Museums - what's on this July
Our museums are free to visit and open for the summer season through until the end of September. Look out for our exciting new exhibitions, events and drop-in activities for families.
Exhibitions
The art of balance in nature
Selected works as part of the 10th European Land Art Festival and Stone Stacking Championships 2026.
Sunday 28 June to Sunday 16 August
Open Wednesday to Sunday 1 to 5pm. Free admission.
Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery, High Street, Dunbar EH42 1ER
Landmark exhibition at John Gray Centre
John Bellany HRSA
acrylic on canvas, Cockenzie Harbour by John Bellany
Internationally renowned artist John Bellany HRSA, born in Port Seton, painted large scale, distinctive and often deeply personal works exploring themes including East Lothian’s fishing communities.
Curated by John’s wife Helen Bellany and his lifelong friend Alexander Moffat RSA, the exhibition combines works on loan from the Royal Scottish Academy with private collections and works held by East Lothian Council. It includes large and rarely seen work.
This exhibition is part of the RSA200: Celebrating Together partnership project. Throughout 2026 the Royal Scottish Academy, the oldest artist-run institution in Scotland, is celebrating its 200th birthday.
Friday 17 April to Saturday 19 September
Open Thursday and Friday from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm and Saturday from 10am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 4pm. Free admission.
John Gray Centre - Museum, 15 Lodge Street, Haddington, EH41 3DX.
Place-names of East Lothian: A journey through time
East Linton. This settlement was recorded as Lintun in 1127, which means 'farm by the torrent', from Old English tūn 'substantial farm' and hlynn 'torrent'. The hlynn is the waterfall which tumbles over what are now called the Linn Rocks. By about 1840 the village had become known as East Linton, to distinguish it from Linton in Peeblesshire, now known as West Linton.
Dunbar? Lamer Street? Friarscroft?
What does it mean?
Where did the name come from?
Dunbar and District History Society’s latest exhibition is based on the online publication, ‘Placenames of East Lothian: A journey through time’, researched by History Society member Liz Curtis. The exhibition presents a selection of names and their meaning from North Berwick to Dunglass and is supported by artefacts and historical images.
As Liz explains: “over thousands of years, a succession of different peoples arrived in East Lothian, mostly seeking the excellent agricultural land. They spoke different languages - Brittonic, Old English, Old Norse (Scandinavian), Gaelic, and Norman French. Then Scots developed locally, based on Old English. Each group named the land in their own way. They adopted the placenames of their predecessors or adapted them or created new names. As a result, East Lothian has a wonderfully varied collection of placenames, which illuminate our history.”
Opening 26 June courtesy of Dunbar and District History Society.
Open Wednesday to Sunday 1pm to 5pm.
Free admission.
Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery, High Street, Dunbar EH42 1ER
Haven
Pop into Prestongrange to see an inspiring display of jewellery by designer/maker, Eleanor Symms, who uses reclaimed materials to create her work. In the summer of 2024 Eleanor worked on a project at Morrisons Haven where she gathered waste and organic materials. Her aim is to learn more about ways to use and combine organic and other waste materials and explore how to make wearable, ornamental pieces, prototypes that could be disassembled, reassembled or returned to nature.
Prestongrange Museum, Morrison’s Haven, Prestonpans, EH32 9RX.
Wednesday – Sunday 11am – 4.30pm through until the end of September
Coastal Communities Museum
George Mitchell and his Combine, Archerfield, Dirleton, 1962 © East Lothian Council Archives
Come and visit our fascinating local museum located in the seaside town of North Berwick. We’re run entirely by enthusiastic volunteers, and our aim is to enable locals and visitors to explore the culture and heritage of the coastal communities that make up East Lothian’s North Berwick coastal ward.
Agricultural life is an important part of the Coastal Ward in East Lothian, and we are showcasing a new display of farm implements from the past including seed broadcasters, sheep shears, a hand plough and even a ‘foster mother.’ Come along and find out more about this curiously named device! These tools offer a fascinating glimpse into the working lives and rural traditions that helped shape our local community.
This year’s Collectors’ Corner will showcase a charming and unusual collection of old button hooks. Among them are several examples of ‘trench art’ —objects transformed with creativity and care, each with its own story to tell.
In the Children’s Area, our much-loved (and very well-worn!) pirate costumes have been topped up, ready for another season of imaginative adventures on Treasure Island. We’ve also restocked the ever-popular colouring postcards. After running low at the end of last season we’re pleased to say that crabs, puffins, and stags are once again back on the shelves. Our popular rope tying display is back for another year – master the art of nautical knots and discover the difference between a Bowline and a Sheet Bend.
Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 4pm. Free admission.
Coastal Communities Museum School Road, North Berwick, EH39 4JU.
Echoes of the past
Do you remember Musselburgh in the 1950s through to the 90s?? If so, come to the exhibition to be reminded and tell us more of what it was like then for you. If you are ‘younger’ then do come along and see what it was like for your parents and grandparents.
Thursday to Saturday 10.30am to 4pm. Admission free.
Musselburgh Museum, 65 High St, Musselburgh EH21 7BZ.
Events and activities
Summer Holidays
Our museums all have free admission and have drop-in craft activities for families during the summer holidays.
Coalscapes Family Event 6
Prestongrange Museum, East Lothian
By The Eco-Museum of Scottish Mining Landscapes
A free family event exploring the geology, ecology and landscape of the Prestongrange Museum site.
Join us for a free walk, talk and outdoor art workshop exploring the geology, ecology and landscape at the site of Prestongrange Museum and the foreshore of Morrison’s Haven.
Scottish Mining Landscapes’ geologist, Katie Strang; ecologist, Matt Harding; and artist Yvonne Weighand Lyle for the sixth of eight events across the Scottish Midland Coalfield from Fife to Ayrshire in July. Combining rocks, fossils, plant and art (cyanotype printing and clay pressing) that turn former mining landscapes into places of family fun designed for intergenerational learning.
11am ecology treasure hunt in the grounds of the Museum hosted by Matt.
Guided walk/rock doctor session leaving the grounds of the museum and over to the foreshore hosted by Katie.
Timings will be confirmed on the day and are weather dependent.
Art workshop
Please note you can drop in and out of the activities that suit.
The museum will be open and there is a café and toilets - so why not make a day of it?
This free event is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Please note this event is an outdoors activity. Please consider your own mobility and dress for the weather/terrain. The event will be photographed.
Wee Weds
Wednesday mornings at Prestongrange Museum. Bookbug for 0-5s and their parents/carers.
10 to 10.30am, no charge. Followed by craft activity, £1 per child.
Prestongrange Museum, Morrison’s Haven, Prestonpans, EH32 9RX.
(use images Wee Wednesdays Poster.jpeg)
Our museums:
15 Lodge Street, Haddington, EH41 3DX
Thursday and Friday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
Saturday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm
126 High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ
Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm
Sunday 1pm to 5pm
High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1ER
Wednesday to Sunday 1pm to 5pm
Morrison’s Haven, Prestonpans, EH32 9RX
Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 4.30pm
School Road, North Berwick, EH39 4JU
Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 4pm
65 High St, Musselburgh EH21 7BZ
Thursday to Saturday 10.30am to 4pm