There are so many museums in Glasgow you can spend days visiting them and still not have enough time to see them all.
Glasgow’s museums span numerous different genres, meaning there is something that will interest everybody in your group.
To help you navigate your way around the different museums I will tell you all of the information you need to know, including location, cost and themes.
As this post covers a range of different museum types feel free to use the list below to jump to a specific section;
Art Museums
Glasgow is home to multipe different art museums that cover a range of different art styles.
Below are just a few of the art museums in the city.
Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art
Located right in the centre of the city the Gallery of Modern Art (also known as GOMA) is home to 4 different galleries with a wide range of exhibitions showing different ideas and unique styles of different artists.
Entry to the entire museum is free, and it is open 7 days a week. Combine that with it’s convenient location then it is an ideal place to spend a rainy day.
Pollok House
It might be difficult to believe, but Pollok House is just 7 minutes outside of the city by train.
Located in Pollok Country Park this National Trust Scotland site is home to one of the grandest houses in the Glasgow area. With collections of Spanish art, as well as works by other artists, it is an ideal location to visit if you want to see what life was like for the upper classes.
Entry to the Main House will cost you £8.50 and the house is open every day. Entry to the surrounding Park is free.
The easiest way to access Pollok House is to use the train. The closest train station is Pollokshaws West. Four trains per hour leave from Glasgow Central Station and the journey time is 7 minutes.
When you arrive at Pollokshaws West, it is a short 10 minute walk to the house.
TOP TIP: When purchasing a ticket for the train, ask a member of staff to point you to the correct train. Pollok has 4 stations that all look similar when written out. ScotRail staff will be more than happy to help you.
The Burrell Collection
The Burrell Collection can often be forgotten or overlooked by people visiting Glasgow. Located just outside the city the collection tells the story of Sir William Burrell (he is considered one of the world’s greatest art collectors).
The Collection is home to multiple interactive displays and offers a truly immersive experience for every person who visits regardless of their age.
Entry to the collection is Free, and it is open every day.
The best bit is that the Burrell Collection and Pollok House are just 5 minutes walk from each other, meaning you can decide when you get there which one to see.
The easiest way to access Burrell Collection is to use the train. The closest train station is Pollokshaws West. Four trains per hour leave from Glasgow Central Station and the journey time is 7 minutes.
When you arrive at Pollokshaws West, it is a short 10 minute walk to the museum.
Transport Museums
Glasgow is home to a few different museums and tours that focus on Transport within the city.
Riverside Museum
Glasgow’s Riverside Museum is home to exhibits and collections that highlight the role transport played in the growth of Glasgow as a City.
The museum opened here in 2011 and offers visitors the chance to learn about the important role that transport played in the development of Glasgow. With exhibits on the Subway, the old tram network, vintage cars, vintage trains and more there is something for every transport fan.
Entry to the museum is Free making it attractive to families with children looking for something to do on a budget. The museum is open everyday.
The easiest way to reach the museum is to use either the Glasgow Subway or ScotRail services to Partick.
When you exit the station follow signs to the Riverside Museum, you need to walk under the railway line and cross over the Clydeside Expressway.
Glasgow Central Station Tour
Now, fans of history and transport cannot say they visited Glasgow until they do the tour of Glasgow Central Station. Plus you can say you have met that guy with the beard from the local telly show.
Glasgow Central Station is the busiest train station in Scotland, and has been vital in the development of the city. It became even more popular when the TV show “Inside Central Station” gave locals the opportunity to see what it is like for the staff working in the station every day.
One of the two guides Paul and Jackie have dedicated thousands of hours between them to learn about the station, and Jackie designed the museum you visit on the tour.
Giving you the opportunity to explore hidden parts of the station that are hidden from the public you get the chance to see what the station used to be like, and see old railway items that were used in the station.
Sports Museums
Glasgow’s football rivalry is known across the world, but did you know that both teams offer tours of their stadiums? If you have sports fans in your travel group then a trip to these stadiums is a must.
Just a small note: it’s well known that these clubs and fans are rivals, do not turn up at one stadium wearing the other teams kit.
Celtic Park Tour
As the home of Celtic FC, Parkhead (commonly known as Celtic Park) is well known across the city and by football fans.
Fans of the club, and members of the public have an opportunity to tour the stadium and learn more about the club and it’s history.
The tour must be booked online and will cost £17 for an adult, however, family tickets are available. Tours run every day (apart from game days!) and will last 60 minutes.
The easiest way to access Celtic Park is by train and the closest station is Dalmarnock. Up to 6 trains per hour run between Glasgow Central and Dalmarnock.
When you exit the station, it is a 5 minute walk up to the stadium.
Important Info: Services to Dalmarnock operate from the Low Level Station at Glasgow Central.
Ibrox Tour
The other half of the Old Firm Derby also offer stadium tours. Ibrox is home to Rangers FC and is a club known across Europe and the World.
Popular with Fans of the club, people visiting the city should visit the stadium and learn more about the history of the club.
The tours must be purchased online and will cost £15 for an adult. Tours run every day (apart from match days!) and should last 60 minutes. Giving access to the stadium on a guided tour, and a chance to see the trophy room it is a must for sports fans.
The easiest way to reach the stadium is to use the Glasgow Subway. The station you will be looking for is Ibrox.
When you exit the stadium walk along Copland Road and the stadium is on your left, you can’t miss it.
Other Museums
These two museums are in this category as they cover a wide range of themes, meaning they are nearly impossible to categorise. Despite this, they should not be ignored and are worth visiting to see just how wide ranging they are.
Hunterian Museum
Located in the west end of the city, this museum is part of the Univerisity of Glasgow, but it is also open to the public.
Covering areas such as Historic Medicine, Art, Roman History and Animals, there is likely a part of the museum that everybody in your group will find interesting.
Entry to the museum is Free, and it is open from Tuesday-Sunday.
Furthermore, Mackintosh House gives an insight to some of the woks by one of Scotlands most famous artists and allows you to learn more about both the artist and his work.
Entry to Mackintosh House is £8 for an adult and it is open from Tuesday-Sunday.
The best way to reach the Hunterian Museum is by using the Glasgow Subway. The closest station is Hillhead.
When you exit the subway station, tuen left until you reach University Road. Turn left again and follow the road until you reach the museum.
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Also located in the west end of the city, Kelvingrove is the most visited museum in the city.
With 22 different galleries and exhibits on areas including Animals, Art, History and Culture it is no wonder that people can spend all day here and still not see everything it has to offer.
Entry to the museum is Free, making it attractive for families travelling on a budget.
Not only that but it is home to a rotating display that changes regularly, be sure to Google what exhibit is on when you are visiting.
Entry to the visiting display is currently £7.50 for an adult.
Both parts of the museum are open every day.
The best way to reach the museum is to use the Glasgow Subway. The closest station is Kelvinhall. When you exit the station, turn left and follow Dumbarton Road. Once you cross over the river it the museum is on the left.
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