visit museums in and around
Glasgow 2010
FREE Entry
www.glasgowmuseums.com
Welcome to
Glasgow Museums!
The City of Glasgow owns one of the richest collections
in Europe, displayed in 9 venues across the city. From
paintings by Degas and Cézanne to Sir Roger the Elephant,
Charles Rennie Mackintosh furniture to a real Spitfire,
1950s trams to cutting edge contemporary art, we’ve got
objects and exhibits which will fire your imagination.
While Glasgow City Council still owns the collections and the
venues, Culture & Sport Glasgow now manages these for the
City. Admission to our museums is free, and most have a café
where you can relax and enjoy a coffee or lunch during or after
your visit. And at Glasgow Museums, children are particularly
welcome – most of our exhibitions have events programmes
especially for them, and our Learning & Access team run
activities and workshops during the school holidays too. There
are exciting programmes of exhibitions and events throughout
the year at all our museums, so come along and be inspired!
We would like to acknowledge the generous support given to
Glasgow Museums by the Friends of Glasgow Museums, the
Volunteer Guide Service and our other volunteers.
The National Trust for Scotland manages Pollok House on
behalf of Glasgow City Council and entry charges apply
between April and October and on special event days.
Opening Hours
Kelvingrove, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Burrell
Collection are open daily, 10am–5pm, except Fridays
and Sundays 11am–5pm. All other venues have the same
opening hours, but are closed on Mondays.
See individual museum pages for any further differences in
opening hours.
City Sightseeing Glasgow bus tours operate from 9.30am–
4.30pm every day, and stop at most Glasgow Museums venues.
To find out more, visit the website at
www.citysightseeingglasgow.co.uk or phone 0141 204 0444
Key to symbols
Free guided tours available
Gift shop
Library
Wheelchair access
Toilets
Opening hours variations
Café
Hearing system
Venue available for hire – please
contact alan.mcgregor@csglasgow.org
Subway station nearby
Railway station nearby
Bus services nearby
Parking information
kelvingrove art gallery and museum
Argyle Street I Glasgow G3 8AG I Phone 0141 276 9599 I
Fax 0141 276 9540 I Text phone 0141 276 9500/9511 I
www.glasgowmuseums.com I
www.glasgowmuseums.com
Glasgow’s favourite building has welcomed over 6 million
visitors since reopening in 2006. Inside this magnificent
building, 22 themed, state-of-the-art galleries house an
astonishing 8,000 objects. The internationally significant
collections are extensive and wide-ranging, covering
natural history, arms and armour, art from many art
movements and periods of history, and much, much more –
even a real Spitfire!
Kelvingrove’s displays show more of Glasgow Museums’
collections than ever before. You’re sure to agree that
Kelvingrove truly is a museum for the 21st century!
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Exhibition Gallery hosts
exciting temporary exhibitions. The education facilities
include interactive Discovery Centres, while there is a
choice of shops and cafés where you can round off your
visit. The Study Centre and Library allow you to find out
more about the collections and you can also carry out
research online.
We can provide visually impaired visitors with a guide
to describe some of the museum displays and objects.
Please call the number above at least 48 hours in advance
of your intended visit so we can arrange this for you.
Private evening tours are available through Intermezzo
Arts. Treat friends or business contacts to a ‘Night at the
Museum’ at Kelvingrove, including VIP treatment and
entertaining anecdotal stories about Glasgow’s famous
collections. To book your private tour, phone intermezzo
on 0141 636 6929 or email info@intermezzo-arts.co.uk.
Free guided tours available
Gift shop
Wheelchair access
Toilets
Café
Hearing system
venue available for hire
Subway station nearby - Kelvinhall
Railway station nearby - Partick
Bus services nearby - 9, 16, 23, 42, 62
Pay and display parking onsite
west end
riverside museum appeal
The Riverside Museum Project will see the creation of a new
Museum of Transport on the banks of the River Clyde and the
River Kelvin at Glasgow Harbour. Internationally renowned
Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid has designed an inspirational
building that will house iconic examples of the City’s
extensive collection of cars, buses, steam locomotives, trams
and motorcycles.
The new museum is scheduled to open in spring 2011,
and will include purpose-built education facilities, three
re-created Glasgow ‘streets’ spanning the years 1890–1980,
and many innovative attractions such as a car wall and
bicycle velodrome. Throughout the museum there will be
IT stations for visitors to learn more about this dynamic and
exciting collection.
