Museums in Glasgow

1. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum: The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of the best museums in Glasgow, and dates back to the year 1901. Attracting over a million visitors every year, this museum is also often referred to as the cultural crown of Glasgow. Built in the Spanish Baroque style of architecture, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and museum is predominantly known to be the abode of one of the greatest displays and collections of civic art in Europe. It also has a wide array of incredibly interesting and intriguing exhibits, from a Supermarine Spitfire that is suspended from a ceiling, to a collection of stuffed animals from the past, such as the famed Sir Roger the Indian Elephant, among others.

Location: Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8AG, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.

2. Glasgow Police Museum: When looking for some of the top museums in Glasgow, the Glasgow Police Museum is the place to be. Dedicated entirely to “the polis,” this museum tells the story of the first-ever professional police force in all of Britain, which was located in the city itself. A relatively smaller attraction when compared to other museums in the city, the Glasgow Police Museum is operated and maintained by volunteers, which includes retired policemen. It is here where you can learn the history of the City of Glasgow Police, one that goes back to over 200 years, including its development, ranks and other features. You can also see over 2000 items used by the police force, such as headgear, uniforms, etc. from all parts of the world at the International Police Exhibition here.

Location: First Floor, 30 Bell St, Glasgow G1 1LG, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 04:30 p.m

3. Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery: Ranked amongst the most famous museums in Glasgow, in addition to being the oldest public museum in Scotland, the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery is also an offbeat place to visit in the city. Tucked inside the University of Glasgow, this neo-gothic museum is the place where you can find some of the most innovative exhibits in the country. Being an illustrious centre of research and innovation in all of Britain, the museum houses displays like scientific instruments which once belonged to James Watt, the steam engine pioneer, as well as some of the oldest Roman artefacts in the entire region. The museum is also the abode of the Mackintosh House, which pays tribute to famous architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Location: University of Glasgow, 82 Hillhead St, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. (Closed on Monday)

4. St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art: If you are in search of unique and offbeat Glasgow museums, then you must plan a visit to the St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art when you are in the city. This museum ranks as one of the very few public museums in the whole world that is devoted only to different forms of faith and religion. It is here where you can find out a lot of information and gain deeper insights into the most important religions of western Scotland, including Protestantism and Catholicism, among others. The museum is quite tranquil in itself, and also boasts of other attractions and displays, like a zen garden, exhibits of Islamic calligraphy as well as a bronze statue of the Hindu god Shiva in his Nataraja form.

Location: 2 Castle St, Glasgow G4 0RH, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.

5. Scottish Football Museum: Considered to be one of the very Glasgow museums is the Scottish Football Museum, dedicated to the national football team of Scotland and home to more than 2000 objects and memorabilia from the world of football. The Scottish Football Museum is also the place where you can catch sights of the Scottish Cup, which is the oldest surviving national trophy in the whole world. Located within Hampden Park, the museum also highlights numerous features and elements of the game. You can also see a wide array of sticker collections here, or explore the Hall of Fame inside the museum.

Location: Hampden Park, Glasgow G42 9BA, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Entry fee: £13 (adult), £5 (child/concessions)

6. Riverside Museum: Built to commemorate the history of the famous Clyde River in the city, the Riverside Museum ranks amongst the top museums in Glasgow. It is one place where you can learn about the now-obsolete shipbuilding industry of the region as well. Spread across 7500 square metres of area, the museum is designed by Zaha Hadid using metal and glass in a zigzag pattern, which makes it one of the most unique buildings in the city as well. Some of the most memorable attractions and highlights of the Riverside Museum includes a recreation of an old city street in Glasgow, a wall of classic and vintage cars, a magnificent steam locomotive from the 1940s, as well as a 19th century Glenlee Ship, docked right on the banks of the river.

Location: 100 Pointhouse Rd, Partick, Glasgow G3 8RS, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.

7. Glasgow Science Centre: For those interested in science and technology, the Glasgow Science Centre is one of the best Glasgow museums to visit. The museum is known to be dedicated entirely to science, with works and innovations by scientists like John Logie Baird, John Elder and Willian John MacQuorn Rankine highlighted here. The museum in itself is a sight to behold, as it is a crescent shaped structure built in a futuristic style, covered in titanium, and facing the Clyde river. It is here where you can discover more than 250 displays and exhibits related to science and technology, including pendulums, whispering dishes, plasma balls as well as a huge planetarium.

