Perth, Scotland - The Fair City
Gateway to the Highlands - Perth
Perth on the River Tay is an historic city and once the de facto capital of Scotland.
With a population of over 47,000 people, Perth is a charming city with much to see and do.
History
Known historically as St. John's Toun, Perth has long held a strategic position by the River Tay, making it an important settlement for trade and governance. In medieval times, Perth was a favored residence for Scottish royalty and played a key role in national affairs.
It was the site of several key historical events, including the signing of the Treaty of Perth in 1266, which ended hostilities between Scotland and Norway over control of the Hebrides and the Isle of Man. Perth's importance continued during the early modern period, with the town becoming a significant center for the wool trade. In 1600, the city was the site of the infamous Gowrie Conspiracy, a mysterious political plot involving the Earl of Gowrie and King James VI. Over time, however, Perth's prominence declined, particularly after the Acts of Union in 1707, which shifted economic and political focus toward larger cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow. Today, Perth is celebrated for its historical significance, earning city status again in 2012 as part of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Attractions
The Perth Museum reopened in 2024 after a £27 million redevelopment project. It is the new home of the Stone of Scone, returning to Perthshire for the first time in 700 years. The museum is within Perth City Hall which dates from 1914 and in the 1970s and 80s was used as a concert hall.
The centerpiece of the museum is the Stone of Scone which is visited on a 15-minute tour of the stone (Scone Experience) accompanied by video explanations of its history.
The Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny or Lia Fáil in Gaelic, is an ancient symbol of Scottish kingship and coronation. It has a long and eventful history dating back over a thousand years and holds great significance in Scottish royal tradition.
Scone Palace
The stone served as the traditional coronation seat for Scottish monarchs at what is now the site of Scone Palace (previously Scone Abbey) in Perthshire. Scottish kings were seated upon the stone during coronation ceremonies, symbolizing their rightful rule over the kingdom. Altogether 42 Scottish kings were crowned here including Kenneth MacAlpin (the first King of Scots), Macbeth of Shakespeare fame, Robert the Bruce, and Charles II.
Perth Art Gallery
The Perth Art Gallery was originally the museum of the Literary & Antiquarian Society of Perth, founded in 1784. The oldest part of the building dates from 1824. It was originally named the Perth Museum and Art Gallery but became Perth Art Gallery with the opening of the new Perth Museum in 2024. Perth Art Gallery now concentrates on Scottish art with many of its previous exhibits such as the St Madoes stone and Carpow Logboat moved to the Perth Museum.
The gallery is partly located in the Marshall Monument (the white classical building shown in the photo above), named after Thomas Hay Marshall, a former provost of Perth, designed by architect David Morison and opened in 1824. The extension was added in 1935.
Fair Maid's House
The Fair Maid's House Visitor and Education Centre, is the oldest secular building in Perth and now part of the home of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS). Situated in the heart of the city's historic quarter, the original house on the site is believed to date back to the 15th century and is famously associated with Sir Walter Scott's 1828 novel The Fair Maid of Perth.
It has two floors and is constructed of rubble with a slate roof. The house was long a meeting hall for The Glover Incorporation of Perth and their motto "Grace and Peace" is carved above the entrance. The Glover Incorporation of Perth has been in Perth since at least 1210 and the character Simon Glover features in Scott's novel. The north wall of the building and the land on which it stands were once part of the former Blackfriars Monastery where King James I of Scotland was murdered in 1437.
Black Watch Castle & Museum
The Black Watch Castle & Museum near North Inch is housed within Balhousie Castle and is dedicated to one of Scotland's most famous regiments. The museum displays the history of the regiment from 1739 to the present. It has a collection of uniforms, medals, and military artifacts spanning over three centuries.
Green Spaces
The nearby North Inch is a historic public park located along the banks of the River Tay. Spanning 54 hectares (over 100 acres), it is one of the oldest public green spaces in Scotland, with its origins tracing back to the 14th century when it was granted to the citizens of Perth by King Robert II (1316-1390). The park is one of two "Inches" (meaning 'meadow') in Perth, the other being the smaller, 31-hectare South Inch on the other side of the city.