And for the first time, visitors will be able to enter two subway
cars, four trams, four locomotive footplates and two buses.
They’ll also have the opportunity to board the Tall Ship
Glenlee, which will be berthed next to the museum along with
other vessels belonging to the Clyde Maritime Trust.
The Riverside Museum Appeal (RMA) is seeking to raise
£5 million in donations and sponsorship from companies,
trusts and individuals to support the project. For further
information please contact Appeal Director Gavin McLellan
at gavin.mclellan@csglasgow.org; phone 0141 276 9515; or fax
0141 276 9535.
Recognized as a Scottish Charity SC033286
www.riversideappeal.org
west end
fossil grove
Victoria Park I Glasgow G14 1BN I Phone 0141 276 1695 I
Email LESCcommunications@glasgow.gov.uk (general enquiries)
I
www.glasgow.gov.uk I
Opening times for Fossil Grove vary on a seasonal basis.
Please call 0141 276 1695 to confirm opening times before your
visit.
Fossil Grove is Glasgow’s most ancient attraction. Its fossil
trees provide an insight into the world 330 million years ago.
Eleven fossil tree stumps still stand where they once grew: a
corner of an ancient forest preserved in stone.
The fossils represent a group of extinct plants known as giant
club mosses which grew in vast, swampy, tropical forests.
Debris from these forests formed the coal seams that helped
Glasgow grow into a major industrial city. Excavation in 1887
uncovered the fossils and a building was erected to protect
them. Small displays provide information and interpret the
site for visitors.
Wheelchair access
Railway station nearby - Jordanhill
Bus services nearby - 44, 44A
Parking information - Free on local streets
west end
people’s palace and winter gardens
Glasgow Green I Glasgow G40 1AT I Phone 0141 276 0788 I
Fax 0141 276 0787 I Text phone 0141 276 0795 I
www.glasgowmuseums.com I
The People’s Palace is Glasgow’s social history museum, set
in historic Glasgow Green. It tells the story of the people and
city of Glasgow from 1750 to the end of the 20th century.
Explore the city’s social history through paintings, prints
and photographs and a wealth of historic artefacts, film
and computer interactives. The thematic displays give a
wonderful insight into how Glaswegians lived, worked and
played in years gone by.
See the Single End to learn how poor Glasgow families of
the 1930s struggled to make ends meet in the cramped
and uncomfortable conditions of a one-room tenement flat.
Discover the political history of the city through the superb
and unique banners on display. Take a trip to the steamie
for a traditional 1950s clothes-washing session.
In the adjacent Winter Gardens you can wander among
the exotic palms and plants or enjoy a coffee or lunch at
the café. Outside, you can admire the restored Doulton
Fountain and relax in the attractive surroundings of Glasgow
Green, one of the oldest public spaces in Glasgow.
Gift shop
Wheelchair access
Toilets
Café
Venue available for hire
Opening hours variations - People’s Palace closed on Mondays,
Winter Gardens open daily
Hearing system
Subway station nearbySt Enoch
Railway station nearby - Argyle Street, High Street,
Bellgrove, Bridgeton
Bus services nearby - 16, 18, 40, 61, 62, 263
Parking information - Free on Glasgow Greenmain carriageway
city centre
gallery of modern art (goma)
Royal Exchange Square I Glasgow G1 3AH I Phone 0141 287
3050 I
Fax 0141 287 3062 I Text phone 0141 287 3005 I
www.glasgowmuseums.com I
Housed in an elegant 18th-century neo-classical building
in the heart of Glasgow, GoMA offers a thought-provoking
programme of temporary exhibitions, featuring work
by local, national and international artists. GoMA also
addresses contemporary social issues through its major
biennial programmes.
Cutting-edge international works on display are from a
variety of media including painting, sculpture, prints,
photography, video and installations.
The balcony galleries show off the work of collaborative
arts projects between communities and artists. This work
is curated by the Learning & Access team, who also run
regular workshops, projects and artists’ talks. For families,
the Saturday Art Club offers an exciting introduction to
various artistic methods and formats and allows young and
old alike to develop their artistic potential.
