Prestongrange Museum

A former colliery turned museum, Prestongrange sits just outside Musselburgh and tells the story of East Lothian's industrial past in a way that actually engages you rather than putting you to sleep. The pit head gear still stands - proper impressive bit of Victorian engineering - and inside you'll find everything from mining equipment to local pottery and domestic life exhibits spread across the old colliery buildings.

The real draw here is how hands-on it feels. You're not just reading placards behind glass; you're walking through actual working spaces where miners spent their days. Kids tend to get a kick out of the machinery and the chance to see what their great-grandparents' working life looked like. Expect to spend a good two hours here if you're not rushing, though an hour will cover the highlights.

It's free entry, which makes it an easy win for a rainy afternoon. The site's been beautifully restored without losing its rough edges - you can still feel the industrial grit of the place. If you're camping nearby at Drummohr or Haven Seton Sands, this pairs well with coastal walks along the Firth of Forth. Musselburgh itself is worth a wander too - proper old port town with decent chip shops and a bit of character.

Not the glossiest museum you'll visit, but it's honest and interesting. Locals clearly care about keeping this history alive, and it shows.