Perth Museum – the Stone of Destiny, Lunch and the Art Gallery
A day, from Perth station and back.
The route
Perth Museum fills the city's old City Hall with ten thousand years of Scotland's story, and at its heart is the Stone of Destiny, the ancient stone that Scotland's kings were crowned on.
It's free, it's all under one roof, and a French brasserie sits right across the square for lunch. Add the Perth Art Gallery by the river afterwards and it's a lovely plan for a wet day.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Advised at busy times, by phone on 01738 446698 or on its website's booking page; walk-ins are taken.
The day
Perth
A gentle day in the middle of Perth, all of it on foot. The morning goes to the Stone of Destiny and the museum around it, lunch is a few steps away, and the afternoon ends among paintings beside the Tay.
About five hours
Perth Museum
It's a 15-minute walk from the station to Perth Museum on St John's Place, in the grand old City Hall. Entry is free, and so is the Stone of Destiny, but the Stone is seen in timed slots: go to the front desk first and take the next one, then explore the galleries until your time comes round. From October to April it's open 10am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday and 11am to 4pm on Sunday. Large bags aren't allowed in, and there's a bag check at the Stone. There's a ramp at the door and a lift to every floor, with baby changing throughout. Allow a couple of hours.
2 min on foot
Café Tabou
Lunch
Lunch is at Café Tabou, a French brasserie at 4 St John's Place, just across the square from the museum, 2 minutes' walk away. It serves seasonal menus, with morning coffee and croissants too. It opens every day: Monday from 10am to 8pm, Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 9pm, Saturday from 9.30am to 9pm and Sunday from noon to 8pm. Walk-ins are taken, and you can book by phone on 01738 446698 or on its website at busy times.
3 min on foot
Perth Art Gallery
An attraction
After lunch it's 3 minutes' walk north to the Perth Art Gallery on George Street, the sandstone building with the domed portico at the end of Perth Bridge. It's free, with a collection of Scottish painting that includes a room for JD Fergusson and the dancer Margaret Morris, and an hour is about right. It opens 10am to 5pm on Monday and from Thursday to Saturday, and 11am to 4pm on Sunday; it's shut on Tuesday and Wednesday, so on those days have a longer lunch instead. There's a ramp to the door and a platform lift inside. From the gallery it's a 19-minute walk back to the station.
If it rains
All of it is under a roof: only the walks from the station, across the square and back are out in the weather.
Coffee and Things, italian-style coffee bar.
Effie's of Perth, traditional afternoon tea.
Photograph by Alasdair Birchwood via Google