Free guided tours available
Gift shop
Library
Wheelchair access
Toilets
Café
Opening hours variations - Open until 8pm on Thursdays
Hearing system
Subway station nearby - Buchanan Street, St Enoch
Railway station nearby - Argyle Street, Central, Queen Street
Bus services nearby - All city centre services
Parking information - Pay and display and multi-storey
parking nearby
city centre
st mungo museum of religious life and art
2 Castle Street I Glasgow G4 0RH I Phone 0141 276 1625 I
Fax 0141 276 1626 I Text phone 0141 276 1629 I
www.glasgowmuseums.com I
The award-winning St Mungo Museum explores
the importance of religion in peoples’ lives
across the world and across time. It aims to
promote understanding and respect between
people of different faiths and of none.
You can find out about some of the world’s
major religions including Buddhism,
Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism,
Sikhism and Chinese beliefs. You can also
see stunning works of religious art including a
statue of the Hindu God Ganesh. The upper
floors boast unrivalled views over the nearby
Cathedral and Necropolis.
Outside is Britain’s first Zen Garden, where you
can relax and enjoy a haven of tranquility in a
bustling city. The museum hosts a variety of
temporary exhibitions throughout the year and
an extensive programme of events, workshops
and talks with wide-ranging themes, including
issues relating to religion in Scotland today.
Gift shop
Wheelchair access
Toilets
Café
Opening hours variations - Closed on Mondays
Hearing system
Venue available for hire
Railway station nearby - High Street
Bus services nearby - 11, 12, 36, 38, 42,
56, 89, 90
Parking information - Pay and display parking nearby
city centre
provand’s lordship
3 Castle Street I Glasgow G4 0RB I Phone 0141 552 8819 I
Fax 0141 552 4744 I www.glasgowmuseums.com I
Step back in time and discover some of Glasgow’s unique
history with a visit to the oldest house in the city. Provand’s
Lordship was built in 1471 as part of a hospital by Andrew
Muirhead, Bishop of Glasgow, and is one of only four
medieval buildings to survive in Glasgow.
Following extensive restoration and a donation of a fine
collection of 17th-century Scottish furniture by Sir William
Burrell, it now provides a real flavour of what a home
interior of around 1700 would have looked like. Behind the
house is the St Nicholas Garden with its intriguing stone
masks, known as the Tontine Faces. Designed in 1995, this
medicinal herb garden is an oasis of calm where you can
contemplate Glasgow’s rich past and relax with its quietly
flowing fountain.
The museum is opposite St Mungo Museum and
Glasgow Cathedral.
Gift shop - In St Mungo Museum
Wheelchair access - Limited
Toilets - In St Mungo Museum
Café - In St Mungo Museum
Opening hours variations - Closed on Mondays
Railway station nearby - High Street
Bus services nearby - 11, 12, 36, 38, 42,
56, 89, 90
Parking information - Pay and display parking nearby
city centre
glasgow museums resource centre (GMRC)
200 Woodhead Road I Nitshill I Glasgow G53 7NN I Phone 0141
276 9300 I
Fax 0141 276 9305 I Text phone 0141 276 9428 I
www.glasgowmuseums.com I
Glasgow Museums Resource Centre (GMRC) is the store for
the City’s priceless museum collections. It’s a treasure trove
of wonderful objects, and it’s accessible to the public!
Less than 2% of our 1 million objects can be displayed at
any one time, so at GMRC we store everything from priceless
paintings to stuffed animals, vintage cars to ceremonial swords
and much more besides. This kind of storage facility is usually
out of bounds to the public, so it offers a truly unique visitor
experience.
Book a place on one of our regular tours to discover
this fascinating venue. Phone 0141 276 9300 or email
GMRCbookings@csglasgow.org
ALL visits to GMRC must be booked in advance.
Free guided tours available
Wheelchair access
Toilets
Opening hours variations - Closed on Mondays
Railway station nearby - Nitshill
Bus services nearby - 45A, 56, 56A, 57, 57A
Parking information - On-site car parking and
coach parking
south side
Tours at GMRC
Our regular tours that run at least once a week
are:
• Human History – discover objects that tell us
about people and cultures from around the
world and across time
• Curatorial and Topical Tours – get an
in-depth insight into a particular object or
collection
• Highlights of GMRC – this whistle-stop tour
is a great introduction to the venue and its
many treasures
• Art – A fascinating focus on our vast
collection of paintings and works on paper
• Transport and Technology – A closer look
at objects in our exceptional transport and
technology collections
As part of our busy programme of events and
activities, GMRC also offers special tours,
including tours for children of all ages and
families. To find out more, phone 0141 276 9300
or visit www.glasgowmuseums.com
ALL tours are free, but must be booked
in advance.
the open museum
The Open Museum is Glasgow Museums’
Outreach Service. Many of the objects from
Glasgow’s rich collections can be seen at
a range of community venues citywide. We
work in partnership with community groups
across the city to create handling boxes,
reminiscence kits, travelling exhibitions,
community venue displays and exhibitions
inspired by Glasgow’s diverse collections.
Many of these resources are available for
loan allowing people to get up close to
museum objects in their own community.
If you would like to find out more about
borrowing a reminiscence kit or handling box
to support the work you do we would like to
hear from you. If you have a great idea for
an exhibition or would like to see an object
from the museums’ collections on display in
your community, then the Open Museum staff
are ready to offer support and advice. Our
exhibitions are always on the move so to find
out what you can see locally at any one time
please contact us in advance.
Contact: Open Museum, GMRC, 200
Woodhead Road, Nitshill, Glasgow G53 7NN,
0141 276 9300 or keep up to date with our
latest resources and projects through the Open
Museum link at www.glasgowmuseums.com
The Open Museum service is free.
south side
scotland street school museum
225 Scotland Street I Glasgow G5 8QB I Phone 0141 287 0500 I
Fax 0141 287 0515 I Text phone 0141 287 0513 I
www.glasgowmuseums.com I
Glasgow’s most celebrated architect, Charles Rennie
Mackintosh, designed Scotland Street School between 1903
and 1906 for the School Board of Glasgow. Now a museum, it
tells the story of education in Scotland from 1872 to the late
20th century.
You can travel back in time to see what school days were like
in the reign of Queen Victoria, during World War II, and in
the 1950s and 60s, in our three reconstructed classrooms,
and hear ex-pupils and teachers reminisce about their own
school days.
This memorable museum is a must for Mackintosh fans: visit
the Mackintosh room to study his designs for the building
and try out your own design ideas on our touch-screen
computers. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions on
a regular basis.
To round off your visit, drop in to the Willow Café and Gift
Shop to relax with a coffee and browse for souvenirs.
Gift shop
Wheelchair access
Toilets
Café
Hearing system
Opening hours variations - Closed on Mondays
Venue available for hire
Subway station nearby - Shields Road
Bus services nearby - 89, 90
Parking information - Pay and display (adjacent to
Shields Road Subway station)
south side
Pollok House
Pollok Country Park I 2060 Pollokshaws Road I Glasgow G43 1AT
I
Phone 0844 493 2202 I Fax 0844 493 2203 I
www.glasgowmuseums.com I
www.nts.org.uk I
Visit Pollok House and see the Scottish country house at its
best. A visit captures the flavour of life upstairs and
downstairs
around 1930. The house is filled with wonderful collections
of antique furniture, silverware and ceramics, an impressive
library, and paintings by William Blake and Spanish artists
including El Greco.
The Maxwell family lived at Pollok for over 700 years. In 1966
they gave their 18th-century Palladian mansion, its walled
garden and the land now forming Pollok Country Park to the
people of Glasgow. The house’s beautifully kept gardens,
including a collection of over 1,000 species of rhododendrons,
are also open to the public. There are special events throughout
the year so there’s always something different to see. Pollok
House is near the Burrell Collection in award-winning Pollok
Country Park. Why not have a day out and visit them both?
Admission Charges
The National Trust for Scotland manages Pollok House on behalf
of Glasgow City Council. Between April and October admission
charges apply: adults £5.50, children and concessions £4.50,
family ticket £15, 1-parent family ticket £12. From November
to March entrance is free, except for special event days. Please
note that the majority of days in December are designated as
special event days and charges apply.
Gift shop
Wheelchair access
Toilets
Café
Hearing system
Venue available for hire – please
contact jrodger@nts.org.uk
Opening hours variations - Open daily 10am–5pm
Railway station nearby - Pollokshaws West
Bus services nearby - 45, 45A, 57
Parking information - Free car parking and
coach parking
south side
the burrell collection
Pollok Country Park I 2060 Pollokshaws Road I Glasgow G43 1AT
I
Phone 0141 287 2550 I Fax 0141 287 2597 I Text phone 0141 287
0047 I
www.glasgowmuseums.com I
In the heart of Pollok Country Park, this award-winning
building houses a unique collection of art in a beautiful
woodland setting.
