Perth Museum has welcomed over 83,000 visitors in opening months

Perth Museum has welcomed over 83,000 visitors since opening to the public on March 30 - double what was expected.

Just 21 per cent went to see the museum's centrepiece the Stone of Destiny.

Culture Perth and Kinross chief executive this week told councillors it was the museum's telling of the story of Perth and the wider region that was primarily driving visits to the attraction.

As Perth and Kinross Council's Scrutiny and Performance Committee was provided with an update when it met on Wednesday, June 12, Conservative Strathallan ward councillor Keith Allan questioned why only a fifth of visitors were going to see the Stone of Destiny.

Culture Perth and Kinross chief executive Helen Smout said: "It's a timed experience so there are only so many tickets and visitors we can get through. But for many visitors it's not the Stone of Destiny that's the driver to come to the museum; it's a part of the visit. For many people it's the wider collections, understanding Perth and the story of Perth - of which the stone is obviously an important part - but they're coming because this is a museum that tells the story of the region.

"We always knew from the business case the stone would be an important part of the story but it wouldn't be the main driver on its own and it would maybe take away around 20,000 visitors from Edinburgh. But actually we've got a very strong story - of which that's part - and that's what's bringing people in."

Councillors were told feedback from visitors had been "overwhelmingly positive" and the city centre had benefited from an increase footfall.

Helen Smout said: "We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback on the museum itself not just locally but from partners, press, media, visitors across the UK and internationally.

"This is a momentum which we are keen to build on as we go forward.

"As of the end of yesterday we had over 83,000 visitors to the museum - that's tracking twice where we thought we would be at this point in the year."

She shared a story of a couple from Swindon who enjoyed their visit to the museum and Perth so much they now want to move to the Fair City.

Ms Smout added: "People are rediscovering Perth which is just fantastic.

"We're getting a lot of coach party bookings, particularly around Christmas and New Year. People are looking to do something different and to have new experiences beyond the Central Belt so we're capitalising on that as much as possible."

Asked about the impact on surrounding city centre businesses, she said: "The footfall in the city centre has increased and we know anecdotally of some businesses who have said they have seen more people through their doors. It will change over time but around 23 per cent of our visitors are passing through our café which means that over 75 per cent are going somewhere else."

Since Perth Museum opened:

• around 23 per cent of visitors have used the café

• the average spend within the museum has been around £2.40 per head

• there has been a 31 per cent increase in visitors to Perth Art Gallery, when comparing April 2023 with April 2024

• St John's Kirk has seen a 132 per cent increase in visitors

• there have been 5000 visitors to the Unicorn exhibition - for which there is an entrance fee - and it will run until September.

As well as the exhibits, a programme of events is now under way which includes a talk on unicorns by Barbara Drake Boehm, Curator Emerita at New York's Met Cloisters on June 21. There are walking Jacobite and Medieval tours which start and end at the museum and go around Perth city centre. And visitors can drop into highlights tours which run twice a week at the museum.

Cllr Michelle Frampton asked about the absence of a dedicated space for children.

The Almond and Earn ward SNP councillor said: "In the old museum there was a section for children to colour in. I keep getting asked this over and over if there's any plan to have a children's section in the new museum?"

Ms Smout said children's activities were "integrated through the displays" and cited a play area within the Unicorn exhibition upstairs.

She added: "We are increasing the opportunities for children and over time we will change those".