The World Famous Old Blacksmith’s Shop is one of Scotland’s earliest visitor attractions...

Curiosity has attracted travellers to visit Gretna Green since the middle of the 19th Century, due to run-away couples having a romantic Gretna Green Wedding.

The first visitors would peer through the windows trying to catch a glimpse of a run-away couple marrying over the anvil. In the year 1886, the owner, Hugh Mackie decided to open the cottage and workshop to visitors thus creating one of the first visitor attractions in Scotland.

Nowadays this all-weather modern attraction welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, including over 1000 couples who marry within the Original Blacksmith’s Shop. Hugh Mackie’s great grandson, Alasdair Houston, now runs the World Famous Old Blacksmith’s Shop Centre. It is the largest privately owned and managed visitor attraction in Scotland.

Since early inception as a visitor attraction the World Famous Old Blacksmith’s Shop Centre has developed to offer a more diverse experience for the visitor. As one of Scotland’s premier visitor attractions features include: -

• The Original Marriage Room and legendary Anvil 
  
• The story of Gretna Green, which unfolds in a fascinating exhibition
  
• More than 30,000 square feet of retailing with top brands
  
• Spacious catering features with up to 550 covers
  
• Coach museum with horse drawn and early Victorian modes of transport
  
• Relaxing Sculpture Garden created by local and national artists
  
• Arts & Crafts Centre including the renowned Border Fine Arts Gallery
  
• Native breeds Park - Highland Cattle and Belted Galloway

Find out more about Weddings at Gretna Green, Gretna Weddings or Shop Online for the best of all things Scottish