East Lothian Council Museums Service

East Lothian Council Museums Service East Lothian Council Museums Service is a small local-authority run service to the east of Edinburgh in Scotland.

All of our Museums are free to visit, although donations are welcome. Our museums have activities for families, exhibitions, a shop, and are wheelchair accessible. John Gray Centre, Haddington
The Museum tells the story of East Lothian from its earliest people to today, through displays, interactives, art pieces and a film. Families can enjoy dressing up, toys from the past, games, and even a smel

ly wall! The Museum is located upstairs on the 1st floor in the Centre. Summer Opening hours (April to September):
Monday to Friday - 10am - 5pm
Saturday, 10am - 4pm
Sunday, 1pm-4pm

Winter Hours (October to March):
Monday, Tuesday and Friday - 10am - 5pm
Saturday, 10am - 4pm
Sunday, 1pm-4pm
Closed Wednesday and Thursday

Free drop-in activities for families are available every Sunday afternoon from November to March

John Muir's Birthplace, Dunbar
The museum tells the story of John Muir, who was born in Dunbar, who went on to set up America's National Parks and change the way people viewed the environment. Over three floors, the building tells John's story through displays, touch-screen computers, a film and objects. On the top floor, families can enjoy the book corner and read stories about John. Summer Opening Hours (April to September):
Monday - Saturday, 10am-5pm
Sunday, 1pm-5pm

Winter Hours (October to March):
Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-5pm
Sunday, 1pm-5pm
Closed Monday and Tuesday

Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery
Experience Dunbar past and present in this wonderfully refurbished building. Brand new galleries explore the town's history and an airy exhibition space hosts both local history and local art exhibitions. Visitors can also take a guided tour around the building to find out more about its fascinating history. The Town House is run in partnership with Dunbar and District History Society and includes a rooms that can be booked for meetings, events and weddings. Summer Opening Hours (April to September):
Monday - Sunday, 1pm-5pm

Winter Hours (October to March):
Saturday and Sunday afternoons only courtesy of Dunbar and District History Society

Musselburgh Museum
Musselburgh Museum tells the story of the town from its earliest inhabitants to present day. It is operated in partnership between the Council and Musselburgh Museum and Heritage Group. The museum is now closed for the winter and will reopen in March 2015. Prestongrange Museum
A visitor centre and an open-air site of major importance in the story of Scotland's Industrial Revolution. Remnants of its former industries can still be seen, including the rare Hoffman Kiln built in 1937 and the Cornish Beam Engine, unique in Scotland as the only beam engine still on the site where it worked. Summer Opening Hours (April to September):
Monday - Sunday, 11:30am - 4:30pm

Winter Hours (October to March):
Closed

Coastal Communities Museum
This exciting new community museum is a fascinating exploration of East Lothian's coastal communities encompassing Aberlady, Dirleton, Gullane, Whitekirk and North Berwick. The museum is being developed by the Coastal Communities Museum Trust in partnership with East Lothian Council. The museum is on the first floor of the old school building in North Berwick. The museum is currently open:
Saturday and Sunday, 11am - 4pm

⭐️ WORK WITH US ⭐️We are hiring seasonal Museum Assistants to support us across different museums. These museums are Dun...
09/01/2026

⭐️ WORK WITH US ⭐️

We are hiring seasonal Museum Assistants to support us across different museums. These museums are Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery, the John Gray Centre museum, John Muir's Birthplace and Prestongrange Museum.

We are looking for people with:
💥 enthusiasm
〰️ flexibility
💬 great communication skills
📓 great organisation skills
✨ and a passion for delivering excellent customer service

If you think you have the skills to help visitors get the most from their visit take a look at the full job advert on MyJobScotland: https://myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/east-lothian-council/jobs/seasonal-museum-assistants-454644

We are also hiring for Casual Museum Assistants at Prestongrange: https://myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/east-lothian-council/jobs/casual-museum-assistant-prestongrange-museum-454645

For help writing a successful application, see the East Lothian Council website: https://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/info/210564/jobs_and_training/11884/applying_for_a_job

The deadline for applications is 25th January 2026.

find and apply for our vacancies using myjobscotland

17/11/2025

Would you like to try still life drawing? ✏️🍎

Spaces available this Friday for Drawn Together led by Gail Wallace. Booking essential.

30/05/2025

We're seeking views on potential new ways in which council buildings offering public facilities and services could be used to support communities. Workshops with community organisations have already taken place and we're now looking for your opinions on the buildings in your local communities.

