Opening Times & Admission
We can provide great rates for these groups if booked in advance by email, telephone or in person. If you are a regular visitor, or even plan to visit more than once in a year the Friends of the Museum Membership offers excellent value at £12 for a single person to visit as often as they like (rates avaliable for couples and families as well) compared to £7.50 for normal museum entry, please ask in the museum or drop us an email for details.
Opening Times
- Season
- 27 March 2026 - 25 October 2026
- Days
- Thursday - Sunday
- Hours
- 12pm - 4pm (last entry 3.30pm)
Pre-booking is not necessary unless you are a large group (e.g., school or care home).
Admission Prices
Well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome.
Auction Ring
In the centre of the building you will find the original auction sale ring with its tiered seating. The same design is still used today and can be seen on the television programme The Mart.
The main business of the Alford Mart was the sale of livestock, with occasional evening sales of furniture and household goods.
Waterwheel
The waterwheel outside the museum was originally from a farm near Banchory, on Deeside. Dating from around 1845 and powered by water from a mill dam, it was donated to the museum in 1993.
Today: Still powered by water, though the supply now comes from a pumped source.
Historic Workshops
The museum displays include four workshops — a tailor, a shoemaker, or souter, a blacksmith, and a joiner. These essential trades served rural Aberdeenshire.
Featured: Thomas Rearie, still working at age 93, and Alexander Ingram's family shoemaking tradition.
School Room
Small village schools often had two classrooms, heated by peat-fuelled stoves. Pupils used slates and learned from blackboards, charts and books.
School Visits: Local parties can experience what a day at school used to be like.
Domestic Life
The farm kitchen was the heart of the farmhouse, where workers and visitors were welcomed and fed. Open fires and later stoves such as Aga or Raeburn provided warmth and cooking facilities.
The display includes a wide range of domestic items used over centuries across North East Scotland.
Tractors & Agricultural Bygones
The former livestock pens now house a large collection of agricultural machinery. Displays include tractors, mills, implements from both the horse and tractor era.
Many items have strong local connections to farming across Aberdeenshire.
Jukebox
A 1974 Rock-Ola 459 American Jukebox remains in excellent working order. Jukeboxes were once popular entertainment in cafes and ice cream parlours, gathering places for teenagers.
Try It: Visitors can insert a £1 coin to hear two tracks, many dating from 1974.
Model Railway
The model railway depicts a Scottish railway as it would have appeared in 1945, with backdrops showing scenes from the local area.
Interactive: Visitors can press a button to see the rolling stock in action.
How to Find Us
We’re located in Alford, Aberdeenshire — with convenient parking nearby and clear directions for visitors.
Our Address
Alford Heritage Museum3 Mart Road
Alford
Aberdeenshire
AB33 8BZ
If you need help finding the entrance, please ask a member of our team — we’ll be happy to assist.
Parking
There is plenty of space to park on the road in front of the museum, and additional parking can be found to the side of the building if required.
If you are having trouble finding somewhere to park, ask a member of our team who will be glad to assist you.
- On-street parking available directly outside
- Additional spaces to the side of the building (when needed)
- Ask our team if you’d like help
Map
Interactive map
To avoid cookie/consent issues, we’re not embedding a third-party map here. Use the buttons above to open directions in Google Maps or What3Words.
Accessibility
We are committed to making our museum accessible and welcoming to all visitors.
Access For Visitors With Limited Mobility
Our museum is fully accessible and wheelchair friendly. We have a wheelchair that visitors can borrow, should they require this as well as a couple of portable seats. We also have an accessible toilet available.
Accessible Parking
Parking is available either just outside the museum entrance, there are a number of off-road spaces alongside the entrance to the museum yard.
Facilities Available
We want all visitors to enjoy their time at the museum comfortably. Our facilities include full wheelchair accessibility, equipment you can borrow at no charge, and helpful staff ready to assist.
- Fully wheelchair accessible throughout the museum
- Wheelchair available to borrow (no charge)
- Portable seats for resting
- Accessible toilet facilities
- Convenient accessible parking near entrance
- Staff available to assist visitors
Need assistance? Our friendly staff are always happy to help. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions or specific requirements.
Accessibility InformationGroup Visits
We welcome pre-booked visits by both school and adult groups. Please book these well in advance.
Adult Group Visits
We welcome pre-booked visits by adult groups. Reduced entry fees are applicable for pre-booked groups of 10 or more people.
Group Visit Rates (10+ people)
Booking required: Please book well in advance by email to info@alfordheritagemuseum.com
School Visits
School visits are welcome at any time by prior arrangement. We offer engaging educational experiences for all ages.
School Visit Rates
Booking required: Contact us to arrange your school visit at info@alfordheritagemuseum.com
"The museum houses what must be one of the finest collections of memorabilia in Scotland, it is vast and it is fascinating. If you haven't already been, this is well worth a visit folks you will be amazed by what's on offer."
Ready to Book Your Group Visit?
Contact us to arrange your visit and discuss any special requirements or requests for your group.
Museum Shop
Browse our selection of unique gifts, local crafts, and heritage-themed items to take home a piece of your visit.
The Museum Shop offers visitors a selection of branded items, such as the museum guidebook, mugs, note cards and keyrings. In addition we have a small range of craft items, some of which have been made by our volunteers. We stock an ever-changing selection of pre-loved books of local or agricultural interest.
The pictures above are provided as examples only and the actual product range may differ.
Visit us to explore our full range of unique gifts, books, and locally crafted items.
Plan Your VisitGallery
