Paisley Museum including the Coats Observatory

Paisley Museum opened in 1871. The building was designed by the well-known Glasgow architect John Honeyman and was paid for by Sir Peter Coats of the famous Coats thread manufacturing family. We house a wealth of treasures, from Ancient Egyptian artefacts to reminders of our industrial past and our natural heritage.

Among our treasures, pride of place goes to The Arbuthnott Missal and our unique textile collection. The Paisley Shawl Collection cared for by Renfrewshire Arts and Museums Service is a Recognised Collection of National Significance to Scotland.

Paisley Art Gallery has wonderful permanent collections of studio ceramics, paintings and sculpture. This includes work by artists from the Glasgow School, the Scottish Colourists and Paisley-born writer and artist John Byrne. We care for a Ceramics Collection of over 500 pieces, both studio ceramics and factory ware. Our studio ceramics collection is considered one of the finest in Scotland and includes examples by the majority of important contemporary British potters.

Coats Observatory is a unique attraction, housing astronomical equipment and displays, weather and earthquake recording equipment. Gifted to the people of Paisley by Thomas Coats and designed by Glasgow Architect John Honeyman the building opened in 1883 and has been welcoming everyone with an interest in astronomy ever since. The observatory also has a planetarium which gives visitors a tour of the night sky without having to leave the comfort of their chair.