Dick Institute

Kilmarnock's museum and gallery on Elmbank Avenue, opened in 1901 and taking over 120,000 visitors a year, with East Ayrshire's central library on the ground floor. The South Museum and Loom Room cover local social and industrial history; the North Museum holds natural history and archaeology, including a whale jawbone and a 400-million-year-old scorpion fossil. Touring shows have come via the V&A, National Galleries Scotland and TATE Modern. Admission free; tearoom on site.