Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery

Tel:  0141 330 5431

Admission:  Free with the exception of Mackintosh House which is £3/£2 concession, but free on a Wednesday after 2pm.

Opening hours:  All 4 of the buildings are open Mon – Sat, 9am – 5pm with the exception of the Zoology Museum which is closed on Saturdays.  All of the buildings are closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Opened in 1870, the University of Glasgow’s Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery is the oldest public museum in Scotland.

The museum first opened in 1807, in a specially constructed building off the High Street, adjoining the original campus of the University.  When the University moved west to its new site at Gilmorehill (to escape crowding and pollution in the city centre) the museum moved too.  In 1870 the Hunterian collections were transferred to the University’s present site and assigned halls within Sir George Gilbert Scott’s neo-Gothic building.

The Hunterian is separated into 4 different sections, located in various buildings on the main campus of the University in the west end of Glasgow.  At first the entire collection was housed together, and displayed in the packed conditions common in museums of that time, but significant sections were later moved away to other parts of the University.  The Zoological collections are now housed within the Graham Kerr Building, the art collections in the Hunterian Art Gallery, and the books and manuscripts in Glasgow University Library.  Hunter’s anatomical collections are housed in the Allen Thomson Building, and his pathological preparations at the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow.

The Hunterian Museum
Housed in large halls in George Gilbert Scott’s University buildings on Gilmorehill, the museum features extensive displays relating to William Hunter and his collections, Roman Scotland (especially the Antonine Wall, geology, ethnography, ancient Egypt, scientific instruments, coins and medals, and much more.

The Zoology Museum
Most of the zoology collections, including those of William Hunter, are displayed in a separate museum within the Graham Kerr building, which also houses most of the University’s zoological research and teaching.  This is also open to the general public.  The insect collections are particularly important and extensive, and are the feature of some excellent recent displays.

The Hunterian Gallery
The Hunterian Art Gallery is now housed in a modern, custom-built facility that is part of the extensive Glasgow University Library complex.  This displays the University’s extensive art collection, and features an outdoor sculpture garden.  The bas relief aluminium doors to the Hunterian Gallery were designed by sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi.  The gallery’s collection includes a large number of the works of James McNeill Whistler and the majority of the watercolours of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

The Mackintosh House
The Mackintosh House is a modern concrete building, part of the gallery-library complex.  It stands on the site of one of two rows of terraced houses which were once sections of Hillhead Street and Southpark Avenue, demolished in the 1960s to make room for the University’s expansion across the residential crown of Gilmorehill.  One of the buildings lost, 78 Southpark Avenue, was formerly a home to Glasgow architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.  The University rebuilt the form of the house (using modern materials) approximately 100 metres from the site of the original.  Due to its displacement, one door now hangs precariously above a 20 foot drop, the ground on what was once Hillhead Street having been radically excavated during the construction.  The Mackintosh House features some of the original woodwork of the old terraced house, and has been furnished entirely to Mackintosh’s design, with original decorations and furniture.

Getting there
The Hunterian is located in the West End of Glasgow just off Byres Rd, and thus is very well connected to the rest of the city via public transport.  The nearest subway station is Hillhead.

Parking
At weekends, free campus parking is available approximately 100m from the Museum and Art Gallery entrances.  Access to parking is from the Main Gate in University Avenue.  There is also pay and display parking available on University Avenue and along Kelvin Way.  Disabled parking is available within the university campus; entry is through the main gate in University Avenue.

Scotland Street School Museum

Phone: 0141 287 0500
Email: museums@csglasgow.org

Admission:  As the Scotland Street School is part of the Glasgow Museum group, admission is free.

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday and Saturday, 10am to 5pm.  Friday and Sunday, 11am to 5pm.

Scotland Street School Museum portrays the history of education in Scotland as a genuine school experience.

At the museum you can learn the story of Scotland Street Public School and the developments in education in Scotland through a combination of displays, audio-visuals and reconstructed and restored classrooms.  The three classroom reconstructions show the changing face of the schoolroom from the Victorian era through the Second World War to the classroom of the fifties and sixties.

You can listen to and read former pupils’ recollections of their schooldays.  Decade by decade, their memories cover topics such as classroom discipline, evacuation and the Second World War, school attire, special activities, playground games and the changing face of the local area.

