Perth (Scotland)

From the 9th century Scone was the centre of a Pictish kingdom and the traditional crowning place of kings upon its "Stone of Destiny" or "Stone of Scone". An Abbey and abbott's palace stood here from the 12th century but were destroyed in the Reformation, so only a few stumps of masonry and the title "palace" remain of this. The building you see nowadays is an imposing Victorian mansion, with a replica of the Stone - the original is in Perth Museum. The Palace has an extensive collection of 17th- and 18th-century ivory in the State Dining Rooms, 18th-century French furniture, porcelain, and Queen Victoria's' boudoir. It's set in an extensive park, often used for events, and the autumn colours are glorious. Nov-Mar the palace is closed but the grounds can still be visited.

Opened in 2024, this tells the city's story and houses the Stone of Destiny or "Stone of Scone". The Stone of Destiny exhibition requires a free timed ticket which can be booked 2 weeks in advance.

This is Perth's oldest building, dating back to 1159, but what you see now is 15th- to 19th-century reconstruction. Note the 15th-century brass candelabrum, but other medieval treasures are now in Perth Museum. Church of Scotland services are held Su 9:30AM and W 1PM.

Art by modern Scottish artists including Joan Eardley and Sir William MacTaggart, the colourists JD Fergusson and Margaret Morris and 16th and 17th century European art.

The oldest surviving secular building in Perth, parts of the structure date back from 1475. The building was fictionalised by Sir Walter Scott as the home of Catherine Glover, title character of The Fair Maid of Perth. It's now the offices of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society; in summer the visitor centre puts on exhibitions about their work.

The Episcopal or Anglican Church was revived in Scotland in the 19th century as part of the "Oxford Movement". This cathedral was built by Butterfield and opened in 1850, with further work continuing into the 20th century.

Military history of the 42nd / 73rd Highland Regiments, which amalgamated in 1881 to form the Black Watch. They wore dark plaid, but the name probably arose from Gaelic Am Freiceadan Dubh, the hostile "black watch" of government forces over the Highlanders. They saw action in Egypt, South Africa, two World Wars, and modern conflicts; in 2006 they merged with five other regiments to become the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The castle dates from 1422 but was entirely rebuilt in the 1860s, and refurbished as a museum in the 21st century, with paintings, medals, uniforms and weapons on display.

Hillside west-facing garden run by National Trust for Scotland. It was developed in the 1920s by John and Dorothy Renton to complement their Arts & Crafts house, with plants from all over the world. Standouts are the rhododendrons, alpines, herbaceous and peat-garden plants.