Great little Museum with a temporary Mary Queen of Scots Exhibit in 2025. Cafe has great cakes but if you know the difference between a latte and milky coffee best order tea. When I took my latte back explaining it had been overheated, they offered me cold milk 😉

I live in Stirling, and I have walked past the gallery hundreds of times, going back and forth to the golf club. Thankfully, I decided to go inside to view the history of not just Stirling but also various parts of Scotland. It was well worth the visit not just for the historical side of it but also the art work, and the tiger dressed up in "Tunnocks" tea cake rappings. They also have a lecture room that could be worth exploring, the cafe is also worth a visit.

We checked both the website and Google opening hours to time our visit, and everything indicated it would be open. However, when we arrived on Wednesday 31st December at 10:30am, the place was closed. There were no notices on the door to explain whether it was opening later or closed for the day. We also tried calling, but only reached an answering machine. Disappointing experience, especially after planning our visit around the stated hours. Have rated low for poor customer focus

Art work displayed nicely. An interesting temp exhibit on Sudan. Cafe looked enticing though didn't try it. The rest of the museum is focused on "The Stirling Story". Could probably do with a bit of a revamp and prune, felt a bit chaotic and dusty.

Beautiful building but the rear museum section needs a serious revamp. Some really interesting exhibits but the layout and lighting is very poor.

Very interesting place to visit because it is an art gallery and museum. Some really interesting items from Stirling's history. Staff were very friendly and helpful. The cafe was lovely with very tasty cakes plus they also do meals for breakfast and lunch. Toilets were clean and tidy. Free parking onsite.

The staff were kind and informative. Loved the walk around. Well worth a visit. The children were making lovely autumn lanterns. Has a nice cafe and free parking

Almost four years in Stirling and I've only just visited this place. Thoroughly ashamed! Whilst I'd heard a little about the museum, it seemed a little out of the way from the city centre. (It's not, it's a five minute walk from the Albert Halls and ten from the castle!) Today was a fleeting but entertaining day at the museum, with a quick caffeine stop at the cafe and a whisk around the museum. The building itself is large and historical. It's certainly nice to look at and has a traditional museum feel without seeming out-dated. We were headed straight for the cafe to start when we were welcomed by a friendly cat. - Yes, a cat! Not just any cat but Oswald, the museum's resident cat! Yes, he actually lives there! He would often pop in to the museum when he lived nearby and when his owner's moved, Oswald got so sad that they brought him back to where he truly belonged. - The museum! Talk about a welcome! Purr! The cafe makes for a pleasant stop for tea and coffee and service was fast and friendly. I can't comment on the food since I didn't eat but the cakes looked lovely and they even had a few gluten free options available. There's also some small replica war-time recipe/ration/sewing guide books for sale by the cafe which are cheap and kitsch. They certainly caught my eye! Whilst we didn't have a great deal of time to wander round the museum itself on this occasion, everything we laid eyes on was interesting. I particularly liked the old Stirling cinema chairs and posters. I'd definitely like to spend some more time in here and soak it all in a bit more. I especially love the fact that they feature local artists! Staff were so welcoming and knowledgeable, telling us the history of the museum and the story of Oswald the cat. With free admission, it's definitely worth a visit if you're in Stirling. If only to meet Oswald!

Although the Museum is quite messy (there's lot of pieces everywhere), you end up undestanding the whole history Stirling, its most important people and the legends. The best thing of the Museum is its staff. They are very helpful and friendly. Even one of them offered himself to guide us through the exhibition. I will return to the Museum to visit it again, even though it doesn't have Free Wifi....

The Smith Art Gallery is not what you would expect. It isn't a posh Art Gallery, it has exhibitions that are aimed at people from all walks of life. They have had exhibitions about Stirling history, Scottish history, Dr Who and many others. An exhibition of Da Vinci paintings has just finished and now they have gone on to exhibit work by 4 local artists. There is a permanent exhibit on Stirling history that is fantastic and even locals can learn about where they live. One of the oldest footballs in the world is on display in the Smith - having been found in Stirling Castle. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and are also very helpful. There is also a cafe area inside the Smith which is a nice place to take a break if you are visiting the sights of Stirling. The Smith is one of the many stops on the Open Top bus tour. A must see at the Smith is the garden out back. It is a fantastic garden area that has many things to keep both adults and children happy. There is a willow tunnel, a xylophone (great fun), a storytelling circle, a chess/draughts board and a picnic area. It is a fantastic place to sit on a lovely sunny summers day, worth visiting the Smith just to see the garden.

Terrific place to learn about Stirling and Scottish history whether you live there or not! Staff are ultra friendly and knowledgeable, definitely put this on your to-do list.