It is also an essential destination for Mackintosh enthusiasts and all those interested in the history of design.  The museum was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh between 1903 and 1906.  The barrel vaulted cookery room, cloakrooms, and ceramic-tiled drill hall are restored to Mackintosh’s original 1906 designs.  You can also learn about Mackintosh’s stormy working relationship with the School Board and explore his design and detailing in more depth. 

In addition, you might also find your family’s old school photograph on our education collection’s database.  And you can try out your design skills in the Mackintosh room on a touch-screen computer. Or you can experience what it was like to be in one of the classes of yesteryear in the Back to School role playing programme.

Tel: 0141 287 2720
Email: museums@csglasgow.org

Admission: NOW CLOSED

Opening hours: NOW CLOSED

The Museum of Transport is now CLOSED as all of its objects are being moved to the new Riverside Museum (opening spring 2011), the new home of Glasgow’s transport collections.

Glasgow’s Museum of Transport is one of the most popular museums of transport in the British Isles.

Situated in the Kelvin Hall, the Transport Museum attracts half a million visitors a year.  It was founded in 1964 and houses many exhibits of national and international importance.

The museum uses its collections of vehicles and models to tell the story of transport by land and sea, with a unique Glaswegian flavour.  Here you will find the oldest surviving pedal cycle and the finest collection in the world of Scottish-built cars.  They include such world-famous makes as Argyll, Arrol Johnson and Albion.

The breadth of the collection is impressive.  It features all forms of transport from horse-drawn vehicles to buses and fire engines, and from motorcycles to caravans.  Even toy cars and prams are included.

The Clyde Room contains some 250 fascinating ship models.  They represent the huge contribution of the River Clyde and its shipbuilders and engineers to the world of maritime trade.  From the Comet of 1812 to fabulous builders models of the Hood, Howe, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth 2, the Clyde Room reflects the proud boast ‘Clyde built’.

Locomotive manufacture was also an important Glasgow industry, and the museum celebrates our railway heritage.  You can see an impressive collection of famous locomotives.  These include the Caledonian Railway Caley No.123 single driver, the Highland Railway No.103 the Jones Goods and the Gordon Highlander No.49 of the Great North of Scotland Railway.

Much loved by visitors from far and wide are the famous Glasgow trams, the ‘Subway’ station and Kelvin Street.  You can recapture the atmosphere of old Glasgow.

The Museum of Transport has been a firm favourite with generations of Glasgow children and their parents.  For an entertaining day out it really does have something for all the family.

Riverside Museum Project
A new Museum of Transport on the Clyde is under development by Glasgow Museums in collaboration with other Council departments and Glasgow Harbour Ltd.  The Riverside Museum will be a landmark museum which create a more accessible and environmentally stable home for Glasgow’s significant Transport and Technology collections, and for the first time allow the proper interpretation of Glasgow’s important maritime history through the museum site, the Glenlee tall ship and our unique ship model collection. F ind out more about the Riverside Museum.

Tel: 0141 616 6139
Email: info@scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk

Admission: Different for stadium tour and museum entry.  Listed below.

Opening hours: (Subject to events; please check before making your way to stadium).  Stadium tours take place daily at 11am, 12.30pm & 2pm November-March.  There is alo an extra tour at 3.30pm April-October.  Museum opening hours are as follows:
Mon-Sat: 10am – 5pm
Sun: 11am – 5pm

The city of Glasgow very proudly contains a football stadium with 7 tiered levels and 52,000 seats. This stadium is Hampden. Primarily used as the home ground of Queens Park FC, the stadium is probably better known as the home of the Scottish national football team.

Stadium tour

Price: £9 adults, £4.50 children.  (Includes access to the Scottish Football Museum)

Visitors to the stadium are welcome.  You can get a fully guided stadium tour of the stadium, seeing the stadium as players do match day.  The tour includes the changing rooms, warm-up area, the underground roadway, and as you walk down the tunnel towards the pitch, hear the famous Hampden roar!  The tour also allows you to climb the stairs to the Cup Presentation Area.

The Scottish Football Museum

Price: £6 adults, £3 children.  (Museum access only).

