Rozelle House Museum and Galleries

About the museum

Rozelle House is a Palladian mansion in Rozelle Park on the edge of Ayr. The land belonged to the burgh of Ayr for centuries until the town sold it in 1754 to the merchant Robert Hamilton, who had made his fortune in the sugar and tobacco trade in the West Indies. He began building the house that year, and it was finished around 1760. The architect David Bryce altered it between 1829 and 1831. The house stayed with the Hamilton family until 1968, when John Hamilton gave it to the town of Ayr, and it has been used for cultural purposes since.

Today the house is an accredited museum, a status it has held since 2003, and shows objects, artefacts and works of art from the South Ayrshire Council collections. Among its best-known holdings is a cycle of 54 paintings by the Scottish artist Alexander Goudie, inspired by Robert Burns’s poem Tam o’ Shanter, a selection of which is on show all year. A bronze working model by Henry Moore stands on the ground floor, and a small display tells the story of the Ayrshire Yeomanry.

The former stables and servants’ quarters next to the house hold the Maclaurin Art Gallery, which has its own programme of changing exhibitions. The grounds include sculpture trails, a remembrance woodland, a story trail for children and a tearoom.

Highlights

• Alexander Goudie’s Tam o’ Shanter painting cycle
• Henry Moore working model for Draped Reclining Figure
• Small display on the Ayrshire Yeomanry
• Georgian mansion in Rozelle Park
• Sculpture trails, remembrance woodland and story trail in the grounds

Permanent exhibitions

• Tam o’ Shanter paintings by Alexander Goudie – A selection from a cycle of 54 paintings inspired by Robert Burns’s poem, owned by South Ayrshire Council and on show all year.
• South Ayrshire collections – Objects, artefacts and works of art from the council collections, including a bronze working model by Henry Moore.
• Ayrshire Yeomanry display – A small exhibition on the history of the Ayrshire Yeomanry, with archives, artefacts and original costume.

Operated by

South Ayrshire Council

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A lift serves the upper floors and an accessible toilet is available. A wheelchair can be borrowed on request. Paths in the park are described as accessible for all ages and abilities.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

All family activities are free. Visitors can pick up activity sheets for the Museums and Gallery Explorer scheme, borrow a sketching bag from reception and use a hands-on engagement space. Seasonal events such as Halloween trails, storytimes and crafts take place, and the park has a story trail with characters from children’s books.

Getting there & parking

From the A77 follow signs for Alloway, Doonfoot and Heads of Ayr, leave onto Doonholm Road, turn right towards Alloway and follow Monument Road; the Rozelle estate is signposted on the right. Taxis are available from Ayr town centre.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Rozelle Tearoom on the lower ground floor of the house serves breakfasts, lunches, home baking and drinks to eat in or take away, with patio seating and picnic benches behind the house. It is open Monday to Saturday 9am–4.30pm and Sunday 10am–4.30pm.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit