National Museums Scotland (NMS) and The Holburne Museum in Bath, Somerset, were declared joint winners of the 2012 Museums and Heritage award for Permanent Exhibition.

Both underwent large-scale redevelopments during 2011 with NMS investing £46.4m in the transformation of the National Museum of Scotland.

Other winners at this year's awards gala - held last night (16 May) at the 8 Northumberland event space in London - included The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust (Classic Award); and Historic Royal Palaces for its All the King's Fools exhibition at Hampton Court Palace (Educational Initiative).

The Once Upon a Time exhibition at Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke won the award for best project on a limited budget, while London's Natural History Museum was handed the prize for best temporary exhibition for its Sexual Nature exhibit.

For the full list of winners in all 11 categories, click here to visit the awards website.

The Museums and Heritage Awards for Excellence are judged by a panel of sector professionals. This year's panel included Diane Lees, director general of the Imperial War Museum; Sam Mullins, director of the London Transport Museum; Bernard Donohue, director of ALVA; and Matthew Tanner, director of SS Great Britain Trust.

Now in their 10th year, the awards celebrate best practice within museums, galleries and heritage visitor attractions.