The Scottish Football Museum contains more than 2,500 exhibits in 14 galleries, and is home to the worlds most impressive collection of football memorabilia.  These galleries guide you through the history of football in Scotland (one of the oldest footballing nations in the world), and will show you the sights, sounds and stories of the worlds most popular game.  Some exhibits change throughout the year.  A current exhibit, and one which is particularly good is ‘The Auld Enemy’, which charts the history of the oldest rivalry in football: Scotland versus England.  There is also a ‘Matchday’ exhibition which aimed to capture the unique atmosphere of football teams in the Scottish Premier and Football Leagues.  I haven’t yet visited this one though, so I can’t comment on it.

If you are fortunate enough to be in Glasgow when there is a Scotland match on, I would recommend trying to get a ticket to see it.  Myself and a group of friends go every home game that the Scotland national team play, and the atmosphere in that stadium is just phenomenal (if you’re supporting Scotland that is).  I get shivers just thinking about it.  However if you can’t get a ticket to see a match don’t worry.  Just go for a walk around the city and you’ll see Scotland flags galore, kilts and tartan skirts everywhere, and probably a bunch of ‘See You Jimmy’ hats all over the place.  You could also get a ticket to see Queens Park play – tickets are only about £7 for those matches.

For any football lover, Hampden is a great day out.

P.S.  Come on Scotland!!!

Location

The stadium is located approximately 4km South of the city centre. Directions are listed below.

Car:
Exit the M8 at Junction 15 and passing Infirmary on left proceed into High Street and cross the Albert Bridge into Crown Street. Join Cathcart Road and proceed south until it becomes Carmunnock Road. Turn left into Mount Annan Drive and left again into Kinghorn Drive for the Stadium.

Bus:
Line 31 (from the St Enoch Centre to Letherby Drive/Cathcart Road), line 37 (from Glasgow Cross to Letherby Drive/Cathcart Road) & line 75 (from Argyle Street to Aikenhead Road).

Train:
The stations Mount Florida or Kings Park are served by trains from Glasgow Central (5-10 minutes walk to the stadium).

The Glasgow sightseeing tour also stops at Hampden.

For more information, click here to see the official Hampden Park website.  For more information on the Scottish Football Museum, click here.

The Burrell Collection

Tel: 0141 287 2550

Admission: Free

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday and Saturday 10am - 5pm, Friday and Sunday 11am – 5pm

The Burrell Collection is probably Glasgow’s most extensive and diverse museum.

The award-winning building contains a unique and internationally famous collection of art in a beautiful woodland setting.  Bequeathed to the city by Shipping magnate Sir William Burrell in 1944, the collection includes paintings by Rembrant, Cézanne, Bellini and Sisley.

Sir William’s interests were worldwide in nature, with a special focus on the arts and crafts of medieval Europe, Oriental art and European paintings.  The collection, which is comprised of over 9,000 objects, also includes Greek and Roman artefacts, objects from several Chinese dynasties, along with other ceramics, furniture and tapestries.  There are also stained glass works with modern sculpture by Rodin and Epstein and an important collection of Islamic art.

It really is astounding, and extremely impressive, that all of these items were collected by one man; William Burrell.  Not only is this a very interesting collection, but despite the ugly conservatory style building, the setting of the collection is actually very pretty; it is housed within the woodlands of Pollock Country Park, in Pollock House (which was also gifted to Glasgow City Council).  So you can enjoy a picnic while you’re there!  That probably would be the highlight of the day if you took kids with you.  However, the Burrell also hosts major temporary exhibitions and there are family friendly events throughout the year.

Tel: 0141 271 2962

Admission:  Free

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday and Saturday 10am - 5pm, Friday and Sunday 11am – 5pm

The People’s Palace is Glasgow’s social history museum and a chance to see the story of the people and city of Glasgow from 1750 to the present.

You can see paintings, prints and photographs displayed alongside a wealth of historic artefacts, film and computer interactives.

There is: dancing and holidaying; home life during the Second World War; and a trip to the steamie to get the clothes washed. Visit the ‘single end’ and discover how a family lived in this typical one-room Glasgow tenement family home of the 1930s. See the amazing banana boots worn by Billy Connolly on stage in the 1970s. Have a look at the Glassford family portrait and find out the history of this painting of a tobacco lord and his family and why one figure was painted out. Discover the political history of the city through some of the superb and unique banners on display.

