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Dunbar High Street under a blue sky, the white Town House with its tower and spire among the old buildings.
Lothian

Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery

Dunbar's 16th-century tolbooth on the High Street, with its witch's hat tower, now a free museum and gallery of the town's history.

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Welcome

Halfway along Dunbar's High Street stands the Town House, a white-harled building with a tall octagonal tower topped by a pointed roof like a witch's hat, a bell, a clock and old sundials.

It has been at the centre of the town's life since the 16th century.

On the ground floor is a small museum and gallery, free to enter, with changing exhibitions on Dunbar's history and on art, and a local history room run by the Dunbar and District History Society, where you can look into the town's past. Staff are on hand to talk about the town and the building. Upstairs, the old council chamber is still used for meetings and weddings.

The building was carefully restored between 2010 and 2012. It opens in the afternoons from Wednesday to Sunday through the summer, and on Saturday afternoons in winter. Dunbar is the end of the John Muir Way, and the naturalist's birthplace is just along the street.

Round the cornerThe Creel, DunbarA small restaurant by Dunbar harbour cooking local seafood and East Lothian produce, much recommended by the town's own people.1 min by roadSee itThe Creel Restaurant lit up on a wet street corner at night
Before you go

Open April to September, Wednesday to Sunday 1pm to 5pm; October to March, Saturdays 2pm to 4pm.

Free.

Where
High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1ER.
Built
The 16th century.
Entry
Free.

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
1pm–5pm
Thursday
1pm–5pm
Friday
1pm–5pm
Saturday
1pm–5pm
Sunday
1pm–5pm
Where it is

On the High Street in Dunbar, EH42 1ER; the station is a ten minute walk away.

Close byDunbar.
  1. Railed path leads from grassy clifftop down to a rocky shorelineDunbar High StreetIt’s worth having a look along the High Street in Dunbar to grab a souvenir in one of the many wee gift shops.Under a mile1 min by road
  2. John Muir's Birthplace on Dunbar High Street, a white-harled house with flowers by the open door.John Muir's BirthplaceThe naturalist's house along the street.Under a mile1 min by road
  3. Fishing boats moor beneath Dunbar Castle's red sandstone ruins on the harbourThe Creel LoadersThe fishing statue by the harbour.Under a mile1 min by road
  4. Dunbar CastleDunbar CastleThe castle ruins by the harbour.Under a mile1 min by road
  5. Dunbar BatteryDunbar BatteryUnder a mile1 min by road
Directions
The Creel Restaurant lit up on a wet street corner at nightRestaurantsThe Creel, Dunbar0.2 miles
White clubhouse with red tiled roof beside a links golf courseAttractionsDunbar Golf Course0.8 miles
Metal footbridge crosses a tidal creek on a wide sandy beachAttractionsBelhaven Bridge1.3 miles
Waves breaking on a sandy beach under a blue sky with scattered cloudsWalksDunbar Clifftop Path to Belhaven Bay1.3 miles
Grassy dunes overlook a curving sandy beach with Bass Rock offshoreAttractionsTyninghame Links3.3 miles over the water
Stone dovecot with conical tiled roof and outside stair, set in grassAttractionsPreston Mill7.8 miles
Ruined stone castle with wooden staircase leading to an arched doorwayAttractionsHailes Castle8.3 miles
Grassy headland overlooking a rocky shoreline and calm coastal watersAttractionsBerwickshire Coastal Path8.5 miles
A landscape view of the Blue Cabin at the foot of the brae, lamps lit by its red door and boats drawn up on the grass.CockburnspathBlue Cabin by the SeaSleeps 4 · 8.6 miles
Stay nearby

Places to stay near the Town House, and when each is next free.

A landscape view of the Blue Cabin at the foot of the brae, lamps lit by its red door and boats drawn up on the grass.Blue Cabin by the Sea
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Cockburnspath
  • 8 miles from Dunbar Town House
Check datesA stone cottage with red pantiled roofs and a gabled dormer sits behind a gravel courtyard, an apple tree in the foreground.Maybell Cottage
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Lothian
  • 17 miles from Dunbar Town House
Check datesAn orange leather sofa draped with a sheepskin faces a stone fireplace beneath a timber ceiling, a staircase rising behind.The Old Stable
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Lothian
  • 17 miles from Dunbar Town House
Free 18–20 OctThe Crow’s Nest, FifeThe Crow’s Nest
  • Sleeps 5
  • In Lothian
  • 17 miles from Dunbar Town House
Free 2–4 NovPlaces to stayEvery stay in LothianAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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