The Most Fascinating Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries

Whether it’s modern art that piques your interest or you have a fixation on Victorian history, Scotland’s second city hosts numerous great organisations where you can effortlessly expand your knowledge.

From rooms packed with extraordinary artefacts to beautiful buildings with impressive viewpoints, take your pick of the following amazing Glasgow museums and art galleries which are all free to enter.

It would be a crime to visit Glasgow and not take a turn around the Kelvingrove Gallery and Museum. The majestic building in the West End was first opened in 1901 and is now widely considered one of the best museums in Glasgow.

Once you’re through the Kelvingrove’s grand entrance doors, you’ll discover 22 rooms filled with an eclectic mix of exhibits on everything from art and animals to armoury and aircrafts.

The People’s Palace Museum is nestled at the heart of Glasgow Green, a large city centre park which boasts a long – and, at times, grim – past. The museum itself tracks the history of Glasgow from the 1700s to the present day through photographs, factual displays and hundreds of important items.

Attached to the museum is the Winter Gardens, a gorgeous greenhouse filled with exotic flora and fauna as well as an airy café perfect for coffee and cake.

If you’re making the trip up to the University of Glasgow campus to admire its magnificent cloisters and courtyards, you have to pop into the Hunterian Museum. It’s the city’s oldest museum and it’s filled with extraordinary artefacts and curiosities, many of which once belonged to Scottish anatomist and doctor, William Hunter.

Spend an hour or so exploring the Hunterian’s spectacular and sometimes strange displays that mostly delve into the worlds of zoology, anatomy, geography and archaeology.

This is one of the most modern museums in Glasgow thanks in part to its futuristic building located right on the River Clyde. Its contents are also pretty contemporary, with exhibitions focusing on transport.

From historic ships and cool motorbikes to an interactive fire engine and even a Stormtrooper, there’s plenty to keep both kids and adults occupied at the Riverside Museum.

Named after the city’s patron saint, this Glasgow museum provides a fascinating insight into various different religions practised across the world. You’ll find it at Cathedral Square, just minutes from Glasgow Necropolis, and it’s jam-packed with sculptures, calligraphy and ancient objects that help promote and educate visitors on different faiths and beliefs.

This museum at the heart of the city celebrates famed Glaswegian architects and designers, including Charles Rennie Mackintosh. As well as intriguing exhibits about Mackintosh himself, the top floor of the building gives way to a brilliant viewing tower accessed via a spiral staircase.

The museum entrance is also ideally located on Mitchell Lane, which has some great little bars and restaurants if you fancy a bite to eat after you’re done exploring The Lighthouse.

Need somewhere to stay during your Glasgow gallery and museum marathon? You’ll find a handily positioned Leonardo Hotels on Jamaica Street, in addition to a Leonardo Hotel in the city’s trendy West End district.