Welcome
The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum is based in Alloway, South Ayrshire and is the ideal place to explore both the man and his work. We have the largest collection of Burns related objects and manuscripts in the world.
Our flagship museum encompasses sites across the village of Alloway, including the museum building which houses the collection, the shop and the café; the Cottage where Robert Burns was born; Alloway Auld Kirk (made famous by Burns’s poem Tam o’ Shanter, where Tam saw the witches dancing!); the Brig o’ Doon (also famous from Tam o’ Shanter, where Tam’s horse Meg loses her tail); Poet's Path, and Burns Monument and gardens.
Level access
There is level access from the main entrance to:
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum (Museum building)Burns CottageAdmissions DeskRobert Burns Birthplace Museum toiletsRobert Burns Birthplace Museum cafeRobert Burns Birthplace Museum gift shopRobertson Room - Event and function spaceMonument gardensBurns Cottage gardensBrig o' Doon (bridge)Access with steps
There are steps from the main entrance to:
Alloway Auld Kirk (Church)Hearing
Visual
General
Getting here
For further information on accessible travel in Scotland, go to Transport Scotland.Travel by public transport
Please note that not all X77 buses stop at the museum car park - please check X77 bus timetable for further details.
There is a taxi rank at the train station, and the 361 bus leaves from Burns Statue Square, situated just beside the station.
Travel by taxi
We have an arrangement with Citadel taxis which allows visitors to travel between the Museum/Cottage and the bus or train station for £5. A member of staff will be happy to phone a taxi for you, please ask at the admission desk or Cottage kiosk building.
Parking
There is parking at both the Museum and the Cottage, including disabled parking. There is an electric car charging point at the Museum.
Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
We have one revolving door and one wheelchair accessible door which is opened by a touch pad.
Getting around inside
Ticket/ information desk
Admissions Desk
Things to See and Do
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum (Museum building)
All of the museum site is on one level, and the information is all readable from a seated position. We have portable folding stools for visitors use around the museum, these can be collected on your way into the exhibition.
On the hour, an audiovisual performance of a Burns poem is displayed on the large screens around the museum. Some of these performances have flashing lights.
Burns Cottage
The Cottage is accessed via a level path. One of the rooms in the Cottage has cobbled stones on the floor, but is still accessible to most wheelchairs. The doors are quite narrow but still accessible to a number of wheelchairs. There are picnic tables outside the Cottage.
Public toilet
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum toilets
The toilet is fully equipped for disabled access. It has the option to dry your hands with paper towels rather than hand-dryers.
Shop
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum gift shop
Place to eat and drink
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum cafe
We have recently won an NHS Healthy Living award due to the quality and healthiness of the options available in our cafe.
Robertson Room - Event and function space
This room is all one on level and is fitted with a hearing loop. This room is suitable for a wide variety of functions and events.
Getting around outside
Gardens are accessed through a level path from the back of the museum.
Burns Cottage gardens
Designated Walking Trail
Poet's Path
There is a buggy service which runs along the trail most days in the summer and sometimes throughout the winter. This goes between the museum entrance and the end of the path nearest the Cottage. Please be aware that there is still a 2-3 minute walk from the end of the buggy service to the Cottage itself. Please be aware that the buggy is not wheelchair accessible.
Alloway Auld Kirk (Church)
Due to the historic nature of the Kirk, the building is only accessible by steps. The ground of the Kirkyard itself is also uneven.
Brig o' Doon (bridge)
The Brig o' Doon is accessed via either steps, or a lane with some traffic. The bridge itself is cobbled and sloped.
Customer care support
We have portable stools in the museum which can be used to sit and read the labels on.
We provide large print copies of the museum exhibition labels.
We have accessible openings on the final Tuesday of every month, 3pm-5pm during which time the audio aspects of the museum are turned off and the lighting is turned up.
Emergency evacuation procedures
Customer care support
Proprietors/staff are available during our full opening hours.
Some of our staff have Makaton training.
Accessible openings on the first Tuesday of every month, 3pm - 5pm at the Cottage and Museum. Lights are turned up and interactive noises turned off to create a calmer and more relaxed environment for visitors with different needs.