Posted 1 year ago
Sun 01 Jun, 2025 12:06 PM
In this GlasgowGuide we have pulled together an overview of the city’s great Cabinets of Curiosities, our most loved Glasgow Museums.
The city owns an incredible and vast collection of objects, but only 2% of this collection can be displayed in their museums and galleries. So, this 2% might be worth a visit, right?
🏛️ The Hunterian
📍University of Glasgow, Gilbert Scott Building
We start our guide very close to home with the Uni's very own Hunterian Museum. Established in 1807, from the collection of Physician William Hunter (1718-1783), the Hunterian is Scotland's oldest public museum.
With a collection that features, amongst other things, fossil collections, Roman artefacts, artworks from masters like Rembrandt, Rubens and Whistler, and a full reconstruction of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's Glasgow home, there's guaranteed to be something to suit every taste!
Find out more in our UofGLiving guide to the Hunterian.
🏛️ Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
📍Argyle Street, G3 8AG
Kelvingrove is the city's biggest museum, with 22 themed galleries and wide-ranging displays, including art collections from Dutch Old Masters and French Impressionists; and a Mackintosh gallery. Its flagship is the painting ‘Christ of St John of the Cross’ by the Spanish surrealist artist Salvador Dalí.
There are displays of natural history, ancient Egypt, Scottish history and world cultures’ collections. If you are lucky you can catch one of the daily organ recitals – walking through the galleries with background organ music from the Renaissance will make you feel very sophisticated and extremely cultured, guaranteed!
🏛️ Riverside Museum
📍100 Pointhouse Place, G3 8RS
On the banks of the Clyde is the newest addition to the family, the Riverside Museum, which comes in a spectacular building designed by the renowned architect Zaha Hadid.
It is full of interactive digital displays and a wide transport and leisure collection. You can jump into old trams or the old subway system, and see how things haven’t changed that much after all!
🏛️ Gallery of Modern Art (GoMa)
📍Royal Exchange Square, G1 3AH
Right in the heart of the city centre, the gallery showcases an array of international and local contemporary artists, with a varied exhibition programme throughout the year.
Did you know that the Gallery’s building was originally the townhouse of a tobacco merchant? Just your regular city home…
At the entrance you’ll bump into the famous Duke of Wellington, who surely will be wearing his elegant hat. Sometimes he drops it, but soon a random kind Glaswegian will get the hat back in place! Some time ago, the Council thought it had enough with people putting the hat back on again and again. They plotted to have the statue raised so it would be almost impossible for people to get the hat back on. Little did they know the power of social media and how quickly the Duke of Wellington militants would start a petition to stop this aberration from happening. In less than 24 hours, they had gathered 10,613 signatures (I kid you not!). The Council soon accepted defeat and ‘a beloved landmark and a cherished cultural tradition’ had been saved!
🏛️ St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art
📍2 Castle St, G4 0RH
Right next to Glasgow Cathedral is St Mungo Museum, it sits on the former grounds of the Bishop’s Castle (yes, we did have a castle once!).
The museum explores the effect of religion on people’s lives and cultures across the world.
Just across the road, you can find Provand’s Lordship – the oldest house in Glasgow. Check out its lovely garden!
🏛️ The People’s Palace
📍Glasgow Green, G40 1AT
Want to learn more about the prodigious Glaswegians? The People’s Palace, set in Glasgow Green, explores the city’s social history and aims to help you understand the lives of its people.
🏛️ Scotland Street School Museum
📍225 Scotland St, G5 8QB
To understand how they are all so bright and witty visit Glasgow’s museum for education - designed by the distinguished Glaswegian Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