On the top floor is the Glasgow history painting series made by artist Ken Currie in 1987. The series commemorates the massacre of the Calton Weavers, which marked the birth of the trade union movement and visually presents the political history of working class struggle in the city.

Winter Gardens
Attached to the People’s Palace is the Winter Gardens, and elegant Victorian glasshouse where you can relax among the tropical plants and enjoy the café. There is a programme of temporary exhibitions and events throughout the year.

Doulton Fountain
The Doulton Fountain is the largest terracotta fountain in the world, as well as the best surviving example of its kind. The fountain has been beautifully restored and relocated to the front of the People’s Palace. Find out more about the fountain from Glasgow City Council’s website.

Tel: 0871 540 1000

Admission: Prices listed below

Opening hours: Daily 10am – 5pm

The Glasgow Science Centre is a brilliant day out for the whole family.

My kids absolutely love it, and I must admit, I enjoy it too!  There are 3 main attractions within the Science Centre, each of which I have written a bit about below.  These are the Science Mall (the interactive museum type bit which is home to the Scottish Power Planetarium), the Tower (sometimes called the Science Tower or the Glasgow Tower), and the IMAX cinema (Scotlands first 3-D cinema).  When you visit the Science Centre you can go to just 1 of these parts, pick 2 to visit, or enjoy all 3.

The Science Mall

This is the biggest part of the Science Centre, which contains 3 floors packed full of interactive exhibits, the Scottish Power Planetarium, Science Show Theatre and Climate Change Theatre.  The exhibits are such good fun for kids – mine just absolutely love playing with everything.  These aim to educate kids in a really interactive and fun way in many different scientific fields, although there does seem to be a bias towards physics and engineering (which as a biologist I definitely noticed).  The staff are really friendly and seem to love playing with the exhibits as much as the kids do.  The staff also run workshops throughout the day which again are really interactive and fun.  I took the kids on Easter weekend and they loved the Egg Drop Challenge workshop.  I think their favourite one is the cockroach workshop though; for some reason they love patting them!

There are shows on throughout the day which again are really good for kids; you could potentially see anything from a body being dissected in a rather gross way (a fake one obviously) or someone setting fire to stuff.  Some of the Science Shows are aimed at older kids though which can be a bit difficult, so make sure you check before you go to one of those.  The climate change shows are a fun movie that you through – they dont have a presenter.  But the kids still enjoyed that one with it’s cute sheep.

The Scottish Power Planetarium is amazing.  A show is well worth the extra £2.  You have to see it to understand what it’s like – it’s like getting taken away into space for half an hour.  For the kids – it’s a great adventure, and for the adults, it’s really relaxing.  The presenters are really nice and will happily answer your questions about their show or about the planetarium.  Again, there are various shows on which are aimed at different age ranges, so check which ones are suitable before you go.

Even if you don’t do anything else, you should definitely do the Science Mall.

Glasgow Tower

I love the Glasgow Tower.  It boasts being the tallest freestanding structure in the UK at more than 100m, and the only structure in the world (apart from windmills) that can fully rotate 360 degrees – by that I mean that entire structure can turn – the whole Tower.  The ride up in the lift is great fun – there are large windows so you can see out the whole way up which the kids seem to love.  As the icing on the cake, the staff in the Tower are so knowledgeable about the history and geography of Glasgow.  It really is a must for any tourist or interested resident.

It gets a bad name for not working and being closed all the time, but I think that’s a bit unfair.  The reason it’s often closed is partly because of the weather; we all know that the weather in Glasgow is quite unpredictable, and if wind speeds get above 20mph then people can’t go up the Tower anymore.  I think that is quite reasonable because the lifts are on the outside of the structure, and going up those for 2 and a half minutes in high winds would probably cause anyone to get pretty scared.

IMAX cinema

The IMAX is a 3-D cinema which also shows feature films like Transformers and Harry Potter.  The screen is massive – something like the length of 3 buses and the picture and sound is an amazing experience.  The 3-D movies are really good.  If you haven’t seen one before then it is well worth it (as long as you pick a good one).  And it’s great seeing the kids trying to catch stuff as it ‘comes out of the screen’.  Just brilliant – there isn’t much more I can say about a cinema!

The ticket prices are a bit complicated (they seem to have made it even more complicated with their new ticket pricing), and they are impossible to find on their website, so I have tried to simplify it as much as possible below.