An online survey at https://eastlothianconsultations.co.uk/infrastructure/place-making-project/ has information on each of the 29 buildings being considered and this is also on display in all 12 public libraries across East Lothian as well as Brunton Hall and John Muir House. For those unable to complete an online survey, our teams will be happy to support you to do so or paper copies are also available in each library.

The questions are very open to allow us to gather your views and ask how you use our buildings and how important they are to your community as well as asking for comments on how the buildings and services provided from them could be improved or provided in a different way.

If you'd like to know more about the Place Making Project, please visit one of the following drop-in events to speak to the team:

Tuesday 10th June 2pm to 5pm in Dunbar Library
Wednesday 11th June 2pm to 5pm in Haddington Library
Friday 13th June 2pm to 5pm in Prestonpans Library
Monday 16th June 2pm to 7pm in Musselburgh Library
Tuesday 17th June 2pm to 5pm in Tranent Library
Thursday 19th June 2pm to 7pm in North Berwick Library

❗️ Building Closures ❗️Friday 24th January 2025 - Red Weather WarningDue to the red weather warning issued by the Met Of...
23/01/2025

❗️ Building Closures ❗️

Friday 24th January 2025 - Red Weather Warning

Due to the red weather warning issued by the Met Office for Friday 24th January 2025, John Muir's Birthplace and the John Gray Centre Museum will be closed on essential safety grounds.

Please contact 01620 827827 if you have an urgent enquiry.

We will reopen on Saturday 25th January (weather permitting).

Take care out there everyone!

All libraries, area offices, museums, community centres and public toilets will be closed on Friday as a result of the weather warning for wind. For further information/latest updates on local impacts, see our website: https://orlo.uk/c0xy0

⭐️ WORK WITH US ⭐️We are looking for seasonal Museum Assistants to support the service across a range of museums. We are...
10/01/2025

⭐️ WORK WITH US ⭐️

We are looking for seasonal Museum Assistants to support the service across a range of museums. We are hiring for Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery, the John Gray Centre museum, John Muir's Birthplace and Prestongrange Museum.

We are looking for people with:
💥 enthusiasm
💫 flexibility
🌱 great communication skills
🍎 great organisation skills
🤩 and a passion for delivering excellent customer service

If you think you have the skills to help visitors get the most from their visit take a look at the full job advert on MyJobScotland via this link: https://myjobscotland.gov.uk/councils/east-lothian-council/jobs/seasonal-museum-assistants-various-positionslocations-408536.

The deadline for applications is 26th January 2025.

View details and apply for this arts / museums / libraries role in Various Locations In East Lothian with East Lothian Council on myjobscotland

24/06/2024

26/04/2024

⭐️ Work with us! ⭐️

East Lothian Council Museums Service are looking for a part-time permanent Visitor Services Officer (28 hours a week) to work front of house and behind the scenes at Prestongrange Museum and the John Gray Centre Museum. The closing date for applications is Sunday 5th May.

We are looking for someone with:
💫 enthusiasm
🦋 creativity
🍄flexibility
💐 great communication and organisational skills
🥰 and a passion for delivering great customer service

The successful candidate will supervise and lead their team of staff and volunteers to effectively manage the day to day operations of two museums ensuring visitor and facility safety and security whilst assisting with a range of things such as exhibitions, events, activities, learning and promotion behind the scenes.

For more information about the role and how to apply take a look at the MyJobScotland website:

View details and apply for this arts / museums / libraries role in Various Locations In East Lothian with East Lothian Council on myjobscotland

19/03/2024
This little one had great fun dressing up while visiting our Harvest of the Sea exhibition. The last chance to see this ...
12/03/2024

This little one had great fun dressing up while visiting our Harvest of the Sea exhibition. The last chance to see this exhibition will be this Saturday 16th March 2-4pm @ Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery.

13/01/2024

We're looking for Seasonal Museum Assistants to support visitors to John Muir's Birthplace, Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery, Prestongrange Museum, and the John Gray Centre Museum to start from 1 April.
Full details of posts available online: https://orlo.uk/gWiaS

04/01/2024

❗️Opening hours update for Thursday 4th January❗️

Due to unforeseen circumstances the John Gray Centre museum will be opening late this morning at 11.30am. We will be back to our regular opening hours on Friday 5th January. We are sorry for any inconvenience this will cause.

23/12/2023

There is an exiting opportunity to join the museums service as a permanent member of staff at John Muir's Birthplace! Take a look at the vacancy below:

View details and apply for this arts / museums / libraries role in Dunbar with East Lothian Council on myjobscotland

Address

East Lothian Museums Service, Library & Museums HQ, Dunbar Road
Haddington
EH413PJ

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