Visit Us
All the key info on opening times, accessibility, facilities and more.
About Us
Grampian Transport Museum is an independent museum and charity in the heart of Alford, Aberdeenshire.
Our Collections
From Carriages to Charging Points
Grampian Transport Museum's ever-evolving, award-winning collection takes you on a journey from the elegance of horse-drawn travel to the evolution of electric-powered vehicles, with plenty of stops in between.
It turns out, people have actually 'reinvented the wheel' quite a few times over the years — and these are stories worth telling and retelling.
If cars and bikes excite you, then we have plenty to share, but we're more than just a museum of classic automobiles. We offer a hands-on tour through forgotten chapters of transport history, celebrating motoring mavericks and embracing the nostalgia of bygone eras, while exploring those unusual detours that eventually took us to the world of transport we live in today.
Your GTM Visit
More Than Motoring
Making a day of it at Grampian Transport Museum couldn't be easier.
Our Motorbites tearoom is a perfect pit-stop for light lunches, tea breaks and catch-ups — a cosy, welcoming place to take a well-earned break (with great cake).
Throughout the year, the museum hosts a vibrant programme of outdoor events, including our ever-popular Ride It days, Allford at Alford, and new for 2026: Nipp(in) On, Retro Revival, Classics Unlimited and so much more.
We welcome school groups, education visits, car clubs, motorcycle clubs and travel trade throughout the season — we love being a destination for jaunts, excursions and tours through the North East of Scotland.
Our History
The GTM Story
Grampian Transport Museum's story began in the early 1970s, when local enthusiasts recognised the strong interest in historic transport across the North East of Scotland. Eventually, in 1978, a public meeting in Aberdeen led to the formation of the Grampian Transport Museum Association, with the aim of establishing a permanent transport museum.
Alford was chosen as the museum’s home, centred around the former railway terminus. Fundraising efforts — most notably the annual Alford Cavalcade vintage rally — supported early restoration work and development plans for the project.
Following grant support from the European Economic Community and Grampian Regional Council, construction of the exhibition hall and restoration of the station building were completed in 1982.
The museum officially opened in April 1983, welcoming 25,000 visitors in its first year of opening.
Since then, the GTM site has expanded significantly, including a major extension in 1998 supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the development of the outdoor road circuit, the creation of the Collections Centre, and the addition of a new reception area in 2016 — reflecting the museum’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the experience for our visitors.
Today, the museum is operated by Grampian Transport Museum Trust, a registered Scottish charity (SC017625), fully accredited and recognised as a leading visitor attraction.
Our Future
GTM Development Plan
As a forward-looking organisation, Grampian Transport Museum operates a rolling development plan to guide future improvements.
We invite GTM+ members to contribute ideas and take part in shaping the museum’s future.
Our Fair Work Statement
We are committed to Fair Work
To do this, we make clear promises to our team and all those who wish to work with us.
- We are working towards paying all roles at least the Scottish Living Wage, with a goal of this being implemented across the organisation by the end of the financial year 26/27.
- We support our colleagues wellbeing, and offer social events throughout the year.
- Our team have a say on how the charity works through our staff get-togethers and our soon to be implemented engagement platform, open to the entire organisation.
What's on
Upcoming events, workshops and dates for your diary.