Trimontium Museum
Museum in Melrose telling the story of the Roman fort of Trimontium, with a gallery of finds, hands-on history sessions and a virtual reality tour of the fort.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Trimontium is a Roman site near Newstead, just east of Melrose, covering around 370 acres. It is the largest Roman fort and settlement known north of Hadrian’s Wall and the source of one of the greatest concentrations of Roman military finds in the British Isles. The museum in Melrose’s Market Square is run by the Trimontium Trust, a Scottish charity, and shows how the Romans and the Iron Age tribes they met shaped each other.
The gallery displays objects from the fort and its surroundings, with audio-visual presentations, interactive displays and gallery guides in several languages. The Trimontium Experience combines a guided virtual reality tour of the digitally reconstructed fort, as it would have looked in the late 2nd century AD, with a short presentation of finds by a guide.
Outside the museum the fort site at Newstead can be visited free all year, and guided walks run weekly from April to October. A planned reconstruction of an Iron Age settlement, called Tribryn, is still in development.
Highlights
- Gallery of finds from the largest Roman fort north of Hadrian’s Wall
- Guided virtual reality tour of the reconstructed fort (ages 8 and over)
- Hands on History sessions with Roman and Iron Age objects
- Free fort site and guided walk at Newstead
- Gallery guides in French, German, Italian and Spanish
Permanent exhibitions
- Trimontium Museum gallery – Finds and displays from the Roman fort at Newstead, showing how the Romans and the Iron Age tribes of the Borders met.
- The Trimontium Experience – A guided virtual reality tour of the reconstructed Roman fort, with films and a presentation of finds, followed by free time in the gallery.
- Operated by
- Trimontium Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £7Visitors aged 60 and over and students |
| Children & teens | £4free up to age 4 · Children aged 5 to 15 |
| Seniors | £7Aged 60 and over |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Carers are admitted free. |
| Students & apprentices | £7 |
| Families | £202 adults and 2 children; a ticket for 2 adults and 3 children costs £24 |
| Family ticket (2 adults and 3 children) | £24 |
Tickets are valid for 12 months from purchase. Online bookings carry a booking fee. Members of the Trimontium Trust enter free (membership from £20 a year). Historic Scotland members and Melrose Abbey ticket holders receive 10% off. The fort site is free all year.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The entrance is at street level with a ramp to reception, and the gallery and shop are on one level. There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor and a second one reached by a seat lift. An induction loop is fitted at reception and in the AV theatre, and the main film has English subtitles. Large print and braille guides, magnifying glasses with lights, portable stools and a manual wheelchair are available. The gallery is dark, but lighting can be raised and the AV volume lowered on request. All dogs are welcome in the museum; one disabled parking space is opposite the entrance.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
| Family ticket | £20 · 2 adults and 2 children; a ticket for 2 adults and 3 children costs £24 |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
The gallery has no age limit. Children can take part in a treasure hunt, use a dress-up corner and try rotating crafts. Hands on History sessions for ages 5 and over let children handle Roman objects. The virtual reality Experience is recommended for ages 8 and over. Buggies can be taken in or left at reception, baby changing is available, and sensory backpacks can be requested by email.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus stop outside the museum, Market Square
The nearest railway station is Tweedbank, a 20 to 30 minute riverside walk from Melrose. Alternatively travel to Galashiels station and take Border Bus Services 61, 67, 68 or 69 from the bus station opposite; there is a bus stop outside the museum.
By car
Parking available
The museum has no car park of its own. The nearest public car park is Abbey Car Park (pay and display, coach parking, disabled spaces, charging point), a short walk away. Free parking is available by the public park opposite Greenyards Rugby Ground, and limited free on-street parking of up to one hour is opposite the museum.
- Accessible parking
The museum is on the Town Square, just before Burt’s Hotel. There are no direct buses from Edinburgh to Melrose; buses run from Edinburgh to Galashiels.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Wi-Fi
Free public Wi-Fi throughout the museum. The shop sells gifts and souvenirs, and members receive 10% off. Large bags and coats can be stored near the Experience space.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The visit including the virtual reality Experience takes 75 to 90 minutes. The Experience starts with a short film, then a seated fort tour of about 25 minutes with a headset, and is available in English only. Groups are limited to 8 people. Group, school and outreach visits can be arranged by contacting the museum. |