Shipping magnate Sir William Burrell donated his
astonishing collection of over 8,000 objects to the city in
1944. Focusing on late medieval and early Renaissance
Europe, it also contains important examples of Chinese and
Islamic art, French paintings and Ancient Civilizations.
Through this donation, the City of Glasgow acquired one
of the greatest collections ever created by one person. Sir
William’s important collection is a must-see for any visitor.
There are also reconstructions of rooms from Sir William’s
home, furnished in gothic style with items from the collection.
The Burrell hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year.
There are also regular family-friendly activities and hands-on
workshops to enjoy during your visit.
Free guided tours available
Gift shop
Wheelchair access
Toilets
Café
Hearing system
Venue available for hire
Railway station nearby - Pollokshaws West
Bus services nearby - 45, 45A, 57
Parking information - Pay and display
parking on site
south side
Why not also visit...
hunterian museum & art gallery
University of Glasgow I Glasgow G12 8QQ I Phone 0141 330 4221
(Museum) I
Phone 0141 330 5431 (Art Gallery) I www.hunterian.gla.ac.uk I
Open 9.30am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday
(closed weekends) Admission is free,
except to The Mackintosh House and some
temporary exhibitions.
The Hunterian, home to over a million
objects, is Scotland’s oldest public
museum. It includes an art gallery and
the reassembled home of Charles Rennie
Mackintosh.
The Hunterian is undergoing renovation,
so opening hours and public access may
vary. For an update on what is currently
on display please call 0141 330 4221.
the tall ship at glasgow harbour
100 Stobcross Road (SECC West) I Glasgow G3 8QQ I
Phone 0141 222 2513 I www.thetallship.com I
Open daily 10am–5pm (Mar–Oct), 10am–4pm (Nov–Feb)
Admission charges apply.
Please note from August 2010 access to the Tall Ship will be
limited to the visitor centre. Please phone in advance of your visit
to check access.
west end
trongate 103
103 Trongate I Glasgow G1 5HD I www.trongate103.com I
Open daily 10.00am–5.00pm except Sunday
12noon–5.00pm.
For times of classes, workshops and other
activities, please visit the website.
Admission to Trongate 103 is free. Please note
that the organizations based there may charge for
some of their programmes. Visit www.trongate103.
com for contact details for each organization.
Trongate 103 is a centre for the arts and
creativity, housed over six storeys in a former
Edwardian warehouse in the Merchant City.
This major resource, with a cluster of exhibition
spaces and production facilities, will house a
variety of the city’s art and creative organizations,
including Street Level Photoworks, Project Ability,
Glasgow Print Studio, Transmission Gallery,
Sharmanka, Glasgow Independent Studio and
Project Room, Glasgow Media Access Centre,
Russian Cultural Centre and Café Cossachok. The
centre opens to the public in September 2009.
Trongate 103 offers a wide range of opportunities
for everyone, from artists to non-artists alike.
With events, activities and workshops you can
participate in, and exhibitions you can visit,
Trongate 103 gives you the chance to see art, buy
art, and even make art!
free entry
with thanks to our funders
 Historic Scotland
 Heritage Lottery Fund
 The Art Fund
 Scottish Natural Heritage
 The European Union
 Glasgow Scotland With Style
 Friends of Glasgow Museums
 Scottish Executive
Entry to all Culture and Sport Glasgow Museums is free.
Please note – entry to some temporary exhibitions at
Kelvingrove is subject to an entry fee.
The National Trust for Scotland administers Pollok
House for Glasgow City Council and entry charges apply
between April and October and on special event days.
Admission charges apply to The Tall Ship and to the
Mackintosh House. Trongate 103 houses several
organizations, and they may charge for some of their
events and activities.
Scottish Tourist Board Star Ratings
All Glasgow Museums are assessed and rated by
VisitScotland (formerly the Scottish Tourist Board)
as part of its Quality Assurance Scheme.
Visit www.glasgowmuseums.com or contact any venue for
up-to-date star ratings.