Many of the most important discoveries in history, including the television, telephone, and everything in between, were created in Scotland. Glasgow, the largest city in the country, is a great place to start learning about all that history. Glasgow is a great city for families with top attractions and things to do. Whether you’re looking for general interest institutions or more specialist attractions, Glasgow’s many museums will satisfy every taste and curiosity.
Glasgow is home to numerous top-notch museums and art galleries, many of which are open to the public for free. There really is something for everyone.
1. The Tall Ship and the Riverside Museum
Step aboard The Tall Ship on the River Clyde and have an adventure on the water in this Clyde-built ship. The Riverside Museum, where you can view historical displays of bicycles, trains, buses, and cars, is located next to the Tall Ship.Riverside Museum is the first purpose-built museum created by Glasgow Life in the 21st century. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Kelvin and Clyde and is home to the magnificent transportation and technological collections of the city. These collections, which have been amassed over the years, reflect the significant role Glasgow has played in the world through its contributions to heavy industries like shipbuilding, train manufacturing, and engineering. Make sure to stroll down the ancient Glasgow street reconstruction to experience time travel to the early 1900s.
2. Glasgow Science Centre
e Glasgow Science Centre is located across the River Clyde. The incredible exhibits and displays on life, science, and the universe will wow children (and adults!). The centre is also home to a planetarium, The Imax, Scotland's largest cinema screen, and Newton Flight Academy, where you can pilot simulators (12+). The Glasgow Science Centre is great fun and while it’s primarily aimed at children there’s enough going on that adults will find it enjoyable as well.There is an extra fee of £3.00 for planetarium shows. A shop & cafe are free to access, as are outdoor exhibits set in landscaped surroundings of a Fibonacci Garden and wetland moat. The centre also houses Glasgow Tower, Newton Flight Academy, and an IMAX theatre. The Center's efforts extend into the neighbourhood through outreach initiatives and schools. The Centre is a registered charity with surpluses returned to the education mission. Cycle stands, car parking & public transport links or a 15-minute walk along the Clyde from the City centre.
3. Gallery of Modern Art
GoMA or Gallery of Modern Art is located in the centre of Glasgow. GoMA is the most visited modern art gallery in Scotland. It is a unique place that uses modern art to inspire an exchange of powerful ideas about life and human experiences. There are four galleries there, as well as a library and gallery store where you may buy items inspired by the Collection.The gallery is housed in an iconic building located in the heart of Glasgow, which it shares with the city centre library. It contributes significantly to the city's rich history, which is still alive today. The structure served as a hub for business and commerce for more than a century, when commodities and information were exchanged. GoMA preserves this exchange-oriented attitude by serving as a hub where people may congregate, converse, and learn while being inspired by the artwork it collects and exhibits.
4. The Burrell Collections
The Burrell Collection is housed in an award-winning building in the heart of Pollok Country Park, Glasgow's largest green space. The Collection is named after its donor, the shipping magnate Sir William Burrell. The Burrell Collection, which includes more than 9,000 items spanning 6,000 years of history, is one of the finest art collections ever gathered by a single person. On March 29, 2022, The Burrell Collection reopened after substantial renovations and redisplay.The exhibits include works by famous painters like Rodin, Degas, and Cézanne as well as significant examples of Chinese and Islamic art, ancient civilizations, and late medieval art. The Burrell hosts frequent temporary exhibitions and offers a full calendar of family-friendly events and activities.
5. Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre
Hundreds of carved figures and pieces of vintage scrap perform a stunning choreography to eerie music and timed lighting, conveying the humorous and tragic tales of the human spirit as it battles the never-ending cycles of life and death. Audiences in many countries have been fascinated by its magic. It has developed a reputation as one of Glasgow's undiscovered gems. Very gripping theatre.The Theatre suffered much after being temporarily shut down owing to COVID regulations, but they have recently resumed their regular performances. Along with their regular performances, the Theatre has resumed taking private and group reservations.
6. Glasgow Police Museum
Discover stories about the crimes and characters that impacted Britain's first-ever police force at the Glasgow Police Museum. The Glasgow Police Museum uses relics, tales, and photos to show the history of the Glasgow Police from 1779 to 1975. The Glasgow Police Historical Exhibition's exhibits offer a historical perspective on the individuals, occasions, and other circumstances that influenced the establishment, growth, and advancement of Britain's first police force, the City of Glasgow Police.The museum's International Police Exhibition demonstrates how policing has spread around the globe. The exhibit features more than 2,000 items of insignia, headgear, and uniforms from all over the world.
7. The Hunterian Museum
The Hunterian, a premier university museum in the UK and one of Scotland's most significant cultural institutions, was founded in 1807. One of the largest collections outside of the National Museums is housed at The Hunterian, Scotland's oldest public museum. The Hunterian is one of the leading university museums in the UK and its collections have been Recognised as a Collection of National Significance.The Hunterian is also the location of the largest permanent collection of James McNeill Whistler's artwork and the largest collection of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's works. The interiors of his Glasgow home have been assembled in The Mackintosh House.