Location: 50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow G51 1EA, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Entry fee: £12.50 (adult); £10.50 (child/concessions)

8. Scotland Street School Museum: When looking for some of the most unique museums in Glasgow, the Scotland Street School Museum should be on your list. This is a Mackintosh-designed structure, located on Scotland Street and dating back to 1979. The former institution then reopened as a museum thereby giving visitors a chance to gain insights into the cruel ways of the schooling system in Britain, right from the Victorian era all the way to the late 1960s.

Location: 225 Scotland St, Glasgow G5 8QB, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m.
Entry fee: Free

9. Museum of Piping: To gain insights into the history of the famous Scottish bagpipes, the Museum of Piping is the best place to go, in addition to being amongst the major museums in Glasgow. It is in this museum that you can learn a lot of things about the national instrument of Scotland. Located in the National Piping Centre, this offbeat museum has displays that span across three centuries of piping heritage, not just in Scotland, but also other destinations beyond this country. Some of the most popular exhibits here include 18th century bagpipes from Loch Aweside in Argyll, small bagpipes from different places in Northumbria, as well as Hungarian, Spanish, Italian and Polish bagpipes.

Location: 30-34 McPhater St, Glasgow G4 0HW, United Kingdom
Timings: 08:00 a.m. to 08:00 p.m. (Closed on Sunday)
Entry fee: £4.50 (adult); £2.50 (child/concessions)

10. Gallery of Modern Art: The Gallery of Modern Art is amongst the most famous Glasgow museums and art galleries. It is in this museum where visitors can discover some of the popular masterpieces by modern artists like Sebastião Salgado, Hockney as well as Warhol, to name a few. You can also see and admire the artworks of numerous famous Scottish painters like Ken Currie and John Bellany, in addition to see a majestic statue of the Duke of Wellington with a traffic cone on its head. The museum also has a library and a basement café, where you can enjoy exploring temporary exhibitions and refreshments.

Location: 111 Queen St, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow G1 3AH, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.

Check This Out: Things To Do In Glasgow

1. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum: The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of the best museums in Glasgow to visit for free. The museum boasts some of the most impressive collections of Scottish as well as international art, including numerous interactive displays that are sure to provide you with detailed insights into the artworks of the 19th century. There are 22 different galleries here, which include numerous exhibits, ranging from art and sculptures from the renaissance eras to taxidermy as well as ancient Egyptian and Roman artifacts.
Location: Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8AG, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.

2. Riverside Museum: Amongst the best free Glasgow museums is the historic Riverside Museum, which is known for its ultra-modern design and structure. It is home to an amazing collection of historic vehicles as well as many state-of-the-art interactive displays. It was formerly known as the Transport Museum and is one place where you can spend a lot of time marveling at the age-old bikes, cars, trams, carriages as well as buses. The museum also has a 1940s steam locomotive and the Glenlee ship.
Location: 100 Pointhouse Rd, Partick, Glasgow G3 8RS, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.

3. People’s Palace: Another one of the best free museums in Glasgow includes the People’s Palace, wherein you can discover a wide array of exhibits and displays that offer a glimpse into the rich industrial past of Glasgow. Known for its beautiful onsite glasshouse café, the museum first opened in 1898, and is also home to the ornate Doulton Fountain, which is the largest terracotta fountain in the whole world.
Location: Green, Templeton St, Glasgow G40 1AT, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.

4. Scotland Street School Museum: One of the best Glasgow museums is the Scotland Street School Museum, known particularly for its reconstructed classrooms from the Victorian Era, as well as that of the Second World War. This school-turned-museum was designed in the early 1900s and is a great place to take a glimpse into the life of students at school in the last century. You can also enjoy trying on the Eton collars and waistcoats from the Victorian era at the dressing area in the museum or witness the basic wartime uniforms that consisted of jumpers, collars, and ties.
Location: 225 Scotland St, Glasgow G5 8QB, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m.

Know More : Things To Do In Glasgow With Kids

1. Glasgow Science Centre: Ranked as one of the best museums in Glasgow to go with children, the Glasgow Science center features numerous exciting and interactive exhibits, an IMAX Theatre, a huge planetarium as well as cafes. Spread across three floors, this museum is one place where your little ones can indulge in a plethora of experiences, from learning about quantum physics and finding out the future of energy, to exploring the space zone, gaining insight into the universe, and more.

