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The Bell Pettigrew Museum

Museum | St Andrews | Scotland | United Kingdom

The Bell Pettigrew Museum of Natural History in St Andrews, Scotland, is a remarkable example of an Edwardian teaching museum. It was founded in 1912 and houses a diverse collection of natural history exhibits, including stuffed animals, fossils, skeletons, corals, shells, insects, and scientific instruments. This collection provides a fascinating insight into biological diversity and the history of natural sciences.

Located in the Bute Medical Building of the University of St Andrews, the museum is a significant part of the university's heritage. The exhibitions are housed in the original display cases, preserving the charm and atmosphere of the early 1900s. Visitors can view a variety of animals and plants from different eras and regions of the world, making the museum a valuable place for educational and research purposes.

In addition to the regular exhibitions, the museum also offers events and workshops aimed at various age groups to promote interest in the natural sciences. It is a significant location for those interested in the history of natural sciences and the development of biological research.

Contact details

Web

Phone

Address
Bute Medical Buildings, School of Biology, Queen's Terrace
KY16 9TS St Andrews

Map view

Opening hours

Sunday0:00 - 0:00
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Reviews

39 Reviews

Hunor Deak
07.08.2024

Great museum. Worth visiting.
Tearfulpandora
30.07.2024

Such a hidden gem. The kids loved the exhibition. I would totally recommend this to anyone and everyone
Conor Ryan
07.04.2024

Warm welcome from the staff and very helpful tips from them
Chris Smith
12.02.2024

Very difficult to find and obviously term time opening hours. Tried to get here a couple of times and was defeated by poor signage, locked doors and various jobsworths... eventually made it inside and the exhibits were interesting and lots of stuffed animals, informative interpretive panels and lots of jars of formaldehyde objects.
Joshua Fagan
06.10.2023

A vast collection of specimens and diagrams that has special value to me as a Victorian scholar, as it demonstrates how many Victorian museums of natural history appeared. One experiences the sense of being smothered by the sheer number of exhibits displayed, a visual encyclopedia of knowledge collected from the most distant regions of the globe. Even if you have no interest in the history of museums, this is still a worthwhile collection of exhibits and models. Finding the museum is quite hard, and accessing it seems a bit awkward for one who is not a St Andrews student, but I recommend exploring it if you are in the town.
Tommy Bob
05.10.2023

Love all the dead and stuffed animals
Graeme Jamieson
12.08.2023

Great free Natural History museum. Small, but packed full of exhibits and interesting information.
Mark Hobba
16.07.2023

Been here a number of times and the collection is fascinating, I learn something new each time, well worth a visit. They also very occasionally have special events in the museum, and the two I’ve been to have been brilliant.
George Brown
11.07.2023

I built this building Circa 1982 with W H Brown Construction. The Stone Archway was rebuilt with my own fair hands. The Bricklaying Squad comprised of Jim Linton springs to mind along with Willie Munroe, Bob Butchart, Gordon Callender and Stuart Dixon. Some 41 years ago.ago
Heather Spence-Smith
30.04.2023

Great museum brilliant exhibition and it is free
Michael Reilly
24.08.2022

Fantastic little museum packed with exhibits. Great for adults and children alike. This was the experience I expected from the hugely disappointing V&A in Dundee. I’m glad I visited.
James Kennedy
23.10.2020

Closed to the public, by appointment only for faculty and students
Mary Spence
19.11.2019

Kid loved it
WaterGoblin eiriee
27.08.2019

Gotta love a good zoology museum - macabre yet fascinating!
Shelley O'Berg
31.07.2019

Educational and insightful
Leanne Duffy
15.07.2019

Great for kids
Angèlica Arranz Galiano
04.07.2019

Interessant
Fabio Faversani
07.01.2019

Uma coleção privada muito interessante.
Graeme Stuart
02.11.2018

Fun little museum with stuffed animals and other curios. Free to enter and worth a wander in.
Vivien Fagan
10.10.2017

Sweet little museum. Well preserved exhibitions!
Edward Wood
22.05.2017

Great little museum
Sara K
07.09.2016

Haha, I love this little place. Free admission taxidermy museum with the weirdness that comes with having a centuries-old taxidermy collection.
Margaux Grandjean
03.05.2016

Nice museum and study space. Great selection of specimen. Good for kids !
David Jamieson
28.05.2015

Spectacular
Barnaby Perks
28.05.2015

Wonderful

 

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