* All of these ticket prices include an approximate £1 gift aid donation.  Gift aid allows tax relief on money donated to charities.  So any amount donated will be treated as if it has had basic tax deducted already.  Basically, charities like it and try to encourage you to gift aid.  The last time I was there you got a voucher to spend within the Science Centre which I think was slightly more than the amount donated.  Obviously you do have a choice, and if you don’t pay tax yourself then you cant gift aid.

** The season ticket prices are actually really good value.  The season ticket gets you into the science mall and planetarium as many times as you like in a year.  If you go 3/4 times in a year, you’ve pretty much made your money back.

Unfortunately they don’t have a deal for all 3 attractions.  They say it’s because they don’t advise you doing all 3 attractions in a day as there is just too much to do.  Although there is a lot to fit in, it is most definitely possible to do everything.  I think it’s a shame that if you’re a visitor in Glasgow and can only spend one day in the Science Centre, it can be extremely expensive to do all 3 attractions with the present ticket rates/packages.

Tel: 0141 553 2557

Admission:  Free

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday and Saturday 10am to 5pm, Friday and Sunday 11am to 5pm.

This award-winning museum is unique in it’s exploration of the importance of religion in people’s lives across the world and across time.

St Mungo’s Museum aims to promote understanding and respect between people of different faiths and of none.

The building, which stands on the site of the medieval Bishop’s Castle, was opened in April 1993.  It is situated near Glasgow’s magnificent Gothic cathedral and opposite Provand’s Lordship, the oldest house in the city.

The Gallery of Religious Life explores the world’s six main religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism.  The museum also looks at other beliefs such as Chinese, native American, Egyptian and African.  St Mungo’s Museum is in fact the only museum in the world which chronicles all of the major faiths.  In this gallery you can listen to people of all religions talk about their faith and meet the Mexican Day of the Dead skeleton, which celebrates the victory of life over death.  You can also see stunning works of art including the figure of the Hindu god, Shiva.  The gallery is illuminated with a wealth of colours by beautiful stained glass windows depicting Christian saints and prophets which creates a unique atmosphere in the museum.

The Scottish Gallery presents the fascinating story of how religion has shaped the culture and beliefs of people in the West of Scotland from earliest times to the present.  You can admire the beautiful Sharing of Faiths Banner, celebrating the multi-faith city of Glasgow today.  Beside the museum is Britain’s first permanent Zen garden a tranquil haven where you can relax, and which symbolises the harmony between people and nature.

The museum hosts a variety of temporary exhibitions throughout the year, and in 2007 offers a programme of exhibitions and events relating to the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.  They also run anti-sectarian workshops.

An excellent day out!

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

Tel: 0141 276 9599

Admission: Free

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday and Saturday 10am - 5pm, Friday and Sunday 11am - 5pm.

Situated in Glasgows West End, surrounded by Kelvingrove Park, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is an absolutely stunning building; the red sandstone walls and high, majestic turrets and beautiful surroundings.  Even just going to see it from the outside is worthwhile!

After a 3 year, £35 million restoration project, Kelvingrove reopened in July 2006.  Since then, over 2 million visitors have marvelled at Kelvingrove’s treasures.

There are 8,000 objects on display in the newly renovated gallery.  Some were already there before, but there are also quite a few new ones including a huge giraffe, a 4-metre Ceratosaur and a restored Spitfire.  The new Mackintosh and Glasgow Style galleries explore the genius of Glasgows most famous architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh.  It also hosts the city’s largest display of the Glasgow Style’s wide range of media and techniques.  In addition, Dali’s iconic painting Christ of St John of the Cross has returned to Kelvingrove, and sits alongside the likes of Botticelli, Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh, and Picasso.

The museum is very child friendly, and the natural history section is particularly interesting for both adults and children.  In fact, children will live it – it really is brilliant.

Another point of interest is the road leading to the back entrance of the museum.  Some people will tell you that the building was accidentally built backwards, but that is not the case.  The truth is, the position of the road changed at the last minute!

The museum also features education facilities, shops and a lovely café.  The new Exhibition Gallery hosts exciting temporary exhibitions throughout the year, and you can find out more about the collections and go online in the Study Centre and Library.

For more information go to the official website.