Churches
Perth's churches include St John's Kirk opposite Perth Museum. It dates back to the 12th century, renowned for its Gothic architecture and historic significance. In 1559, John Knox preached against idolatry in the kirk, which marked the beginning of the Reformation in Scotland. St. Ninian's Cathedral was the first new cathedral to be built in Britain after the Reformation, completed in 1850. St. Paul's Church is a former church dating from 1807 and now refurbished as an events space.
Sport
St Johnstone are the local football team and play at McDiarmid Park. The club was founded in 1884.
Shopping
The main shopping center in Perth is St John's Shopping Centre with branches of JD Sports, Primark, River Island and Waterstones. Perth Farmers' Market takes place on the 1st Saturday of every month (except January) in the South Inch car park. There are around 50 stalls selling a variety of quality local produce and a craft section.
Eat & Drink
The Fair City has a fine selection of restaurants to choose from. Sample Michelin-starred cuisine at The North Point, award-wining local Scottish food at 63 Tay Street or delicious Italian pizza and pasta at Broth3rs.
Some historic local pubs include The Old Ship Inn which dates to 1665. The name is a reference to the medieval ships that once docked at the quay on High Street. The Caledonian is a lively pub with live music on the High Street.
Effie's of Perth also on the High Street is a traditional tea room and restaurant that appeals to both locals and tourists alike. The tea room is characterized by its vintage decor, cozy ambiance, and attention to detail, evoking the nostalgia of a bygone era. Effie's offers a variety of classic teas, coffees, and an assortment of homemade cakes, scones, and light meals.
Pitlochry
26 miles northwest of Perth, Pitlochry is a pretty town full of Victorian buildings and home to the Pitlochry Festival Theatre. The theatre opened in 1951 as a tent theatre, the brainchild of John Stewart, a promoter of amateur dramatics in Glasgow. The town sits on the picturesque River Tummel spanned by an iron suspension bridge connecting Pitlochry to the village of Port-Na-Craig and the theatre. Close to both Ben Vrackie (841 meters) and Schiehallion (1,083 meters), Pitlochry is a base for hill walkers in the Highlands.
There are plenty of places to stay in town including Fisher's Hotel on Atholl Road, where Robert Louis Stevenson was once a guest, The Old Mill Inn on Mill Lane and McKay's Hotel also on Atholl Road. Other attractions are the Blair Athol Distillery for whisky lovers, Pitlochry Market held every third Saturday between April and December, the 310-meter-long Pitlochry Fish Ladder and the Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre. The Pitlochry dam and power station began generating hyro-electric power in 1950 and provides energy for 15,000 homes in the area. Edradour, east of the center, (unfortunately closed to visitors due to staff shortages) still produces handmade single malt whisky from a farm distillery. It has been in business since 1825!
Pitlochry is easily accessable by train and bus from Perth and other cities in Scotland including Dundee, Glasgow, Inverness and Edinburgh.
Access - Getting There
Rail
Perth Station is the city's main railway station, just to the west of the center.
Perth Station, on both the Glasgow to Dundee Line and the Highland Main Line has trains to Dundee Station in Dundee, Glasgow Queen Street in Glasgow via Stirling, as well as service to Edinburgh, Arbroath and Inverness.
Dundee Station has trains to London King's Cross Station from Aberdeen via Edinburgh, Newcastle and York Station in York and connections south to Edinburgh Waverley Station in Edinburgh.
Bus
The main bus station in Perth is just opposite the railway station close to South Inch. There are long-distance buses to Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness as well as more local buses to Craigie, Dobbies, Inveralmond, Perth Aviva and Burghmuir.
Air
Dundee Airport is 30 minutes by car from the city on the A90. It has flights to London City, Belfast City, Kirkwall Airport in the Orkney Islands and Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands. It is also the closest airport for St. Andrews, its university and famous golf courses.
Accommodation
If you wish to stay in Perth try the 5-star The Townhouse, at 17 Marshall Place with views over South Inch Park. Also recommended are the 5-star Alexander Residence very close to the green spaces of North Inch and Holiday Inn Express Perth with 81 en-suite rooms.
The historic Salutation Hotel has been completely refurbished and offers a fine restaurant.
Scotland Related
Cuisine in the Shetland Islands
Hermaness National Nature Reserve
Maps
Hotels in Scotland
Book Hotels in Edinburgh - Booking.com
Find Hotels in Glasgow - Booking.com
Search Hotels in Orkney - Booking.com
Hotels in The Shetlands - Booking.com