Location: 50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow G51 1EA, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Entry fee: £12.50 (adult); £10.50 (child/concessions)

2. The Tall Ship Glenlee: When looking for museums in Glasgow to visit with your children, head over to see the Tall Ship Glenlee, located along the banks of the Clyde River. This restored Victorian sailing ship is a marvel, complete with exhibitions on maritime and life at sea. Children can also enjoy taking tours of the ship or watch shows at the mini cinema here. The ship was built in 1896 and has a rich history, often also being referred to as “an Italian ship of mystery,” in addition to being a part of the Spanish Navy and having sailed around the world quite a few times.

Location: 150 Pointhouse Rd, Stobcross Rd, Govan, Glasgow G3 8RS, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 04:30 p.m.

3. Pollok Country Park: One of the best Glasgow museums-cum-attractions for children is the Pollok Country Park. It is the largest park in the city and serves as the perfect place for children to run around, play with each other and simply have a fun-filled time out in nature. The park boasts of numerous trails and pathways, in addition to a separate play area for children, as well as a fairy village, a café and highland cattle which children can feed.

Location: 2060 Pollokshaws Rd, Bellahouston, Glasgow G43 1AT, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m.
Entry fee: £2.50 onwards

4. Scottish Football Museum: Take your little ones to the Scottish Football Museum, which ranks as one of the most popular Glasgow museums. Known for promoting the rich football heritage of Scotland from the 19th century to the present day, this museum is located in Hampden Park stadium. It is also home to more than 2500 objects related to football, from strips, stickers and gloves of players, to the Scottish Cup which is the oldest cup in the world, as well as a match ticket from the very first international football match that was held in 1872.

Location: Hampden Park, Glasgow G42 9BA, United Kingdom
Timings: 10:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Entry fee: £13 (adult), £5 (child/concessions)

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The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery is undoubtedly the best museum to visit in Glasgow. It is also the oldest museum in Scotland, tucked inside the premises of the University of Glasgow. With a majority of its collection bequeathed to it by Dr. William Hunter, the museum boasts of an extensive selection of coins, paintings, prints as well as minerals, books and manuscripts, ethnographic journals and materials and more.
You can also find numerous displays of insects and other biological specimens in the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery. The amazing collection of artworks here includes works by famed artists like Chardin, Rembrandt as well as Stubbs, in addition to Mackintosh, Whistler and numerous other pieces by Scottish artists.

There are over 28 museums in Glasgow, some of the most famous of which include the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, the Glasgow Police Museum, the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Scottish Football Museum, and Riverside Museum, among others.

The best time to visit Glasgow is during the summer season in the region, between the months of March and August. This is when the temperatures here are at their peak, with long daylight hours, thereby making it perfect to head outdoors, visit the many different museums and attractions, or even indulge in different activities in the city.

The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of the best museums in Glasgow, and is known for having one of the greatest art collections in all of Europe. There are 22 galleries in this museum, wherein you can discover a plethora of exhibits, from art and animals, to Egyptian and roman artifacts, as well as paintings from 19th century France, with works by Renoir, Monet and Gauguin, among other artists. The museum is also home to one of the finest collections of arms, armor and weaponry in the world.

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You can expect to spend at least two to three hours exploring the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery during your visit. Even though it is relatively smaller than other museums in the city, it has hundreds and thousands of specimens, placed inside jars and other displays.

By Train: You can avail a train ride to Glasgow from across the United Kingdom and head over to two main stations, namely the Glasgow Central Station, which connects the city to the south, and the Glasgow Queen Street Station, which connects routes between Edinburgh and the northern part of the city.

By Sea: You can also reach Glasgow by taking a ferry from the major ports in Belfast and Larne in Northern Ireland. Most of the ferries dock at Cairnryan, located in Southwest Scotland, from where you can take a bus to Glasgow. You can also take a cruise or a ferry boat from mainland Europe to Glasgow.

By Air: Glasgow has three major international airports, which connects the city to the United Kingdom as well as the rest of the world. These include Glasgow Airport, the Glasgow Prestwick Airport and the Edinburgh Airport.